Current Business Landscape –
How Insurers and Compliance Professionals Are Making an Impact

Welcome to the inaugural AICP podcast. In this first episode, Karen Pollitt and Scott Whitaker talk with Karen Hornig, CEO of NIPR, the National Insurance Producers Registry about the importance of insurance during times of crisis.

Featuring: Karen Hornig, CEO, National Insurance Producers Registry

Hosted by: Karen Pollitt, Assistant Vice President, Product Development Accident & Health Division, Axis Capital
Scott Whitaker, Director of Product Design, Perr & Knight

Karen Stakem Hornig is the CEO of NIPR, a Kansas City-based technology company that supports the insurance industry. She has led NIPR since July 2014. Ms. Hornig previously served as Deputy Insurance Commissioner for the State of Maryland beginning in 2008, where she assisted in the development of the agency’s legislative package, managed the operations of the Maryland Insurance Administration, including the agency information technology division. She served in various legal roles including Chief Legal Counsel for the Baltimore Police Department, Assistant City Solicitor for the City of Baltimore, Assistant Attorney General for the State of Maryland and as a litigator in private practice. Ms. Hornig also worked in higher education serving her alma mater as Vice President for Enrollment Management and as an adjunct professor at the University of Maryland School of Law.

Ms. Hornig received her bachelor’s degree in history from Notre Dame of Maryland University and her Juris Doctor from the University of Maryland School of Law.

Karen Pollitt is a seasoned insurance compliance and product professional. She is currently Director, Product Development at AXIS Insurance Company, in the accident and health division.
Karen’s experience includes insurance regulatory affairs, managing state filings & statutory reporting, product development and contract drafting, advertising review, legislative/regulatory review and research and complaint handling. Her career began with the John Hancock Companies as a NASD Registered Representative, then with Combined International Insurance as a Group Contract Analyst. She was the Lead Compliance Analyst at Colonial Penn Life Insurance Company for 17 ½ years before becoming a Senior Contract & Compliance Consultant for 5 years working with Coulter & Associates, Inc.

Karen has served the AICP in numerous capacities including:

  • National Executive Committee and Board of Directors:
    Vice President 9/2019 – 10/2021
    Regional Director – 9/2017 to 9/2019
    Chapter Relations Chair – 9/2018 to 9/2019
    Secretary 9/2013 – 9/2015
  • Regional Chapter Board
    Mid-Atlantic Chapter Past-President: 2009 – 2010
    Mid-Atlantic Chapter President: 2008 – 2009
    Mid-Atlantic Chapter Secretary: 2007-2008
    Mid-Atlantic Chapter Sponsorship Chair 2017 to 2019
  • National Committee Work: Marketing; Membership; Government Relations; Canadian Initiative

Karen has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Management from Thomas Jefferson University. She has earned the compliance designations of Associate, Insurance Regulatory Compliance, Associate Compliance Professional and Certified Compliance Professional

Scott Whitaker is the Director of Product Design with Perr&Knight. In this position, he is responsible for management of the Product Design practice area. Scott oversees the services provided by the Property & Casualty and Accident & Health product design teams including product development, policy form content reviews, compliance reviews, competitor form comparisons and regulatory compliance research. He also leads the work associated with compliance testing and operational gap analysis services.

Scott joined Perr&Knight in 2020 bringing more than 25 years of experience in the insurance industry. Just prior to joining Perr&Knight, he was the Regulatory Compliance Manager and Assistant Secretary at EMC Insurance Companies. Before EMC, Scott spent 20 plus years at Nationwide Insurance in Claims and Compliance. He also worked at Marsh/Mercer as an Operations Manager for Life and Health Employee Benefits.

Scott’s expertise and professionalism is evidenced by his position on the Association of Insurance Compliance Professionals (“AICP”) Board of Directors. He is a frequently requested speaker at AICP annual conferences and E-Days. He also serves a Director on the Insurance Regulatory Examiners Society (“IRES”) Foundation’s Board. Scott holds his Market Conduct Management (“MCM”) designation and attended Wright State University where he studied Business Administration.