Crop Insurance Today June 2018 - 28

Passing the Gavel
By Laurie Langstraat, NCIS

The February 2018 NCIS Board of Directors meeting brought a change of leadership to
the chairman's position. Jim Korin, NAU Country Insurance, became the fifteenth person to
serve as Chairman of the association replacing
Mike Day, Rural Community Insurance Services
(RCIS) who held that position from 2016-2017.
"We appreciate Mike's efforts during his tenure," said Zacharias. "Under his leadership, NCIS
accomplished several major organizational initiatives, as well as other accomplishments that
serve to further strengthen the association and
crop insurance."
Those initiatives included implementing a
long-term Association succession plan, the successful cessation of the Association's defined benefit plan - which removed approximately $3.5
million of liability risk from the Association's balance sheet - the institution of the Legal Affairs
Board Advisory Group, and improving NCIS'
role of governance by strengthening its professional conduct policy.
"It's been a privilege and honor to serve
as the NCIS for the past two years," said Mike.
"Working together our industry has taken great
strides in developing, improving, and defending
this most vital protection that America's farmers
rely on. I would like to thank the valuable NCIS
staff and leadership for their work, as well as recognize the efforts made by the NCIS Board and
membership for their contributions in improving
and expanding the crop insurance program. To
say that we 'take off our company hats' and work
for the benefit of program is an understatement.
I would also like to thank Tom Zacharias for his
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JUNE2018

Mike Day

Jim Korin

industry leadership and education efforts, and
congratulate Jim Korin as our new Chairman. It's
been a pleasure to serve."
Mike has more than 30 years' experience in
the crop insurance industry. He began his career
as a contract loss adjuster for Crop Hail Management (CHM) in central California and later became their Regional Manager for both California
and Arizona. He went on to become President of
CHM until RCIS was established in 1994. He was
named RCIS Western Regional Manager, later
became the Sioux Falls Sales and Service Office
Manager, and then was promoted to National
Sales Manager before accepting the position of
RCIS Business Head, a position he held from 2009
until Zurich North America's acquisition of RCIS
in 2016. He is currently Head of Crop for Zurich's

North America's Alternative Markets business
unit responsible for the overall direction and strategic planning for the Crop strategic business.
"Mike is to be commended for his willingness
to serve and his unwavering support of the association," Tom said. "We wish him well in his
future endeavors."
Each year in conjunction with the NCIS Annual Meeting, the Board of Directors at its organizational meeting elects the Board Chair and
two Vice Chairs for one-year terms. The Chair
and the other officers must be present members
of the Board of Directors. Consistent with the
NCIS Bylaws, an officer is prohibited from occupying the same office for more than two consecutive terms, thus it is customary for the elected
officers to serve for two, one-year terms. Together

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Crop Insurance Today June 2018