Leadership

Executive Team

Cynthia Tidwell  
President/CEO, Rock Island, IL

Cynthia Tidwell was appointed President of Royal Neighbors in 2005. She has spent many years turning around and reinventing organizations. She is accomplished in all facets of insurance, including sales, marketing, claims, underwriting, change management, agency management, information technology, and human resources. With a passion for leadership, Ms. Tidwell has built start-up organizations, managed turnarounds, and hired and retained top talent by using a results-oriented and team philosophy. Prior to joining Royal Neighbors, she led a $900M national property and casualty insurance business. As president, she led change initiatives to regain business fundamentals and achieved record results. Today, Ms. Tidwell is leading the turnaround at Royal Neighbors through a formal change framework of recognition, stabilization, and revitalization. She is rebuilding the sales force, increasing membership, and enhancing the philanthropic arm of the organization. In recognition of her keen business acumen and her leadership abilities, she won the prestigious Stevie Award as Turnaround Executive of the Year in The 2009 American Business Awards. She also was the recipient of a 2010 Athena Business Women’s Award from the Illinois Quad City Chamber of Commerce and The Women’s Connection for excellence in her profession and for the significant difference she makes in her community. She is a graduate of Arizona State University and was a participant in the Wharton AICPU Program and Hagberg Executive Development. In addition to her President/CEO responsibilities, she serves on the executive committee of the Royal Neighbors Board of Directors. Married for nearly 30 years to her husband, Don, they have raised two wonderful sons. She serves on the Board of Junior Achievement, the Illinois Quad City Chamber, and the Western Illinois Leadership Committee. An active member of the National Fraternal Congress, Executive Women’s Golf League, and the National Association of Professional Women, she also has worked with United Way and volunteers extensively on behalf of Royal Neighbors. She is a sought-after speaker on leadership and the improvement of women’s health and financial security. She was featured in American Executive magazine for her turnaround strategies; listed in the Global Directory of Who’s Who, the foremost network of worldwide leadership; and has been a guest on numerous TV talk shows and news channels.

Chris Seistrup  
Chief Operating Officer

Mr. Seistrup began his tenure with Royal Neighbors of America in August 2007, as the National Sales Executive, and became Chief Operating Officer in February 2010. A 30-year veteran of the insurance industry, he has extensive experience in sales, operations, and underwriting. Prior to joining Royal Neighbors, he held executive positions at Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company in California, Vik Brothers Insurance Company in North Carolina, and Crum & Forster Insurance Company in New Jersey. Mr. Seistrup has recently served on the Board of Directors of The San Diego Burn Institute. An Illinois native, he earned his Bachelor’s Degree in marketing from Northern Illinois University.

Bruce Peterson, JD, FLMI, ALHC, AAPA  
Secretary and General Counsel

Mr. Peterson has been a member of Royal Neighbors’ legal department since 1980 when he joined the Society as assistant general counsel (investments). He has a Bachelor's Degree in History from the University of Illinois at Chicago Circle and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Illinois College of Law. Mr. Peterson has served on several committees for the National Fraternal Congress of America and the International Claim Association. He is currently Chairman of the National Fraternal Congress of America Risk Management Committee, and is an active member of the Association of Fraternal Benefit Counsel, Rock Island Police Pension Board, and Rock Island Planning Commission.

Brian Haynes  
Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

Brian Haynes has been Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of Royal Neighbors of America since November 3, 2008.  A 24-year veteran of the insurance and financial services industries, he has experience in accounting, treasury, auditing, risk management, and investment interaction from such prestigious firms as GE, Genworth Financial, and Weyerhaeuser.  Earning his Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Puget Sound and his Masters in Business Administration from the University of Chicago, Haynes has Securities Licenses 7, 26, and 65, and is a certified GE Six Sigma Black Belt, a quality and process improvement program.

Tonya Carroll, CLU  
Sales Executive

Ms. Carroll has been a member of the Royal Neighbors of America staff since 2006. A 25-year veteran of the insurance industry, she has experience in leading marketing, agency, and compliance efforts for life insurance and annuity companies. Prior to joining Royal Neighbors, she held positions with Government Personnel Mutual Life, Pan-American Life, Columbia Universal Life, and the Fairlane Financial Corporation. A Texas native, Tonya has earned the designations of Fellow, Life Management Institute from the Life Office Management Association and Chartered Life Underwriter.

