Officers
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Kate Weaver, brings to IABA over 10 years of project management and marketing experience. Kate graduated with a double major in Marketing and Management from Fairfield University in Connecticut. Upon exiting a career in Sports Marketing and Event Management, Kate returned to school to receive her Master's in Education. She taught Marketing and Career Training in Connecticut public high schools for 5 years. She is excited to assist the IABA in outreach, education and development initiatives.
PRESIDENT AND DIRECTOR
John Robinson, FSA, MAAA, is Chief Actuary at Capital Region BOCES in Albany, NY. This non-profit provides various educational and management services to several school districts in a four-county area. The actuarial unit provides valuations related to post-retirement benefits, other than pensions, for the districts’ teachers, administrators and support staff. Prior to joining the BOCES, John spent over twenty three years in the life insurance industry, twenty of which were spent at Nationwide Financial in Columbus, OH. John volunteers regularly as an exam grader for the Society of Actuaries. He holds a B.Sc. (Special) in Mathematics from the University of the West Indies, Jamaica, and an M.S. in Statistics from the Florida State University.
VICE PRESIDENT AND DIRECTOR
Monique Hacker, FSA, MAAA, is an Assistant Actuary at New York Life Insurance Company in Tampa, FL. She currently works in the Pricing and Product Development area. Ms. Hacker graduated from Binghamton University in 2000 with a Bachelors of Science in Mathematics and Economics.
SECRETARY
Gerik Whittington, is an Actuarial Analyst in the Retirement practice at Watson Wyatt Worldwide in Washington DC. His primary responsibilities include the preparation of pension valuations and disclosures. Mr. Whittington graduated from Howard University in 2007 with a Bachelors of Science in Mathematics and a Bachelors of Arts in Economics. While at Howard University, he interned at the National Insurance Board in Trinidad and Tobago and for two years at Watson Wyatt in Chicago. Gerik served as the IABA Secretary for fiscal year 2007-2008.
TREASURER & DIRECTOR
Jamala Murray, FSA, MAAA, is an Actuarial Analyst in Retirement Income and Investments (Variable Annuity Product Development) at Genworth Financial in Richmond, VA. Prior to that, she was an Actuarial Analyst at Ernst & Young LLP in New York, NY. Ms. Murray graduated of the University of Waterloo in 2003 with a Bachelors of Mathematics degree in Actuarial Science and Statistics. While at the University of Waterloo, she interned at New York Life, Bank of Montreal Insurance and London Life & Casualty. Jamala served as IABA Foundation Secretary for fiscal year 2004-2005 and IABA Secretary for fiscal year 2005-2006.
STUDENT LIAISON
Khadine Adams, is an Actuarial Analyst in the Retirement practice at Watson Wyatt Worldwide in New York City. Ms. Adams graduated from Howard University in 2008 with a Bachelors of Business Administration in Insurance, with a concentration in Actuarial Science. While at Howard, she interned at the Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago, Towers Perrin, and Mercer. Khadine also serves on the Board of Trustees of Gamma Iota Sigma, the international insurance, risk management, and actuarial science fraternity.
DIRECTOR
Stafford L. Thompson, Jr., FSA, MAAA, is Vice-President and Corporate Actuary of North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Company. With thirteen years of actuarial experience, Mr. Thompson provides a wealth of professional knowledge in life insurance, healthcare, and retirement and investment services. His work history includes such esteemed employers as Transamerica Reinsurance and CIGNA Corporation. He serves on numerous committees and boards including the North Carolina Central University Foundation and the North Carolina Action for Children. Mr. Thompson is a graduate of Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University with a Bachelor's of Science degree in Mathematics and is founder of the University's Actuarial Science Club. Mr. Thompson is also a past president of the International Association of Black Actuaries (2002-2006) and currently serves as its liaison to the IABA Corporate Advisory Council. In addition, he is an active member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. serving in many capacities including the District Representative of the Northeast (first) district.
DIRECTOR
Linda A. Shepherd, FCAS, MAAA, is Vice President and Chief Actuary, Personal Insurance for Fireman's Fund Insurance Company in Novato, CA. Linda began her career at Aetna, Inc. (formerly Aetna Life and Casualty), and gained her fellowship in the Casualty Actuarial Society in 1988, the first African-American female to do so. She then became Vice President of Ulico Casualty Company in Washington, D.C., where she oversaw the Property and Casualty operations for ULLICO, Inc. Linda served as Chief Actuary for Prudential Property and Casualty Insurance Company from 1994-2002 and for the Personal Insurance division of Safeco Insurance Company from 2002-2009 prior to joining Fireman’s Fund in February 2009. Linda graduated from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelors of Science degree in Economics, with a major concentration in Actuarial Science. Linda is a past president of IABA (1996-97), and served as its Membership Committee Chair from 1997 to 2002.
DIRECTOR
Sharon K. Robinson, FCAS, MAAA, is a Vice-President with the Zurich North America Insurance Company. Responsibilities include providing pricing leadership for Zurich’s Middle Market Commercial businesses. Prior employment includes CNA Insurance Companies and the St. Paul Fire & Marine Insurance Company. Ms. Robinson’s professional experience spans the areas of Commercial Lines pricing and Medical Professional Liability with an emphasis on Large Account Pricing. Ms. Robinson graduated from the University of Illinois with a degree in Actuarial Science and is a Fellow of the Casualty Actuarial Society and a member of the American Academy of Actuaries.
DIRECTOR
Ollie Sherman, FCAS, MAAA, is a partner at Tillinghast-Towers Perrin in Arlington, VA. Prior to joining Tillinghast, Mr. Sherman was employed by the Travelers Insurance Companies for 10 years. His varied roles included overall responsibility for countrywide workers compensation pricing, pricing automobile and homeowners coverage, and reserving for both personal and commercial lines. He is a graduate of the University of Virginia, with a degree in Applied Math and Computer Science. Mr. Sherman is also the first African-American to obtain a fellowship in the Casualty Actuarial Society.
DIRECTOR
Jeffrey L. Johnson, FSA, MAAA, is Assistant Vice President and Actuary – Actuarial Policy, US Finance with John Hancock Financial Services. Responsibilities include developing and monitoring US Statutory and Tax valuation policies, overseeing the Company's US Statutory and Tax valuation assumption and methodology review, and Actuarial policy framework design. Prior to this role Mr. Johnson worked for several large life insurance company's including The Hartford, Allstate, Mutual of New York and Massachusetts Mutual. Mr. Johnson has a strong pricing, valuation and risk management background. His product knowledge includes life insurance, disability, annuity, and asset accumulation vehicles. He earned a Bachelors of Arts degree in mathematics from Western New England College and a Master of Science degree in Numerical Analysis from Syracuse University. He is a two time past president of IABA ( 1997-1998, 2007 – 2009), and co-chair of IABA's Corporate Advisory Council.
DIRECTOR
Arche Boamah, ASA, MAAA, is an Actuarial Consultant at Nationwide Financial. He has worked in Life Product Development, for the past 14 years with key roles in fixed and variable life product implementation, reinsurance and retention management. Ache serves on the Diversity and Inclusion Business Council at Nationwide Financial. He is also the Ohio Affiliate Leader of the International Association of Black Actuaries (IABA),Ache's volunteer experiences include building experience Mortality Tables for the Social Security Scheme in Ghana and enabling the annual Onegoal Family Picnic, a health and well-ness event in Columbus, Ohio.Ache holds a Master degree in Actuarial Science from the University of Connecticut and a Bachelors degree in Statistics and Economics from the University of Ghana. Ache is an associate of the Society of Actuaries and a member of the American Academy of Actuaries.