READY + ABLE

Y O U A R E O U R B U S I N E S SEMPLOYEEMATTERS

A F L A C

N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 4

GLOBAL INVESTMENTS

Wall Street beat

AFLAC JAPAN

40 years strong

AFLAC STANDS READY

Minnesota delivery

A SEASON OF GIVING

Aflac cares for others

BUSINESS MATTERSXYZs of WIGs

“Aflac has always stayeda step ahead of anticipatedlooming, and often shiftingtrends, federal deadlines and requirements.”

“... Aflac has always stayed a step ahead of anticipated looming and often shifting trends, federal deadlines and requirements.”

Aflac –READY + ABLEA message from

Dan AmosChairman, CEO

Have you ever watched an old movie

and laughed at the size of the actors’

mobile phones? Funny as the phones

seem now, even Aflac’s millennial

generation employees can remember

pre-smartphone days, perhaps even a

time when paper or telephone landlines

were the most common methods of

exchanging messages. But those days are

long gone.

I read an article about an online shopping

business that anticipates its customers’

next purchases based on such data as

their purchase history, shopping cart

contents, product searches – and even

how long the Internet user’s cursor

hovers over an item. It then ships to

the nearest distribution point, with

shipping label already prepared, what

it anticipates customers will want. When

customers actually tap “buy” delivery

time is greatly reduced — conceivably

arriving the same day — and the cus-

tomer is enjoying the product within

hours, not days.

The article likened it to mind-read-

ing, and so confident is the firm in

its success that designers have applied

for a patent on the algorithms used to

determine future purchases.

Innovative and cutting edge as this

seems, it’s actually something that Aflac

has been doing for years. I have seen

more changes in the health care land-

scape in the last five years than I have

in the entire 40 years I’ve been in

the business, and Aflac has always

stayed a step ahead of anticipated

looming, and often shifting trends,

federal deadlines and requirements.

It’s your ability to anticipate, identify

and adapt to changes on the insurance

front — all while providing first-class

customer service without missing a

beat — that keeps Aflac the choice for

more than 50 million people worldwide.

Thank you for your willingness to step

up and be part of Aflac’s continuing

success story.

I hope the holidays bring you joy and

the new year every blessing.

14 20 26

14

READY + ABLE November/December 2014 1

ts:Conten

ON THE COVER: The Feldhake family includes a recent delivery.

Editor: Janet Burden Regular contributors: Janet Burden, Susan Goodsell, Somer Mason Art Director/Graphic Design: Robin Riley-Communicorp Photography: Jerry Ballas, Ana Brubaker, Curtis Mansell, Oz Roberts

FEATURES

4 New York, New YorkGlobal Investments’ winning season ...

7 Aflac gets into the spirit The holidays are here ...

8 Real people, real storiesAflac delivers a promise ...

12 Business Matters The XYZs of disciplined execution ...

17 Aflac Japan 40 years of success ...

22 Dr. VarnerYour emotional health ...

2 Quick Clips 24 New Employees 28 All in the Family

IN EVERY ISSUE

READY+

ABLENov./Dec.

2014

“... Aflac has always stayed a step ahead of anticipated looming and often shifting trends, federal deadlines and requirements.”

2 READY + ABLE November/December 2014

[ What’s happening around Aflac? ]Quick Clips

Aflac named as LATINA Style’s 50 Best Companies for Latinas to Work2014 marks the eighth consec-utive year on the prestigious list

It was recently announced that for 15

times, eight of them consecutive, Aflac

has been included on LATINA Style’s

50 Best Companies for Latinas to Work

list. More than 800 corporations were

considered in compiling the list. Aflac

will be honored on Feb. 5, 2015 at a

ceremony in Washington, D.C.

Read more in the August 2014 edition of LATINA Style.

Visit Aflac in the News on the employee

intranet to stay informed about Aflac

and the insurance industry. The roll-

ing news ticker spotlights breaking

stories from top media sources from

around the globe.

Aflac Japan makes cancer insurance announcements

Aflac Japan recently introduced a

cancer insurance product called “New

Cancer DAYS” that includes outpatient

treatments, multiple cancer occurrence

benefits and, for most ages, lower

premiums. Additionally, a cancer

insurance product exclusively for

Japan Post Co., Ltd. and Kampo (Japan

Post Insurance Co., Ltd.) launched Oct. 1.

