Born and raised in Dallas, Nathan earned his Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Information Management from the University of Texas at Dallas.  He has a strong history in the finance industry, having worked as a licensed Mortgage Loan Officer for Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation and an Account Executive for Glacier Financial.  Recruited for his experience and leadership abilities, Nathan was hired as an Operations Manager for Bank of America to assist in developing a segment of their quickly growing Mortgage Modification department. 

In 2012, Nathan moved to Missouri to be closer to his family and works as an Insurance Advisor with Akers & Arney.

To register for this event, please go to First Presbyterian Church’s website at http://www.fpcbranson.org and register for your tickets today!

Khajehpour was born and raised in Iran’s holy city of Mashhad. Persecuted, imprisoned and excommunicated from his family for his Christian faith, he fled Iran, became a citizen of the United States and now serves as an ordained pastor. He brought a message of hope to Branson. Khajehpour was accompanied by Mr. Jim Adams, the mayor of Fort Scott, Kansas.

Bill Budnick (left), President of BCBC, introduces Keynote Speaker Reverend Mansour Khajehpour, at the 11th annual Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast held Thursday at the Tri-Lakes Center.

Since 2004, someone from within the community has been chosen to receive the Don Gabriel Kingdom Builder Award at The Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast.

The award is given annually to a person who contributes to the quality of the community by demonstrating in word and action a dedicated and dynamic Christian Life; who consistently puts others ahead of self, who lives by Christian principles in all situations without compromise and who lives by vision and mission working for God’s perfect will in Ozark Mountain Country.

This year’s winner is Jack Herschend. Bill Budnick, President of BCBC, said Herschend leads a very giving and Christian life. Most importantly, he is always giving back to the community in his various organizations which include Kanakuk Ministries and Institue of Marriage to name a few. Bill also mentioned how his passion is with the youth and being a great friend.

Also, the singer today was Allen Asbury along with his wife, Heidi, who signed with his songs. Asbury’s Somebody’s Praying You Through shot to the top of Christian music charts and in 2003 became the theme song for the Presidential Prayer Team and the National Day of Prayer. Heralded by Billboard Magazine as the “arrival of a major new talent,” Asbury has traveled around the world, but now makes his home in Branson, Missouri where he serves as Music Pastor at Tri-Lakes Church.

Allen Asbury singer of The National Anthem and Somebody’s Praying You Through at the 11th annual Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast.

Bill Budnick, President of Branson Christian Businessmen’s Committee (BCBC)

At a time when the issue has fallen victim to partisan demagoguery (Exhibit A: the CLASS Act) Corker’s remarks, at a Senate Aging Committee hearing on long-term care, suggested an opening to build a consensus on future financing and delivery reforms.

Interestingly, Corker was speaking on the same day a House committee proposed completely eliminating the federal Social Service block grant program which, among other things, funds Meals on Wheels and other critical programs for the frail elderly living at home.

Corker was not the only participant in today’s hearing who was worried about private long-term care insurance. John O’Brien, Director of Healthcare and Insurance at the federal Office of Personnel Management, proudly told the panel that enrollment in the federal LTC insurance program rose 20 percent this year, to about 270,000 employees. But he also expressed concern that only one carrier bid for the federal contract in 2011 and that so many insurers have left the business.

Senators are eligible to enroll in O’Brien’s program but both Corker and Democrat Mark Udall admitted they had not. Udall, like so many consumers, said he keeps putting it off. Corker flatly said he “may not” buy.

Still, former Congresional Budget Office director Doug Holtz-Eakin said that private insurance needs to be part of the solution. He suggested finding ways to encourage businesses to include coverage in their benefit packages, adding new tax subsidies, and perhaps making enrollment automatic (which was also an element of the CLASS Act).

Witnesses at today’s hearing shared a wide range of views about how to improve care delivery. My Urban Institute colleague Judy Feder presented research showing that patients with both chronic disease and personal care needs account for an outsized share of Medicare spending. Much of those costs–and average of $16,000 per year for those enrollees–were for hospital and post-hospitalization care at home or in nursing facilities.

The key to both better outcomes and cost savings, Judy argued, is to improve care coordination and primary care and reduce hospitalizations. She suggested those who receive both Medicare and Medicaid benefits (the dual eligibles), might be better off if all their care was provided by Medicare.

