Company Leadership

Graham Cook

Chairman-President

Our chief executive joined Homesteaders as a part-time print shop employee in 1966. After earning his degree from Drake University Graham began his journey through the leadership ranks, appointed president by the board of directors in 1995. He was elected chairman of the board in 1999. Graham is a fellow in the Life Management Institute (FLMI) and has served as President of the National Alliance of Life Companies, Chairman of the Funeral Service Foundation and President of the Federation of Iowa Insurers. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the American Council of Life Insurers Forum 500 and Hospice of Central Iowa Foundation. Contact: Gcook@homesteaderslife.com

Steve Lang

Chief Operating Officer

Steve brings invaluable leadership experience to Homesteaders, having worked as one of the architects of contemporary pre-need insurance funding and serving as CEO at a competing pre-need insurer. He joined us in 2008 with a great deal of appreciation for our company's unique culture and the goal to build on and help sustain Homesteaders' market-leading position. Steve holds a B.A. and a Masters degree in Labor and Industrial Relations from Michigan State University. Contact: Slang@homesteaderslife.com

Glen Hare

Executive VP-Chief Financial Officer

Glen is part of the legacy of prudent financial decision makers that has provided more than 100 years of security for Homesteaders policy owners, funeral home customers and employees. With 30+ years of service at Homesteaders he continues his focus on our financial security while working with future company leaders to assure the continuity that will provide stability, confidence and success throughout Homesteaders’ next century. Contact: Ghare@homesteaderslife.com

Judy Ralston-Hansen

Executive VP-HR/Administration

Judy arrived at Homesteaders in 1997. While working to maintain our company’s enviable culture, her team is also focused on developing an environment that includes positive accountability, opportunity for personal and professional growth, great benefits and compensation, and a safe, secure place to work. Judy earned her Master's degree from Drake University, her undergraduate degree from Iowa State University, and is an accredited Senior Professional in Human Resources. Contact: Jralstonhansen@homesteaderslife.com

Jim Koher

Executive VP-Chief Actuary

Jim came to Homesteaders in 2007 from Principal Financial Group, where he worked on pricing and product design as a Senior Actuary. His team is responsible for profit testing, product development, actuarial services and long-range profitability planning. In 2008 he earned his Certified Preneed Counselor (nonpracticing) designation from the NFDA. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Actuarial Science from Ball State University and is a Fellow in the Society of Actuaries (FSA). Contact: Jkoher@homesteaderslife.com

Lyndon Peterson

Executive VP - Sales and Service

Lyndon represents Homesteaders’ ongoing commitment to our funeral home customers. As the first ever EVP -- sales and service, he oversees the account executive and third party marketer programs as well as the licensing and compensation and customer service departments. Lyndon has an exceptional understanding of agency management and multi-channel distribution systems. He joins Homesteaders after a twenty-seven year stint with Wellmark, Inc. He holds a B.A. in Finance and a Masters degree in Hospital and Health Administration from the University of Iowa as well as an MBA from Drake University. Lyndon is a fellow in the Life Management Institute (FLMI). Contact: LPeterson@homesteaderslife.com

Tom Heuer

Vice President-Insurance Operations

Tom has spent nearly his entire career in insurance underwriting and customer service. Since joining Homesteaders in 1987, he and his team have been focused on making it easy for our funeral home customers to serve families in advance and at the time of need. His leadership and technology initiatives have resulted in streamlined business processes such as policy issue and agent contracting while also providing industry-leading customer and policy owner service via telephone and the Internet. Contact: Theuer@homesteaderslife.com

Dean Lambert

Vice President-Marketing

Dean's association with funeral service began when the advertising agency he co-founded signed its first funeral home client in 1993. After serving as a consultant he joined the Homesteaders family in 1998. He manages a team responsible for all aspects of marketing, market research, communications and funeral home marketing services. Dean holds an Master's degree with an emphasis in marketing. He is a frequent presenter at funeral association events and has published numerous articles on funeral home marketing and PR. Contact: Dlambert@homesteaderslife.com

Dan Lodermeier

Vice President-Field Sales

Dan has been helping funeral home owners achieve success since 1991, when he joined Homesteaders as one of its first account executives. As the company expanded the field sales program Dan became a regional director, greatly influencing the continuing evolution of the account executive organization while helping the company achieve exponential sales growth. Dan was promoted to VP in 2009. He has been recognized as account executive of the year and regional director of the year and is a member of Homesteaders' prestigious Pioneer Club. Contact: Dlodermeier@homesteaderslife.com

Wayne Huegerich

Vice President-Controller

Wayne leads a team with years of analytical experience (a.k.a. “number-crunching”) to forecast, plan, manage, evaluate, and report on the company’s finances and operations. He began his career with Homesteaders as accounting manager in 1985 and has been a guiding force behind the company's financial growth and evolution into a national presence. Contact: Whuegerich@homesteaderslife.com

Kevin Kubik

Vice President-Investments

When he's not being harassed for investment advice by the staff, Kevin keeps a close watch on our invested assets. Our chief investment officer is an MBA with 34 years of investment experience and is heavily credentialed: He is a C.F.A., has passed his Series 7, 63, and 65 of the NASD, and is currently working on Commercial Real Estate Finance certificate for a CREF designation. Contact: Kkubik@homesteaderslife.com

Fred O'Dell

Vice President-Information Services

Fred has more than 35 years experience of technical development for many insurance companies. His first order of business upon joining the company in 2002 was to lead a project converting our life administration system from an old mainframe system to a network-based system. Ask any IT professional and they’ll tell you this is no small task – and it was completed early and under budget, too. Fred leads a team of technology professionals that is second to none at keeping our company’s information systems state-of-the-art, secure and highly reliable. Contact: Fodell@homesteaderslife.com

Gerry Kraus

Vice President-Compliance

Gerry's duties are focused on ensuring Homesteaders operates in alignment with state and federal insurance and funeral regulations, in addition to conducting the company's government relations activities. During his 27-year tenure with Homesteaders, Gerry has held a variety of positions in accounting, marketing, compliance and corporate affairs. He is the Immediate Past President of the NALC, a long-standing member of the NALC Board of Directors, and serves on many industry committees. Gerry leads an extensive network of insurance and funeral coalitions working with regulators and legislators on a variety of sensitive issues. Contact: Gkraus@homesteaderslife.com