The LOMA Education Award, which is the highest honor that LOMA can bestow on an individual in the insurance and financial services industry, recognizes an individual for both their contribution to insurance education and to the FLMI Program. At LOMA’s 2003 Annual Conference & FLMI Conferment in San Antonio, LOMA International Division Managing Director Joel Basarich, Ph.D., FLMI, ACS, ALHC, presented the award to Vance F. Howard, FLMI.

Howard is one of the longest-tenured members of LOMA’s Panel of Examination Reviewers, having served with distinction for more than 25 consecutive years.

He was first appointed to the Examination Review Panel in 1977 as a reviewer for FLMI 290, which was then known as Part 2 of the FLMI Program—and he still serves on that panel today. As part of his work with the FLMI 290 panel, Howard was a pioneer in helping to develop the review session format that LOMA uses currently. Howard’s knowledge of the insurance industry has also proven to be a valuable asset as LOMA develops and revises its textbooks. He has provided extensive input for three editions of the FLMI 290 text—Insurance Company Operations.

During 1990-1993, Howard served as a member of the Education & Training Council and was chairman of the Council’s Product Management Committee. This committee helped to establish a new direction for the FLMI Program and to restructure the FLMI Program’s curriculum to refine its ability to meet changing industry needs. He concluded his service on the Education Council as the Chairman from 1995 to 1997, during which he also served as a member of LOMA’s Board of Directors. His leadership as Chairman during this crucial period has paid many dividends to the industry, as the quality and value of the FLMI Program is recognized throughout the world.

"Vance has always been an enthusiastic, excellent resource for LOMA as it develops its curriculum and examinations for FLMI students," said William H. Rabel, Ph.D., FLMI, CLU, senior vice president of LOMA’s Education and Training Division. "He is a strong supporter and one of those individuals who always makes himself available to assist us as we seek to provide 21st-century education to the insurance industry."

Howard is currently president of consulting firm Shakespeare Associates, Inc. Previously, he served as president of North American Company for Life and Health Insurance and its affiliated companies, Institutional Founders Life Insurance Company, North American Company for Life and Health Insurance of New York, and NACOLAH Life Insurance Company. Early in his career he also worked for Washington National Life Insurance Company. His professional affiliations include the presidency of LifeComm Users Group, presidency of the Chicago Policyowner’s Service Association, and work with the Insurance Accounting and Systems Association (IASA) and American Council of Life Insurers (ACLI). In addition to the FLMI designation, Howard holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from University of Wisconsin, Madison.

Congratulations, Vance Howard, on your tremendous achievement!