But Loren Colman, Assistant Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Human Service, argued that states, though Medicaid, ought to be given more flexibility to design care for this population. He argued, as I and others have, that the default option for Medicaid long-term care ought to be home care and not nursing facility care, as it is today.

States, he said, should not have to apply for complicated waivers to provide community care.

Bruce Chernof, President and CEO of the SCAN Foundation in Long Beach, CA, agreed. A goal, he said, should be to free the frail elderly from the “tyranny of bricks and mortar.” But, he said, home and community programs need to be well-organized, cost-effective, and accountable to care recipients and their families.

While there was little consensus at today’s hearing, the discussion was productive and pointed the way towards what could be some creative solutions for both delivery and financing of long-term care services.

Forbes

- Summary of Benefits and Coverage Q&A
- Human Resources and Social Media
- Myth Buster: Workplace Rights
- Employers to Continue Offering Health Coverage

Arjes said since he knows the character, work ethic and business culture of Akers & Arney (Insurance), it was very welcome to have this business involved.

The newly formed Taney County Business Development Partnership (TCBDP) also partners with all incorporated municipalities, cities and villages within Taney County in an effort to advance economic development throughout Taney County. “Our focus is year-round sustainable employment,” said Arjes.

Akers & Arney has always been devoted to helping grow the economy of the Branson region. In the late 1980s President, CEO and Co-Owner David Arney was President of the Downtown Branson Betterment Association which oversaw the restoration of the historic business district and a drop in the building vacancy rate from 24% to 1%.

Akers & Arney Insurance was also one of the first businesses to participate with Silver Dollar City in the development of Ozark Mountain Christmas in 1989 and Arney served as Chairman of this event five different times. This effort added several more months to the tourist season which resulted in millions of dollars in added economic growth to the region.

“We’ve always tried to be a forerunner in business development,” said Akers.

Akers’ grandfather, Elven Akers, started Akers Real Estate in Branson, Missouri in 1952 and soon realized the community’s need for local access to insurance coverage. He wanted residents to receive good advice on how to best insure their properties and he wanted to see that their claims were handled professionally and in a timely fashion. Elven formed Akers Real Estate and Insurance and quickly established the company’s reputation as the area’s trusted insurance advisor.

Akers & Arney is the oldest independent insurance agency in the Branson, Missouri area providing corporate, small business and family insurance solutions. They are a Best Practices Agency and a member of: Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America, Missouri Association of Insurance Agents, and Sitkins International.

For more information please contact:
David Arney, darney@akersandarney.com, 417-334-5115

Akers & Arney were Skipper sponsors who viewed their participation as part of their continuing efforts to give back to the community, according to David Arney, President, CEO and Co-Owner of Akers & Arney.

Meyers said the organization was honored and privileged to have the support and partnership of a business like Akers & Arney. “Without their all around support, we could not achieve what we do every day for the children and families that we serve in Taney and Stone counties,” said Meyer.

Meyer noted that David Arney, has been a long time supporter of the Boys & Girls Club of the Ozarks. Arney is a past Chairman of the Board and a current board member.

Akers & Arney has been a sponsor of the Boys and Girls Club program since its inception in 1994. “We’ve always believed in the program,” said Arney.
The Boys and Girls Club of the Ozarks is a non-profit youth development organization that is dedicated to fostering a sense of belonging, positive self-esteem, and accomplishment in all kids, according to Meyers. Club Membership is open to all kids ages 6-18, and membership dues are just $30 per year. No child is ever turned away for financial reasons.

That is why sponsors like Akers & Arney are vital to the operation of the club. And, that is why last week’s special event was so important.

The event, which was held at the Chateau on April 10, showcased the Titanic’s 100th year anniversary of setting sail. It was an evening of dinner, music, and presentations by John Joslyn and Tim Lightoller. Joslyn is the owner of the Titanic Museum Attraction and also has made expeditions to the real Titanic. He gave an audio/visual presentation of his expeditions. Mr. Lightoller is the grandson of the highest ranking officer to survive the sinking of the Titanic. He gave a presentation on his grandfather’s life and accounts of his time serving on the Titanic.

For more information contact: Bill Budnick
Phone: (417) 334-5115
Email: bbudnick@akersandarney.com

David Arney – Akers & Arney’s President/CEO, Co-Owner and members of the Akers & Arney work family present a check for Skipper Sponsorship to Billy Rader – Boys & Girls Club of the Ozark’s Executive Director

Please see press release for more information…

In a national survey of 129 insurers and administrators, Buck measured the projected average annual increase in employer-provided health care benefit costs. Insurers and administrators providing medical trends for the survey cover a total of approximately 109 million people.

