Urban Call: North Carolina Mutual Insurance

URBAN CALL — HEALTHY LIVING EVERY DAY!

Meeting you where you are NC Mutual announces new products, branding strategy

NC Mutual’s leadership team members are from left: Jacqueline Britt, CPA, vice president, controller and treasurer; Kimberly W. Moore, PhD, vice president of marketing and external affairs; Michael L. Lawrence, CPA, president and CEO; Richard C. Barnes, JD, corporate secretary

Mutual is life insurance and so much more.

The new brand is part of

NC Mutual, pg 2

Dynamic New Team .......................... 2

6

Organizations

Mentoring

Susan Taylor

5

Steve Harvey

Book Corner

Michael V . Roberts

George Fraser

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an effort to re-introduce the company to their traditional African American market. With

Permessa Seele

Inside...

Jo Ann Jenkins

North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Company has restructured its product and sales approach to better evaluate and meet the needs of its clients and to adapt to a changing insurance marketplace — and the company has launched a new brand — NC Mutual.

The new brand was unveiled on March 22 and more closely reflects the common vernacular names of the company — The Mutual or North Carolina Mutual. The new brand builds upon the bond and trust created within the community. Today, NC

new products and services, the company is poised to be the company of choice for African American families and businesses as well as companies looking to choose more diverse vendors.

CEO Michael Lawrence, in his second year, has led a re-branding effort and has implemented new strategies to build on existing lines of business. The company is now offering more products to individuals and businesses through a single-broker system.

Lawrence joined NC Mutual as chief financial officer in 2012 before becoming CEO in 2016. Before that, he was chief financial officer and chief operating officer at NCM Capital in Durham, N.C. He has a bachelor’s degree

Sandra Miller Jones Segmented Marketing Services, Inc. Founder & CEO

Lafayette Jones

Publisher, Urban Call; SMSi-Urban Call Marketing, Inc. President & CEO

Welcome to another edition of Urban Call, as we celebrate NC Mutual, the first black owned insurance company in the state of North Carolina and the largest in the nation. Founded in 1898, it has provided excellent service to policy holders throughout the decades, and been a clearinghouse for black politics, education and philanthropy. As the needs of its clients evolve with the changing times, NC Mutual continues to grow to meet these challenges, while building on its rich history and legacy. Learn about the new company and how it can benefit you, your family and your community.

Enjoy!

SMSi-Urban Call Marketing, Inc Winston-Salem, NC 27103 E-Mail: President@smsi-net.com

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Elliott Hall

URBAN CALL — HEALTHY LIVING EVERY DAY!

Michael L. Lawrence Carol Mosley Braun Sandra Miller Jones Gregory B. Levett, Sr. Theodore W. Long, Jr. Richard H. Moore

Elliott Hall is NC Mutual Life Insurance Company board president Elliott S. Hall is chairman of the board of directors of NC Mutual Life Insurance Company.

He is with the Detroit law firm of Dykema Gossett and a former senior vice president at Ford

Motor Company. Other board members include:

Former Ambassador to New Zealand and Samoa

Michael L. Lawrence Certified Public Accountant President and Chief Executive Officer NC Mutual

Sandra Miller Jones Founder and Chair, Segmented Marketing Services, Inc.

Carol Moseley Braun Founder & President, Good Food Organics Former U.S. Senator

Dr. Phail Wynn, Jr.

Theodore W. Long, Jr. Certified Public Accountant Partner, Ernst & Young (Retired) Richard H. Moore Chief Executive Officer, First Bancorp Former North Carolina State Treasurer

Gregory B. Levett, Sr. Founder & Chief Executive Officer Gregory B. Levett & Sons Dr. Phail Wynn, Jr. Funeral Home & Crematory, Inc. Vice President, Durham and Regional Affairs Duke University

Bert Collins

Nathan Garrett

Former President, Durham Technical Community College Bert Collins Chairman Emeritus Former President and Chief Executive Officer, North Carolina Mutual Nathan T. Garrett Chairman Emeritus Certified Public Accountant and Attorney (Retired)

NC Mutual from pg 1

The SMSi Companies Corporate Offices Suite 810 51 E. Fourth St. Winston Salem, N.C. 27101 Office: (336) 759-7477 Fax: (336) 941-3547

SMSi & Urban Call Community Outreach Office Goler Memorial AME Zion Family Enrichment Center 620 Patterson Avenue Winston Salem, NC 27101 Office: (336) 759-7477

