President & Chief Executive Officer

Knut A. Olson is President & CEO of National Guardian Life Insurance Company and is a member of the Board of Trustees. Olson joined NGL in 2019 with nearly 30 years of insurance experience, beginning as an insurance agent and advancing to various leadership roles managing life insurance, annuities, investment products and insurance operations.

Executive Vice President & President of BrightBenefits

Danny Bentley joined NGL as Executive Vice President and President of BrightBenefits, NGL’s dental and vision insurance business launched in November 2019. With more than 35 years of experience Bentley is a leader in fostering innovation and driving organizational change.

Senior Vice President, Chief Distribution Officer

Patrick M. Juarez joined NGL in 2015 as Vice President with more than 20 years in the insurance industry. He is responsible for managing marketing and sales strategies for NGL’s product lines, including preneed, AssetGuard individual and group products for long term care, Medicare Supplement, limited benefit medical, dental and vision.

Senior Vice President, Chief Investment Officer

Timothy T. Matson, CFA is responsible for managing NGL’s investment portfolio. Matson has more than 33 years of experience in the investment management industry, with an extensive background in fixed income, equity, alternative assets, and insurance general account investment management.

Senior Vice President, Chief Digital Officer

Tim Schaefer is experienced in building and leading large, complex organizations spanning operations, technology, digital, marketing and analytics. Schaefer leads NGL’s customer experience, data and analytics, and enterprise architecture. He is focused on overseeing relationships with emerging technology partnerships and developing the digital vision and roadmap.

Senior Vice President, Chief Legal Officer

Kimberly A. Shaul, JD has 30 years of legal and insurance experience and joined NGL in 2014. She is responsible for leading and directing all legal matters relating to NGL and its subsidiaries and has provided legal expertise on a variety of insurance regulatory and compliance issues.

Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer & Chief Actuary

Nancy L. Stoddard, FSA, MAAA, oversees all actuarial activities, including business development, pricing, valuation, forecasting and liability management. She more than 35 years of leading teams and managing operations over pricing, experience analysis and valuation functions.

Senior Vice President, Product & Solutions

Jeremy Ragsdale has more than 20 years of leadership expertise encompassing all aspects of a life insurance company, including advance markets, distribution, executive leadership, IT, marketing, new business, operations, product, project and risk. Ragsdale focuses on NGL’s product design and research to enhance and grow individual insurance product offerings.

Vice President, Strategic Partner Development

John Baker began his career in the funeral service industry nearly 30 years working for a family-owned funeral group. He joined NGL in 2013 and concentrates on developing and managing the Preneed sales department.    

Vice President, Sales and Business Development

Cameron Black focuses on developing and nurturing Preneed partnerships with NGL’s marketing organizations, independent agents and agencies. Black has more than 10 years of experience in the insurance industry managing sales for top funeral homes.

Vice President, Chief Culture and Communications Officer

Jessica Grann joined NGL in 2004 and has led the marketing communications team encompassing strategic planning, creative design, media planning and purchasing, direct marketing, public relations, and sales promotions. She focuses on all aspects of the NGL brand as she advances culture through human resources, talent development and corporate communications.

Vice President, Finance

John T. Horbal is responsible for all financial management aspects of BrightBenefits, NGL’s dental and vision insurance business, and for leading NGL’s financial planning and analysis function and corporate development financial due diligence process. He has 20 years of broad financial management experience, focusing on a business’s value chain and financial transparency.

Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer

Marita LaChapell, CPA.PFS, CLTC, CKA has more than 30 years of experience designing and implementing enterprise systems, compensation strategies, and driving organizational change through continuous improvement. She oversees and manages all aspects of the Risk, Audit, Benefits/Payroll, Policy Accounting, Reinsurance and Tax departments.

Vice President, Policy Administration

Joanna Trygstad, MBA oversees the policy administration services, claims, underwriting, agent support and customer services for NGL’s Preneed line of business. She has nearly 15 years of experience in a variety of operations, human resources and strategy leadership roles, with a focus on organizational and operational effectiveness initiatives.

Vice President, Chief Risk Officer

Robert R. Walkowiak, CPA, CFA, CIA, CRM has more than 30 years of experience leading organization sin risk management efforts. He oversees the area of risk and manages an enterprise risk management framework to help facilitate management of NGL’s top risks.