Jefferson City, Mo. - Missouri Department of Insurance Director John M. Huff will serve as the keynote speaker at the upcoming Insurance Regulatory Examiners Society (IRES) Foundation's Joint Market Regulation Forum. The event runs Aug. 3-6 in St. Louis.

Huff will be joined at the forum by the department's Market Regulation Division Director Angela Nelson and Chief Market Conduct Examiner Jim Mealer, who will serve as faculty. A team of market conduct examiners from the department also will attend.

The IRES Foundation funds nonprofit educational and designation programs for insurance regulators and industry. The forum and IRES Foundation designation programs cultivate professionalism. The forum is an opportunity for regulators from around the country to share best practices and educate the industry about state-based regulatory efforts.

"Missouri has a long history of being a national leader in market conduct. Through participation in forums such as this, our team will stay on the forefront of regulation and will be empowered to meet the ever-changing dynamics of the insurance market," said Huff. "This forum provides an open dialogue between regulators and industry to enhance consumer protection efforts and to level the playing field among industry competitors."

Additionally, Huff said he is pleased to welcome several colleagues from other states who will be attending. They are Nebraska Commissioner Bruce Ramge, New Mexico Superintendent John Franchini, Alabama Commissioner Jim Ridling, Massachusetts Commissioner Joseph Murphy, Indiana Commissioner Stephen Robertson and New Jersey Commissioner Kenneth Kobylowski.

For more information about the forum, visit www.ires-foundation.org/2014-school/home.html.