NTSA Inaugural Ford Volunteer Service Award Honorees Named

NTSA is honored to announce the recipients of the inaugural Ford Volunteer Service Award. 

The Award was established in 2019, NTSA’s 30th anniversary year, in honor of the unique, lifelong volunteer efforts of Richard Ford, a lively and dedicated volunteer with and for the NTSA ever since its establishment. Ford also was an extraordinary community volunteer and promoter.

To continue his legacy, the Ford Volunteer Service Award demonstrates to the retirement industry, tax-exempt and nonprofit communities – as well as to clients and their interests they support – that the excellence and social responsibility which NTSA members evidence enhances their unique partnerships.

The Award recognizes NTSA members’ works in two key areas, key elements that Richard Ford exemplified in his life: 

1. Volunteerism: Activity with NTSA standing committees and projects, through the NTSA member’s donation of time and talent, beyond the norm and with innovative excellence.
2. Service: Local and/or national community and/or governmental works, through the NTSA member’s donation of time, talent and/or treasure.

The Awardees

At the NTSA 2020 Summit Awards Luncheon on Monday, Jan. 27, 2020, the inaugural NTSA 2020 Ford Volunteer Service Award will be bestowed on three outstanding NTSA members. In alphabetical order, they are:

David Blask, faithful NTSA volunteer in diverse ways for decades. He has been NTSA President, Summit Chair, Awards’ nominator and CRES promoter, as well as involved in advocacy, education, mentoring and promotion. David is engaged in decades-long service as treasurer of his temple, which has significant community service outreach focused now with migrants.

Donna Caloia, this year’s NTSA Summit Chair. She has been immersed in every aspect of Summit life for several years, leading, encouraging and mentoring dozens of volunteers, and giving back by drawing from her broad and deep experiences. She also has led women’s support and outreach initiatives at Lincoln Investment. And she has done all that while being engaged in service for disabled children through horse riding for more than a decade with the Hand of Hope Center therapeutic riding.

Lisa Stubbs, supported substantively by Security Benefit’s own commitment to encouraging employee volunteer work in the communities they serve. NTSA has benefited through her many years of leading and astute follow-through, making for Summit excellence as Chair and mighty innovator, her CRES, advocacy and networking commitments. In her community, Lisa is devoted to and active in Junior Achievement and the Topeka City Council, ran for Mayor, and took part in a host of other community service activities. 

“Thank you, Lisa, Donna and David, for your leadership. May we be humble enough to accept your challenges,” said NTSA 2019 President and NTSA Awards Committee Chair, Kristine J. Coffey, CPC, CPFA, CRES.

The Award Judging Committee for the Ford Volunteer Service Award is representative of NTSA, with significant NTSA volunteerism and personal commitment to community and/or governmental service. The 2020 committee members include: 

• Randy Aranowitz – NTSA 2014 Elite Advisor and Elite Advisor Council Chair, EVP of NTSA Strategic Partner Kades-Margolis, representing the financial advisor community; 
• Susan Diehl – NTSA Schiller Awardee, NTSA Government Affairs Committee Chair, President of NTSA Strategic Partner PenServ Plan Services, Inc., representing the TPA and technical community; and
• Kevin Twohy – FVP, Partner Development at NTSA Strategic Partner PlanMember Services, Inc., where Richard Ford was the first employee in 1989.