News Release

Minnesota Insurance Executives Receive Professional Farm Mutual Manager Certification

INDIANAPOLIS (Sept. 29, 2006) -- Chris Adams, General Manager of Palo Mutual Fire Insurance Association in Aurora; Gregory Gangelhoff, Manager of Stark Farmers Mutual Fire Insurance Company in Sleepy Eye; Vicki Hongerholt, Assistant Manager of Mound Prairie Mutual Insurance Company in Houston; Connie Jaskowiak, Manager of Young America Mutual Insurance Company in Glencoe; Allan Muehlhausen, Secretary of Kelso Farmers Mutual Fire Insurance Company in Amboy; Patricia Rothfork, Manager of Melrose Mutual Insurance Company in Melrose; and Paul Stueven, Inspector/Adjuster of Southwest Mutual Insurance Company in Fairmont have been certified as Professional Farm Mutual Managers (PFMM).

Adams, Gangelhoff, Hongerholt, Jaskowiak, Muehlhausen, Rothfork, and Stueven were seven of 29 farm mutual executives from across the country to receive the PFMM designation during the recent 111th annual convention of the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies (NAMIC) held in Tampa, Florida.

To earn the PFMM certification, an individual must have a minimum of five years property insurance experience, hold a management position within a farm mutual insurance company and successfully complete NAMIC Management School modules on management/leadership, underwriting/claims and financial issues within five years. Individuals also must attend the NAMIC Claims Conference, NAMIC Farm Underwriting Seminar or the NAMIC Agricultural Risk Inspection School within five years of completing their first management school module. To maintain their certification, individuals must attend a minimum of one NAMIC management or technical education program every two years following the date of the certification.

"The PFMM certification is a testament to the dedication and ongoing professionalism of the farm mutual executives who undertake this rigorous course of study," said Bruce Lidstrom, NAMIC Farm Conference Marketing Manager. "They should be congratulated for striving to be truly professional farm mutual managers."

NAMIC Press Release

Questions should be directed to Bruce Lidstrom, NAMIC Farm Conference marketing manager at blidstrom@namic.org or at (317) 875-5250.