DURHAM, N.C., Aug. 8, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- During the business luncheon of the Insurance Accounting & Systems Association (IASA) held recently in Boston, MA during the 2006 IASA Annual Educational Conference & Business Show members elected J. Stephen (Steve) Meziere as president for the association's 2006-2007 fiscal year. Prior to being elected president, Meziere held various management team, leadership and volunteer positions within the association during his many years of volunteering.
"We are fortunate to have someone with the leadership skills, industry knowledge and vast association experience as our President," commented Joe Pomilia, IASA Executive Director. "Steve Meziere has served in a variety of key positions with the International operation of IASA and has the unique distinction of also having served as the President of two of our local Chapters, Texas and Oklahoma. He is well-respected by IASA volunteers and is going to do an outstanding job."
Meziere has over 25 years of hands-on experience working in the insurance industry which makes him a highly-qualified representative of the IASA membership that is comprised mainly of insurance financial and technology professionals. Currently, Meziere is the president of Life of America Insurance Company, a life and health insurance company specializing in individual and group association major medical coverage and based in Dallas, TX. Meziere joined Life of America in 1989.
Prior to joining Life of America, Meziere held top management positions with Continental Bankers Life Insurance Company, Guardian American Life Insurance Company and Security General Life Insurance Company. His titles at these companies have included president, chief financial officer, chief operating officer and vice president. Meziere's responsibilities have extended into many business units within these insurance companies, including: accounting, product development, agency/marketing and administration.
"It is an honor to be named president of IASA and to be given the opportunity to lead this organization for the next year," Meziere said in his acceptance speech. "In the past few years we have seen the IASA grow to be the educational leader for the insurance industry. As we follow on the success of the education revolution that IASA started this year, we look forward to even greater progress in the year to come. The work that has been done by the leadership teams and all of the IASA volunteers gives us the platform to launch new and expanded educational and leadership opportunities."
Additionally, Meziere highlighted how he became involved with IASA and the importance of providing education for the insurance industry.
"When I began my career in the insurance industry the president of my company helped me put together my first quarterly statement," said Meziere. "After finishing the statement I realized I was going to need more information to be able to complete an annual statement. I started inquiring about insurance seminars that would help me learn more about the insurance industry. That's how I became involved with IASA."
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About IASA
The Insurance Accounting & Systems Association, Inc. (IASA) is a non-profit, education association that strives to enhance the knowledge of insurance industry professionals, and participants from similar organizations closely allied with the insurance industry by facilitating the exchange of ideas and information. IASA is the insurance industry's largest, and most well represented trade association. IASA membership includes insurance companies of all types (Property & Casualty, Life, Health, Fraternal, HMO and others) as members, as well as companies serving the insurance industry, regulators and also organizations more broadly representative of the financial services industry, including banks and investment brokerage firms. Learn more about the IASA by visiting our website at www.iasa.org or by calling (919) 489-0991.