Actuarial Science Advisory Board
The BYU Actuarial Advisory Board is a collection of actuarial professionals with industry experience and a broad range of exposure to hiring practices and company actuarial student programs. Its mission is to assist BYU’s Statistics Department and Actuarial faculty in raising the level of effectiveness of the actuarial program by:
• providing feedback and recommendations that help shape the direction and future of the educational experience and career opportunities that students receive in connection with their studies in the BYU actuarial program;
• identifying opportunities to enhance BYU’s ability to produce competitive actuarial graduates as well as promoting the visibility and reputation of the Program; and
• encouraging alumni involvement with the actuarial program as well as assisting with fundraising efforts.
Board Members
Rob Bachler, FSA, FCAS, MAAA
PRINCIPAL & CONSULTING ACTUARY, MILLIMAN
BYU – BS IN STATISTICS/ACTUARIAL SCIENCE • BYU – MS IN STATISTICS
Rob Bachler is a Principal in Milliman’s Seattle Health Practice. His primary clients include Medicare Advantage plans and companies in the reinsurance and employer stop loss industries. He provides these clients with assistance in areas of expertise such as pricing, reserving, business analytics, and mergers and acquisitions. Prior to joining Milliman in 2008, Rob spent several years at Munich Re America, one of the largest reinsurance companies in the U.S., where he was responsible for actuarial management of clients covering several product lines. Rob served as the lead actuary at Educators Mutual Insurance Association in Murray, Utah before joining Munich Re.
Rob is a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries and the Casualty Actuarial Society and a member of the American Academy of Actuaries. He earned a Master’s degree in Statistics and a Bachelor’s degree in Statistics (actuarial emphasis), both from BYU.
BYU – BS IN STATISTICS/ACTUARIAL SCIENCE • BYU – MS IN STATISTICS
Rob Bachler is a Principal in Milliman’s Seattle Health Practice. His primary clients include Medicare Advantage plans and companies in the reinsurance and employer stop loss industries. He provides these clients with assistance in areas of expertise such as pricing, reserving, business analytics, and mergers and acquisitions. Prior to joining Milliman in 2008, Rob spent several years at Munich Re America, one of the largest reinsurance companies in the U.S., where he was responsible for actuarial management of clients covering several product lines. Rob served as the lead actuary at Educators Mutual Insurance Association in Murray, Utah before joining Munich Re.
Rob is a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries and the Casualty Actuarial Society and a member of the American Academy of Actuaries. He earned a Master’s degree in Statistics and a Bachelor’s degree in Statistics (actuarial emphasis), both from BYU.
Jonathan Blake, FCAS, MAAA
VICE PRESIDENT & LEAD ACTUARY, THE HANOVER GROUP
BYU – BS IN STATISTICS ∙ BYU – MS IN STATISTICS
For over twenty five years, Jonathan Blake has been employed in a variety of actuarial roles. He is currently the Vice President and Lead Actuary at The Hanover Group. In this position, he assesses the financial strength of over three billion dollars in domestic reserve position, as well as leads various corporate actuarial initiatives. He also partners with the Personal, Commercial, and Specialty businesses units, where he helps the units engage in profitable growth strategic initiatives.
Jonathan graduated magna cum laude with B.S. and M.S. degrees from the Department of Statistics in the College of Physical and Mathematical Sciences at BYU. He has previously worked in Ohio, Texas, and Massachusetts and served as president, vice president, and board member of the Casualty Actuaries of New England. He is a Fellow of the Casualty Actuarial Society and a member of the American Academy of Actuaries. Jonathan and his wife, Julia, have six children.
BYU – BS IN STATISTICS ∙ BYU – MS IN STATISTICS
For over twenty five years, Jonathan Blake has been employed in a variety of actuarial roles. He is currently the Vice President and Lead Actuary at The Hanover Group. In this position, he assesses the financial strength of over three billion dollars in domestic reserve position, as well as leads various corporate actuarial initiatives. He also partners with the Personal, Commercial, and Specialty businesses units, where he helps the units engage in profitable growth strategic initiatives.
Jonathan graduated magna cum laude with B.S. and M.S. degrees from the Department of Statistics in the College of Physical and Mathematical Sciences at BYU. He has previously worked in Ohio, Texas, and Massachusetts and served as president, vice president, and board member of the Casualty Actuaries of New England. He is a Fellow of the Casualty Actuarial Society and a member of the American Academy of Actuaries. Jonathan and his wife, Julia, have six children.
