2008 -- Roland Paradis, FALU
Roland is currently Vice President of the Brokerage MGA Underwriting & New Business organization at Lincoln Financial Group. He has over 30 years of industry experience as both a field and home office underwriter and as a manager of underwriters and new business associates. He has been with Lincoln Financial almost 10 years. He is currently responsible for managing 7 cross functional Underwriting & New Business teams in 3 locations.
Roland received his CLU designation in 1980 and his FALU in 1988. Since receiving his FALU, he has been very active in the underwriting industry and just recently completed 20 years of service to Academy of Life Underwriting, as a member of the Education Committee and on the Board of Directors.
Roland joined the Education Committee of the ALU as a question writer for Exams 1 and 2 and moved on after 2 years to write questions for Exam 3. His next stint was as Exam 1 Coordinator and he held that position for 3 years. Never wanting to leave the group, he quickly accepted the role of Treasurer for the committee and held that position for 2 years only to move onto the position of Chairman from 2000 to 2003.
During his last meeting of the Education Committee in January 2003, he suggested making the curriculum of the Education Program more meaningful to the underwriter and help with their education and professional development as they moved through their careers. He convened a meeting in May of 2003 with members of the Executive Group of the Education Committee. It was at this meeting that the concept and blueprint for the new ALU Education Curriculum as we see it today was formed.
Roland was asked to re-join the Education Committee for 3 years as Curriculum Strategy Coordinator
At this time, Roland was also deeply involved with the Association of Home Office Underwriters. In October of 2002, he was elected to the position of AVP Program for the first-ever AHOU Meeting in Seattle. He moved into the position of Vice President, Program for the AHOU meeting in San Francisco, as Executive VP for the AHOU meeting in Chicago in 2004 and, ultimately, as President for the 4th annual AHOU meeting in October, 2005 in San Diego. Incidentally, during his tenure as President, he also negotiated for this meeting and was responsible for choosing this hotel - so anyone who has any problems with where we are today, feel free to see Roland - - just kidding!!
After his presidency was over, Roland joined the Board of Directors of the ALU and served as its Chair in 2006. On December 31st, 2007, he completed his third year of a 3 year term as board member.
Roland lives in South Windsor, Connecticut with his wife Joni and his younger son Chandler, who just graduated from college 1 week ago. His older son, Brendan, has decided to follow in his father’s footsteps and is working as an underwriter with AXA-Equitable in Charlotte, NC.
Roland, on behalf of the Board, I congratulate you on this achievement.