Our Leadership Team
Eric Holoman
President and Chief Executive Officer
Eric is the Operating Partner of Magic Johnson Enterprises and oversees the company's day-to-day operations of its largest portfolio companies including President and CEO of EquiTrust, Managing Partner of JLC Infrastructure and Managing Director of the award-winning television network, ASPIRE. Prior to joining MJE, Mr. Holoman held leadership positions in private banking with Bank of America and Wells Fargo. In June 2017 Eric retired from the Banc Of California (Banc) board where he served on the Compensation, Executive and Governance committees. He has been active in public service, having served on the Board of the LA City Employees' Retirement System including two terms as President. More recently, Mr. Holoman served as VP of the Board of the LA DWP. Mr. Holoman has a BS in Finance from the USC and is a member of the Board of the Marshall School of Business. Recently Mr. Holoman joined the Board of Directors of Cedars Sinai Medical Center.
Joseph Norton
Chief Operating Officer
Joseph is the Chief Operating Officer of EquiTrust where he oversees and directs product development and management, sales and marketing and insurance operations. Mr. Norton joined EquiTrust in 2017. Joseph has 18 years of industry experience in building life and annuity business through pricing, modeling, valuation, and risk management. Mr. Norton earned a BS in Business Administration with a double major in Finance and Management Information Systems. He is a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries and a Member of the American Academy of Actuaries.
Kenyatta K. Matheny
Chief Investment Officer
Kenn is the Chief Investment Officer of EquiTrust and oversees the investment portfolio. Mr. Matheny joined EquiTrust in 2016. Kenn previously served as the Senior Investment Officer at the Teachers' Retirement System of the State of Illinois (TRS). Prior to TRS, Mr. Matheny was a Senior Vice President at Associated Banc-Corp. Early in his career, he received leveraged finance and capital markets training at Heller Financial/GE Capital and also worked for Franklin Street Equity Partners. Kenn has also been active in public service, having previously served on the Board of the Sue Duncan Foundation and the YMCA. He received a B.S. in Public Finance and Economics from Indiana University and an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago, Booth School of Business where he was awarded the Robert A. Toigo Fellowship.
Paul Miller
Chief Legal Officer
Paul is the Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary of EquiTrust and oversees legal affairs, compliance, regulatory matters and information technology. Mr. Miller joined EquiTrust in 2015. Prior to joining EquiTrust, Paul served as Special Deputy Receiver to the Director of the Illinois Department of Insurance. He also served as the Chief Executive Officer of the Office of the Special Deputy Receiver. Prior to his appointment as Special Deputy, his career spanned private corporate practice and government. Mr. Miller graduated from the Chicago-Kent College of Law where he serves on the Alumni Board of Directors, and received his undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Mr. Miller is a Board Member of the Anti-Defamation Leagues' Upper Midwest Division, serves as Chair of his home town Business and Economic Development Commission and is an Illinois Commissioner to the Uniform Law Commission.
Greg Thompson
Chief Accounting Officer and Controller
Greg is the Chief Accounting Officer and Controller of EquiTrust and oversees financial and regulatory reporting, financial integrity and controls, financial and capital planning, and related financial communications. Mr. Thompson joined EquiTrust in 2016. Prior to joining EquiTrust, Mr. Thompson served as the Vice President of Accounting and Controller at Mutual Trust Financial Group. Greg also held leadership positions at Protective Life and Guarantee Reserve Life. Earlier in his career Greg worked for CNA Insurance and Kemper Life. Mr. Thompson spent 15 years as a visiting professor at Keller Graduate School of Management teaching accounting and finance. Greg is a retired Chief Warrant Officer after serving 20 years in the U.S. Army and U.S. Army Reserve. Mr. Thompson holds a Bachelor of Arts in Accounting from Columbia College, a Master of Science in Accounting from Keller Graduate School of Management, and a Master of Arts in Management from Webster University. He is a licensed CPA and a member of the AICPA. Mr. Thompson is a Chartered Life Underwriter and a Fellow, Life Management Institute. Mr. Thompson currently serves on the Advisory Board for Midwestern Career College.
