Jefferson City, Mo. - The Missouri Department of Insurance announced that Chief Market Conduct Examiner Jim Mealer has been elected to the Board of Directors for the Insurance Regulatory Examiners Society (IRES). Mealer's term on the board will expire in 2018.

"We are pleased to have Jim [Mealer] represent the department in a leadership role with the nationally-recognized Insurance Regulatory Examiners Society (IRES)," said Department Director John M. Huff. "Jim's knowledge and high level of professionalism makes him a great addition to the IRES Board of Directors."

Mealer holds the certified insurance examiner (CIE) and market conduct management (MCM) designations and has been a member of the IRES for more than 20 years. He was part of the first MCM class conducted by the IRES and is a staunch supporter of continuing education. He became chief market conduct examiner for the department in 2009. Mealer was instrumental in the department obtaining a $7.8 million settlement with a leading health insurer in 2014. It is the largest settlement of a Missouri market conduct examination by the department. 

IRES was established in 1987 as a nonprofit organization of professional insurance regulators, who are dedicated to consumer protection. It works to enhance the efforts of insurance regulators by ensuring professionalism and integrity among the men and women who serve with state or federal insurance regulatory bodies. The IRES Board of Directors controls and directs the general policies and affairs of the society. It participates in committees and publications and actively promotes the objectives of the organization. The board consists of up to 24 members elected by the general membership of the society. 

In addition to Mealer, Martha Long serves as the secretary for the IRES Board of Directors. Long is examiner-in-charge for the Market Regulation Division of the department.