Modern Woodmen of America announces senior management changes

Modern Woodmen of America, Rock Island, Ill., has announced that James V. Standaert, Rock Island, will retire from his position as the fraternal life insurer's national secretary effective May 1, 2003. As national secretary, Standaert is chief administrative officer and serves on Modern Woodmen's seven-member board of directors. Gerald P. Odean, Davenport, has been appointed to this position upon Standaert's retirement.

Standaert joined Modern Woodmen in 1966 in the Data Processing department and became manager of the Certificate Issue department in 1972. In 1975 he was appointed assistant national secretary and assumed the duties of national secretary in 1979.

A graduate of St. Ambrose University, Davenport, he has served as the Illinois Fraternal Congress president, is past president of the Secretaries' Section of the National Fraternal Congress of America (NFCA) and also past president of the former Administrative Management Society (AMS). Very active in the Quad-City community, Standaert serves on a number of committees, including River Action, Quad City Arts' Visiting Artist, Quad City Chamber Air Service and Quad City Chamber Legislative Committees. He is also past president of the Illinois Quad City Chamber of Commerce's board of directors and served on the board for 10 years.

Standaert has worked on the Existing Business Task Group for the Quad-City Development Group and the United Way Marketing Committee. He also served on the boards of the Rock Island Economic Growth Corporation, Junior Achievement, the Rock Island Family Y and the Illinois Heart Association of Rock Island County. He also served six years as trustee for Franciscan Medical Center, Rock Island. Standaert and his wife Donna have five children and two granddaughters.

Gerald P. Odean began his Modern Woodmen career in 1968 in the Data Processing department and was appointed manager of the Personnel department in 1976. He became assistant national secretary in 1982. In this position, he has direct responsibility for 12 operational departments and provides administrative support for all other departments at Modern Woodmen's home office.

Odean holds a bachelor's degree from St. Ambrose University and is a Fellow with distinction in the Life Management Institute (FLMI). He is a past president of the Quad-Cities chapter of the former Administrative Management Society (AMS). In 1984 he was elected chairperson of the Institute for Management Development at St. Ambrose University.

He is also past president of the Quad-City Personnel Association and was chairperson of the Personnel Committee of the American Red Cross. He served as chairperson of the Life Office Management Association (LOMA) Administrative Services Committee, and at Modern Woodmen he chairs the Equipment, Imaging and Building Renovation Committees, and serves on the Product Study Committee. He and his wife Tana have three children and three grandchildren.

Modern Woodmen of America is a fraternal life insurance organization based in Rock Island, Ill. Modern Woodmen serves more than 750,000 members nationwide, offering life insurance, annuity and investment* products, along with fraternal member benefits for families and their communities.

For additional information, contact Kim Woodward; (309) 793-5660