TABA retains the professional services of a full-time, year-round lobbyist as well as legal counsel. These representatives give a voice to TABA’s members when regulatory and legislative issues impact our industry and our lives. In addition, TABA is able to publish important updates to our members on real issues, in real time.
We give our members a personal, organized and protective voice to regulatory agencies and legislative bodies. In other words, we work to provide members with the means to express industry concerns.
Our lobbyist represents the association on both the state and national level; guides the Board of Directors through the legislative processes; and educates members on important issues facing the TPA community. Our knowledgeable and aggressive legal counsel continually monitors regulatory and legislative issues, including pending laws, regulations and rulings.
Meet TABA’s Lobbyist – Carl Isett
Carl Isett was the only practicing Certified Public Accountant when he was sworn into the Texas House of Representatives in 1997, representing District 84 (R-Lubbock). He served in that position through 2010 focusing on government efficiency, insurance reform, and limiting taxation. Since that time he has continued to represent selected clients before the legislature and the executive branch. Carl brings a strong knowledge of varied subject matter, the legislative process, and twenty years developing relationships at the Texas capitol to help his clients achieve their goals. He received a B.A. degree in accounting and finance, and a M.S. degree in finance from Texas Tech University. Mr. Isett declined his candidacy for an eighth two-year term in 2010 in order to take command of a Defense Logistics Agency depot in Kandahar, Afghanistan in 2011. This was the first and only DLA Distribution Depot in an active theater of war and extended the logistics chain supporting the war fighters to the “tip of the spear.” Carl retired from the United States Navy, Reserve Component in 2017 at the rank of Captain (O-6) after 26 years of service.
He cites his legislative accomplishments as successfully championing bills that increased efficiency and improved the management of information technology in state government and reforming health care delivery in both public and private sectors. While in the legislature, Isett championed the first medical cost transparency bill in Texas and sat on the Insurance Committee, House Appropriations and many others. He held several chairmanships including the powerful Sunset Commission which examines how state agencies perform their mission as directed by the legislature.
Meet TABA’s Legislative Chair – David West, CLU, CEBS
David has worked in the employee benefits industry since 1981 after graduating from Furman University with a BS in Economics. He left Marsh/Mercer to join GPA in 2006 and previously worked for several other insurance companies and third party administrators. Throughout his career he has worked in the areas of underwriting, marketing operations, sales and client management, network development, benefits brokerage, and several areas of management.
In his current position as Director of Corporate Development for Group & Pension Administrators, Inc. in Dallas, TX, he is responsible for helping clients understand and manage their clinical cost drivers; developing direct relationship, risk and cost management programs for clients; managing vendor relationships; improving interdepartmental communication; and identifying and implementing internal and external revenue growth and risk avoidance strategies. He is currently on the Board and the Legislative Chair for the Texas Association of Benefit Administrators; he is a former Officer and President of the DFW Chapter of Certified Employee Benefits Professionals; and he has spoken at and worked with several other professional organizations in various capacities.
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