Mary Staver, PHR, CEAP  
Human Resources Executive

Ms. Staver has been a member of the Royal Neighbors of America staff since 2001. With nearly 20 years of experience in human resources, she previously has been HR manager for a transportation company with a 550 employee base in six locations. She also served as an employee assistance and human resource consultant for Family Resources, Inc., where she provided human resource consulting for over 20 businesses. She graduated from Northern Illinois University with a major in communications and a minor in business. In addition, she has taken graduate classes in human resource management at St. Ambrose University, and has earned the designations of Professional in Human Resources and Certified Employee Assistance Professional. Ms. Staver is a member of the Society of Human Resource Management and Great River Human Resource Association and is active in the community. She serves on the Royal Neighbors of America Foundation Board, and is the management liaison to the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors. She is a member of St. Pius X Catholic Church where she participates in a music ministry and serves on the LAN 29 Board of Directors (Child and Adolescent Local Area Networks, under the auspices of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services). She also serves on the board of The Women’s Connection, a non-profit organization co-sponsored by Royal Neighbors encouraging women to gather, network, connect, and develop leadership skills. She has also volunteered as a Drug and Alcohol Abuse educator and has conducted classes through Rock Island County Council on Addictions in various school systems throughout western Illinois.

Board of Directors

Cynthia Tidwell  
President/CEO, Rock Island, IL

Cynthia Tidwell was appointed President of Royal Neighbors in 2005. She has spent many years turning around and reinventing organizations. She is accomplished in all facets of insurance, including sales, marketing, claims, underwriting, change management, agency management, information technology, and human resources. With a passion for leadership, Ms. Tidwell has built start-up organizations, managed turnarounds, and hired and retained top talent by using a results-oriented and team philosophy. Prior to joining Royal Neighbors, she led a $900M national property and casualty insurance business. As president, she led change initiatives to regain business fundamentals and achieved record results. Today, Ms. Tidwell is leading the turnaround at Royal Neighbors through a formal change framework of recognition, stabilization, and revitalization. She is rebuilding the sales force, increasing membership, and enhancing the philanthropic arm of the organization. In recognition of her keen business acumen and her leadership abilities, she won the prestigious Stevie Award as Turnaround Executive of the Year in The 2009 American Business Awards. She also was the recipient of a 2010 Athena Business Women’s Award from the Illinois Quad City Chamber of Commerce and The Women’s Connection for excellence in her profession and for the significant difference she makes in her community. She is a graduate of Arizona State University and was a participant in the Wharton AICPU Program and Hagberg Executive Development. In addition to her President/CEO responsibilities, she serves on the executive committee of the Royal Neighbors Board of Directors. Married for nearly 30 years to her husband, Don, they have raised two wonderful sons. She serves on the Board of Junior Achievement, the Illinois Quad City Chamber, and the Western Illinois Leadership Committee. An active member of the National Fraternal Congress, Executive Women’s Golf League, and the National Association of Professional Women, she also has worked with United Way and volunteers extensively on behalf of Royal Neighbors. She is a sought-after speaker on leadership and the improvement of women’s health and financial security. She was featured in American Executive magazine for her turnaround strategies; listed in the Global Directory of Who’s Who, the foremost network of worldwide leadership; and has been a guest on numerous TV talk shows and news channels.

Dr. Joyce Elam  
Chairman - Coral Gables, FL

Serving as the Executive Dean and Professor of Management Information Systems in the College of Business, Florida International University, Miami, Dr. Elam is an expert in the areas of strategic uses of information technology, the management of the information services function, and the use of information technology to support both individual and group decision-making. She previously was an associate professor at the University of Texas. She earned both her Ph.D. in Operations Research and her Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematics from the University of Texas. She was named the AXA Advisors 2008 International Business Woman of the Year by the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce and the 2007 Academy of International Business Fellows’ International Dean of the Year. She was also the recipient of the 2007 Athena Award given by the Coral Gables Community Foundation. Becoming a member of the Royal Neighbors Board of Directors in September 2004, she was elected as board chairman in August 2009. In addition to serving on the board of Royal Neighbors, she serves on the boards of Baptist Health Outpatient Services and Our Kids, an agency that provides care to abused, abandoned, and neglected children in South Florida.

