AUGUST 19, 2020
board of directors announcement
Western Fraternal Life and National Mutual Benefit are excited to announce the Board of Directors for our new combined organization! Starting January 1, 2021, this Board of Directors will serve our members and help guide our new organization to a successful and thriving future.
Meet our board of directors:
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Daniel L. Shinnick
Daniel L. Shinnick became the President/CEO and a member of National Mutual Benefit’s Board of Directors in October 2017. He came to NMB with extensive experience in the life insurance industry. He has held many different leadership roles at fraternal benefit societies and mutual insurance companies, including marketing, actuarial, fraternal, and business development functions. Mr. Shinnick holds a Bachelor of Science in Education and History, as well as a Master of Science in Actuarial Science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Making a difference has always been important to Mr. Shinnick. He is a board member and an active volunteer with the Vulnerable Children’s Foundation, which is focused on providing education to at-risk children in Lusaka, Zambia. He has also coached over 30 youth basketball, volleyball, and softball teams over the years. Mr. Shinnick is a member of Branch 400. He and his wife, Stephanie, have been married for 39 years. They have four children, two daughters-in-law, and two grandchildren. They reside in Mount Horeb, Wisconsin. |
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Craig Van Dyke
Craig Van Dyke became the President and CEO of Western Fraternal Life in June 2013. He served on Western’s management team and held the role of Senior Vice President prior to becoming president. He came to Western in 2000 with wide-ranging experience in the financial world. Mr. Van Dyke holds a B.B.A. in Finance from the University of Iowa. He is a board member for the National Czech and Slovak Museum and Library and serves on the board of the American Fraternal Alliance. Craig is member of Lodge 7 in Cedar Rapids. He and his wife, Anita, have been married for 29 years. They have two children. They reside in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. |
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Thomas R. Johnson
Thomas R. Johnson, CPA, was elected to National Mutual Benefit’s Board of Directors in May 1993. He has provided compliance and consulting services to several insurance companies during his career. He has expertise in auditing, accounting, and financial reporting; strategic and business planning; mergers and acquisitions; and tax compliance and planning. Mr. Johnson received his bachelor of business administration degree from UW-Whitewater in 1971. He is a retired partner of RSM US, one of the largest certified public accounting and consulting organizations in the country. Tom is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. He also currently serves on the boards of Mounds Pet Foods, Inc. and Omnipress, Inc. His civic and community involvement includes serving on the finance committee of Primrose Lutheran Church and the audit committee of the Sand County Foundation. He has previously served as a board member of the Norman Bassett Foundation, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Madison, Madison Area Concert Handbells, Business and Education Partnership, Madison Downtown Rotary Club, and the Dane County United Way Campaign. Mr. Johnson is a member of NMB Branch 400. He and his wife, Karen, have three grown daughters and reside in Fitchburg, Wisconsin. |
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Michael HosekMichael Hosek has served as the Western Fraternal Life’s District One Director since 2019. Michael currently serves as the Operations Manager at a telecommunications company. In his role, Michael oversees accounting, billing, human resources and inventory control. He also worked in the lending and operations departments in the banking and credit union industries for over a decade. Michael graduated with a B.A. in both Accounting and Business Administration.
Michael currently resides in Lincoln, Nebraska. His volunteer experiences include serving as the Chairman on the Building Committee at his Church. He is also involved in the Knights of Columbus and Finance Committee member at his Church as well. He is currently serving on the Board at Pius X High School. As a member of Western, Michael also serves as Lodge 426’s Treasurer and YELL! Group organizer and participates in many of the lodge’s charitable and community service projects. |
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Nancy Nelson Heykes
Nancy Nelson Heykes was first elected to National Mutual Benefit’s Board of Directors in 1998. She earned a bachelor of arts degree in journalism from UW-Madison; graduated from UW-Madison Law School, J.D.; and received her master of business administration degree, executive program, from UW-Milwaukee. Mrs. Heykes retired as vice president of development for Goodwill Industries of North Central Wisconsin in 2017, and formed OnPoint Consulting to continue her work in nonprofit consulting and pro bono legal services. Prior to Goodwill, she was executive director of the Fox Cities Rotary Multicultural Center in Appleton, Wisconsin, and a fundraising and planning consultant with the Meyer Heykes Nonprofit Partnership. Mrs. Heykes has over 40 years of fraternal experience. She joined Aid Association for Lutherans (now Thrivent Financial), in 1977, and served in various legal and management capacities during her 20 years with that society. On the national level, Heykes has been active with the National Fraternal Congress of America (now the American Fraternal Alliance), serving on law committee task forces, as well as serving as president of the law section in 1993–94. On the local level, she has served in AAL/Thrivent branch officer positions. Heykes is a member of the Rotary Club of Appleton, steering committee member of the Nonprofit Leadership Initiative in the Fox Valley ,and serves as the statewide board chair of Kids Forward. She has also served on the boards of Goodwill Industries of North Central Wisconsin, Wartburg Theological Seminary, the YMCA of the Fox Cities, and the Northeast Wisconsin Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals. She holds professional memberships in the State Bar of Wisconsin and the Association of Fundraising Professionals. She is an adjunct instructor for Fox Valley Technical College in the Nonprofit Leadership Institute and for the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh MBA program. Mrs. Heykes is a member of NMB Branch 3. She and her husband, Paul, have two adult children and reside in Hazelhurst, Wisconsin. |