Ryan Smith
Chief of Staff
Ryan is the Chief of Staff of EquiTrust where he oversees the company's innovation and corporate development activities. Prior to his current role, he served as the Director of Investments for Magic Johnson Enterprises where he launched and led the Venture Capital practice in addition to his responsibilities in the Private Equity practice, which included the acquisition of EquiTrust. Prior to joining Magic Johnson Enterprises, Ryan was an Investor at Bronze Investments, a San Francisco-based venture capital firm. Before Bronze, he helped found IMB Development Corporation, a New York-based private equity firm. Ryan began his career in investment banking and capital markets at Morgan Stanley. In addition to his private sector activities, Ryan is a co-founder of Restoring Our Character (ROC), a not-for-profit organization in his hometown of Chicago. He is also a member of the Investment Committee of the USC Marshall Venture Capital Fund. Ryan graduated Magna Cum Laude from Howard University with a Bachelor of Business Administration (Finance) and received his M.B.A. from the Stanford Graduate School of Business.
Rosemary Parson
Senior Vice President of Policy Administration and Community Relations
Rosemary is the Senior Vice President of Policy Administration and Community Relations and oversees the EquiTrust day-to-day administrative operations. Ms. Parson joined the company in 2003. She received the 2011 Business Record Women of Influence award and continues to oversee community-relations initiatives. Prior to joining EquiTrust, Rosemary held executive positions with CNO Financial Group (formerly Conseco, Inc.). She studied at Ball State University and is a Fellow, Life Management Institute. Ms. Parson serves on the state of Iowa's Technical and Commercialization (innovation) Committee. She serves on several boards, including Children and Families of Iowa, The Des Moines Community Foundation, Pyramid Theatre and the YMCA of Greater Des Moines. Ms. Parson actively mentors young-adult students in the areas of financial literacy, banking, education and character.
Ana Bumgardner
Vice President of Product Management
Ana is the Vice President of Product Management and is responsible for the product development, pricing and profitability management for both annuities and life insurance. Ms. Bumgardner joined EquiTrust in 2003 and has been instrumental in the development of each EquiTrust annuity and life product. Ana entered the insurance industry in 1994 after graduating from Drake University with a bachelor's degree in Actuarial Science. Prior to joining EquiTrust, she served for 10 years in the actuarial-product area at ING. Ana is a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries and a Member of the American Academy of Actuaries. Ms. Bumgardner also serves as President of the community board for the Iowa chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. She leads the EquiTrust Cares Committee, which organizes activities to support the community, such as Habitat for Humanity, Children and Families of Iowa, and Meals for the Heartland.
Heather Kane
Vice President of Sales & Marketing
Heather is Vice President of Sales and Marketing and responsible for meeting the Company's sales targets. She oversees the distribution structure and network of independent marketing organizations in order recruit and retain skilled sales professionals. Heather is also responsible for planning and execution of marketing, communication and advertising initiatives. Ms. Kane has been with EquiTrust since 2004. She started her insurance career in 1998 in policy administration and transitioned to Sales and Marketing in 2000. Her broad insurance background gives Heather a holistic perspective and understanding of the insurance business. She graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science degree. For over a decade, Heather has served in varying capacities with the National Association of Fixed Annuities (NAFA), including membership on the Government and Legal Affairs committee, NAFA Board of Directors, and election to the Executive Board in 2018.
Jai Kuchimanchi
Senior Vice President of Information Technology
Jai Kuchimanchi joined the EquiTrust team in August 2023 as the Senior Vice President of Information Technology. In his role, he oversees all technology strategy and operations for the company. Jai has over 25 years of experience in the industry, having previously held technology leadership roles at other financial and insurance companies. Jai received his bachelor's degree in engineering from Birla Institute of Technology and Science, India and holds an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. He also holds several Fellowships from Life Office Management Association (LOMA).