PR Week highlights Aflac Duckprints Awards

strategy FIGHTING

childhood cancer

Aflac’s main philanthropic focus since 1995 has been fighting childhood cancer.

In Sept. 2013, programs such as the Aflac/Macy’s Holiday Duck plush program

and donations from agents and employees were united under the Duckprints

umbrella. PR Week featured Duckprints successes in a July article.

To read more about Duckprints, go to duckprints.aflac.com or prweek.com.

Dan Amos, chairman and CEO, fielded questions from an Atlanta Business Chronicle reporter

recently about making tough decisions in today’s challenging business environment.

Read Dan’s insight on U.S. Sales Growth Strategy in the Aug. 29-Sept.4 issue.

Dan Amos discusses making tough decisions

50BESTCOMPANIES

AFLACIN THE

NEWS

Employee Matters 3

Where’s the Duck ... print? The Aflac Duck is again playing hide-and-seek with Duckprints. Find the prints

hidden somewhere in this issue and you could win a prize! All employees are eligible to play this hide-and-seek

game. Correct entries will be entered into a random drawing to win.

When you find the prints, use the Envision app you downloaded to your smartphone and scan the image. Fill out all the information requested and press send.

If you don’t have your phone, simply email the page number and location from your computer to EmployeeMatters@aflac.com.

DEADLINE: Dec. 20. Good luck!

IT’s Julia Davis speaks out about technology – and silo busting

Julia Davis, senior vice president and

CIO, was featured in Information Week’s

Insurance and Technology Sept. 25

post. In it she discusses topics she’s

focused on since joining the company

as CIO a year ago, including a need for

speed, breaking down silos between

business units and what the Internet of

Things means to the insurance business.

You can learn more at insurancetech.com.

“HOW TO” REMINDER!

We have changed some of the content of Employee Matters to make it more interactive. The addition of QR codes and Augmented Reality will make it easier to find addi-tional information and communicate more quickly. It will even make some of our stories “come to life” when you view images tagged with the Envision mobile icon (see below) through the FREE app.

Go to the App Store or Google Play to download a free app like Red Laser to read QR codes. The Envision app is needed to read the images tagged with Augmented Reality. Follow the directions below to download and start using. (If you have any difficulty, make sure your Wi-Fi is disabled and that your image is focused when scanning.)

Download Envision from the App Store.

View the image through the app.

Watch the image come to life!

Step 1 Step 2 Step 3

Georgia Power & AflacTeaching employees how to reduce home energy costs

As reported on Mother Nature

Network, after Georgia Power com-

pleted a corporate energy audit for

Aflac they produced a video to edu-

cate employees on ways to use energy

wisely, including tips and tricks that

can add up to significant savings.

View the Saving Energy at Home video at mnn.com.

4 YEARSIN A ROW

2014 Dow Jones Sustainability

Index – North America

Aflac was named to the 2014 Dow

Jones Sustainability Index – North

America list. This is the fourth

consecutive year that Aflac has ap-

peared on the important list, which

has become a key reference point

for investors.

To learn more about index components, go to sustainability-indices.com.

2014 GOLD INK AWARDS

In August, Aflac’s subsidiary,

Communicorp, was honored with

two Gold Ink Awards from Printing

Impressions magazine for its excellence

in creativity, design and print quality.

With the recognition, Communicorp

joins such elite winners as National

Geographic, Smithsonian, Cannon and

Xerox.

Go to goldink.com for details.

Communicorp impresses Printing Impressions magazine

4 READY + ABLE November/December 2014

Another championship

season

With a winning cheer – look who’s celebrating their third year!

With Super Bowl XLIX right around the corner, employees at Aflac Global Investments were struck by the similarities

between their team and a winning football team. Here’s how they described the way their third year shaped up to be:

Employee Matters 5

The formationThe Global Investments senior management team also

includes: Joe Meyer, Global Chief Operating Officer; Brad

Dyslin, Global Head of Credit; Chip Stevens, Global Head of

Strategy, Portfolio Solutions and Trading; Pete Kelso, Global

Head of Technology and Operations; Teresa McTague, U.S.

Chief Investment Officer; John Shalhoub, Head of Human

Resources; Barbara Friedman, Head of Legal and Regulatory;

and Chris Burns, U.S. Chief Operating Officer.

With a proven playbook, solid execution and a true team

commitment, Eric and the Global Investments team rounded

out another victorious year and are gearing up for 2015.

