Ameritas Leadership Team

Bill Lester is a Seward, Nebraska, native with a business degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Lester holds the CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) and FLMI (Fellow, Life Management Institute) designations.

Lester began his career with Ameritas in 1983 as a securities analyst with Ameritas Investment Advisors and has held key positions throughout the organization. He was elected president & chief executive officer of Ameritas in January 2020.

He serves as chair of the board of directors for the Ameritas Life Insurance Corp. and serves on the board of directors for Ameritas Mutual Holding Company. Lester is a member of the Ameritas Executive and Ameritas Finance committees.

He is passionate about Ameritas’ purpose of “fulfilling life” and serving its members through the company values of integrity, mutuality, performance, you, learning and generosity.

Among his many activities in the community, Lester serves on the board of directors for the American Council of Life Insurers (ACLI). He is past chair and a board member of the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce and serves on the executive committee, a trustee of the University of Nebraska Foundation. He serves on the United Way board and, together with his wife Cindy, will chair the annual campaign in 2023.

Lester also serves on the board of directors of Universal Surety Company/Inland Insurance Company.

Ryan Beasley was born in San Antonio, Texas, and grew up in Savannah, Georgia. He earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in business administration management from Georgia Southern University in Statesboro, Georgia, and a Master of Science in financial services from the American College of Financial Services in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania.

Beasley holds the professional designations Certified Financial Planner, Chartered Life Underwriter, Chartered Financial Consultant, and LIMRA Leadership Institute Fellow, among other professional designations and licenses.

Beasley began his career with Ameritas in 2015 as senior vice president – shared distribution. He has worked in the insurance and financial services industry for over 20 years.

Beasley serves on the board of directors for Ameritas Advisory Services, LLC; Ameritas Investment Company, LLC; Ameritas Life Insurance Corp. of New York; and is chair of Variable Contract Agency, LLC. He is a member of NAIFA and the Financial Planning Association.

Graves joined Ameritas in summer 2017 as the regional vice president of the southeast region and was promoted to the divisional vice president of the east division in April 2019.

Before joining Ameritas, he was the general agent of the Richmond office for MassMutual for 13 years.

Starting his career with the MONY Group, Graves worked in various roles, working as an agent, a sales manager, a national director and a managing director. He is also licensed in FINRA series 7, 24, 63 and 65. Graves is a member of The Richmond Association of Life Underwriters and a member of GAMA. He is also the past president of The Richmond Association of Life Underwriters. He attended Troy University and resides in Virginia with his family.

Bob Jurgensmeier is a Hastings, Nebraska, native. He earned a Bachelor of Science in business administration from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Jurgensmeier holds the professional designation Fellow of the Society of Actuaries and is a member of the American Academy of Actuaries.

He has worked in the insurance and financial services industry for over 25 years. He began his career with Ameritas in 2012 as senior vice president and chief actuary – individual division.

Jurgensmeier serves on the boards of CHI Health St. Elizabeth Hospital and CHI Nebraska Heart Hospital. He is also a member and past president of the Nebraska Actuaries Club.

Kelly Halverson is a South Dakota native who received his Bachelor of Science in actuarial science from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in Lincoln, Nebraska, and his Master of Business Administration from Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska. He holds the professional designation of Fellow of the Society of Actuaries (FSA) and is a member of the American Academy of Actuaries.

He began his career at Ameritas as an actuarial intern in 2001 and began his full-time career with roles at other insurance carriers before rejoining Ameritas in 2012 as second vice president, individual product development.

Halverson serves on the board of Big Brothers Big Sisters Lincoln. He’s also a member and past president of the Nebraska Actuaries Club.

Mann grew up in Gothenburg, Nebraska. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln after serving in the U.S. Navy from 1988-1990 and the U.S. Navy Reserve from 1990-1994. Brandon holds the FINRA Series 7, 24, 53, 63 and 65 securities registrations.

Mann joined Ameritas in 2017 working as a 2^nd vice president of business development in AIC and most recently served as divisional vice president for Ameritas. He was elected president of AIC and AAS in 2022. Mann has worked in the financial services industry for 20 years.

Mann serves on the board of directors of Ameritas Investment Company, LLC, and Ameritas Advisory Services, LLC.

Dave Voelker is a Kentucky native with a Bachelor of Science in computer science from the University of Kentucky in Lexington, Kentucky.

Voelker began his career with Ameritas in 2013 as vice president of information technology. He has worked in the insurance and financial services industry for over 25 years.

He is a member of FTPA (FinTech Professionals Association), ITA (Insurance Technology Association) and the Novarica Research Council.

Jim Kais is a Miami Beach, Florida, native. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in economics and business administration from Ursinus College in Collegeville, Pennsylvania. Kais holds the FINRA Series 6, 63 and 26 securities licenses.

Kais began his career with Ameritas in 2018. He has worked in the insurance and financial services industry since 1995.

