FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR HONORED WITH NAIC DIAMOND AWARD

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (Jan. 5, 2009) - The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) recently honored Communications Director Scott Holeman with the NAIC Diamond Award for his achievement on several key iniatives on behalf of the organization. Holeman, who joined the NAIC in 2004, was presented with the award by NAIC Acting Executive Vice President and CEO Andrew Beal.

"Under Scott's leadership, he and his team have greatly expanded every aspect of the NAIC's communication programs," Beal said. "Thanks to Scott's commitment, professionalism and hard work, the role of the Communications Division has expanded exponentially - and has truly become an integral part of how the NAIC does business."

Specifically, Beal recognized the following achievements:

• Web Site Traffic - Annual Web site traffic at this time last year was 3.1 million visits (up 214 percent over 2006). Web site traffic this year is 5 million, up 40 percent over the previous year. The NAIC Web site now gets about 14,000 visits a day.
• Insure U - Since its launch in March of 2006, the NAIC's award-winning Insure U consumer-education campaign has achieved more than 1 billion media impressions. This year, the Insure U program was expanded to include tips and information on four new life situations.
• Public-Service Announcements - This year, the Communications Division produced a PSA about long-term care insurance that has reached an audience of 236 million, as well as a PSA about disaster preparedness that has reached 10 million viewers. In 2007, the "Fight Fake Insurance" PSA reached an audience of 25 million.
• Media and Relations/Outreach - The Communications Division is responsible for disseminating information about the NAIC in several different ways, including: creating videos; obtaining appearances for regulators in high-profiles media outlets such as the The Wall Street Journal, CNN and CNBC; creating dynamic written publications such as the annual report and the Daily News during the NAIC's quarterly national meetings.
• PIO Forum and Support - The Communications Division plans and hosts an annual educational session for state public information officers called the PIO Forum. The Division also creates and disseminates news releases and other educational materials that can be used by state insurance departments for consumer-related outreach.

Express criteria for the Diamond Award must be met, including:

• Successful completion of a multi-year, high-profile NAIC member initiative.
• Outstanding leadership, judgment, initiative, competence and negotiation skills.
• The important, high-profile and complex initiative must positively affect the NAIC and result in the attainment of its mission.

Click HERE for a photograph of Holeman receiving the Diamond Award.

Photo caption (left to right): NAIC Acting Executive Vice President and CEO Andrew Beal presents NAIC Communications Director Scott Holeman with the Diamond Award. Holeman received the prestigious Diamond Award for his achievement on several key communications iniatives on behalf of the organization.

About the NAIC

Formed in 1871, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) is a voluntary organization of the chief insurance regulatory officials of the 50 states, the District of Columbia and five U.S. territories. The NAIC has three offices: Executive Office, Washington, D.C.; Central Office, Kansas City, Mo.; and Securities Valuation Office, New York City.

The NAIC serves the needs of consumers and the industry, with an overriding objective of supporting state insurance regulators as they protect consumers and maintain the financial stability of the insurance marketplace. For more information, visit www.naic.org.

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