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Brenda Vrieze
Brenda Vrieze of Holman, WI currently serves as Western Fraternal Life District 2 Director. Brenda works as Supervisor of Deposit Operations at Marine Credit Union. In her role, Brenda is knowledgeable of governance within a regulatory environment and has experience in many diverse areas, such as accounting, finance, sales, legal, compliance, process improvements, and managing a team. Brenda is currently enrolled in a Bachelor of Communication degree program, Purdue University. Brenda has served as District 2 Director since 2011. Brenda’s volunteer experience includes roles as Lodge president, secretary, and correspondent for her Western Fraternal Life lodge, Lodge No. 32. Brenda also volunteers in her community with Junior Achievement, the United Way, Habitat for Humanity, and the Difference Makers Education. |
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Maureen O'Hern Hahn
Maureen O’Hern Hahn, CFA®, was appointed to National Mutual Benefit’s Board of Directors in January of 2009 and was subsequently re-elected to the board. She chairs NMB’s Finance and Investment Committee. Ms. O’Hern Hahn is president and founder of Encore Financial Group, a registered investment advisory firm which helps individuals and families with their investment and financial planning needs. She is very familiar with fraternal benefit societies, having begun her career with Aid Association for Lutherans (AAL, now Thrivent Financial). Her roles there included investment analysis and portfolio management, strategic planning, and design and launch of the AAL Mutual Funds and AAL Credit Union and managing shareholder and dealer services for AAL’s mutual fund operation. She also taught ethics, portfolio management, and accounting at the Study Seminar for Financial Analysts ™ in Windsor, Ontario. Ms. O’Hern Hahn is an active volunteer in her community, currently chairing the Investment Committees for Girl Scouts of the Northwestern Great Lakes (GSNWGL) and the Bay-Lakes Council, Boy Scouts of America, and is a member of the BSA Central Region Finance and Investment Committees. She has served in board chair and leadership positions with organizations such as St. Bernard Parish, Women’s Fund for the Fox Valley Region, Mount Tabor Center, Community Clothes Closet, Fox Valley Literacy Coalition, AAL Credit Union, and Fox River Area Girl Scout Council. She is a member of the CFA Institute, the Financial Planning Association, and the Winnebagoland Estate Planning Council. She received her MBA from UW-Oshkosh, and BS degrees in finance and accounting from UW-Green Bay. Maureen holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA®) designation and is a Fellow of the Life Management Institute (FLMI). Ms. O’Hern Hahn is a member of NMB Branch 613. She and her husband, Jeff, have two adult sons and reside in Appleton, Wisconsin. |
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Duane Jirik
Duane Jirik has served as Western Fraternal Life’s District 4 Director since 1998 and as the chairman of the Western Board since 2008. Duane’s involvement with Western includes serving as a lodge officer of his local lodge as well as a district director. He is also active in his community, serving on the Board of Governor’s Minnesota Scholarship Fund, and is a member of the New Prague Area Lions Club. Duane resides in New Prague, MN. He graduated with an A.A.S. degree in Law Enforcement from Normandale Community College and a B.S. degree in Criminal Justice from Concordia University, St. Paul. Duane is employed as a deputy sheriff with the Scott County Sheriff’s Office. |
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John T. McHugh
John McHugh was elected to National Mutual Benefit’s Board of Directors in 2015. McHugh is the director of corporate communications, leadership development, and training for Kwik Trip, Inc., based in La Crosse, Wisconsin. In his role at Kwik Trip, Mr. McHugh has helped the company achieve recognition as a top workplace in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the Minneapolis Star Tribune, and the Des Moines Register. Prior to joining Kwik Trip in 2004, Mr. McHugh was an instructor and principal at Aquinas High School in La Crosse. He holds degrees from the University of Saint Thomas in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and the Gregorian University in Rome, Italy. Mr. McHugh sits on the boards of Viterbo University, Marywood Spirituality Center, and Mayo Clinic Health System in La Crosse. His enjoyment of giving keynote addresses on a variety of topics has taken him throughout the United States. Mr. McHugh is a member of NMB Branch 742. He and his wife, Maggie, live near Sparta, Wisconsin. |
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Mary Bradley
Mary Bradley currently serves as Western Fraternal Life's District 5 Director. She lives in Frankfort, MI and is the Chief Operating Officer at National Charter Schools Institute. Mary has a B.S. Education from Central Michigan University, a MBA Business from Central Michigan University and a JD Law from Thomas M. Cooley Law School. Mary is a leader in education and oversees quality programming, public funds, and the development of new initiatives. In her role, Mary provides support and training for senior leaders and governing boards while working with complex financial structures and organizations. Mary has served as District 5 Director since 2011. As a life-long member of lodge No. 225, Mary has volunteered at Bannister Czechoslovakian Harvest Festival, danced as a Bannister Czechoslovakian Folk dancer, assisted with the Bannister YELL! Group, and Ashley Country Christmas. As a community member, Mary has run activities for individuals with disabilities, served as a guide for blind and visually impaired skiers. |
