EMCC Board of Directors
Our board of directors help keep EMC on the track to success. Our 11-member board works with senior leaders to review and approve company goals and implement corporate strategy while assuring the financial solvency of the company. This includes approving our vision and mission; advising management on significant initiatives; reviewing and approving financial objectives, plans and actions; ensuring management succession; and much more.
Members as of February 2025:
Board of Directors
Mary O'Gorman Murray, CPCU
Appointment Date: March 12, 2007
Born in Illinois. A graduate of Chestnut Hill College, Philadelphia, Pa. (B.A.) and University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pa. (M.S. in Education). CPCU designation. Retired from Towers Perrin Reinsurance as a Reinsurance Broker and Chief Administrative Officer in 2006, having been associated with the company since 1975. Resides in Media, Pa.
Thomas W. Booth
Appointment Date: March 13, 2002
Born in Arizona. A graduate of Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa (B.S. in Industrial Engineering); and University of Dallas, Irving, Texas (M.B.A). Retired Executive, Lennox International Inc., Richardson, Texas. Resides in Boulder, Colo.
Tej K. Dhawan
Appointment Date: February 8, 2023
Born in New Delhi, India. A graduate of Central College, Pella, Iowa (B.A.). Currently Managing Director, Plains Angels Investor Network and Managing Partner, Mango Seed Investments. Past Strategic Initiatives Officer at Principal Financial Group. Resides in Grimes, Iowa.
Nora M. Everett, J.D.
Appointment Date: March 13, 2020
Born in Maryland. A graduate of Iowa State University, Ames Iowa (BS); and William and Mary Law School, Williamsburg, Virginia (J.D.). Retired Chairman of Principal Funds and President, Retirement Savings and Income Solutions, Principal Financial Group, Des Moines, Iowa. Resides in Des Moines, Iowa.
Matthew D. Griffin, J.D.
Appointment Date: March 9, 2016
Born in California. A graduate of Williams College, Williamstown, Mass. (B.A.); London School of Economics, London, U.K. (MSc); and New York University School of Law, N.Y. (J.D.). Runs the Legal Department at College Board, New York City, N.Y. Resides in Brooklyn, N.Y.
Steven G. Jacobs
Appointment Date: March 12, 2014
Born in Iowa. A graduate of Drake University, Des Moines, Iowa (B.S. and M.B.A in Business Administration). Co-Founder, Principal and President of BCC Advisers, Des Moines, Iowa. Resides in Des Moines, Iowa.
Ronald W. Jean, FCAS, MAAA
Appointment Date: March 11, 2009
Born in Wisconsin. A graduate of University of Wisconsin, Platteville, Wis. (B.S.); and Michigan State University, East Lansing, Mich. (M.S.). FCAS and MAAA designations. Retired from EMCC as Executive Vice President for Corporate Development, having been associated with the company since 1979. Resides in Altoona, Iowa.
Scott R. Jean, FCAS, MAAA
Appointment Date: March 11, 2020
Born in Wisconsin. A graduate of Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa (B.S.); FCAS and MAAA designations. President and Chief Executive Officer of EMCC. Resides in West Des Moines, Iowa.
Bruce G. Kelley, J.D., CPCU, CLU
Appointment Date: March 14, 1984
Born in Pennsylvania. A graduate of Dartmouth College, Hanover, N.H. (A.B.); and University of Iowa, College of Law, Iowa City, Iowa (J.D.). CPCU and CLU designations. Retired Chief Executive Officer of EMCC. Resides in Des Moines, Iowa.
J. Thomas Lockhart, M.B.A.
Appointment Date: March 12, 2008
Born in Ohio. A graduate of Williams College, Williamstown, Mass. (B.A.) and New York University, New York, N.Y. (M.B.A.). Financial and accounting consultant. Resides in Golden Valley, Minn.
David S. Ziegler
Appointment Date: March 8, 2017
Born in Illinois. A graduate of Drake University, Des Moines, Iowa (B.S. in Business Administration). Certified Public Accountant. Co-owner of Ziegler’s Ace Hardware, Elgin, Ill. Served as Chairman of the Ace Hardware Corporation board of directors from 2008–2014. Resides in Elgin, Ill.
Committees
While the EMCC Board of Directors meets quarterly, smaller committees meet periodically to oversee specific company actions. Below are the seven committees along with a quick summary and list of members.
Audit Committee The Audit Committee helps the board fulfill its responsibilities to policyholders and others relating to:
The integrity of the company’s financial statements and financial reporting process
The adequacy of the company’s system of internal controls, including financial, operational, and compliance with legal and regulatory requirements
The qualifications, independence, and performance of the company’s external auditor
The performance of the company’s internal audit function
Members: Tej K. Dhawan, Steven G. Jacobs, Bruce G. Kelley, and David S. Ziegler (Chair)
Compensation & Benefits Committee The purpose of the Compensation & Benefits Committee is to assist the board in its responsibilities related to compensation of the company’s executive officers, as well as the company’s benefit and retirement plans for all company team members.
Members: Thomas W. Booth (Chair), Tej K. Dhawan, Mary O’Gorman Murray and David S. Ziegler
Corporate Governance & Nominating Committee The Corporate Governance & Nominating Committee helps establish appropriate corporate governance policies and practices in areas such as selection of new directors, succession planning for executives, and evaluation of proposed changes to key governing documents.
Members: Thomas W. Booth, Nora M. Everett (Chair), Matthew D. Griffin, Scott R. Jean, Bruce G. Kelley and Mary O’Gorman Murray
Enterprise Risk Management Committee This committee helps ensure that enterprise risk management objectives and activities are being managed appropriately and within enterprise-wide risk appetite levels, with focus on top enterprise risks, emerging risks, and risks related to cybersecurity.
Members: Tej K. Dhawan, Nora M. Everett, Matthew D. Griffin, Ronald W. Jean (Chair), Scott R. Jean and J. Thomas Lockhart
Executive Committee The Executive Committee provides a subset of the board that can exercise the powers of the full board in circumstances where the full board is unable to meet and fulfill its normal responsibilities.
Members: Thomas W. Booth, Nora M. Everett, Scott R. Jean (Chair) and Mary O'Gorman Murray (Vice Chair)
Investment Committee This committee helps oversee the investment of assets of the company. Some actions include selecting a method for measuring the investment performance of assets of each of the company’s sponsored employee benefit plans, authorizing changes in the company's investment portfolio, and monitoring compliance with the company's investment policy in light of market conditions, operational needs, and results.
Members: Matthew D. Griffin, Steven G. Jacobs, Ronald W. Jean, Bruce G. Kelley, and J. Thomas Lockhart (Chair)