The Workman Years
LICONY’s Tom Workman Hailed as Life Insurers’
Effective Voice from 1999 – 2016
For the life insurance industry in New York, the years 1999 to 2016 are being remembered as “the Workman years,” during which time Thomas E. Workman served as president of the powerful state association of life insurers, generally represented by the insurers’ CEOs and very top brass, and became the leading voice of the industry sector–one of the most powerful segments of the financial services economy in one of the most important marketplaces in the world. Known for his strong work ethic, consistent and sharp focus, careful relations with all sectors involved in the insurance universe, for his successes in Albany and elsewhere protecting the trillion dollar insurance sector and the best interests of the millions of people affected by it, Tom enjoyed a 17-year run at the helm of LICONY. He has worked with sixteen LICONY presidents, several Governors, Superintendents, changing legislative leadership among members of both houses, new staffers, and a host of industry protagonists.
During those years, Workman assembled an outstanding LICONY team with little or no turnover and set the staff in position to make LICONY a “member-driven organization” in the classical sense of service and responsiveness, with new programs expanding upon the highly intense, highly focused lobbying and communications work that the group’s members require to sustain a viable ambience for insuring. Years filled with meetings with key executive officers, legislators and regulators resulted most often in their embrace of the LICONY approach to problems, no small feat of diplomacy in an often contentious legislative environment.
The tributes have poured in since Workman announced his retirement and word of our intention to feature the Workman Years as a retrospective in the Insurance Advocate. New York State Senator James L. Seward, chairman of the senate insurance committee said, “Insurance may not seem like the most riveting or emotionally inspiring topic of conversation; however, when Thomas Workman is leading the discussion, the subject matter reaches an entirely different stratosphere. His knowledge, enthusiasm, and intellect shine through almost immediately and, before you know it, you are mesmerized by his engaging thoughts. He also understands that the life insurance industry is a key financial sector comprising thousands of jobs and his advocacy has led to continued economic growth. LICONY has benefited greatly from Tom’s leadership, and I consider myself extremely fortunate to have worked with him and to call him a friend.”
Former NYS Superintendent of Insurance, Greg Serio, added his voice saying that Workman played a critical role in articulating the entire industry’s best interests consistently, cogently, and reliably. Other former regulators weighed in as well and were universal in praising the even, yet aggressive approach Workman was known for in Albany “on every floor of every building.”
“Tom Workman was selected as president and CEO of LICONY in 1999 and has had a profound impact on the life insurance industry, both within New York State and nationally. Tom’s integrity and astute leadership have been hallmarks of his entire career and he has consistently been dedicated, committed and focused on always doing the right things for the industry and for this great country. As an example, his leadership during the crisis of September 11 inspired all of us to be our best. Tom has clearly made a significant difference for our industry and LICONY has been dramatically strengthened due to his leadership,” said Bruce W. Boyea, Chairman and CEO of Security Mutual.
Howard Mills, Global Insurance Regulatory Leader, Deloitte, and former Superintendent, New York Insurance Department, said: “I had the pleasure of working with Tom as a legislator on the Assembly Insurance Committee, as Superintendent of the New York Insurance Department and as a leader of a LICONY-affiliated member firm. Tom is a passionate and highly effective advocate for the life insurance industry in New York, tirelessly working to keep legislators, regulators and the industry itself mindful of the critical role life insurance plays in protecting New York families and as an investor in our national economy. Perhaps most importantly, Tom understood what was and is needed to keep New York a hospitable environment for life insurance companies to succeed and thus better serve the people of New York and our nation in this highly competitive industry. As the face of LICONY for so many years, Tom Workman was the embodiment of the nobility of the life insurance industry and a gracious and intelligent leader. I am grateful for having had the opportunity to work so closely with this wonderful gentleman.”
Timothy A. Walsh, Chairman of the Board, Life Insurance Council of New York, and president and CEO of Farm Family Life Insurance Company, told the Insurance Advocate: “I have had the good fortune to know and serve with Tom Workman for the past decade. It has been both a pleasure and my honor to do so. His leadership as president and CEO of the Life Insurance Council of New York has been steady, persistent, and effective. Perhaps the two greatest gifts we can share with one another are the gifts of our time and our love. In many respects, life insurance is a gift of love when we are no longer able to give the gift of our time. Tom’s passion, professionalism, and commitment to the wonderful life insurance industry we have in New York has helped make a meaningful difference in the lives of many. Tom, thank you for living a life of significance through your service.”
Raul Rivera, president and CEO, National Benefit Life Insurance Company and past chairman of LICONY, said this of Workman: “Great friend, great leader, who over 17 years strengthened and changed the face of LICONY. Tom’s high energy and tireless efforts carried out the mission of LICONY ‘as the principal voice of the life insurance industry in New York.’ His exemplary leadership will certainly be missed by the industry, the NYDFS, as well as our legislators. We all wish Tom much happiness and success as he enters a new chapter in his life.”
As an Association manager, Workman has a long list of organizational accomplishments, points out David Walsh, past LICONY chairman and president of Amalgamated Life: “Tom was instrumental in establishing in 2000 the Associate Members class of membership for non-domestic member companies and the Allied Professional Members for the accounting, actuarial, and law firm members—later adding fraternal benefit societies as eligible for membership in LICONY. Under his aegis, LICONY membership grew from 84 in 1999 to 95 in 2016,” Walsh noted.
