Ameritas Officer Elections Announced
 

Lincoln, Neb.//October 3, 2011//JoAnn M. Martin, president and chief executive officer, announces the following officer elections and appointment.

Cheryl Heilman was elected senior vice president – individual operations – Ameritas Life, Ameritas Life of New York, Acacia Life and Union Central Life. In this role, Heilman is responsible for planning and directing all aspects of the individual division’s operational policies, objectives and initiatives. She also provides overall leadership, vision and direction to initiate and administer a wide range of operational functions for multiple individual product lines, including individual life, individual disability income and individual annuities.

Since joining the company in 2002, Heilman has held several leadership positions, including vice president and chief compliance officer – The Advisors Group, Inc., vice president and chief operating officer – Ameritas Investment Corp. and most recently, senior vice president and chief compliance officer and risk management – Ameritas Investment Corp.

She is a graduate of Excelsior University ,where she earned a B.S. degree in business administration. She holds the FINRA Series 4, 7, 63, 24 and 53 security licenses and currently serves on FINRA’s District Committee.

Tracey Smith, CPA, FLMI, was elected vice president – operations and finance, individual division – Ameritas Life. In this new position, Smith will provide leadership and oversight for the administrative and operational elements of the Ameritas distribution organization, including individual life insurance, annuities, disability insurance, retirement plans and Ameritas Investment Corp.

She started with Ameritas in 2001 as manager – accounting, and in 2008, she was promoted to director – accounting special projects.

Smith graduated from the University of Nebraska – Lincoln, where she earned a B.S. degree in business administration with emphasis in accounting. She is a member of Nebraska Society of CPAs and American Institute of CPAs (AICPA).


Bev Bartek, FLMI, was elected second vice president and assistant controller – Ameritas Life. Bartek is responsible for the investment accounting functions of the organization’s insurance companies—Ameritas Life, Ameritas Life of New York, Acacia Life and Union Central Life. This function includes the accounting for all fixed and equity securities as well as mortgage loans, derivatives and partnerships.

Bartek joined the company in 1987 and has worked in the accounting department the majority of her career, with positions in accounting operations, financial reporting, tax and investment accounting.

She is a graduate of the College of Saint Mary's, Omaha, Neb., where she earned a B.S. degree in accounting and business administration. She is a general securities representative, registered with affiliate Ameritas Investment Corp., member FINRA/SIPC.


Steve Christophersen was elected second vice president and associate general counsel, group division – Ameritas Life. In this role, he serves as the lead attorney for Ameritas Group and provides legal services, research and counsel on legal questions or issues and support with contracting needs for the division. He also provides enterprise-wide legal services for all aspects of the organization’s commercial mortgage loans operations.

Christophersen joined the company in 2002 as an assistant general counsel and was later promoted to director and assistant general counsel.

He earned a B.S. degree in business administration and his juris doctorate from the University of Minnesota. He is a member of the Nebraska State Bar Association.


Robin Martin, CBCP, FLMI, was elected second vice president – corporate facilities – Ameritas Life. In her new role, Martin is responsible for the development, implementation and maintenance of the enterprise business continuity plan. She also provides leadership for the organization’s records and information management, including managing the company’s records center. She continues in her role with purchasing.

Martin has been with Ameritas for 23 years, serving in a variety of roles within the individual division, corporate communications and corporate facilities. Her most recent position was director – business continuation and purchasing in corporate facilities.

A graduate of Kearney State College, Martin earned a B.S. degree in office administration. She is a member of the Nebraska Chapter of ARMA International, LOMA Business Continuity and DRI International. She serves as on the fund distribution team for United Way/CHAD.

Contact:
Scott Stuckey, vice president – corporate communications
402-467-7432
sstuckey@ameritas.com