In 2016, he received an award for demonstrating exceptional leadership traits and achieving business results. He has testified before Congress as a policy and subject matter expert on pooled retirement plans, fiduciary regulations and state-run retirement plans.

Kais serves on the advisory board of the SPARK Institute and the retirement plans committee of the American Council of Life Insurers. He is a member of the National Association of Professional Employer Organizations (NAPEO).

Forrest Wilson began his career at Ameritas in 2018 and has played an integral role in the transformation of the retirement plans business. Previously at Ameritas, Wilson was vice president, national sales—where he led all efforts for the division. In his current role, he oversees business experience, strategy, product and implementation.

Wilson has more than 25 years of experience in the industry, previously as head of retirement sales at Allianz Global Investors and other roles at Empower, Voya and Fidelity. He earned a Bachelor of Science in marketing from Central Connecticut State University and a Master of Business Administration in finance and marketing from New York University’s Leonard N. Stern School of Business.

He lives in Charlotte, North Carolina, with his wife and three children.

Kelly Wieseler is a St. Helena, Nebraska, native with a Bachelor of Science in actuarial science from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Wieseler holds the FSA (Fellow of the Society of Actuaries), MAAA (Member, American Academy of Actuaries) and LLIF (LIMRA Leader Institute Fellow) designations.

He began his career with Ameritas in 1997 as an actuarial associate and has held key positions in the organization. He was elected senior vice president – group chief actuary and underwriting for Ameritas in 2014.

Wieseler serves on the board of directors and the executive and finance committees and is treasurer of the Lincoln YMCA. He is also a management committee member for the Fallbrook YMCA.

He is a member of the Nebraska Actuaries Club and a member of the Society of Actuaries health committee.

Patrick "Drew" Fleming is an Atlanta, Georgia, native with a Bachelor of Engineering in biomedical engineering from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee.

Fleming has worked in the insurance and financial services industry for almost 30 years. He began his career with Ameritas in 1993 as a group representative.

He serves on the advisory committee for the Council of Insurance Company Executives. Fleming is also a mentor and fundraiser for both the Cristo Rey Atlanta Jesuit High School and Mustard Seed Communities.

Bruce Mieth is a Hebron, Nebraska, native with a Bachelor of Arts in computer science from Hastings College in Hastings, Nebraska, and a Master of Business Administration and a doctorate in finance from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Mieth began his career with Ameritas in 2000 as assistant vice president – group planning and business systems. He was elected senior vice president – group operations in 2009.

He serves on the Dental Select, LLC board of directors.

Tina Udell serves as Vice President Investments for Ameritas Investment Partners, leading the corporate fixed income teams managing investment grade corporates, high yield, and private placements. She served in various investment positions since joining the firm in 1998 as a research analyst.

Udell earned a Bachelor of Science in Finance from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in 1997. She holds the chartered financial analyst (CFA) designation. Udell is a member and past president of the CFA Society of Nebraska and a member of the CFA Institute. She currently serves on the Finance Advisory Board for the University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Business.

Previous board roles include the Community Health Endowment of Lincoln and the Dream Factory of Nebraska.

Sue Wilkinson is a Petersburg, Nebraska, native with a Bachelor of Science in business administration from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Wilkinson began her career with Ameritas in 1995 as a corporate accountant and has held key leadership roles throughout the organization. She was elected executive vice president, chief financial officer and treasurer in 2018. Her current responsibilities include leading accounting and finance, corporate actuarial, risk and compliance, human resources, information technology and transformation.

She serves on the board of directors for Bryan College of Health Sciences, Lincoln Chamber Economic Development Corp., Lincoln Chamber of Commerce Foundation and each Ameritas subsidiary. She also serves on the Nebraska Wesleyan Advancement Committee.

Wilkinson is an audit committee member of the Diocese of Lincoln, a finance committee member of the University of Nebraska Foundation and serves on the Dean’s Advisory Board for the University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Business. She is also a member of the Nebraska Society of CPAs and American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

Wilkinson was awarded the 2020 Outstanding CPA in Business & Industry from the Nebraska Society of CPAs. She was inducted into the University of Nebraska-Lincoln School of Accountancy Hall of Fame in 2017 and was a recipient of the Young Alumni Achievement Award from the Nebraska Alumni Association in 2008. Wilkinson was also awarded the “40 Under 40 Award” from the Lincoln Business Journal in 2006.

Laura Fender is an Iowa native with a Bachelor of Science in business administration accountancy from Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska.

Fender has worked in the insurance and finance industry for over 30 years. She began her career with Ameritas in 2020 as senior vice president, controller.

She serves on the board for Completely Kids, Girl Scouts Spirit of Nebraska and Financial Executives International Omaha.

Fender is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Nebraska Society of CPAs.

Jerry Herbert holds a Bachelor of Science in business administration from Xavier University in Cincinnati. He has worked in the accounting and finance industry for more than 30 years, beginning his career with Ameritas in 2005 as director of finance and accounting of the investment advisor and in 2016, he was promoted to chief finance officer of subsidiaries.