“The reduced trend factors reported in our survey reflect that health insurers, who may have previously added margins to account for health care reform benefit changes mandated for 2011, have now removed those margins for 2012 projections,” says Daniel Levin, a Buck principal and consulting actuary who directed the survey. “The reduction also reflects lower expected costs as a result of the economic slowdown. Employees are trying to reduce their out-of-pocket expenses and are postponing elective medical services.”

Health insurers reported an average prescription drug trend of 9.6%. This is down 1.1% from the prior survey. It is also more than twice the 4.6% reported by pharmacy benefit managers.

“Despite the lower trend factors found in our survey, health care costs continue to outpace both general inflation and wage increases — creating real business challenges for organizations,” says Levin. “We’ve seen increased interest from plan sponsors for strategies to optimize alternative delivery systems such as exchange models and Accountable Care Organizations.”

By Lisa Gillespie

Employee Benefit News

Morris Properties General Manager Jerry Carroll credits their speedy recovery to local risk management/insurance provider Akers & Arney Insurance and The Cincinnati Insurance Company. According to Carroll, within two hours after the tornado handed him a more than five million dollar disaster, Charlie LeMoine, Akers & Arney Corporate Sales Executive was bringing comfort and direction. “We always hope our clients never need it, but when they do, we want to make sure insurance coverage works to their benefit,” said LeMoine.

Carroll said the day after the tornado, representatives of The Cincinnati Insurance Company were handing him the first check to jumpstart restoration. “You could tell they were professionals,” said Carroll. “They were truly representing us and their company to make sure we were immediately taken care of.” Carroll said The Cincinnati Insurance Company’s claims representative has been overseeing the operation by working 24/7.

“We have a lot of real estate,” said Carroll. “We have never had anyone respond like Akers & Arney, Cincinnati Insurance and their claims rep.”

“It made me feel so comforted,” said Carroll.

Carroll said the tornado ripped the roof off the Dick Clark Theatre, damaged air conditioners and sound equipment at The Rowdy Beaver and tore all the roofs off the Ramada Inn. “We lost one complete building,” he said. The Ramada Inn was down about five days, but they now have 100 rooms open, Carroll said. The Rowdy Beaver was closed about three days.

Carroll says a few hours made all the difference. “Two hours earlier we had over 700 people in the Dick Clark Theatre. When I saw how the tornado hit…well, it’s still hard to talk about.”

Carroll said he had been watching the path of the tornado on the television when he told his wife “I don’t like the looks of that.” He said he was in his car driving past Akers & Arney’s office building when the tornado hit. It took him four tries to find a way through the debris and to the property. “I was amazed when Charlie showed up. He assured me he would be with me every step of the way. I cannot say enough good things about them.”

LeMoine said his actions were just in keeping with his company’s mission to be trusted advisors working on behalf of their clients. “It means everything to see this come to fruition,” he said.

“All in all, it’s been good. I don’t know how it could be so good after such an event, but it has been,” said Carroll.

Akers & Arney is Branson’s oldest risk management/insurance firm, established in 1952 by Branson native Elven Akers. Akers wanted residents to receive good advice on how to best insure their properties and he wanted to see that their claims were handled professionally and in a timely fashion. In 2000, Akers & Arney became one of the prestigious Sitkins International, a collection of over 100 leading insurance agencies in North America, Canada and South America.

Thursday, March 1, 2012 from left to right: Jerry Carroll – General Manager Morris Properties (Dick Clark’s American Bandstand Theatre & Ramada Resort and Conference Center), Paul Bush, CPCU, AIC, AIM – Cincinnati’s Regional Field Claims Manager, Derek Yeary, AIC – Cincinnati’s Senior Claims Specialist, Jim Morris – Owner Morris Properties (Dick Clarke Theatre & Ramada Resort and Conference Center), Lance Watson – Controller Morris Properties (Dick Clark’s American Bandstand Theatre & Ramada Resort and Conference Center), and Charlie LeMoine – Akers & Arney Corporate Sales Executive

For More Information Contact: Gaye Lisby, gayelisby@gmail.com or 417-263-0382