Mark A. Brown, FSA, MAAA
BUSINESS OPERATIONS DIRECTOR, PEHP HEALTH & BENEFITS
BYU – BS IN ACTUARIAL SCIENCE
Mark Brown is currently Business Operations Director at PEHP, a nonprofit trust providing health, life and disability benefits to Utah’s public employees (the state of Utah, its counties, cities, school districts, and other public agencies), and is responsible for overseeing all operating functions including actuarial, analytic and reporting functions, for the company.
With over 32 years in health, life and disability insurance and consulting, Mark has held a variety of responsibilities for overseeing and directing actuarial, financial and operational functions while working at regional and national insurance carriers, actuarial consulting and insurance brokerage companies.
Mark is a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries and a member of the American Academy of Actuaries. He has served in the community and industry on various boards and committees. Mark currently serves as the Chair of BYU’s Actuarial Advisory Board.
BYU – BS IN ACTUARIAL SCIENCE
Mark Brown is currently Business Operations Director at PEHP, a nonprofit trust providing health, life and disability benefits to Utah’s public employees (the state of Utah, its counties, cities, school districts, and other public agencies), and is responsible for overseeing all operating functions including actuarial, analytic and reporting functions, for the company.
With over 32 years in health, life and disability insurance and consulting, Mark has held a variety of responsibilities for overseeing and directing actuarial, financial and operational functions while working at regional and national insurance carriers, actuarial consulting and insurance brokerage companies.
Mark is a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries and a member of the American Academy of Actuaries. He has served in the community and industry on various boards and committees. Mark currently serves as the Chair of BYU’s Actuarial Advisory Board.
Amanda Budiana, ASA
MANAGER, MANULIFE SINGAPORE
BYU – BS IN ACTUARIAL SCIENCE
Amanda is currently a Manager at Manulife Singapore, responsible for
Embedded Value reporting. She has experience in pricing, reinsurance, and
valuation in different markets in Asia.
After graduating Cum Laude from BYU, she began her career with
Reinsurance Group of America (RGA) in Hong Kong as part of the Asia
Graduate Program. She worked on pricing and business management for the
Southeast Asian business. Prior to moving to Singapore, Amanda worked at
Prudential Indonesia where she led a pricing sub team as well as the New
Business reporting team.
Amanda is an Associate in the Society of Actuaries.
BYU – BS IN ACTUARIAL SCIENCE
Amanda is currently a Manager at Manulife Singapore, responsible for
Embedded Value reporting. She has experience in pricing, reinsurance, and
valuation in different markets in Asia.
After graduating Cum Laude from BYU, she began her career with
Reinsurance Group of America (RGA) in Hong Kong as part of the Asia
Graduate Program. She worked on pricing and business management for the
Southeast Asian business. Prior to moving to Singapore, Amanda worked at
Prudential Indonesia where she led a pricing sub team as well as the New
Business reporting team.
Amanda is an Associate in the Society of Actuaries.
Lee D. Gold, ASA, EA, MAAA
PRINCIPAL & CONSULTANT, MERCER
BYU – BS IN STATISTICS
Lee Gold is a Principal at Mercer and is the Defined Benefit Segment Leader for the Western US. He has been with Mercer for over 23 years and has over 33 years of employee benefit consulting experience. During his career, he has consulted with companies in various industries, including manufacturing, transportation, healthcare, and government contractors.
Earlier in his career, Lee was a corporate actuary, performing actuarial services for approximately 20 pension and retiree medical plans of his employer. In this role, Lee also had the opportunity to design and develop proprietary valuation software for both pension and retiree medical plans.
At Mercer, Lee has consulted with employers regarding, plan design, and risk management strategies for their pension, defined contribution, and retiree medical programs. Lee’s passion for optimal plan designs has led to creative and innovative solutions, as well as numerous speaking engagements, primarily on the topic of risk-sharing pension plan designs. Lee authored a paper that was published in The Retirement Forum of the Society of Actuaries (April 2019) where he discussed the efficiencies of risk-sharing pension plan designs versus defined contribution plans.
With employees increasingly being asked to take more individual responsibility for their own health and wealth, Lee made the decision in 2015 to expand his consulting focus beyond retirement, to also include financial wellness. Consequently, Lee spent several years consulting with companies on their financial wellness programs, helping them with strategy development and execution. With this background and experience, Lee now helps employers tackle a broad range of challenges across retirement, investments, and financial wellness.
Lee graduated Cum Laude from Brigham Young University (BYU) with a bachelor’s degree in statistics and is an Associate of the Society of Actuaries, an Enrolled Actuary, and a Member of the American Academy of Actuaries. Lee serves on the Society of Actuaries Retirement Section Council. He is a member of the Retirement System Assessment and Policy Committee of the American Academy of Actuaries. He also serves as a board member on BYU’s Actuarial Advisory Board.