Issuu.com/Smsiurbancallmarketing.com SegmentedMarketing.com n

SMSi-Urban Call Marketing, Inc. President and CEO; Urban Call Publisher: Lafayette Jones Executive Editor: Alan Cronk Editorial Director: Rose M. Walsh

Production Manager: Jodi S. Sarver Financial Services: Wanda Courts Archivist: Avis Patterson Warehouse and Shipping: Bernard Archie

Segmented Marketing Services, Inc. SMSi Founding Chair and CEO: Sandra Miller Jones National Project Manager: Constance Harris National Public Relations Manager: Tonya Monteiro National Logistics Manager: Camille Allen

Lead Outreach Ambassador: Sharon Lyles Lead Agent Ambassador: Alvin Borders Director Operations: Tahnya Bowser Director Financial Services: Roslyn Hickman

SMSi Community of Networks

in accounting from N.C. State University.

The new effort is being led by Lawrence and Kimberly W. Moore, vice president of marketing and external affairs. Moore will handle the initial client consultations for the marketing of business solutions.

Moore joined NC Mutual in 2004 as a communications consultant. She is the chief spokesperson and is responsible for the development of an integrated public relations and marketing communications plan.

Moore received her bachelor’s degree in journalism and public relations from UNC Chapel Hill, her master’s in English from N.C. State University, and her Ph.D. in journalism and public relations from UNC Chapel Hill.

The new approach will ensure that customers get quality solutions through NC Mutual’s distinct lines of business: Insurance Agency and Funeral Funding. NC Mutual Funeral Funding is an established and growing business line that will continue with its current business approach. NC Mutual Insurance Agency will continue to market life, homeowners, auto as well as property and casualty insurance from trusted, top-rated carriers.

This strategy allows clients to

NC Mutual includes four regional territories. Each is led by regional managers who are responsible for recruiting financial representatives and improving the financial health of the communities they serve. They are from the left: Eric Grant, Chicago Regional Manager; Roderick Liptrot, Atlanta Regional Manager; Isaiah Solomon, D.C., Maryland and Virginia Regional Manager; Kimberly Moore, Vice President of Marketing and External Relations; Bill Brown, Vice President of National Life & Health Sales; Reginald Randolph, North Carolina Regional Manager.

bundle and buy their insurance needs through a single agent.

The newly created NC Mutual Business Solutions will focus on providing a single broker approach for employers so they are able to offer voluntary benefits to their employees. This program is particularly appropriate for colleges, universities, and municipalities.

Some of their current clients include: Duke University, Howard University, Dillard University, and the City of Winston-Salem, N.C.

t T t f t a

Moore is excited about doing “deeper dives” with customers so NC Mutual can better understand d i their immediate and future insurance needs. o “Providing the right products for our clients is important to build w lasting relationships, and taking a n consultative approach from a single t broker is the first step. All clients b do not have the same needs and we m recognize the need for agility in our a benefit offerings,” Moore said. a

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A message from the president North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Company is one of the greatest stories in American business. Deeply rooted in the communities we serve, the company was often referred to as The Mutual or NC Mutual.

Yes, we sold life insurance products, but the company was also an iconic presence in the African American community representing jobs, hope and prosperity.

From our beginnings serving the under-served to our role in wealth building and financial literacy in our communities, we have always represented so much

more than life insurance.

In 2016, we realized that to grow from these strong roots, we had to offer more to our customers. We listened and we heard our customers’ needs for insurance to protect their families and the other things important to them. We have partnered with top carriers to meet these needs. We now offer products for homes and autos and other coverage to complement our life and pre-need products. We also provide competitive products for businesses and their employees.

This broader portfolio of products and services helps to

ensure the financial futures of our customers.

To reflect this evolution, we have a new brand – NC Mutual. This change is the next step in moving forward. We are strengthening our roots in North Carolina and focusing new product offerings here, where it all started.

In the midst of all this change, our principles are still the same – ensuring that personnel are well-trained and match our corporate needs; that we have the technical capabilities to support our agents and provide stellar customer service to our

policyholders. Community has been a critical part of our success, and we are working within our communities to provide support through financial literacy initiatives, affordable products and employment opportunities.

As the world rapidly changes, NC Mutual must also continue to change – creating new partnerships, investing in technology and human capital while providing a portfolio of products to help our customers protect what is important. We invite you to join us as we take this amazing journey to grow together.

