LINCOLN, Nebraska – Ben Nordman, managing partner of NorthCentral DI, is the recipient of the W. Harold Peterson Lifetime Achievement Award, an honor presented annually to a current International Disability Insurance Society (IDIS) member who has demonstrated dedication to the field of disability insurance.

The highest honor given by IDIS, the award was presented at the annual IDIS conference in October, where Nordman was recognized for his contributions, leadership and commitment. The award recognizes those who not only advance the profession but also inspire others through integrity and impact.

“An industry leader in DI for over 30 years, Ben has the utmost respect for integrity and shows true leadership on a daily basis,” said nominator Todd Shield, director of sales at NorthCentral DI.

The IDIS is dedicated to growing the disability insurance industry through education, awareness, promotion of high ethical conduct of the membership and increasing the knowledge base of the agent, producer, company and carriers. It has approximately 300 members in the United States.

LINCOLN, Nebraska – Ameritas Chief Executive Officer Bob Jurgensmeier announces the following officer hires and promotions.

Scott Ballenger is now the second vice president, talent development. Ballenger was previously director, HR business partners. He has been with Ameritas since 2014 and holds an associates degree from Colby Community College.

LINCOLN, Nebraska– Merle Miller of Midwest Financial Solutions and the Ameritas Field Advisory Cabinet is the recipient of the Newell C. Day Agent of the Year award, an annual award presented to the individual found to be the most outstanding member in the state of Iowa.

This is the most prestigious recognition a member of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors-Iowa can receive. This recognition is bestowed by his or her professional peers and is named after one of NAIFA-Iowa’s most outstanding state association presidents, the late Newell C. Day, who served as president from 1947-1948. This award is based on nominations received from fellow NAIFA-Iowa members recognizing one of their own.

Miller received the recognition at the 2025 NAIFA-Iowa annual convention in Cedar Rapids in late August.

LINCOLN, Nebraska – David Schlageter has been named the new national sales director of Ameritas retirement plans, the company announced today.

Schlageter is a 35-year industry veteran and brings a wealth of investment, consulting and distribution experience with him to Ameritas.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Dave to the Ameritas sales management team as our new national sales director for retirement plans. With his experience in the industry and a proven track record as a top-performing wholesaler, Dave brings a great knowledge, leadership and respect to the role,” said Scott Holechek, vice president, sales, distribution and relationship management, retirement plans. “His deep understanding of the business and commitment to coaching and development will empower our regional sales vice presidents to exceed expectations and deliver value to financial advisors, employers and employees across the country.”

Schlageter specializes in distribution alliances, plan design, TPA and advisor education and has conducted seminars on retirement plan administration and operation, marketing advisor support and industry trends. He holds a Georgia insurance license and FINRA Series 6 and 63 registrations.

LINCOLN, Nebraska – Ameritas Chief Executive Officer Bob Jurgensmeier announces the following officer elections, all with an effective date of June 1, 2025.

Karen Noble-Patrick is the new vice president, service, ABRS service and operation. With 25 years of experience in the retirement services industry, Noble-Patrick began her career as a plan administrator for USFilter. Over the next 23 years at OneAmerica, she held various leadership roles in client administration, operations and strategy. Most recently, Noble-Patrick served as assistant vice president of retirement operations for Voya. She holds a Master of Business Administration from Anderson University and possesses both Greenbelt certification and FSRI credentials.

Roger Ruz is the new vice president, sales supervision, Ameritas Investment Company, LLC and Ameritas Advisory Services, LLC. Ruz was most recently with Huntington National Bank, where he was a senior vice president, director of brokerage supervision. He holds a four-year degree in finance from Franklin University and a Master of Business Administration from Capital University. Ruz also holds FINRA Series 7, 24, 53, 63, 65 and 4 licenses.

Anthony C. DiPaola of DiPaola Financial Group is the newest member of the Ameritas Hall of Fame. DiPaola will enter the Hall of Fame as a 2025 inductee.

The prestigious Hall of Fame award is the highest honor an Ameritas field partner can achieve. The award recognizes people who, over the course of their careers, exhibited outstanding leadership qualities, a commitment to bettering their community, and significant professional contributions to both the insurance industry and to Ameritas.

“Being inducted into the Ameritas Hall of Fame is an incredible honor and a testament to the dedication of our entire team,” said Anthony DiPaola, CEO of DiPaola Financial Group. “This recognition inspires me to continue mentoring others and delivering the highest level of service to our clients and communities.”