BYU – BS IN STATISTICS
Lee Gold is a Principal at Mercer and is the Defined Benefit Segment Leader for the Western US. He has been with Mercer for over 23 years and has over 33 years of employee benefit consulting experience. During his career, he has consulted with companies in various industries, including manufacturing, transportation, healthcare, and government contractors.
Earlier in his career, Lee was a corporate actuary, performing actuarial services for approximately 20 pension and retiree medical plans of his employer. In this role, Lee also had the opportunity to design and develop proprietary valuation software for both pension and retiree medical plans.
At Mercer, Lee has consulted with employers regarding, plan design, and risk management strategies for their pension, defined contribution, and retiree medical programs. Lee’s passion for optimal plan designs has led to creative and innovative solutions, as well as numerous speaking engagements, primarily on the topic of risk-sharing pension plan designs. Lee authored a paper that was published in The Retirement Forum of the Society of Actuaries (April 2019) where he discussed the efficiencies of risk-sharing pension plan designs versus defined contribution plans.
With employees increasingly being asked to take more individual responsibility for their own health and wealth, Lee made the decision in 2015 to expand his consulting focus beyond retirement, to also include financial wellness. Consequently, Lee spent several years consulting with companies on their financial wellness programs, helping them with strategy development and execution. With this background and experience, Lee now helps employers tackle a broad range of challenges across retirement, investments, and financial wellness.
Lee graduated Cum Laude from Brigham Young University (BYU) with a bachelor’s degree in statistics and is an Associate of the Society of Actuaries, an Enrolled Actuary, and a Member of the American Academy of Actuaries. Lee serves on the Society of Actuaries Retirement Section Council. He is a member of the Retirement System Assessment and Policy Committee of the American Academy of Actuaries. He also serves as a board member on BYU’s Actuarial Advisory Board.
Kara Kemsley, FCAS, MAAA
HEAD OF PRICING, ARCH RE
BYU – BS IN PHYSICS
Kara Kemsley currently serves as Head of Pricing for Arch Re in Bermuda
overseeing pricing for a wide range of P&C reinsurance treaties and working
closely with the underwriting team to structure reinsurance solutions. With her
team in Bermuda and Arch Re teams globally, she works to build and improve
pricing models, incorporate best practice pricing techniques, and help shape
underwriting strategy. She has spent the last 10 years of her career in Bermuda
after moving from Manhattan and has significant experience in both US and
global insurance and reinsurance markets. Prior to Arch Re, Kara worked as a
pricing actuary at Tokio Millennium Re (Bermuda), Ace Tempest Re (CT), and AIG (NYC).
Kara graduated with a B.S. in Physics from BYU. After graduating, she accepted an actuarial job with little understanding of what an actuary was and hasn’t looked back since. Kara is a Fellow of the Casualty Actuarial Society and a member of the American Academy of Actuaries. She is also currently a member of the CAS Reinsurance Research Group.
BYU – BS IN PHYSICS
Kara Kemsley currently serves as Head of Pricing for Arch Re in Bermuda
overseeing pricing for a wide range of P&C reinsurance treaties and working
closely with the underwriting team to structure reinsurance solutions. With her
team in Bermuda and Arch Re teams globally, she works to build and improve
pricing models, incorporate best practice pricing techniques, and help shape
underwriting strategy. She has spent the last 10 years of her career in Bermuda
after moving from Manhattan and has significant experience in both US and
global insurance and reinsurance markets. Prior to Arch Re, Kara worked as a
pricing actuary at Tokio Millennium Re (Bermuda), Ace Tempest Re (CT), and AIG (NYC).
Kara graduated with a B.S. in Physics from BYU. After graduating, she accepted an actuarial job with little understanding of what an actuary was and hasn’t looked back since. Kara is a Fellow of the Casualty Actuarial Society and a member of the American Academy of Actuaries. She is also currently a member of the CAS Reinsurance Research Group.
Sarah Redford, ASA, MAAA
SENIOR CONSULTANT, AON HEALTH SOLUTIONS
BYU – BS IN STATISTICS
Sarah currently is a Senior Consultant at Aon. She has been a health actuary at
Aon since the beginning of her professional career. She works on a variety
of client sizes and industries and helps analyze, project, and monitor their
self-funded medical, dental, and vision plans.
Sarah graduated from BYU with a BS in Statistics. She is an Associate of the
Society of Actuaries (ASA) and is a member of the American Academy of
Actuaries. Sarah currently resides in Boise, Idaho. When she is not working, she spends time with her young son outside (weather permitting) and is preparing to welcome a baby girl to her family.