NC Mutual offers Voluntary Benefits Program

Agents identified by region The four NC Mutual regional agents include:

Michael L. Lawrence, CPA, president and CEO

Eric Grant, Chicago

Isaiah Solomon, D.C., Maryland, Virginia

Roderick Liptrot, Atlanta

Reginald Randolph, North Carolina

Insurance when you need it most NC Mutual has a long, deep-rooted tradition of serving funeral homes.

The skills and knowledge within the company have evolved with the funeral industry, enabling NC Mutual to offer new options, new incentives, and new solutions.

The Pre-Need sales staff has decades of experience in Pre-Need life insurance and funeral-home services.

NC Mutual knows that the priority of funeral homes is helping families who come to them in a time of need. NC Mutual’s primary goal is to help funeral homes provide the best options for families – while minimizing the administrative costs and concerns of funeral homes.

NC Mutual can enhance the prearrangement funeral business with

its exclusive marketing program and Pre-Need life insurance plans, backed by top-rated insurance carriers: Homesteaders Life Company and National Guardian Life Insurance Company.

NC Mutual’s partnership with these two companies provides access to the best products available, along with superior service.

In addition, NC Mutual offers an “Exclusive Guest Resources Marketing System.” The marketing system, which has a hands-on training program, offers funeral homes a thorough and strategic approach to strengthening their marketing capability, growing their customer base, expanding their market share, and increasing their revenues.

The system tracks key metrics within a funeral home’s business, and the contact management marketing system identifies strategic leads.

These leads are considered strategic because they target a growing number of individuals who have a greater propensity to pre-arrange funerals than people in the general population.

In addition, NC Mutual is committed to the success of the funeral industry. The company provides easy web-based applications so funeral homes can quickly and easily process applications and claims.

To learn more about NC Mutual’s Pre-Need life insurance plan options and marketing services, please contact them at: kfloyd@ncmutualagency.com or 800-647-2114, ext.216.

NC Mutual has a package of voluntary benefit products and services to complement the traditional benefit packages that companies offer.

The worksite-solutions program provides comprehensive answers for employee-benefit needs.

Through its relationships with top-rated carriers, NC Mutual is a single point of contact for both traditional and voluntary employee benefits packages.

In today’s competitive market, it's important for businesses to offer a comprehensive benefits package to attract the best employees.

NC Mutual has more than 40 years of experience working with local governments, colleges, universities, healthcare groups, small businesses and other employer groups. NC Mutual’s understanding of the industry and its commitment to excellence allows it to provide the right mix of products to meet the needs of a variety of workplaces.

Why choose NC Mutual?

• Have been supplying benefits to HBCU’s for over a century • Single source for both traditional and voluntary employee benefits • Consolidated billing and reconciliation • 24/7 benefit administration • Communication and implementation support NC Mutual offers the following products through its partners: • Life insurance with a long-term-care rider • Critical illness • Accident insurance • Telemedicine • Identity-theft protection • Legal protection

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URBAN CALL — HEALTHY LIVING EVERY DAY!

Historically Black Universities and Colleges get boost

Entrepreneur and business titan Michael Roberts shares his secrets in his book “Action Has No Season: Strategies and Secrets to Gaining Wealth and Authority.” With his brother, Steven, he owns the Roberts Companies, one of the largest African-American owned conglomerates in the world.

George Fraser, chairman and CEO of FraserNet, Inc., a global networking movement shares tips of his own in his book “Click: Ten Truths for Building Extraordinary Relationships.”

He is the founder of the annual PowerNetworking Conference, where thousands of Black professionals, business owners, and community leaders gather to discuss and do business with each other.

NC Mutual has been a strong advocate and supporter of historically black colleges and universities for many generations. The company recently developed a voluntary worksite package designed to meet the unique needs of private institutions. The colleges and universities targeted for the NC Mutual program are listed below: • Allen University, Columbia, SC • Arkansas Baptist College, Little Rock, AR • Benedict College, Columbia, SC • Bennett College, Greensboro, NC • Bethune-Cookman University, Daytona Beach, FL • Claflin University, Orangeburg, SC • Clark Atlanta University, Atlanta, GA • Clinton College, Rock Hill, SC • Concordia College Alabama, Selma, AL • Dillard University, New Orleans, LA • Edward Waters College, Jacksonville, FL • Fisk University, Nashville, TN • Florida Memorial University, Miami Gardens, FL • Hampton University, Hampton, VA • Harris-Stowe State University, Saint Louis, MO • Howard University, Washington, DC • Huston-Tillotson University, Austin, TX • Interdenominational Theological Center, Atlanta, GA • Jarvis Christian College, Hawkins, TX • Johnson C Smith University,

