SOA Nominating Committee
The Nominating Committee is responsible for nominating candidates for election in accordance with SOA policies and may establish guidelines for conducting elections consistent with those policies.
The nomination process starts each December when the Board’s Governance and Policy Committee and the Nominating Committee identify the skills and experience the Board needs, based on initiatives in the SOA Strategic Plan and issues facing the SOA at the time. The Nominating Committee provides public notice to members of the upcoming election and the call for nominations.
Any SOA Fellow can submit their name for election to the SOA as Elected Board Member or President-Elect and Vice Chair. The Nominating Committee reviews all nominee applications, including background information. After nominees complete a questionnaire about Board service, the committee members interview candidates. The committee discusses possible candidates over the course of several weeks. Candidate evaluation is based on a variety of factors, including:
- The needs of the SOA;
- Their commitment to the profession and the SOA;
- Their ability to work well with others in a Board setting; and,
- Their intellectual engagement with the issues currently facing the profession and the SOA.
The Nominating Committee presents a final ballot to the Board in June for approval that the Nominating Committee completed their work and followed approved policies and procedures. Following that Board approval, the Nominating Committee notifies nominees. Nominees are now endorsed candidates on the final ballot for member consideration.
Position Description
The Nominating Committee is composed of nine Fellows and is representative of the SOA membership. In any given year there may be specific recruitment for geographic location, areas of practice or employment type, years of experience, and gender. The balance of past Board members and those without SOA Board of Directors experience is also considered. It is important to include several members with recent service as Board members or Presidential officers with insight into the needs and requirements of the Board. A ratio of 1/3 committee members with previous SOA Board or Presidential officer experience is considered.
Members are Fellows recruited by the Governance and Policy Committee and appointed by the SOA Board. Members serve a three-year term and three members retire off the committee each year, leaving typically three slots to be filled.
In reviewing the applications, the Governance and Policy Committee looks for people who will diligently tackle the job; have relevant SOA experience enabling them to appreciate the strategic needs of the SOA and to assess the experience and qualifications of the nominees; and have the skillset necessary to identify leadership and leadership potential. In order to be eligible, a member must be a Fellow of the SOA. Per SOA policy, a departing SOA Board member must wait one election cycle before becoming eligible to serve on the Nominating Committee.
Time Commitment
Most of the time commitment falls within the first six months of the year, particularly during the months of April and May.
- January-June: monthly (or more if needed) 60-90 minute virtual meetings.
- May: one full day in-person meeting.
- April/May: seven to nine 30-minute Zoom interviews with potential candidates, as well as an additional seven to nine 30-minute recorded interviews to watch.
- September: one 60-minute post-election virtual meeting.
- November: one in-person meeting during the SOA Leadership Orientation Meeting.
- Additional preparation includes reading nominee questionnaires and other election material.
Meeting and Travel Requirements
One in-person (fly-in, fly-out) meeting during the month of May in Chicago near O’Hare airport to assemble the ballot. One in-person meeting during the SOA Leadership Orientation Meeting in November; both meetings at the discretion of the Nominating Committee members. Monthly virtual meetings from January through June.
Responsibilities and Duties
The primary responsibility of the Nominating Committee is to create a ballot with the best candidates for the annual Board of Directors election. This is accomplished by following the election process and being familiar with the guiding documents (SOA Bylaws, election policies and guidelines, and the current SOA Strategic Plan).
Nominating Committee members must:
- Attend in-person and virtual meetings unless prevented by a significant conflicting time demand;
- Participate respectfully in meetings (including conference calls) to the best of their ability;
- Treat all information and discussions in a confidential manner;
- Be open-minded;
- Be respectful of different opinions;
- Be able to see the big picture; and
- Exhibit no bias to or advocacy for any candidate(s) or issue(s).
For more in-depth information regarding the Nominating Committee, please visit: http://www.soa.org/elections/ to review the elections policies and processes under the “Election Process” area.
2024 Nominating Committee
Nominating Committee Chair
Yan Fridman, FSA, MAAA, is a Consulting Actuary at Milliman in New York, NY.
Nominating Committee Vice Chair
Mike Boot, FSA, MAAA, is retired, previously having worked at Allstate and the SOA, in Schaumburg, IL.
Nominating Committee Members
Nicole Briones, FSA, MAAA is Director of Actuarial & Analytic Program Management at Consortium Health Plans in Columbia, MD.
Chris Groendyke, FSA, is a Professor at Robert Morris University in Moon Township, PA.
Laurel Kastrup, FSA, MAAA, is a Principal at PWC in Dallas, TX.
Sarah Maune, FSA, EA, is Vice President, Treaties, GFS at RGA in Chesterfield, MO.
Kory Olsen, FSA, MAAA, CERA is Vice President at Pacific Life Insurance Company in Newport Beach, CA.
Pete Rossi is Senior Actuary, US Government Accountability Office.
Michelle Young, FSA, MAAA, is VP Head of Underwriting Risk Management and Retrocession-U.S. and Canada in Charlotte, NC.