The driveDespite the football metaphors, it isn’t all fun and games at

the Aflac Global Investments offices, located on Wall Street,

the heart of the world’s financial district. Eric has spent the

better part of the last three years building an all-star team

of employees that spans two continents and two time zones

13 hours apart. “The commitment to building a world-class

investment function is very strong, allowing me to attract

world-class talent to Aflac Global Investments,” says Eric.

“I am very proud of the team we have built, and of their

achievements in these three short years. They have been of

tremendous value to Aflac.”

The members of Aflac Global Investments team are from

diverse backgrounds, and are experienced professionals

in a variety of functional areas; that also includes newly

developed talent as we rounded out a second successful

year with a summer internship program. “Our employees

are our greatest assets,” says John Shalhoub. “Assets are

something you invest in, so as we invest in their continuous

development, they and the firm will operate at full potential.”

The defenseAflac Global Investments’ role in the Aflac family is to increase

the value of our assets while protecting our capital. Brad

Dyslin describes it this way:

“The basic idea of insurance as a financial intermediary is

to collect premiums from policyholders, and then aggregate

and invest those premiums in a manner that accomplishes

several very important things. Those include: (a) ensuring

that we have the cash available to pay policyholder claims

when they arise, (b) protecting the capital of the company

to ensure our solvency today and into the future, again in

the support of the policyholders, and (c) earning a return

that helps make the cost of our products competitive and

improve our profitability, which benefits everyone – policy-

holders, employees, regulators and shareholders.”

After the financial crisis sacked us deep in our own territory a few years ago, head

coach Eric Kirsch, executive vice president and global chief investment officer,

could have easily played it safe and called for a conservative defense. Instead,

Eric huddled his key assistant coaches and players to remind them that strong

fundamentals win games, and challenged his team to move the ball down the

field by playing a strong offense. His rallying cry?

“We know we have a winning playbook,and now we must execute!”

Having spent his entire career in the investment big leagues, Eric knows what

it takes to win. Like any good coach, Eric knows it is the talent around him that

wins games. Immediately after becoming the new “coach” for Global Investments in November 2011, he began assembling

a team in New York City, which has, indeed, moved the ball down the field. In three short years, this team has proven to be

winners. The team improved Aflac’s balance sheet and implemented new investment strategies to diversify the global port-

folio while enhancing investment returns.

Above: Aflac Global Investments is located at 100 Wall Street, in the heart of the financial district.

6 READY + ABLE November/December 2014

The rulebookNone of what Aflac Global Investments does could be

done without the partnership with Legal and Regulatory

functions. This group works closely with all control

areas to ensure that investment objectives reflect not

only legal and regulatory requirements, but compliance

within the business’s risk management, business prac-

tice policies and values. “Every game has a referee and

a rulebook,” says Barbara Friedman. “Global Invest-

ments’ Legal and Regulatory department works with

the Global Investments teams to build understanding

and adherence to the rules. We do our part to meet

Aflac’s commitment to ethical and legal conduct in all

its business activities.”

The goalRecent achievements for Aflac Global Investments

include a strong commitment in technology develop-

ment with the launching of Aladdin (Blackrock) and

Armada (Code Red), software that allows investment

professionals to monitor portfolios and credit positions

on a real-time basis as markets move throughout the day.

Another key initiative is a Strategic Asset Allocation

project under the leadership and guidance of Teresa

McTague. SAA refers to the process of determining

how much of the portfolio will be allocated to various

asset classes to enhance long-term earnings of the

portfolio while minimizing risks. SAA emphasizes

diversification of the portfolio and provides a strong

fundamental roadmap for our investment strategies.

At Aflac Global Investments, each employee plays a

specialized role — or position — on the team. The goal is

to be a world-class investment group protecting poli-

cyholder funds while adding value for shareholders. Top: “Coach” Eric Kirsch with the Aflac Global Investments team behind him. Middle left: Dr. Charles B. Knapp, Aflac Incorporated Board of Directors, Razvan Druica, Eric Kirsch and Dmitry Baron. Bottom left: Melissa Link, Vice President and Senior Credit Analyst. Bottom right: Razvan Druica, Credit Analyst, evaluating the markets.