Charlotte, NC • Lane College, Jackson, TN • Le Moyne-Owen College, Memphis, TN • Livingstone College, Salisbury, NC • Meharry Medical College, Nashville, TN • Miles College, Fairfield, AL • Morehouse College, Atlanta, GA • Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA • Morris College, Sumter, SC • Oakwood University, Huntsville, AL • Paine College, Augusta, GA • Paul Quinn College, Dallas, TX • Philander Smith College, Little Rock, AR • Rust College, Holly Springs, MS • Saint Augustine's University, Raleigh, NC • Saint Pauls College, Lawrenceville, VA

• Selma University, Selma, AL • Shaw University, Raleigh, NC • Shorter College, Little Rock, AR • Southwestern Christian College, Terrell, TX • Spelman College, Atlanta, GA • Stillman College, Tuscaloosa, AL • Talladega College, Talladega, AL • Texas College, Tyler, TX • Tougaloo College, Tougaloo, MS • Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, AL • Virginia Union University, Richmond, VA • Virginia University of Lynchburg, Lynchburg, VA • Voorhees College, Denmark, SC • Wilberforce University, Wilberforce, OH • Wiley College, Marshall, TX • Xavier University of Louisiana, New Orleans, LA

Life-insurance assignments can be problematic for funeral homes Assigning life-insurance benefits to a third party — in this case a funeral home for expenses — can be complicated.

Funeral homes would rather accept direct payment from a family, but none will turn away a family when a life-insurance assignment is the family’s only way to pay for a funeral. There are 850 life-insurance companies operating in the U.S., all with varying policies and procedures — and not all companies accept third-party assignments. But most companies do accept funeral-home assignments.

Before accepting a funeral, a funeral home must ask the insurance company a series of questions to ensure that they are eligible for full payment. Once these questions have been answered satisfactorily,

the funeral may proceed.

But that isn’t the end of potential complications for the funeral home. When the funeral home calls the life-insurance company after the funeral, the funeral home may be told that the check has already been mailed to the beneficiary and that the check has already been cashed — and that the insurance company has no obligation to send funds to the funeral home. In a worst-case scenario, the beneficiary then tells the funeral home that the money has already been spent, leaving the courts as the only recourse.

There are many other possible problems that funeral homes have encountered with third-party assignments.

The only way that funeral home can

insulate itself from these losses is to factor life-insurance assignments through a reputable, non-recourse life insurance factoring company.

Unfortunately, only a few offer nonrecourse funding of life-insurance assignments. Most only offer fullrecourse funding, holding funeral home Kevin Smith Danny Smith owners fully liable for its losses due to insurance-company or other errors, Editor’s Note: Excerpted from an article by including negligence on the part of the life Danny Smith, director of business development insurance factoring company’s employees NC Mutual Financial, LLC, a nationwide life and staff in verifying, processing and insurance funeral funding company and a wholly collecting on life insurance assignments. owned subsidiary of NC Mutual Life Insurance Even when working through fullCompany. Kevin Smith is the vice president of recourse factoring companies, the hazards business development for the company. Danny can of accepting life-insurance assignments are be reached at (757) 714-7156; email dsmith@ still applicable. ncmutualfinancial.com.

URBAN CALL — HEALTHY LIVING EVERY DAY!

NC Mutual partners with Black Women’s Agenda and AARP The Black Women’s Agenda, Inc. recent AARP survey of voters age 50 partners with AARP and local and over found that nearly 40 percent communities to host “Because We of African American voters age 50 plus Care” — a series of forums designed are caregivers, and of those, 54 percent to provide African-American families reported experiencing an overwhelming with information and resources that will or good deal of stress because of their enable them to take better care of their caregiving roles. loved ones and themselves.

