Ralph Hudgens was elected as Georgia’s Insurance Commissioner on November 2, 2010. In addition to being Insurance Commissioner, Hudgens is also the Safety Fire Commissioner and Industrial Loan Commissioner.  His duties include regulating approximately 1,600 insurance companies, licensing 137,000 insurance agents, and regulating over 1,000 industrial loan offices.

As Safety Fire Commissioner, Hudgens appoints the State Fire Marshal, oversees the state arson unit, regulates explosive and hazardous materials, and is responsible for the inspection of public buildings for compliance with the state fire code.

Commissioner Hudgens is a businessman , who for nearly two decades, worked for Shell Chemical Company, a division of Shell Oil, in sales and management.  Today, he owns and operates several successful businesses, and understands first-hand how insurance premiums impact companies of all sizes. 

Hudgens’ public service began with an appointment in the US Department of Agriculture by President Bush. He went on to be elected to the Georgia House and then the Georgia Senate, serving fourteen years until his election as Insurance Commissioner. 

Because of his service as Chairman of the Insurance Committee, Vice-Chairman of both the Ag Committee and Banking Committees, Hudgens is one of the state's foremost experts on insurance, business regulation, and consumer issues. 

A loyal Republican, he has served as a GOP delegate at the local, state, and federal level. He is committed to the party platform of lower taxes, less government, and strong family values. He is 100 percent pro-life and a champion of various pro-family causes.

Ralph and his wife, Suzanne, live in Athens, Georgia and they have four married children and twelve grandchildren. He and Suzanne are active members at Winterville First Baptist Church.

Michael C. Keenan, CLU, ChFC - Senior Vice President - Life and Health Insurance Foundation for Education

Mike Keenan is no stranger to the life insurance industry.  He has been actively involved with the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors in various capacities.

Mr. Keenan served as president of the National Association of Life Underwriters (NALU) in 1984-85.  In 1979, he led Builder ’79 – a project to raise funds to enable NALU to add an addition to the NALU headquarters.  He also served as Chair of the Life Underwriters Political Action Committee and probably still holds the all-time record for the most members recruited into NALU (something in excess of 1000).

Mike began his career in the insurance business with Prudential in 1961, received his CLU in 1971 and his ChFC in 1983.  He has been a member of the Million Dollar Round Table since 1971 and continues to serve on various industry association committees.  He is a past president of the Chicago ALU and of its north suburban branch and received the Chicago Association’s Distinguished Service Award in 1977.

In September 2010, Mike was recognized for his commendable service to the industry as the 69^th annual recipient of the John Newton Russell Memorial Award by the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA).  This award is the highest honor bestowed on an individual by the insurance industry and recognizes sustained and meritorious service to the life insurance and financial advising industries.  

While continuing his insurance practice, Mike joined the LIFE Foundation in 1998.  In his current position, he is responsible for broadening LIFE’s base of company support.  He works with member companies and agents to make sure that they take advantage of LIFE’s growing array of educational programs.  

Mike and his wife Libby reside in Evanston, Illinois; Whitehall, Michigan and Longboat Key, Florida and are the parents of four children and nine grandchildren.