Texas Guaranteed Student Loan competitors

Financial services executive. Distinct track records in: founding a start-up; managing the challenges of “hyper-growth”; creating profitable growth in a mature firm; and managing a multi-billion dollar turn-around. Domestic and global operating experience in the distribution and manufacturing aspects of P&C insurance, life/health insurance and investments.

Mark Begor was named Chief Executive Officer of Equifax and a member of the Board of Directors in April 2018. Begor previously served as a Managing Director in the Industrial and Business Services group at Warburg Pincus, a $40 billion growth-focused private equity firm with over 120 portfolio companies. He also served two years as a member of the Board of Directors at FICO. Prior to that, Begor spent 35 years at General Electric, most recently as President and CEO of GE’s $8 billion energy management business. Before leading GE Energy Management, Mark was President and CEO of GE Capital Real Estate. He also served as President and CEO of GE Capital Retail Finance (Synchrony Financial), successfully guiding it through a period where the business doubled in size. Begor was a senior vice president and member of GE’s Corporate Executive Council for 10 years and a GE officer for 19 years. He also served as the Chief Financial Officer at NBCUniversal Media and as GE's Investor Relations leader, where he oversaw a large number of acquisitions and dispositions. Begor is a graduate of Syracuse University with a bachelor’s degree in finance and marketing, and he has an MBA from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

Rich Bielen is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Protective Life Corporation. He formerly held the roles of Vice Chairman, Chief Operating Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Investment Officer and Treasurer at Protective Life Corporation, Mr. Bielen has more than 30 years in the financial services industry. Mr. Bielen holds both a Master of Business Administration and a Bachelor of Science degree from New York University. He serves on the Boards of The United Way of Central Alabama, The Alabama Trust Fund and Children’s of Alabama.

Greg Ness is chairman, president and chief executive officer of StanCorp Financial Group, Inc., and Standard Insurance Company. Beginning in July 2009, he served as president and chief executive officer, and was elected chairman of the board in December 2011. He previously served as president and chief operating officer from September 2008 until June 2009. Ness joined Standard Insurance Company in 1979 and has held a succession of positions with increasing responsibilities, including senior vice president of the Insurance Services Group, senior vice president of the Employee Benefits Division, senior vice president of Investments and president of StanCorp Mortgage Investors, LLC, and StanCorp Investment Advisers, vice president and corporate secretary, and vice president of Retirement Plans Sales and Marketing. He is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Washington State University, has earned a Master of Business Administration degree from Portland State University and holds the Leadership Institute Fellow designation from the Life Insurance Marketing and Research Association (LIMRA). Ness chairs the board of directors of the Oregon Business Council and the Armory Theater Fund. He is a member of the board of directors of the Oregon Health & Science University Foundation. Ness is also trustee emeritus and past chair of the Portland Center Stage board of directors and a member of the SOLVE Founder's Circle.

Cory Harris holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the University of Iowa, and earned both his Master of Business Administration degree and Juris Doctorate from Drake University, where he graduated with high honors and Order of the Coif. Harris is the President of Wellmark, Inc., a mutual insurance company owned by its members and an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. On July 23, 2020, the Wellmark Board named Harris as CEO-Elect, to succeed John Forsyth as Wellmark's Chief Executive Officer effective Jan. 1, 2021 and appointed him an ex-officio member of the Wellmark Board of Directors. Harris also serves in executive positions for Wellmark's affiliated entities including Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President of Wellmark Health Plan of Iowa, Inc., a health maintenance organization, and Chief Executive Officer of Wellmark of South Dakota, Inc., a health insurance company and third-party administrator. Wellmark and its subsidiary organizations serve more than 2 million individuals across Iowa and South Dakota. Harris joined Wellmark in 2011 as Executive Vice President and General Counsel and has held a variety of roles within the organization since that time. He is responsible for driving Wellmark's enterprise-wide operations and performance in all areas of the company. He also oversees the prioritization and execution of the long-term business strategies, initiatives, and innovative efforts that support Wellmark's vision to create a sustainable health care market. Harris is committed to making health care better by leading meaningful efforts to improve the health and wellness of Wellmark's members. He is dedicated to driving team-focused, inclusive and collaborative, cross-functional excellence, while also focusing on growth, financial strength, and operating efficiencies that contribute to Wellmark's long-term success. Having spent much of his career shaping policy and improving operational efficiencies in health care, Harris brings a unique perspective to understanding the complexities and seizing opportunities within Wellmark's highly regulated environment. With an unwavering focus on the foundation of the company - doing what is in the best interest of its members - he is committed to achieving the company's long-term strategic goals. Harris is a member of the Board of Directors of The Wellmark Foundation, a private, non-profit foundation whose mission is to fund initiatives that support community-based wellness and prevention initiatives that positively impact the well-being of Iowans and South Dakotans. He also serves on the Executive Committee and Board of Directors of the Greater Des Moines Partnership, an economic and community development organization led by business, civic and community leaders and industry experts.