BYU – BS IN STATISTICS
Sarah currently is a Senior Consultant at Aon. She has been a health actuary at
Aon since the beginning of her professional career. She works on a variety
of client sizes and industries and helps analyze, project, and monitor their
self-funded medical, dental, and vision plans.
Sarah graduated from BYU with a BS in Statistics. She is an Associate of the
Society of Actuaries (ASA) and is a member of the American Academy of
Actuaries. Sarah currently resides in Boise, Idaho. When she is not working, she spends time with her young son outside (weather permitting) and is preparing to welcome a baby girl to her family.
Dave Sandberg, FSA, CERA, MAAA
SENIOR CONSULTANT, CHARLES RIVERS ASSOCIATES
BYU – BA IN ECONOMICS
Dave Sandberg is a Senior Consultant with Charles Rivers Associates, specializing in expert witness work on life insurance topics. He is a former VP & Corporate Actuary with Allianz Life in Minneapolis and previously was the appointed actuary for LifeUSA Insurance Company, a major writer of deferred and equity indexed annuities, where he worked from 1989 until LifeUSA’s purchase by Allianz Life in 1999. Additional responsibilities have included GAAP & Statutory Reporting, Crediting Rate & Investment Strategies, Experience Analysis, Government Relations and Reinsurance.
Since the late 1990’s, Dave has been actively engaged professionally in developing principles for insurance statutory reserve and capital requirements, as well as emerging risk management principles, in the US and abroad.
He is a past President of the American Academy of Actuaries and a current Board member of the Society of Actuaries. He graduated from BYU with High Honors in 1981 in Economics with a minor in Philosophy and lives in the Twin Cities of Minnesota.
BYU – BA IN ECONOMICS
Dave Sandberg is a Senior Consultant with Charles Rivers Associates, specializing in expert witness work on life insurance topics. He is a former VP & Corporate Actuary with Allianz Life in Minneapolis and previously was the appointed actuary for LifeUSA Insurance Company, a major writer of deferred and equity indexed annuities, where he worked from 1989 until LifeUSA’s purchase by Allianz Life in 1999. Additional responsibilities have included GAAP & Statutory Reporting, Crediting Rate & Investment Strategies, Experience Analysis, Government Relations and Reinsurance.
Since the late 1990’s, Dave has been actively engaged professionally in developing principles for insurance statutory reserve and capital requirements, as well as emerging risk management principles, in the US and abroad.
He is a past President of the American Academy of Actuaries and a current Board member of the Society of Actuaries. He graduated from BYU with High Honors in 1981 in Economics with a minor in Philosophy and lives in the Twin Cities of Minnesota.
Allie Tomlinson, FSA, MAAA
MEMBER, BYU ACTUARIAL ADVISORY BOARD
BYU – BS IN STATISTICS/ACTUARIAL SCIENCE
Allie Tomlinson has enjoyed providing service to BYU’s actuarial program for a number of years--as past Chair of the Advisory Board and as an Assistant Actuarial Program Coordinator. Earlier in her career, she worked for Aetna and for the Beneficial Life Insurance Company before leaving the workforce to raise children. At Aetna, she worked in the Health Insurance, 401(k), and Life Insurance Product Development areas. While at Beneficial Life, Allie’s responsibilities included Life Insurance Product Development & Management and Reinsurance roles.
Allie is a Fellow in the Society of Actuaries and is a Member of the American Academy of Actuaries.
BYU – BS IN STATISTICS/ACTUARIAL SCIENCE
Allie Tomlinson has enjoyed providing service to BYU’s actuarial program for a number of years--as past Chair of the Advisory Board and as an Assistant Actuarial Program Coordinator. Earlier in her career, she worked for Aetna and for the Beneficial Life Insurance Company before leaving the workforce to raise children. At Aetna, she worked in the Health Insurance, 401(k), and Life Insurance Product Development areas. While at Beneficial Life, Allie’s responsibilities included Life Insurance Product Development & Management and Reinsurance roles.
Allie is a Fellow in the Society of Actuaries and is a Member of the American Academy of Actuaries.
Steven B. White, FCAS
CHIEF ACTUARY, GUY CARPENTER
BYU – BS IN MATHEMATICS • BYU – MA IN ECONOMICS
Steven White currently serves as the Global Chief Actuary at Guy Carpenter. Current responsibilities include overseeing the development of all actuarial tools and advanced catastrophe modeling portfolio management tools. He also is responsible for standards and compliance within the actuarial area.
