America's Benefit Specialist July 2023

NABIP PRESIDENT AN INTERVIEW WITH ERIC KOHLSDORF

E ric Kohlsdorf will soon be sworn in as president of the National Association of Benefits and Insurance Profes sionals. Eric will be the first president of our association from Iowa, and he has served in many leadership roles at the local, state and national level. Let’s find out more about the person who will lead our association for the next year. How did you get into the industry? This is such an interesting question. How does anyone get into this industry? My story starts at a hotel in Ankeny, Iowa. I was working at the front desk and my best friend came by to tell me he got a new job making $1,000 per month at a com pany called Principal. I thought he had hit the lottery! I asked him how I could get a job and the rest is history. I applied (in person not online), went for an interview and the next thing I knew, I was a “regular group” underwriter at Principal. There are many stories similar to mine. Many of us started somewhere else in an industry far, far away. One thing led to another and we ended up where we are and within NABIP. A few months ago, I was thinking about this very question when talking with friends and hearing their stories so, this coming year, I will be starting a video podcast called the “Faces of NABIP,” where guests will tell their stories and their focus on improving healthcare in America. I wonder who has the most interesting story…

How did you become involved with the association? While I was still working at Principal, an early mentor of mine said I needed to invest in myself and join a professional orga nization. I did some research (Google wasn’t around yet) and landed on the “National Association of Health Underwriters.” I was an underwriter, after all, so it was a perfect fit… or not. I quickly learned NAHU wasn’t positioned for home-office underwriters. As it would be, soon thereafter, I transitioned into a job as a healthcare account executive in the Principal sales office, working with brokers selling employee benefit programs. So NAHU came to me at an opportune time in my career. I guess sometimes accidents happen for a reason. Fast-forward, my boss was on the Iowa state board for the association but was stepping down, she asked me to step up and participate and I said, “Yes.” After a few board meetings, I guess I had too many opinions or went to the bathroom at the wrong time and, the next thing I know, I’m the presi dent-elect of Iowa! Really, to me, being asked to serve is the highest form of flattery. It says a lot about a person’s passion and dedication. Who are your mentors? I’ve had many mentors over my years within NABIP. I can’t even start to name them all. I guess they would start with Deidra Parmen, who I previously mentioned. Troy Cook gave

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