SBLI USA Mutual Life Insurance Company, Inc. Forms New Corporate Advisory Board

Financial Services Firm Taps Experts in Risk Management, Educational Finance to Assist in Growth, Strategic Planning

NEW YORK, N.Y. (PRWEB) May 3, 2003 -- SBLI USA Mutual Life Insurance Company, Inc. today announced the formation of a new corporate advisory board to assist management in achieving its strategic goals and growth objectives. SBLI USAs mission is to provide quality insurance and financial services products to value-conscious consumers.

Serving on the board will be distinguished experts from risk management, educational finance, law and communications. The individuals were chosen because they have knowledge and expertise in areas that complement those of SBLI USAs existing management. The new board members include:

- Ellen E. Thrower, executive director of the School of Risk Management, Insurance and Actuarial Science at St. Johns University in New York City, and one of the nations top educators and professionals in the area of risk management;

- Carol L. Coffman, a leader in financial aid administration and student lending for over 20 years who currently serves as president and chief executive officer of San Francisco-based Chela Financial, one of the key players in the secondary student loan market;

- Robert D. Mercurio, a litigator specializing in insurance, benefits and employment at Windels Marx Lane & Mittendorf, LLP in New York City; and

- Timothy J. Trainor, president and chief creative officer of Trainor Associates, one of the most innovative and successful advertising firms in the Northeast.

We are extremely pleased and fortunate to have such knowledgeable experts in their fields join our advisory board," said Vikki L. Pryor, President and CEO of SBLI USA Mutual Life Insurance Co., Inc. Their willingness to give their time to help guide us as we grow is a wonderful endorsement of our mission -- which is to empower working individuals and families in need of affordable financial services."

The following is biographical information on the new board members:

Ellen E. Thrower has served as executive director of The School of Risk Management, Insurance and Actuarial Science at St. Johns University since 2001, where she is a tenured faculty member. Prior to that, she was president and CEO of The College of Insurance and its parent organization, the Insurance Society of New York (both of which have awarded her the title President Emerita for long and meritorious service). She has also served as director of The Insurance Center at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. Named one of the Top 100 Women in Insurance" by Business Insurance in 2000, Dr. Thrower serves on the executive committee and board of the Insurance Education Foundation. She also serves on the board of directors of XL Capital, Ltd., SCOR U.S., United Educators, Inc. and The Risk Foundation, and is an active member of the International Insurance Society. Her numerous awards and honors include the Chairmans Award from the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies, Insurance Woman of the Year from the Association Of Professional Insurance Women, and the Annual Achievement Award from the National Insurance Industry Association, a professional association for minorities in insurance and risk management.

Carol L. Coffman has served as president and chief executive officer of Chela Financial since January 2001. Ms. Coffman has been involved in financial aid administration and student lending for more than 20 years. She was named executive director of Chela Financial in June 1986, and became president and chief operating officer in January 1992. Today she serves on the board of directors for each of the three branches of the Chela Financial family of companies. Throughout her career, Ms. Coffman has been active at the board and committee levels in state, regional and national financial aid associations, providing input on policy issues affecting student loan borrowers. Currently she serves as chairman of the board of the Education Finance Council, an industry trade association, and as chairman of the board of Eldergivers, a charitable organization serving the elderly in residential care facilities.

Robert D. Mercurio is a partner at the law firm of Windels Marx Lane & Mittendorf, LLP, where he is a member of the firms insurance, litigation and alternative dispute resolution, and benefits and employment practice groups. His practice focuses on general commercial litigation, and he regularly represents life and disability insurers in coverage disputes. He also has experience in the litigation of a broad range of commercial claims and has served as pro bono counsel for a death-row inmate convicted of murder. For that work, the Association of the Bar of the City of New York awarded him the Thurgood Marshall Award.

Timothy J. Trainor founded Trainor Associates in 1985, with the vision of building a national-caliber agency in upstate New York employing an exemplary team of administrative, design and production professionals with major market experience. Mr. Trainor began his career in 1978 at Inter-County Broadcasting Corporation, an owner and operator of radio and television stations. In 1982, he moved to Roberts Advertising International. Today he has a full-service agency that includes a strategic Web and interactive marketing division, Trainor Interactive, Inc. His client base is wide-ranging and includes such leading brands as General Motors, Matt Brewing Co. (Saranac Brands), ConMed Corp., Adirondack Financial Services, Medicaid Practice Systems, St. Bonaventure University, Economic Crime Investigation Institute, United Technologies (HMI), Munson Williams Proctor Arts Institute, AFSA Data Corp., SUNY College of Technology and the American College of Clinical Pharmacology.

About SBLI USA

SBLI USA Mutual Life Insurance Company, Inc. is a financial services company that is committed to the value-conscious people who make America work. The company is dedicated to building lifelong relationships with customers and empowering them with the education and tools they need to take control of their financial destinies.

SBLI USA and its subsidiaries are licensed in 50 states and Puerto Rico. With more than $1.3 billion in assets, $123 million in surplus capital, 240 employees and over 400,000 customers, the company is committed to offering affordable, flexible and easy-to-access products through a variety of integrated channels, including direct mail, telemarketing, the Internet and licensed agents, as it expands nationally.

SBLI USA Mutual Life Insurance Company, Inc. is the parent company to SBLI USA Holdings, Inc., which owns subsidiary companies S.USA Life Insurance Company, Inc., SBLI USA Diversified Services Company, Inc. and SBLI USA Brokerage Services Company, Inc. Additional information about SBLI USA products and services can be found at www.sbliusa.com.

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