Gwainevere Catchings Hess, NC Mutual hosted an event at its President, The Black Women’s Agenda, Durham headquarters and works with Inc. stated, “African Americans are the Durham Center for Senior Life twice as likely to develop late-onset Jo Ann Jenkins is and other local partners to provide Alzheimer’s disease as Whites. The chief executive of AARP, the world’s information for caregivers and seniors. incidence of stroke is twice as high for largest nonprofit, According to The National us and, among ethnic groups, we have nonpartisan memAlliance for Caregiving and AARP the highest rate of disability. Simply bership organizaapproximately 65.7 million people — put, we know that we are going to tion dedicated to roughly one-third of the U.S. adult have to provide care for members of social change helppopulation — are providing care to our families and communities. The key ing people 50 and someone who is ill, disabled or aged. is for us to be prepared; by knowing over to improve They provide unpaid care valued at over the quality of their where to go and what to do so that we $450 billion and approximately twice can provide the quality care our loved lives. the total for paid services and supports, ones need but also protect our own according to AARP’s Public Policy Institute. mental and physical health.”

Among African-Americans, more than half of The Because We Care forums have taken place in family caregivers find themselves “sandwiched” major cities across the United States. Spokespeople between caring for an older person, and a person for the initiative have included Jackie Joynerunder age 18, or caring for more than one older Kersee, Olympic Gold Medalist; Carla Harris, Vice person.

Chairman, Global Wealth Management, Managing Caregiving can impact families with financial Director and Senior Client Advisor, Morgan Stanley; hardship, emotional stress and job-related strain. A and Holly Robinson Peete, actress and author.

Larry Brooks named senior consultant Larry Brooks, formerly the Vice President of Individual Sales for the NC Mutual Life Insurance Company, retired after over 40 years of service in several capacities including District Manager and Wealth Building Manager.

He will continue to support the company as a Senior Consultant assisting with Larry Brooks training and onboarding of new agents as well as mentoring existing agents in the field.

Kimberly Moore, Vice President of Marketing and External Relations, said, “We are so fortunate to have Larry as an integral part of our success for so many decades and we are looking forward to continuing to have his support.”

Dr. Pernessa C. Seele is the founder and CEO of The Balm In Gilead. It began in 1989 as the Harlem Week of Prayer to respond to the AIDS crisis. The organization evolved into The Balm in Gilead which includes more than 10,000 churches and addresses all aspects of health. The national headquarters is in Richmond, Va. Healthy Churches 2020 is The Balm in Gilead’s agenda for building healthier African-American communities. For information info@balmingilead.org or healthychurches2020.org.

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YWCA honors Women of Vision at luncheon

Five women were honored at the 35th annual YWCA’s Women of Vision awards luncheon at the Albert H. Anderson conference center of Winston-Salem State University.

Sandra Miller Jones will receive the Trailblazer Award. She founded two companies aimed at serving African-Americans and Latinos Wanda Starke, in the top 25 U.S. markets. They Children’s Advocate Award include Segmented Marketing Services, Inc. and SMSi Health Insurance Solutions.

Henri Brown will receive a Literacy Champion award. She is the director of READWS which advocates reading skills for children.

Candice Brown will receive the Emerging Leader award. She is an attorney for Reynolds American Cathy J. Pace, Inc. and R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company. The Community Catalyst Community Catalyst Award award will be presented to Cathy Pace, president and CEO of Allegacy Federal Credit Union and co-founder of Healthy WS. Wanda Starke, co-anchor at WXII news, is also a producer of “A Place to Call Home” which profiles children waiting to be adopted. She will receive the Children’s Advocate award.

Proceeds support the YWCA’s Henri D. Brown, Change for Life programs that Literacy Champion empower low income and at-risk Award children and women dealing with substance abuse. The YWCA encourages members to have healthy lifestyles and focuses on chronic disease prevention and management. The local chapter is affiliated with the national YWCA and embraces its mission, “Eliminating Racism, Empowering Candice Wooten Women, and Promoting Peace, Brown, Emerging Justice, Freedom, and Dignity for Leader Award All.” The chapter serves over 9,000 people each year. Projects include the Best Choice Center which provides academic programs for 150 low income children; eighty percent improved or maintained their reading and math scores in 2014-15. Hawley House helps women recovering from addiction. It is the only state licensed residential substance abuse program for women in Forsyth County. The client success rate is 87%. Work & Earn it and Teen Court programs give 260 teens the opportunity to get back on track after committing minor first time offenses.

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URBAN CALL — HEALTHY LIVING EVERY DAY!

Understanding the Affordable Care Act: What it means for you Are you an individual looking for a health insurance plan? Do you want to change the plan you are on? Do subsidies help pay for your insurance? If so, you need to update your subsidy with the Health Insurance Marketplace.

Subsidies change every year.

