Professional Farm Mutual Manager Designation (PFMM)

The NAMIC Farm Mutual Conference board of directors created the Professional Farm Mutual Manager of the Year Award in 2002 to recognize the accomplishments of an outstanding farm mutual manager. The award recipient must hold the PFMM designation and serve in a management role at a mutual insurance company. Candidates are nominated due to high-level performance in management, financial management, and marketing.

Congratulations to NAMIC’s 2023 Professional Farm Mutual Manager of the Year!

Chris Feldt, PFMM, FMDC
CEO, Heartland Mutual Insurance Company | Belleville, Ill.

To nominate a PFMM for the award, please submit your nomination by July 15. Supporting documentation such as letters of recommendation from company board president, reinsurance company representative and/or state association executive is encouraged.

Nominees from the previous year will automatically be carried over for a one-year period. NAMIC will contact the nominator to confirm consideration for a second year prior to the nominee being presented for consideration to the selection committee.

The selection committee will review all nominations and select a recipient based on exceptional achievements in both the short and the long term during the his/her career. The award is presented at NAMIC’s Annual Convention each year.

Previous recipients of the Professional Farm Mutual Manager of the Year Award are:

• 2023 | Chris Feldt, PFMM, FMDC – CEO, Heartland Mutual Insurance Company | Belleville, Ill.

• 2022 | Rusty Dunning, PFMM – CEO, Old Missouri Mutual Insurance Company, Billings, Mo.

• 2021 | Scott Krum, PFMM – CEO, McMillan-Warner Mutual Insurance Company, Marshfield, Wis.

• 2020 | Marg Torrance, B.A., CIP, PFMM – President & CEO, Halwell Mutual Insurance Company, Guelph, Ontario

• 2019 | Mark Splinter, CPCU, Are, PFMM, FMDC – President & CEO, Mutual of Wausau Insurance Corporation, Wausau, Wis.

• 2018 | Paul Stueven, PFMM, FMDC – CEO and Treasurer, Fairmont Farmers Mutual Insurance Company, Fairmont, Minn.

• 2017 | Justin Lear, PFMM - CEO, Farmers Mutual Insurance Company, Ellinwood, Kan.

• 2016 | Brian Taylor, PFMM - President and CEO, Municipal Mutual Insurance Company, Wellsburg, W.Va.

• 2015 | James Bradley (Brad) Fortner, PFMM, FMDC – COO and Secretary, Farmers Protective Mutual Insurance Company, Rogers, Ark.

• 2014 | John Paul, PFMM – President/Treasurer, Western Iowa Mutual Insurance Association, Council Bluffs, Iowa

• 2013 | Tricia Mickley, PFMM – Secretary/Treasurer, Mount Carroll Mutual Fire Insurance Company, Mount Carroll, Ill.

• 2012 | Wilbur Maas, PFMM – President, Farmers Mutual Insurance Association, Hull, Iowa

• 2011 | Douglas Fincannon, PFMM - President, Alamance Farmers Mutual Insurance Company, Graham, N.C

• 2010 | JoAnn Kuschel, PFMM - Secretary/Treasurer/Manager, Boeuf & Berger Mutual Insurance Company, New Haven, Mo.

• 2009 | Jerry Zenke, PFMM - General Manager/Treasurer, Mound Prairie Mutual Insurance Company, Houston, Minn.

• 2008 | Patrick Faga, PFMM – President/CEO, Central Iowa Mutual Insurance Association, Story City, Iowa

• 2007 | Arthur Meadows, PFMM – President/CEO, Pan Handle Farmers Mutual Insurance Company, Moundsville, W.Va.

• 2006 | Priscilla Hughes, PFMM - Manager, Hope Mutual Insurance Company, Tyler, Minn.

• 2005 | Charles Smith, PFMM - General Manager, Billings Mutual Insurance Company, Billings, Mo.

• 2004 | Duane Smith, PFMM - Secretary/Manager, Farmers Mutual Insurance Company of Johnson and Shelby Counties, Franklin, Ind.

• 2003 | Beverly Fick, PFMM - Manager, Bradford Victor-Adams Mutual Insurance, Franklin Grove, Ill.

• 2002 | Bernita Shamel, PFMM - Secretary/Treasurer/Manager, Laclede Mutual Insurance Company, Lebanon, Mo.