NAIFA-PA held its annual legislative breakfast in Scranton recently. Attendees discussed state and regional issues impacting NAIFA members and their clients with State Sen. Marty Flynn, State Rep. Kyle Mullins and State Rep. Jim Haddock. NAIFA lobbyist Matt Steck highlighted issues in the Pennsylvania General Assembly including Public Adjusters, the Medicare supplement "Birthday Rule" proposals and others. A lively discussion took place regarding economic development issues which included natural gas extraction in Northeast Pennsylvania and the introduction of data centers in the region. Rep. Mullins recognized the critical role of agents and advisors in helping Pennsylvanians reach their financial goals. Thank you to the legislators and NAIFA members who attended.

Congratulations to NAIFA-Pennsylvania's 2026 Board and Chairs. They met recently at the Hotel Hershey and include Lisa Bickmore, President, Brad Small, President-elect, Joe Marrazzo, Treasurer, Bronwyn Martin, Immediate Past President/IFAPAC, Michael Berardi, Director/Grassroots, Jim Boyd, Director/Membership (not shown), Harris Kivitz, Director, Tracy Russo-Keesey, Membership Chair, Trish May, Programs Chair, Steve Petrungaro, Leadership Chair, and Erin Wallace, Young Advisors Team Chair. Carina Hatfield, NAIFA Secretary also attended.

NAIFA-PA held its Day on the Hill and President's Dinner recently in Harrisburg. Attendees heard from Keynoter and former NFL player Marques Ogden and NAIFA President Doug Massey. Past Pennsylvania and Greater Philadelphia President Steve Earhart was honored with the Keystone Award and members also made numerous visits to lawmakers in the state capitol. Pic: NAIFA members including NAIFA President Doug Massey, Paul Szkotak, Jim Boyd, Joe Marrazzo and Jan Hartman visit with Pennsylvania House Republican Caucus Chair Martina White.

NAIFA’s Committee on Governance has nominated Carina Hatfield, LUTCF, CLCS, LACP, agency owner of Weigner Insurance & Financial Services, Inc. in Pottstown, Penn., to be the 2026 NAIFA Secretary. Hatfield, who currently serves on the Life Happens Council and NAIFA’s National Membership Committee and Government Relations Committee, is a NAIFA-National Trustee and Past President of NAIFA-Pennsylvania. She has been a NAIFA member since 2005. As incoming Secretary, Hatfield will be in line to serve as President-Elect in 2027 and President in 2028.

NAIFA-PA members joined their fellow NAIFA members from across the country to lobby Congress at the recent 2025 NAIFA Congressional Conference in Washington, DC. They lobbied Pennsylvania Congressional Offices on important changes being considered to the U.S. Tax Code. "It was an exciting day to be on Capitol Hill," said NAIFA-PA President Bronwyn Martin, "President Trump was in the Capitol urging support for his proposals and important Cabinet Secretaries were testifying in various Senate hearings." She urged NAIFA members to attend this important meeting next year, to get the real flavor of NAIFA's advocacy work in the nation's capital, and thanked all of the members who attended this year's Conference.

NAIFA recently saluted Philadelphia area Rising Stars in Plymouth Meeting. The honorees included: Jeremy Ortiz, New York Life, Roman Chiokadze, FSCP, RICP, New York Life, Thomas Passante, National Financial Network and Charles Fazio, MassMutual. The moderator was Natalie Petrongola of New York Life. Keynote Speaker Ross Bernstein joined in the celebration. 

NAIFA-PA recently held its Scranton Legislative Breakfast at the historic Radisson Lackawanna Station Hotel. Hosted by Past State President Walter Mitchell, attendees heard from state legislators and staffers representing newly-elected U.S. Senator Dave McCormick and U.S. Rep. Rob Bresnahan.

NAIFA-PA is seeking candidates for a 2025 Leadership in Life Institute class. Moderated by NAIFA Trustee and PA Past President Carina Hatfield and PA Past President Steve Petrungaro, the class is slated to be held in the State College area, May-October. The class meets live in-person once per month and helps candidates to grow their careers and personal lives through various readings, exercises and interactions with class mates. Anyone interested in joining the class should contact Jan Hartman at jhartman@naifa-pa.org.

NAIFA-PA is providing $200 stipends for its members who attend the 2025 NAIFA Congressional Conference in Washington, DC, May 19-20. Any Pennsylvania member who is in attendance for the Conference will be eligible for the stipend. "We consider attendance at this meeting to be central to NAIFA's Advocacy mission," said Bronwyn Martin, NAIFA-PA 2025 President, "and we want to do everything we can to encourage member participation." PA NAIFA members are encouraged to go to belong.naifa.org to register.

NAIFA-PA met with state legislators in the East and West of Pennsylvania during January. In the West, NAIFA-PA held its annual Pittsburgh Legislative Luncheon on Mt. Washington. Hosted by Jon Delano, formerly of KDKA-TV, attendees heard from a panel consisting of State Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa, State Rep. Bud Cook and State Rep. Dan Miller. Earlier in the East, NAIFA-PA held a Zoom call with PA House GOP Caucus Chair State Rep. Martina White of NE Philadelphia. Rep. White formerly worked as a financial advisor before entering public service. She urged members to meet regularly with their state legislators. Pictured: NAIFA-PA President Bronwyn Martin chats with Sen. Jay Costa and Joe Weinkle. Joe is approaching his 50-year anniversary with NAIFA. Congrats, Joe!