Richard L. Jones was reelected to a three-year term as president and chair of NASW Assurance Services, Inc. (ASI) at the ASI Board of Directors meeting last November.
Jones is president and CEO for Metropolitan Family Services, one of the largest private human service agencies in Chicago. Previously, he served as president of the Center for Families and Children in Cleveland and executive director of Boston Children's Services in Boston, Mass.
"I'm excited to be reelected to the role of board chair because it gives me an opportunity to continue working on the development and roll out of a number of new insurance products that are responsive to the needs of NASW members," Jones said.
He was first elected to chair the NASW Insurance Trust in 2005. He played an important role in working with the NASW Board of Directors and the NASW Insurance Trust Board to further the understanding and development of NASW ASI, eventually becoming president and chair of ASI when it was established and incorporated as a wholly owned subsidiary of NASW in 2007.
NASW Executive Director Elizabeth J. Clark said, "We're quite fortunate to have Dr. Richard Jones extend his tenure as chair of the Board of Assurance Services, Inc. His leadership has been instrumental in the restructuring of insurance programs to better meet the needs of our NASW members. He is not only an exceptional leader, but also is a visionary thinker who can link the big picture to pragmatic implementation."
NASW President James Kelly said, "Richard Jones has repeatedly shown he can work effectively with both the NASW Board of Directors and the ASI Board of Directors to further the development of programs and services to benefit NASW members. I look forward to working with him during the next three years."
Tony Benedetto, executive vice president of ASI, said Jones' ability to preside over the Board will help NASW ASI in the next three years with some major initiatives.
"Richard has a keen ability to take complex issues and information and work through the governance structures in place," Benedetto said. "He's exceptionally talented in bringing people together and keeping everyone focused and on track for accomplishing the work at hand and achieving great results."
Jones said, "We have a talented and energetic team at NASW Assurance Services, Inc., which is constantly developing new products and product enhancements that will benefit our members and allow us to remain competitive in an ever-changing insurance landscape."
Jones completed his master's degree and Ph.D. in social work administration from the Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences of Case Western Reserve University. Previous leadership responsibilities have included serving on the board of directors of Leadership Cleveland and the Cleveland United Way; co-chairing the International Year of the Family; and serving as chair of the Commission on Chemical Dependency and Child Welfare for the Child Welfare League of America. Jones was presented the Leadership in Nonprofit Management Award by Case Western Reserve University in 1997; the Outstanding Alumni Award by the Mandel School of Applied Social Services of Case Western Reserve University in 1998; and a fellowship award to the Harvard Business School in 2005.