The Affordable Care Act provides many benefits: ‘  Dependents may stay on their parents plan until age 26, (the law also states that “dependents” do not have to live with their parents, be claimed as a dependent on tax returns, may be married and do not have to be enrolled in school).  Waiting periods for pre-existing conditions are eliminated. Applicants cannot be turned away for enrollment

based on their health status.  Preventive care and medical screenings are covered in-network at 100%, with no cost sharing. This includes immunizations, U.S. Preventive Services Task Forcerecommended services, and screenings for women, infants, children, and adolescents.  Annual dollar limits on essential benefits are

eliminated.  There are no lifetime dollar limits on essential benefits.  Policies may only be rescinded for fraud or intentional misrepresentation on the part of the applicant or non-payment of premiums.

All plans offered on the marketplace provide coverage for essential health benefits,

which are now required by law.

For those who can’t afford it on their own, subsidies are available to people who meet eligibility criteria. The Health Insurance Marketplace can provide more information on eligibility.  Premium subsidies are available for those who qualify.

They help lower the amount of premium the individual or family must pay for their coverage on a month-tomonth basis.  Some are eligible for cost-sharing assistance that will limit out-of-pocket costs (i.e., deductibles, coinsurance or copayments) that would otherwise be charged at the point of service.

For more information visit healthcare.gov.

B

P

Entertainer and TV host Steve Harvey is keen on youth mentoring. The goal of “The Steve Harvey Mentoring Weekend for Young Men” is a four day, three night interactive program whose sole purpose is to share and teach the principles of manhood and dream building to young men. Workshops focus on personal responsibility, dream building, and the importance of nutrition and physical fitness.

Participants are introduced to positive male role models who are leaders in various areas.

Promotion, healthcare, supply chain industries at Inmar

Eric Tomlinson, DSc, PhD, is president of Wake Forest Innovation Quarter and Chief Innovation Officer for Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center.

It is one of the fastest-growing urban-based districts for innovation districts in the U.S. Visit innovationquarter.com

Gregory B. Levett Founder and CEO Levett & Sons Funeral Homes & Crematory, NC Mutual Board Member

The Inmar Analytics Forum, an annual event held in WinstonSalem, brings together business professionals from the promotion, healthcare and supply chain industries to explore how data can drive conversion, Inmar create operational headquarters efficiencies and improve business and patient outcomes.

The interactive information exchange delivers insight into data-based solutions for business and healthcare challenges.

The forum focuses on the practical

application of data analytics and encourages data collaboration between manufacturers, retailers and healthcare providers/systems. David Mounts, Inmar CEO, opened the forum with his keynote: “Technology, Data and One Special Ingredient.”

Among numerous speakers were Larry Merlo, president and CEO of CVS Health whose topic was, “Revolution at the Corner Drug Store: How Data Helps People on Their Path to Better Health,” and Dr. John McConnell, CEO of Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center whose topic was “The Unique Role of Academic Medicine in Academic Health.” Visit inmar.com.

Susan Taylor, former editor in chief of Essence magazine and author of many inspirational books has created the National CARES Mentoring Movement, a non-profit organization with a mission to recruit and train caring adults to mentor children in youth-serving programs that assist with academic, emotional and social development.

A tradition of strength and experience for funeral homes NC Mutual Life Insurance Company, founded in 1898, has always had a close relationship with the funeral industry. Historically, the company partnered with African American funeral homes when they could not secure insurance coverage through the general market, and this relationship has endured for generations.

The life insurance company is the nation’s oldest and largest insurance company with roots in

the African American community.

They have built a reputation for financial stability and personalized service for policyholders. That personalized service extends to the funeral industry through its PreNeed Insurance and Funeral Funding services.

The most recent service that NC Mutual is offering to funeral homes across the nation is a funeral funding service that enables these businesses to assist families in their time of

need without waiting for the families insurance policies to make payments.

This service is being championed

by Gregory B. Levett Sr., the founder and CEO of one of the most successful funeral homes in the nation, Gregory B. Levett and Sons Funeral Homes & Crematory.

Levett, a member of the NC Mutual board, owns four funeral homes in the Atlanta area. Levett & Sons is a family owned and operated funeral home founded in 1980. Their

hallmark is providing funeral services that are traditional, thoughtful and dignified. The company has over 100 employees and 10 licensed funeral directors on call 24 hours a day.

For more than a century, NC Mutual Life Insurance Company has helped businesses build a vision for the future — through the products it sells, the jobs it provides, and the communities it supports.

