Jennifer Taft is a Corporate Vice President with New York Life’s Office of Governmental Affairs. In this role, she focuses on public policy issues related to retirement security, asset management and investment. Jennifer is a seasoned Capitol Hill veteran, having spent 15 years working in the House of Representatives.  Most recently, she served as Chief of Staff for Congressman Cleaver (D-MO), Ranking Member of the House Financial Services Housing and Insurance Subcommittee. Previously, Jennifer served as the Legislative Director in the office, playing a critical role in the successful passage of numerous pieces of legislation.  Jennifer started her career on Capitol Hill as a Legislative Assistant for a member of the House Ways and Means Committee.

Jennifer received her law degree from the University of Miami School of Law. She graduated with honors with a degree in Political Science from George Washington University.

Susan Callanan currently serves as vice president of public policy & operations for Northwestern Mutual (Milwaukee, WI) in the Government and Community Relations department. She is ultimately responsible for coordinating the company's viewpoints on public policy matters and helping develop strategies to advance the company's interests in legislative and regulatory arenas, in addition to managing a newly created department’s operational needs.

Prior to joining Northwestern Mutual in 2006, she worked for 11 years in Washington, DC, for USAA, an insurance and financial services company serving military families. Her last position was as assistant vice president of federal relations, representing USAA’s interests before Congress, with federal regulators, and within trade associations.

Laura Haines is Senior Vice President of Government Affairs at The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America. In this role, she leads the state and federal advocacy efforts in support of Guardian’s public policy goals. She serves as executive co-sponsor of the Equally Enabled Employee Resource Group addressing visible and invisible disabilities. Currently, she is vice-chair of the American Council of Life Insurers’ Federal Legislative Strategy Group.

Ms. Haines spent 15 years in the Washington, D.C., office of The Hartford Financial Services Group, where she most recently served as vice president of federal affairs. During this time, she advised The Hartford’s executive leadership team on federal and state legislative and regulatory opportunities. She also chaired the American Insurance Association’s Federal Affairs subcommittee.