Prior to joining Guy Carpenter in 2000, he was a senior actuary for Swiss Re in its Chicago and Phoenix offices, responsible for all business underwritten in his business unit. He began his insurance career with the Allstate Insurance Company at its research and planning center before transferring to the firm's reinsurance division.
Steven is a Fellow of the Casualty Actuarial Society and serves on the Casualty Actuaries in Reinsurance (CARe) meeting steering committee. He has also served on the CAS Committee for Professionalism and Ethics.
BYU – BS IN MATHEMATICS • BYU – MA IN ECONOMICS
Steven White currently serves as the Global Chief Actuary at Guy Carpenter. Current responsibilities include overseeing the development of all actuarial tools and advanced catastrophe modeling portfolio management tools. He also is responsible for standards and compliance within the actuarial area.
Prior to joining Guy Carpenter in 2000, he was a senior actuary for Swiss Re in its Chicago and Phoenix offices, responsible for all business underwritten in his business unit. He began his insurance career with the Allstate Insurance Company at its research and planning center before transferring to the firm's reinsurance division.
Steven is a Fellow of the Casualty Actuarial Society and serves on the Casualty Actuaries in Reinsurance (CARe) meeting steering committee. He has also served on the CAS Committee for Professionalism and Ethics.
Trevar K. Withers, ACAS, MAAA
DIRECTOR - RISK, WILLIS TOWERS WATSON
BYU – BS IN STATISTICS/COMPUTER SCIENCE • BYU – MS IN STATISTICS
Trevar Withers is a Director at Willis Towers Watson. His expertise includes pricing and reserving traditional property & casualty lines of business. He also has extensive experience estimating asbestos liabilities and pricing extended warranty contracts. Prior to joining Willis Towers Watson he worked 12 years at Westfield Insurance in leadership roles including: Personal Lines Pricing Leader and Reserving Leader. Trevar also worked at Travelers Insurance.
Trevar is a member of the Casualty Actuarial Society and the American Academy of Actuaries. He served as Chairperson of the Mass Torts Subcommittee of the American Academy of Actuaries and coauthored a 2007 public policy monograph, “Overview of Asbestos Claims Issues and Trends.”
BYU – BS IN STATISTICS/COMPUTER SCIENCE • BYU – MS IN STATISTICS
Trevar Withers is a Director at Willis Towers Watson. His expertise includes pricing and reserving traditional property & casualty lines of business. He also has extensive experience estimating asbestos liabilities and pricing extended warranty contracts. Prior to joining Willis Towers Watson he worked 12 years at Westfield Insurance in leadership roles including: Personal Lines Pricing Leader and Reserving Leader. Trevar also worked at Travelers Insurance.
Trevar is a member of the Casualty Actuarial Society and the American Academy of Actuaries. He served as Chairperson of the Mass Torts Subcommittee of the American Academy of Actuaries and coauthored a 2007 public policy monograph, “Overview of Asbestos Claims Issues and Trends.”
Aaron A. Wright, FCAS, MAAA
DIRECTOR, STRATEGY - EARNIX
BYU – BS IN STATISTICS ∙ UTSA – MS IN DATA ANALYTICS
Aaron is a Strategy Director at the FinTech company, Earnix. Utilizing his insurance expertise, Aaron sets the company strategy and works with global insurance companies to modernize their insurance technology stack. Prior to joining Earnix in 2021, Aaron worked as an Executive at United Services Automobile Association (USAA). During his 20 years with USAA, he held several roles, including Pricing, State Management, Catastrophe Management, Comparative Pricing and Analysis, and leading a Modeling Center of Excellence.
Aaron graduated from Brigham Young University with a Bachelor's of Science in Statistics. He also has a Master's of Science in Data and Analytics from UTSA. He is an AIR Certified Catastrophe Modeler, a Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter, and a Fellow of the Casualty Actuarial Society.
BYU – BS IN STATISTICS ∙ UTSA – MS IN DATA ANALYTICS
Aaron is a Strategy Director at the FinTech company, Earnix. Utilizing his insurance expertise, Aaron sets the company strategy and works with global insurance companies to modernize their insurance technology stack. Prior to joining Earnix in 2021, Aaron worked as an Executive at United Services Automobile Association (USAA). During his 20 years with USAA, he held several roles, including Pricing, State Management, Catastrophe Management, Comparative Pricing and Analysis, and leading a Modeling Center of Excellence.
Aaron graduated from Brigham Young University with a Bachelor's of Science in Statistics. He also has a Master's of Science in Data and Analytics from UTSA. He is an AIR Certified Catastrophe Modeler, a Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter, and a Fellow of the Casualty Actuarial Society.