For more information, call 800647-2114 or 800-626-1899.

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URBAN CALL — HEALTHY LIVING EVERY DAY!

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Goler CDC important in downtown development

By Marc Schaefer PRESIDENT AND CEO TRULIANT FEDERAL CREDIT UNION

Goler Community Development Corporation, founded in 1998 with a vision to transform a historic, downtown African American community into a multimillion-dollar mixed-use development has played a role in rejuvenating that area that borders the Innovation Quarter.

Those projects include the Goler Family Enrichment Center; Goler Manor senior housing, the Gallery Lofts; eight townhomes on Chestnut Street and the Arts Park at 6th & Chestnut. Goler CDC reimagined dilapidated warehouses, barbed-wire enclosed parking lots and overgrown, trash laden lots that would eventually form the northeastern bookend to Winston-Salem’s entertainment district

and our Trade and Liberty Street Arts District.

Wake Forest had earlier developed the Research Park to the south of where most of the new development had occurred. The Winston Salem Chamber Technology Committee met in those Goler founders include Bishop Seth Lartey, AME Zion restored buildings. Wake Church, Michael Suggs, Goler CDC president and Forest was also an early important supporter of the Lafayette Jones, founder SMSi-Urban Call Marketing.

Visit GolerCDC.com. area with the Downtown Health Plaza on the northern Truliant Federal Credit Union played a end. Reynolds American donated land and role, opening a Member Financial Center buildings. The Downtown Winston Salem in 2007 at Seventh and Patterson streets.

Partnership and city and county leadership It was a product of our 2003 merger used historic tax credits and tax increment with Victory Masonic Mutual Credit financing to add value.

Union, whose founding in 1946 makes

it the oldest black-owned credit union in Winston-Salem. The building Goler built to house the Truliant Member Financial Center and their own headquarters at Martin Luther King Jr. Drive and Patterson Avenue provided a visibly-improved gateway to the area.

Since 1990 Sophisticates Black Hair Style and Care Guide has been profiling successful black women in a column called Role Model Beyond Beauty. Short biographies are available at sophisticatesblackhairstyles.com.

Eunice Dudley, Company Founder

Erika Green, TV Writer

Chilli Thomas, Recording Artist

Dr. Jennifer Mieres, Rosa Parks, Civil Rights Icon Cardiologist and Activist

Dorothy Height, Chair/President Emeritus Nat’l Council of Negro Women

Sylvia Sprinkle Hamlin, Exec. Producer National Black Theater Festival

Carol Moseley Braun, Former U.S. Senator and Ambassador to New Zealand

Seniors’ Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) has answers

Glossary of terms

Seniors’ Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) is a consumer information division of the North Carolina Department of Insurance that assists people with Medicare and longterm care insurance questions. The organization also helps people recognize and prevent Medicare billing fraud and abuse.

SHIIP provides education and assistance in three ways: 1. Operating a toll-free consumer information phone line.

2. Training volunteers, including senior citizens to counsel Medicare beneficiaries about all the parts of Medicare.

Health Care Reform has its own language. Here are the most commonly used terms:

3. Creating educational materials for consumer use including the Medicare Supplement Comparison Guide and the Medicare Supplement Comparison database on the web.

Trained SHIIP volunteers are in existing human services agencies such as the Council on Aging or Cooperative Extension offices.

North Carolina toll-free number: (855) 408-1212 www.ncshiip.com ncshiip@ncdoi.gov

Coinsurance: A type of insurance in which the insured pays a share of the payment made against a claim.

Copayment: A fixed dollar amount you may pay for a covered service at the time you receive it.

Copayments can vary depending on the service.

Out-of-Pocket Costs: Coinsurance payments made by an individual for covered medical services.

In addition, this may include deductible amounts for some products, such as Blue Options HSA. Premium: The amount paid to keep an insurance policy active. Premiums are separate from other health insurance out-of-pocket costs.

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URBAN CALL — HEALTHY LIVING EVERY DAY!

Our Experience Is Your Strength Since 1898

Building on Our Past. Focusing on Your Future.

Founded by seven ordinary men with extraordinary vision and still committed to our customers and our communities.

To our policyholders, we say “Thank You.” We invite you to review your current needs with our trusted professionals.

Not yet a North Carolina Mutual customer?

If you are an individual or an employer looking for group insurance, call us today to get started.

www.ncmutual.com

800.647.2114