Leadership changes for WellPoint Specialty Businesses

American General Life Companies named Jeff Barker western divisional vice president. He joins American General from MetLife where he served as independent channel head – Life and managed the organization's third-party business. Barker brings 35 years of life insurance industry experience to American General. Before his most recent role as independent channel head – Life for MetLife, he served as national sales vice president for Travelers Life & Annuity where he managed the firm's independent life insurance business. Previously, Barker held additional roles with Travelers Life & Annuity including division sales manager, regional director and financial services manager. He earned his bachelor's degree from Grove City College and holds Chartered Life Underwriter and Chartered Financial Consultant designations in addition to FINRA Series 7, 22 and 63 licenses.

Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE:PRU) presented awards to more than 525 of its employees around the world and grants totaling $252,250 to the community based non-profit organizations with which they volunteer.

The donations were made through two special programs that each year honor employees for the volunteer service they provide to local non-profit organizations. One program, Skills in Service Awards, selects 25 employees who best demonstrate how they have used or developed their work skills and leadership qualities while coordinating their volunteer service project. This year, 25 non-profit organizations will each receive a $5,000 grant from The Prudential Foundation, for a total of $125,000.

The Hands for Service Awards program recognized employees who volunteered 40 hours or more with an eligible nonprofit organization. This year, 509 employees – 482 in the United States and 27 in overseas offices – each earned $250 grants for a total of $127,250 for the nonprofit organizations they volunteered with last year.

Jason Steed, vice president of Voluntary Benefits & Technology at Pacific Resources, has been named a 2012 Voluntary Benefits Leadership Award recipient by the Voluntary Benefits Association (VBA).

Each year, the VBA's Voluntary Benefits Leadership Awards recognize a select group of individuals whose achievements have enhanced and brought innovation to the voluntary benefits industry.

Life insurance, pension planning and wealth creation firm BeamaLife named John Collins as senior vice president.

Collins, a 25-year veteran of business development, sales and team leadership, will helm the firm's Large Corporations and Banks division. He will be responsible for expanding the division and accelerating the growth of BeamaLife's portfolio of life insurance funded executive benefits.

Collins began his career in 1988 as an original member of Teleport Communications Group (TCG), a joint venture between Merrill Lynch and the NY/NJ Port Authority. Collins left shortly after the firm's acquisition to pursue new challenges. Most recently, Collins led Cirrant, a New York based privately-held consulting firm where he was charged with growing the client base and building a leadership position within the industry.

Collins is a graduate of the City University of New York in engineering.