Patricia Gibford  
Vice chairman - Bend, OR

Ms. Gibford, as President/CEO, has directed the operations of Clear Choice Health Plans, Inc., since 1995 and is also an elected board member. A majority provider owned and operated insurance company serving the Medicaid, Medicare, commercial and Third Party Administration (TPA) insurance markets in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Montana, Clear Choice is one of the few insurers of its kind that has found success in any rural market in the nation. Involved in the health care industry for over 35 years, she has held executive positions at Medical Care International and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Oregon. She is a registered nurse and holds a degree in Business Administration and Health Care Administration from Concordia College, Portland, OR. Active in state government as it relates to Medicaid and local communities, she has served on the boards of Hospice, Home Care IV, Bend Chamber of Commerce, Greater Bend Rotary, Sun River Festival of Music, and Oregon State University, Cascades Campus, Foundation, and the Orthopedic and Neurosurgical Center for Excellence. Ms. Gibford is currently a member of the Strategic Planning and Finance Committee of Cascade Healthcare Community and is committed to numerous health care promotions and activities that support seniors and children, including the Heaven Can Wait Walk, the Spark Your Heart Run, Shots for Tots, and the Sparrow Club. She has been a member of the Royal Neighbors Board of Directors since September 2004, and serves as vice-chair of the Board and is a member of the audit and investments committees.

Dr. Benet Spence  
Chicago, IL

Dr. Spence is an assistant professor of marketing at the Liautaud Graduate School of Business at the University of Illinois, Chicago (UIC). She is also the founder and Executive Director of MASAZI, a social venture based in Ghana, West Africa. Dr. Spence’s corporate experience includes employment with Baxter International, Northwestern Healthcare Network, and Monsanto/G.D. Searle. She has served as the president of the board of directors of StreetWise, a leading non-profit advocacy group for the homeless and the largest North American street newspaper. Dr. Spence has successfully leveraged existing community and corporate relationships; has managed global product portfolios; and has enjoyed success with business development, strategy, and market research. Her research has appeared in numerous leading marketing journals. Dr. Spence holds a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Notre Dame, an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago, and a Ph.D. in marketing from the Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University. She has been a member of the Royal Neighbors Board of Directors since September, 2004, and serves on the audit and compensation committees. 

Sister Francis Clare Radke  
Lemont, IL

Sister Francis Clare Radke graduated from Loyola University, Chicago, IL, with a Bachelor's Degree and a Master of Religious Education Degree. An accomplished professional with a proven record of success in the corporate, not-for-profit, and service communities, she has played the key leadership role within the Franciscan Sisters of Chicago Community. The order is highly regarded nationally for its service commitment to women, children, and the aged. She spent 15 years as a teacher and assistant principal and has served as a board member of various Franciscan health centers for more than 20 years. Currently serving as chairman of the board of Franciscan Sisters of Chicago Service Corporation (FSCSC), she developed and championed an unprecedented strategic course to address current challenges and position FSCSC for a successful future. In addition, she has actively participated in policy development, review, and approval, and has extensive experience in designing governance structures. She has been a member of the Royal Neighbors Board of Directors since September 2004, and is a member of the audit and compensation committees, and former chair of the board.

Linda Neuman  
Le Claire, IA

Ms. Neuman earned her Undergraduate and Law Degrees from the University of Colorado and a Master of Laws Degree (LL.M.) from the University of Virginia. She has been both a trial and appellate judge, retiring in 2003 after serving 17 years on the Iowa Supreme Court. She now practices privately in the area of mediation and arbitration, as well as consulting on matters of legal ethics and appellate practice. She also teaches part-time as an adjunct faculty member of the University of Iowa College of Law. She has played a leadership role in strategic planning activities, is a sought-after lecturer, and has earned numerous awards for her outstanding community and professional achievements, including the University of Colorado Award for Distinguished Achievement, the Mississippi Valley Girl Scout Council Exceptional Achievement Award, and an Athena Business Women's Award from the Illinois Quad-City Chamber of Commerce and The Women’s Connection for her service to the business community. She serves as a trustee for St. Ambrose University, a director on the board of Quad City Bank & Trust, is a Friend of the Davenport Museum of Art, is a member of the board of directors of the Community Foundation of the Great River Bend, and is a reader for the blind. Former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack appointed Ms. Neuman a commissioner on the National Uniform State Laws Commission. She has been a member of the Royal Neighbors Board of Directors since September 2004, and is chair of the governance committee and serves on the investment committee.

