Enhanced Sales Team Focused on Preneed Unveiled at NGL

National Guardian Life Insurance Company (NGL), has promoted individuals and reorganized the structure of its Preneed sales team to further strengthen strategic partnerships and deepen relationships to enhance Preneed sales growth potential. The team has a wealth of knowledge in the Preneed industry and an understanding of serving the needs of marketing organizations, independent agents and agencies.

John Baker was promoted to Vice President of Strategic Partner Development. In his new role, he will work closely with Regional Vice Presidents, Judy Olson and Carl Wackerle, to provide NGL’s Marketing Partners with outstanding service and support.

“I believe that our breadth of knowledge coupled with our many years of experience in Preneed sales will allow us to provide an even higher level of service and support,” said Baker.

Baker joined NGL in December 2013 as Regional Vice President. He began his career in the funeral service industry nearly 30 years ago working for a family owned funeral group. During his tenure with the firm he learned all aspects of the business, including developing and managing the Preneed sales department. In 1994 Baker was promoted to General Manager of a funeral home and cemetery combination operation in Colorado.

His experience in Preneed sales includes joining Great Western Insurance Company where he served in key sales and marketing roles, including National Sales Manager and serving as Executive Vice President for a national independent marketing organization.

Cameron Black was promoted to Vice President of Sales and Business Development. In his new role he will work closely with Regional Vice Presidents, Jennifer Kaset and Casey Wolfe, to further assist NGL’s Marketing Partners in growing their Preneed sales. 

“I am excited about this opportunity and the direction NGL is headed. We are leaders in the Preneed industry because of NGL’s integrity, dependability and excellent customer service experience. Our focused sales team has the capabilities to help increase Preneed awareness for consumers and drive growth for partners,” said Black.

Black joined NGL in January 2019 as Regional Vice President. In that role, he further strengthened NGL’s Marketing Partner relationships while strategically growing certain markets. Black has more than 12 years of experience in the insurance industry, including working for Precoa where he managed Preneed sales for top funeral homes in Colorado, Wyoming, Minnesota and New Mexico. Most recently at Precoa, Black was Regional Director of Business Development where he brought on new business through funeral home partnerships across the country.

Baker and Black will partner to lead the Preneed sales team going forward. While the primary focus of their roles may vary slightly, they will work closely to optimize growth and maintenance of key marketing and sales efforts.

Jennifer Kaset joined NGL in December 2019 as Regional Vice President. She is focused on developing and nurturing Preneed partnerships with NGL’s marketing organizations, independent agents and agencies. She also oversees partners’ service needs as they strive to achieve their marketing goals.

Kaset has more than 15 years of experience in the insurance industry. She joined NGL from American Enterprise Group/Great Western Insurance Company where she was National Account Manager. Prior to that, she was at Trust 100, one of the nation’s oldest and most trusted funeral home planning organizations specializing in developing Preneed programs, where she was most recently Vice President of Sales and Marketing. In her role at Trust 100 she led managers in establishing and executing marketing plans for funeral home directors. Her expertise is in guiding funeral homeowners and counselors on marketing, advertising, competitive analysis and future planning.

Judy Olson was promoted to Regional Vice President. Olson has more than 10 years of experience in the insurance industry. In her new role, she will continue to work with NGL’s Marketing Partners to support their growth and business development opportunities. Most recently, she served as Assistant Vice President and Director of Partner Support at NGL, where she led a team dedicated to supporting key business relationships with NGL’s marketing organizations.  

Prior to joining NGL in January 2008, she spent over 15 years in the financial services industry with both national and community banks where she was responsible for sales development, marketing and community relations.

Carl Wackerle is Regional Vice President and has been at NGL for nearly 20 years. In his role, Wackerle will assist Marketing Partners with Preneed, as well as AssetGuard sales. Wackerle joined NGL as the company entered the Preneed space and has been an integral part of the growth of NGL’s Preneed line of business. Wackerle is an expert in AssetGuard, NGL’s product that helps clients transfer and/or protect their assets while setting aside funds to cover final expenses. His expertise helped NGL become a market leader in this rapidly growing product area.

Through the years Carl has participated in many industry events and has been a popular speaker at national conventions and meetings.

Casey Wolfe is Regional Vice President and joined NGL in 2011. Wolfe’s nearly 40-year career has been in the funeral industry, including at-need and Preneed sales. In his role, Wolfe is focused on developing partnerships with NGL’s Preneed marketing organizations, independent agents and agencies.

Prior to NGL, Wolfe was in various leadership positions at Forethought Financial Services and Batesville Casket Company. As Vice President of Sales, Eastern Division at Forethought, he was responsible for nine field-based regional directors, covering 17 states and D.C.

Dave Anderson brings more than 30 years of financial services and technology expertise to NGL in the role of Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer. Anderson will now also provide overall leadership and direction to the Preneed business. Since joining NGL, Anderson has led the introduction of a new planning discipline, a revamped Project Management Office and improvements in project and service delivery.

Prior to joining NGL, Anderson served as President and CEO of InsPro Technologies. From 2010 to 2016, Dave worked at TIAA where he served as President and CEO of TIAA Life, a wholly-owned subsidiary of TIAA. During this time, TIAA Life experienced record premium growth. Prior to TIAA, Dave held numerous senior posts during a 27-year tenure at Thrivent Financial.  

About NGL

Established in 1909 National Guardian Life Insurance Company is an insurance company headquartered in Madison, Wis. Licensed to do business in 49 states and the District of Columbia, NGL markets preneed and individual life and annuities, as well as group markets products. Information about NGL can be found at www.nglic.com; Facebook: Facebook.com/NGLIC and LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/national-guardian-life-insurance-company.

National Guardian Life Insurance Cmpany is not affiliated with The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America a/k/a The Guardian or Guardian Life. 

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