Richard M. Bouhan Legislative Advocacy Award Established

Chicago - September 13, 2006 - Richard M. Bouhan, Executive Director of NAPSLO, was named the first recipient of the Richard M. Bouhan Legislative Advocacy Award.  The award was announced on Tuesday by NAPSLO President Lawrence M. Wesson, Jr. and recognizes Mr. Bouhan’s legislative work on behalf of the surplus lines industry.

Mr. Bouhan has been Executive Director of NAPSLO since December 1987 and joined NAPSLO in September 1981 as Director of Government and Industry Affairs and Counsel.  As Executive Director, Mr. Bouhan is responsible for directing all staff functions and for the overall conduct of the Association’s staff activities and serves as legal counsel to the Association.

“It gives me great pride to announce that in recognition of Mr. Bouhan’s 25 years with NAPSLO and for his extraordinary work on advancing the legislative interests of the surplus lines industry, the NAPSLO Board of Directors has established this award,” said Mr. Wesson.

The Richard M. Bouhan Legislative Advocacy Award will be awarded annually by NAPSLO to individuals whose advocacy helps advance the legislative interests of the surplus lines industry. Mr. Bouhan received the initial award on September 12 at the NAPSLO Board of Directors dinner. Formal announcement of the establishment of the award was made on Friday, September 15 during the NAPSLO programs.

Prior to joining NAPSLO, Mr. Bouhan served as Associate Counsel for the National Association of Independent Insurers (NAII) and as Assistant Director of the Legislative Service Division of the Blue Shield Association (BSA).  Mr. Bouhan was also a commissioned officer of the United States Health Service serving as Chief of the Office of Program Planning and Evaluation for the Navajo Indian Reservation area office.

A graduate of Johns Hopkins University, Mr. Bouhan received his Juris Doctorate degree from Loyola University of Chicago School of Law and his Master in Law in Taxation degree from DePaul University College of Law.  He also holds a Master in Government Administration degree from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, where he was a Samuel S. Fels Fellow and Scholar.

Mr. Bouhan is a member of the Illinois, Georgia, Florida, Missouri and Kansas bars, and is admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court.  He is a member of the American Society of Association Executives, and a member of the American Bar Association. He is also a member of that association’s Sections on Torts and Insurance Practice and Administrative Law and Regulatory Practice.