Nancy Hanna  
Minneapolis, MN

Serving most recently as Vice President, Human Resources for Silicon Graphics (SGI), Ms. Hanna brings 30 years of professional HR experience to Royal Neighbors. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in French from Hamline University and a Master’s in Human Development from St. Mary’s, both Minnesota liberal arts schools. Her experiences include leading HR in both large corporations and start-ups, including Northwestern National Life (now Reliastar/ING), Cray Research, Sagebrush Corporation, PLATO Learning, and Ceridian. She serves as President of the Minnesota Human Resource Executive Forum, and is a past board member of three organizations focused on the advancement and well-being of women – WomenVenture, Working Opportunities for Women, and the Greater Minneapolis Day Care Association. A member of the Royal Neighbors Board of Directors since January 2005, she chairs the compensation committee and serves on the governance committee.

Patsy Kneller  
San Angelo, TX

As executive director of Habitat for Humanity of San Angelo, Ms. Kneller established a partnership with Royal Neighbors in 1997 to assist Habitat families with financial education. A strong advocate for volunteerism, she has served on the boards and committees of many community organizations, including the Retired Senior Volunteer Program, the Better Business Bureau, the American Heart Association, Chamber of Commerce, Social and Health Resource Coalition, the American Cancer Society, Grant Center of Concho Valley, San Angelo Nature Center, San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts, and St. Paul Presbyterian Church. She was named a “Woman to Watch” by the Business and Professional Women; named co-citizen of the year by the NAACP; received the Civic Leaders Award from the Chamber of Commerce - Leadership San Angelo Alumni; served as a mentor through the Juvenile Justice/SAISD program; and has played an active role in the Girl Scouts. Earning a Bachelor of Science Degree from Mansfield University, Ms. Kneller has strong skills in fund-raising, human resources, grant-writing, public speaking, media-marketing, and project management. She has been a member of the Royal Neighbors Board of Directors since September 2004, and serves on its governance and investment committees.

V. Sue Molina  
Pittsburgh, PA/Scottsdale, AZ

With nearly 30 years of public accounting experience, Ms. Molina has a strong background in serving clients in the financial, tax, and real estate areas. Prior to retiring, she was employed by Deloitte & Touche LLP as the National Partner in charge of the Initiative for the Retention and Advancement of Women where she was an advocate for diversity within a historically male-dominated industry. She led the firm's strong commitment to advance highly talented women through the development of innovative career planning, mentoring, and leadership training and succession programs. Since retiring, she has continued to focus on advancing and mentoring women through her participation as the chair of the Advisory Council of the Claremont McKenna College Berger Institute of Work, Family and Children and as the finance chair and board member of Vital Voices Global Partnership. A certified public accountant, she earned a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration and a Master's of Accountancy at the University of Arizona. She was recognized as one of the "Top 100 Most Influential People in the Accounting Profession" by Accounting Today. Ms. Molina serves on the board of directors of the public company, DTS, Inc. She has been a member of the Royal Neighbors Board of Directors since September 2004, and is chair of the audit committee, a member of the compensation committee, and former vice-chair of the Board.

Wan Ling Martello  
Glencoe, IL

Ms. Martello is senior vice president, Chief Financial Officer & Strategy for Wal-Mart International. Wal-Mart International has sales of $100 billion and operates in 14 markets outside the United States. Prior to Wal-Mart, she was U.S. president of NCH Marketing Services, Inc., a global provider of promotional management solutions for clients that include many of the world’s largest retailers and consumer packaged goods manufacturers. Ms. Martello has spent a significant part of her career with consumer packaged goods companies. She was the corporate controller for Borden Foods during its turn-around years, and also spent 10 years with Kraft in diverse financial roles including internal audit, international reporting, financial systems, strategic planning, and financial planning and analysis. She has been a member of the Royal Neighbors Board of Directors since September 2004, and is chair of the investment committee and serves on the governance committee.