Wheaton, Ill., April 30, 2009—Jack M. Rader,  executive vice president and COO of Farmers Alliance Companies, McPherson, Kan., was elected chairman of the American Association of Insurance Services (AAIS) at the association’s annual meeting held in conjunction with the AAIS Main Event executive conference, April 26-28 in Half Moon Bay, Calif.

AAIS is a national advisory organization that develops policy forms and rating information used by more than 600 property/casualty insurers throughout the U.S. Information is available at www.AAISonline.com.

Rader succeeds James W. Sullivan, president and CEO of Co-operative Insurance Companies, Middlebury, Vt., who remains on the AAIS board of directors.

Christopher P. Taft, president and CEO of Preferred Mutual Ins. Co., New Berlin, N.Y. was elected vice chairman to succeed Rader.

In addition, R. Douglas Haines, president and CEO of Buckeye Insurance Group, Piqua, Ohio, was elected a member of the AAIS board. Haines has served as a board member in the past.

The other AAIS board members are:

• Edward T, Berg, president and CEO of Pharmacists Mutual Ins. Co., Algona, Iowa;

• Roy Bubeck, president and CEO of Badger Mutual Ins. Co., Milwaukee, Wis.;

• Stuart C. Henderson, president and CEO of Western National Insurance Group, Edina, Minn.;

• Judy S. Jackson, president and CEO of NLC Insurance Companies, Norwich, Conn.;

• Jeffrey B. Kusch, president and CEO of Austin Mutual Ins. Co., Maple Grove, Minn.; and

• Paul Baiocchi, president and CEO of AAIS.