Russell B. Childers, president of an insurance agency in Americus, Ga., was installed as the president of the National Association of Health Underwriters (NAHU) and is hoping to ensure the trade association is a “key player” in national health reform efforts.

He and other officers for the 2009-2010 executive board representing about 100,000 professional health insurance agents and brokers in the U.S. were recently installed at the insurance trade group’s 79th Annual Convention in New York City.

Russell B. Childers

Childers, president of Russ Childers Insurance, has been a NAHU member for almost 18 years. He has served as president and legislative chair of both his local and state chapters, regional legislative chair and chair of the national legislative council.

“Our primary goal is to act as a key player in reforming our health care system while preserving private market insurance coverage and the right of every individual and business to have the advice and services of a knowledgeable insurance professional,” Childers said in a statement. “All Americans deserve the right to purchase products that are appropriate to their individual circumstances and that will fund the care that they, in consultation with their physician, decide they need. Anything less is unacceptable.”

Childers has served in a wide range of organizations, including the board of the Americus Sumter Chamber of Commerce, as well as past positions on the School Board of the City of Americus and the Sumter County Board.

Childers has served as president and legislative chair of both his local and state chapters, regional legislative chair and chair of the national legislative council. He also served as ethical guidance chairman of his local chapter of the American Society of Financial Services Professionals and was chosen as the Health Underwriter of the Year in Georgia in 2000.

He began his tenure in the insurance industry in 1972 and has been an independent broker of life and health insurance and investment products for the last 25 years.

Others installed include Steven M. Selinsky of Warner Pacific Insurance Services, in Southfield, Mich., president-elect; Mel A. Schlesinger of Plans For Health Inc. in Winston-Salem, N.C., vice president; Bruce D. Benton of Genesis Smith Benton Insurance & Financial Service in Tarzana, Calif., treasurer; and Thomas M. Harte of Landmark Benefits Inc. in Hampstead, N.H., secretary.

Also, Scott A. Leavitt, Scott Leavitt Insurance & My Wellchoice+ in Boise, Idaho, immediate past president; Carolynne E. Muldoon, Colorado Employee Benefit Group LLC in Boulder, Colo., membership chairwoman; and Jesse A. Patton, Associations Marketing Group Inc., in West Des Moines, Iowa, legislative chairman.

Regional vice presidents include Norman Joseph Michaels of Michaels & Associates in Armonk, N.Y. (Region I); James R. Stenger of NAS Financial Services in Morristown, N.J. (Region II); Linda M. Erlenbach of L.M. Erlenbach Inc. in Aurora, Ohio (Region III); Kathryn A. Beals of Dean Health Plan in Madison, Wisc. (Region IV); Christopher S. Harrison of Eben Concepts Co. in Fayetteville, N.C. (Region V); Colleen Pruitt of Lubbock, Texas, who owns her own agency (Region VI); Ruthann Laswick of Black Gould & Associates Inc. in Phoenix, Ariz. (Region VII); and Donald W. Goldmann of Word & Brown in Orange, Calif. (Region VIII).