Leadership Transition Featured in National Publications

Preparing for the Future

By Building on a Strong Foundation

As NIPR celebrates 30 years of serving the insurance industry, we're proud to share that our CEO succession plan and people-first culture were recently featured in Forbes, Fortune, and Entrepreneur magazines. The article highlights the leadership transition from CEO Karen Stakem Hornig to Chief Product and Technology Officer Eric Saul and the thoughtful planning that positions NIPR for continued success. 

Read full article here, and highlights of article below.

Legacy of Leadership

Since joining NIPR in 2014, Karen has led the organization through a period of significant growth, expanding NIPR's reach to all U.S. jurisdictions and strengthening our role as a trusted provider of licensing and compliance solutions for the insurance industry. Throughout her tenure, she has championed a people-first culture focused on developing talent, fostering innovation, and supporting our mission. 

Next in Line

That commitment to investing in people is reflected in the appointment of Eric Saul as NIPR's next CEO. Eric joined NIPR in 2020 and has played an integral role in advancing our technology, products, and strategic direction. His leadership experience and dedication to empowering teams align closely with NIPR's mission and values.  

The article underscores a key principle that has guided NIPR's success for three decades: when organizations invest in people, they build the foundation for long-term growth, stability, and impact. 

We invite you to read the full article and learn more about the leadership transition, NIPR's history, and the people-first philosophy that continues to shape our future.  

This year marks 30 years of NIPR—three decades of trust, teamwork, innovation, and excellence. We’re proud of the technology and processes we’ve built, but the real story has always been our people: the teams who show up, solve problems, support one another, and keep our mission moving. 

Related Articles

 

Partnership in Action: Advancing Efficiency in Arkansas

Arkansas Visit Highlights the Power of Partnership and Progress NIPR helped Arkansas identify opportunities to modernize processes and reduce complexity for regulators and industry professionals In April, NIPR’s State Regulatory Affairs Team visited Arkansas to help address a state-specific licensing processes that had created confusion for applicants and required significant manual effort for state staff. The engagement aligned with a broader statewide initiative, as the Governor of Arkansas had directed agencies through an executive order to identify efficiencies and streamline processes. Rather than pushing for change, the team focused on building trust, sharing options, and helping regulators evaluate their processes through the lens of industry best practices. During the visit, the team walked Arkansas leadership through NIPR’s product offerings and demonstrated how those solutions could work within the state’s existing regulatory framework. By collaborating closely with state stakeholders and assessing feasibility together, the team helped create a path toward a more streamlined, efficient process. As a result, Arkansas welcomed NIPR’s recommended best practices, paving the way for less administrative overhead for state staff and faster market entry for industry customers. “This is a great example of how NIPR serves as a trusted partner to regulators,” said Laurie Wolf, Chief Regulatory Officer at NIPR. “By listening first, sharing knowledge gained from our work across jurisdictions, and helping states evaluate practical options, we can reduce complexity, improve consistency, and create better outcomes for everyone involved.” The Arkansas engagement is more than a single success story—it reflects the ongoing work NIPR does every day to help states modernize processes, reduce operational burden, and strengthen regulatory efficiency across the insurance industry. For more information, contact NIPR's State Regulatory Affairs team at statesupport@nipr.com. Related Articles
Oct 15, 2026

Regulatory Spotlights

On the Right Flight Path to Licensing Uniformity Related Articles
Oct 15, 2026

Employee Spotlights

The People Who Help Power NIPR This year, as part of our Powered by People – 30 Years Strong anniversary celebration, we want to shine a light on the people who have powered NIPR’s success. Meet some of the people who help “power” NIPR by living our values, strengthening our culture, supporting our mission, or contributing to making NIPR a better place to work. "One of the things I love most about working at NIPR is that, like cycling, the journey is made better by the people around you. I've been fortunate to ride with people from all over the world and learn from different experiences and perspectives. At NIPR, that same diversity, combined with endurance, collaboration, and character, helps us achieve more together than we ever could alone," said J.T. Burgess. Since joining NIPR in 2006, whether J.T. is tackling a challenging trail or helping move a project forward, he brings the same team-first mindset to everything he does. His appreciation for diverse perspectives and belief in the power of collaboration reflect what makes NIPR strong. As we celebrate the people who have powered our success over the past 30 years, J.T. reminds us that the journey is always more meaningful when we ride together. Related Articles
Oct 5, 2026

 

 

 

 

About the author

Kem Snavely Frost

Kem Snavely Frost is Senior Internal Communications & Brand Manager at NIPR, where she leads strategic communications, brand initiatives, employee engagement programs, and thought leadership efforts. With a 25+ year career spanning corporate communications, marketing, branding, and organizational culture, she specializes in transforming complex topics into compelling content that informs, connects, and inspires audiences. Kem holds a master's degree from the University of Kansas and is an active community leader, serving on the Board of Directors for a KC-affiliate of a national children's charity organization. Passionate about storytelling and lifelong learning, she enjoys helping organizations strengthen their culture, elevate their brand, and create meaningful connections. Her work at NIPR helps spread the story of NIPR's mission and strong culture to more clients, consumers and stakeholders.