In addition to the LICONY staff and his supportive family, Workman himself took the time during a farewell luncheon in his honor to cite some of the people who have made his years at LICONY what he termed “a great experience.” They include: Peter Flanagan, Bill Flynn, Tom Moran, Pat Burns, Scott Rothstein, Jim McCutcheon, Stu Nagler, Mike Zarcone, Jim Donnellan, Nancy Davenport, Sy Sternberg, Sheila Davidson, Tom English, Doug Wheeler, Joanne Jenkings, Joe Sargent, Dennis Manning, Scott Dolfi, Tracy Rich, Ellie Nieves, Mike Hegarty, Richard Dziadzio, Wendy Cooper, Lee Smith, Charlie Stamm, Karen Elinski, Susan Donnellan, Bruce Boyea, David Sloane, Tom Rattmann, Pat Mannion, Jack Mannion, Raul Rivera, Tim Walsh, Dave Walsh, Jack Friou, Mitch Politzer, Bridget Healy, Beth Byrne, Maureen Adolf, Mike McCann, John Friedman, Diana Marchesi, Steve Radke, and Joe Reali.
On the government side, Workman cited: Jim Seward, Neil Breslin, Joe Morrelle, Kevin Cahill, Denny Farrell, Will Barclay, Gary Finch, Bill Larkin, Bill Mulrow, Joe Bruno, John Dunne, Neil Levin, Greg Serio, Kevin Rampe, Howard Mills, Eric Dinallo, and Jim Wrynn. In his remarks, he sent thanks out to other Association leaders like Frank Keating, Dirk Kempthorne, Gary Hughes, Bruce Ferguson, Kate Kiernan, and many others at ACLI, as well as to the NAIFA-NYS’s leaders such as Ben Brewster, Mark Yavornitzki, Al Brodbeck and Robert Miller.
Workman recounted his experience with a look back: “I came to New York knowing only a handful of life company executives and my predecessor—Peter Flanagan, the great and good man who put LICONY on the map. The early days of my work at LICONY included important meetings and advice from Peter, Tom Moran at Mutual of America, Stu Nagler and Mike Zarcone at MetLife, Sy Sternberg and Fred Sievert at New York Life, Bruce Boyea at Security Mutual, Joe Sargent and John Hurley at The Guardian, Jack and Pat Mannion at Unity Mutual, Marty Steadman, Charlie Stamm at TIAA, Mike Hegerty at AXA Equitable, Maureen Adolf and Dick Saxe at Prudential, Ben Brewster and Mark Yavornitzki of NAIFA-NYS, Governor Pataki and Brad Race, Senator Joe Bruno, Speaker Shelly Silver, Neil Levin, Greg Serio, and Kevin Rampe at the Department, and Senator Jim Seward, and many more. I was easily and graciously welcomed into the LICONY fold and the Albany fold, and I am grateful for that. For me the journey here was not simple, but in retrospect it did add up in a particular way. Believe it or not, I was named after the New York Governor who was running for President the year I was born—1944—and many years later I was hired by the Ohio Governor who was on the same ticket and running for Vice President in 1944. The first time that New York Governor Thomas E. Dewey ran for President was in 1944. My parents being good Republicans gave me the same name—Thomas E. My family may have been Buckeyes, but Tom Dewey was the Republican candidate for President that year, and that’s all that mattered. Governor Tom Dewey picked Ohio Governor John W. Bricker to run for Vice President on the Republican ticket that year. After they were defeated, Governor Bricker came home to Columbus and established a law firm in his name. The first client of the Bricker firm was the Ohio life insurance industry. Fast-forward to November 1, 1973—six days after I was discharged from the Army after serving four years as a captain in the Judge Advocate General’s Corps. That day I reported for work at the Bricker firm. The first question they asked me was whether I would be willing to do some insurance law work. I said I would be happy to do whatever it took to get a paycheck at the end of the month. I then represented the life insurance industry before the Ohio Legislature and the Ohio Department of Insurance for the next 26 years. In 1999 I came here. Actually, if Governor Dewey had not chosen Bricker as his running mate in ’44, Bricker would have been reelected Governor. He would not have set up the law firm until much later, if at all, and the Ohio life industry would have hired some other firm. So, I have New York’s Governor Dewey to thank for my job at LICONY!”
Tom’s successor, Mary Griffin, toasted him at that same event. Ms. Griffin comes to LICONY after 16 years at Citigroup. She has also served at the American Insurance Association (AIA), at the Department of Insurance during Governor Mario Cuomo’s administration, and as staff in the New York State Assembly. Of her predecessor, she had this to say: “Looking back over Tom’s career, there comes to mind some comments the great Roman philosopher, Marcus Aurelius, said about a patron and it struck me how similar it was to Tom as a boss: ‘Courtesy and unswerving loyalty to decisions taken after hard thought, industry and steadfastness.’ In all things great and small he exercised foresight and prepared down to the last detail for every eventuality. These things I learned from him, strength, moderation on all occasions, a spirit perfectly balanced and indomitable.” But perhaps more poignant are comments I received from Chris Workman when I asked him to give me some thoughts about Tom as a father: “For our whole lives, he has always been and always will be the rock of a foundation in our lives—loving, optimistic, honest, brilliant, ingenious, resourceful, successful, positive, gentle-yet-firm, principled, profoundly supportive, devoted, and loyal to the ends of the earth. He is resolutely proud and thankful to be an American. He is a constant force for what is good and right and has always been there for us in every way, without fail. He loves to work hard, loves to sacrifice for those whom he loves, loves to help other people, and always does everything that he can to do the right thing and to take care of his family, while also doing his level best to contribute to the good of our community and great nation, all three of which he loves dearly.”
Apparently, the feeling is mutual. SA