Herbert holds a FINRA Series 27 financial and operations principal license in financial operations and has attained a Certified Public Accountant certification. He also serves on the board of the Nebraska Council on Economic Education and is a member of the Ohio Society of CPAs. Herbert resides with his family in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Brent Korte is a Wisconsin native with a bachelor’s degree in global studies and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Washington Foster School of Business in Seattle, Washington.

Korte has worked in the insurance and financial services industry for over 25 years. He was elected senior vice president and chief marketing officer of Ameritas in 2015.

He serves on the board of directors for Ameritas Investment Company, LLC; Ameritas Advisory Services, LLC; Variable Contract Agency, LLC; Lied Center for Performing Arts; and Nebraska Chamber of Commerce & Industry. He also serves on the advisory board for the University of Nebraska-Lincoln School of Business marketing department.

Korte is a member of the American Marketing Association and the Global Growth CMO Council of the Association of National Advertisers.

Korte has received multiple awards in the industry in advertising and marketing communications.

Shreejit Nair grew up in India and moved to the United States in 1997 before settling in Omaha, Nebraska. He graduated with a Bachelor of Technology in electronics engineering from Cochin University of Science and Technology, India, and has a Master of Business Administration from the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University.

Nair has worked in information technology for over 25 years with primary experience in the insurance industry focusing on the Life and Annuity domains. He began his career with Ameritas in 2015, leading the architecture practice and most recently drove the technology strategy and consulting practice.

Nair holds the professional designations LLIF (LIMRA Leadership Institute Fellow) and ALMI (Associate, Life Management Institute), among other professional designations.

Christy Neighbors is a Nebraska native with a Bachelor of Arts in psychology and business administration from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and a Juris Doctor from the University of Nebraska College of Law.

Neighbors has practiced law for over 25 years. She began he career with Ameritas in 2017 as senior vice president and assistant secretary of Ameritas Mutual Holding Company, and senior vice president and general counsel of Ameritas Life Insurance Corp. and Ameritas Life Insurance Corp. of New York. She has held several key positions throughout the company She was elected senior vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary of Ameritas Mutual Holding Company in 2020.

She serves as the ACLI Legal Section chair and is secretary and board member of the Nebraska Insurance Federation.

Neighbors is a recipient of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners – Dineen Award. She holds the ALMI (Associate, Life Management Institute) professional designation. Neighbors also holds the Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt certification and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners professional insurance regulator designation.

April Rimpley is a Nebraska native with a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from Wayne State College in Wayne, Nebraska. She also earned a Master of Arts in management with an emphasis in leadership from Doane University in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Rimpley began her career with Ameritas in 1998 as a client service representative and has held several key positions throughout the organization. She was elected senior vice president of human resources in 2017.

She serves on the board of directors for Continuum EAP, the United Way of Lincoln and Lancaster County and is chairperson of the Capital Humane Society board.

Rimpley received the Benjamin D. Ward Award for Excellence in Dental EDI in 2015. She also received the Ameritas Senior Sales Council Award in 2005.

She holds the following professional designations: LLIF (LIMRA Leadership Institute Fellow), FLMI (Fellow, Life Management Institute), ACS (LOMA Associate in Customer Service), Modern CHRO (Cornell University ILR School), Korn Ferry 360 Feedback Facilitation and Coaching, and Korn Ferry Leadership Architect.

Linda Whitmire is an Omaha native with a Bachelor of Science in actuarial science from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Whitmire began her career with Ameritas in 1986 while still an actuarial student and began working full-time as an actuarial trainee in 1988. She was elected senior vice president, chief actuary for Ameritas in 2013.

She serves as vice chair of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Actuarial Science Advisory Board and is a Nebraska Actuaries Club past president. Whitmire is a Leadership Lincoln Class XXI graduate and holds the FSA (Fellow of the Society of Actuaries) and MAAA (Member of the American Academy of Actuaries) professional designations.

Rich Wiedenbeck was born in California and lived in 26 states and countries before settling in Nebraska. He graduated with an associate degree in information systems from the University of Maryland in College Park, Maryland, and a Bachelor of Science in business administration from Alameda University in Boise, Idaho. He also obtained a master’s degree in project management from Stratford University in Falls Church, Virginia.

Wiedenbeck has worked in information technology for over 30 years with experiences in the defense, manufacturing, consulting and software industries. He began his career with Ameritas in 2010 as vice president of information technology. Wiedenbeck was elected senior vice president and chief information officer in 2013.

Wiedenbeck serves on the Forrester Client Advisory Board, Novarica Technology Research Council, the VC/PE Advisory Council for Insurtech and the board of directors for Dental Select, LLC. He is also a member of the American Management Association and Society of American Magicians.

He was inducted into the CIO Hall of Fame in 2020.