Ameritas associates got their hands dirty while planting trees at Robinson Elementary School in Lincoln, Nebraska on Friday, April 25. In recognition of Arbor Day, the special event was a community effort between Ameritas, the Arbor Day Foundation, Lincoln Public Schools, Lincoln Parks and Recreation, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Forestry program, and fourth and fifth graders at Robinson Elementary School.

The event saw the planting of 150 trees in a newly developed area in need of tree canopy.

Dedicated to planting and celebrating trees, Arbor Day brings awareness to the importance of trees and their environmental, economic, social and health benefits. It has a special connection to Nebraska. Celebrated on the last Friday of April each year, Arbor Day began thanks to the efforts of J. Sterling Morton, a Nebraska City-based journalist and politician. He recognized the importance of trees and the need for them on the largely treeless plains of Nebraska. The very first Arbor Day saw the planting of over one million trees in Nebraska and continues to inspire everyone to plant trees each year.

An appreciation for Arbor Day

Dana Summers, marketing, community relations and communications intern at Ameritas was one of the associates who volunteered her time to help plant trees. She says that she has always had a deep appreciation for Arbor Day as a Nebraskan.

“I have always had a deep appreciation for Arbor Day and the work that the Arbor Day Foundation does to create greener, healthier communities. Volunteering at this event felt like a natural way to give back while supporting something I care about,” said Summers. “Being there and seeing young students learn about the value of trees and the role they play in our environment was meaningful.”

Volunteers and local tree experts were present to educate elementary school students about the importance of trees. Local families and students also had the opportunity to take home a free tree sapling.

“It was inspiring to see so many organizations come together to make this event happen,” Summers said. “It’s exciting to think about the long-term impact this will have not just on the environment, but on the kids who will now feel connected to something bigger than themselves.”

Visit Ameritas’ community impact page to learn more about what giving back means to us.

LINCOLN, Nebraska – Craig Schommer has become the new senior vice president, risk and compliance, at Ameritas, effective March 30, 2025.

“The experience and leadership Craig brings to his new role will undoubtedly strengthen Ameritas,” said Sue Wilkinson, president at Ameritas. “His approach to risk management will help ensure we are prepared for future challenges and set us up for long-term success and stability.”

Schommer joined Ameritas in 2017 as a second vice president, product management, before becoming the vice president of life product development in 2019. He holds a Bachelor of Science in business administration from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Schommer earned the professional designation of Fellow of the Society of Actuaries in 2010 and has worked in the insurance industry for over 15 years. Schommer is a member of the Society of Actuaries and American Academy of Actuaries. He is also a member and past president of the Nebraska Actuaries Club.

We want everyone to enjoy the satisfaction that comes with well-being and a solid plan for financial security.

The Ameritas vision statement conveys a deeply held belief that we help people make their lives better. Our desire for everyone to experience this is indeed aspirational. It seems less audacious considering where we stand today and where our people and technology will take us tomorrow.

Our diverse suite of products and services appeals to those with varied needs and allows us to compete in distinct markets. The number of customers we serve grew by more than 233,000 in 2024, bringing the total to 6.2 million. We distributed policyholder benefits totaling $4.2 billion, showing what it means to be there when people need us the most.

Ameritas continues to be a strong, stable and energetic company. We delivered growth across the enterprise in 2024, with especially strong performance in our annuities business and in dental and vision insurance. At year-end, total members’ GAAP equity stood at $3.3 billion.

We remain committed to attracting and retaining the best talent. Our culture welcomes all and unites us with a shared vision. At Ameritas, you’ll meet generous people eager to help you succeed, grow a career and build a life. Our Lincoln, Nebraska, headquarters received a Best Place to Work award in 2024, affirming work we’ve done on behalf of associates across the nation.

We succeed and grow by offering the products, expertise and customer experience people want now and will demand in the future.

Visit About Us or download the 2024 Annual Report to learn more.

LINCOLN, Nebraska – The annual meeting of the members of Ameritas Mutual Holding Company will be held on Tuesday, May 6, at 9 a.m. in the Ameritas home office, 5900 O St., Lincoln, Nebraska.

In addition to receiving a report from Ameritas CEO Bob Jurgensmeier, the purpose of the annual meeting is to elect five nominees as directors for a three-year term. Voters were encouraged to cast their votes online, by phone or in person.

Ameritas MHC is the parent company, which owns Ameritas Holding Company. Ameritas Holding Company owns Ameritas Life Insurance Corp. (Ameritas Life). Ameritas Life Insurance Corp. of New York (Ameritas Life of NY) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Ameritas Life. Members of Ameritas MHC are eligible policyholders of these two life insurance companies.