Our People
The Academy of Life Underwriting (ALU) is staffed by 64 volunteers—62 professional underwriters, most with many years of experience, and two talented medical directors. All of them can serve because of support provided by the companies for whom they work. These volunteers produce the educational program specifically designed for the professional home office underwriter.
They develop and maintain current and appropriate courses of study for use in underwriting education. In addition, they prepare and administer the ALU exams which test students’ underwriting knowledge. In the area of continuing education, the committee members provide several webinars annually which provide training on underwriting topics and they also facilitate an annual underwriting forum which provides a venue for senior underwriting personnel to discuss topics of interest.
ALU Board of Directors
The 2025-2026 ALU Board of Directors:
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Chair
Jodi McDonald, Certified FALU, FLMI, ACS
Hannover Re
ALU Past President
Ann Day, Certified FALU, FLMI, FLHC, CLU, FFSI, ARA, ACS
Woodmen Life
ALU President
Secretary
Catie Muccigrosso, Certified FALU, FLMI, ARA, ACS
RGA
Treasurer
Michael R. Hill, Certified FALU, FLMI
RGA
Mark J. Lounds, Certified FALU, FLMI, ACS, ARA
Munich Re
AHOU Representative
Jennifer Dahl, Certified FALU, FLMI, MBA
Sun Life
CIU Representative
Bonnie Stroder, Certified FALU, FLMI, ACS
RGA
OTR Representative
Sharon W. Garner, Certified FALU, FLMI
American National Life
Event Planner
Melissa Forburger
AMS
Managing Director
ALU Executive Group
The 2025-2026 ALU Executive Group:
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ALU President
Ann Day, Certified FALU, FLMI, FLHC, CLU, FFSI, ARA, ACS
Woodmen Life
ALU Past President
Jodi McDonald, Certified FALU, FLMI, ACS
Hannover Re
Secretary
Catie Muccigrosso, Certified FALU, FLMI, ARA, ACS
RGA
Director of Curriculum
Norm Leblond, Certified FALU
Swiss Re
Director of Education Committee
Julia Wysong, Certified FALU, FLMI
New York Life
Director of Exams
Sabrina Porter, Certified FALU, FLMI, ACS
Swiss Re
Website Director
Andrew Langemeier, FALU, FLMI
John Hancock
Director of Marketing
Angie Reedy, Certified FALU, FLMI
Country Financial
Director of Survey
Kristine Amen, Certified FALU, FLMI
Assurity
Director of Forum
Carolyn A. Goshorn, Certified FALU, MBA, CLU, FLMI
Securian Financial
Treasurer
Michael R. Hill, Certified FALU, FLMI
RGA
OTR Director
Bonnie Stroder, Certified FALU, FLMI, ACS
RGA
ALU Coordinators
The 2025-2026 ALU Coordinators are:
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| Coordinator ALU 101 | Coordinator ALU 101B |
| Roberta Scott, Certified FALU, FLMI, ACS | Christine Klein, Certified FALU, FLMI, ARA, ACS, AIRC, AIAA |
| WoodmenLife | Thrivent Financial |
| Coordinator ALU 201 | Coordinator ALU 202 |
| Andrea Lovelady, Certified FALU, FLMI, ACS | Michael Williams, Certified FALU, FLMI, ARA, ACS |
| Penn Mutual | USAA |
| Coordinator ALU 301 | |
| Debbie Dias, Certified FALU, FLMI, ARA | |
| Canada Life Reinsurance |
ALU Past Presidents
There have been 15 presidents of the Education Committee. The past ALU presidents are:
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- Art Taylor (1974)
- Ben Currier (1977)
- Bill Phillips (1980)
- Bob Hale (1983)
- Dale Johnson (1987)
- Joe Dahl (1990)
- Barb Lutz (1993)
- Gloria Flattum (1996)
- Roland Paradis (1999)
- Brian Pray (2002)
- Marty Meyer (2005)
- Lee Janecek (2008)
- Margaret Taff (2011)
- Frank Goetz (2014)
- Jennifer Johnson (2017)
- Jodi McDonald (2020)
In 2012, the Education Committee incorporated as a separate organization. Ann Day (2023) is the current ALU President.