$190,115MONEY RAISED IN 2013

$50KMONEY RAISED IN ITSFIRST YEAR, 2001

14YEARS WE’VEPARTNEREDWITH MACY’S

NO. OF STORES SELLING THE DUCK

>360 <200IN 2013 IN 2001

AFLAC HOLIDAY DUCK

23YEARS WE’VEORGANIZED CIFKFESTIVITIES

$32,082MONEY RAISED IN 2013

$3,000MONEY RAISED IN ITSFIRST YEAR, 1991

VOLUNTEERS

98 20IN 2013 IN 1991

CHILDREN ASSISTED

681 300IN 2013 IN 1991

11 YEARS WE’VE HELPEDARRANGE UNMCHOLIDAY ACTIVITIES

$3,542MONEY RAISED IN 2013

$1,560MONEY RAISED IN ITSFIRST YEAR, 2003

VOLUNTEERS

21 2IN 2013 IN 2003

CHILDREN ASSISTED

44 12IN 2013 IN 2003

UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA MEDICAL CENTER HOLIDAY EVENT

HOLIDAY PROGRAM

My, how we’ve grown!

AFLAC

CHRISTMAS IS FOR KIDS

8 READY + ABLE November/December 2014

Above: The Feldhake family.

In 2012, I made the best decision I could to help ensure

financial security for my family. I decided to apply for

Aflac voluntary insurance made available through my

employer. I really never knew until recently how much

having this supplemental insurance would help my

family out.

Near the end of 2013, I found out that we were expect-

ing a baby! I had a very good pregnancy – up until the

third trimester. I went in to the doctor for a usual check-

up, and found out that my blood pressure was slightly

high. The doctor said we would need to keep an eye on

it and see how it was at my next appointment. Well, my

blood pressure turned out to be much higher, and I also

had protein in my urine. The next thing I knew, I was in

an ambulance on my way to a bigger hospital — almost

two hours from home — that could handle a situation

like mine. I spent three weeks in the hospital and on bed

rest just to try to keep the baby in the womb for as long

as possible. At exactly 34 weeks, my baby girl was born

via C-section. She was very small, and had to stay in the

neonatal intensive care unit for almost two weeks.

Thanks to my Aflac hospital indemnity and short-term

disability insurance policies, my husband was able to

stay with us almost the entire time. Our Aflac insur-

ance agent Jennifer Quale was quick to get us all the

forms that we needed to receive a benefit check. We

were able to pay all of our bills at home and spend time

with our daughter while she was still in the hospital. I

don’t know how we would have done any of this with-

out our Aflac policies.

I would recommend Aflac to anyone that I know. It has

been a tremendous help for us, and it is worth every

penny! You never know what could happen in life, so

it’s nice to be prepared. I’m very thankful that my em-

ployer made Aflac available to me, and also thankful

that I have such a great agent like Jennifer Quale!

Sincerely,

Andrea Feldhake

Employee Matters 9

When Minnesota policyholder Andrea Feldhake went for her regular prenatal checkup, she suddenly found herself in an

ambulance speeding to a hospital two hours from her home. She called St. Cloud Aflac insurance agent Traci Moore to begin

the claims process, and soon discovered how Aflac, Traci and Jennifer Quale were ready and able to ...

Deliveron theAflac promise

10 READY + ABLE November/December 2014

Aflac New York Habitat for Humanity UPDATE

TOOL BELTS OPTIONALAs Columbus and Omaha employees rolled up their sleeves

to start construction on their own Habitat houses, seasoned

builders in Albany are hard at work on the Fox Hollow location

in South Troy.

A different team of Albany employees volunteer one day

each month as the Aflac house takes shape. The goal: com-

plete construction in time for the Habitat family to celebrate

Thanksgiving in their own home.

“I will always remember my volunteer day with Habitat for

Humanity,” says Linda Volpe, HR. “Our group had such a fun

time working together, learning new skills and conquering

our fear of heights. It was a rewarding experience to be so

personally involved in the project.”

Here, Linda is joined by Colleen O’Reilly, Policyholder Service

and Barbara Pollack, Underwriting.

Social media channels were abuzz this summer with the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. Go to either the Aflac Duck’s or corporate Facebook page to see how Dan Amos and a host of Aflac executives stepped up to the challenge – and then challenged Dr. Bill Woods, director of the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, and the Aflac Duck.

Always ready to plunge into a philanthropic challenge, the Aflac Duck nom-inated all the other marketing and advertising icons, including his friend, the Geico Gecko.

The ALS Association has estimated that the challenge has resulted in more than $100 million in donations to help fight amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, often referred to as Lou Gehrig’s Disease.

Aflac officers and the Aflac Duck accept — and pay forward — ICE BUCKET CHALLENGE

From left: Aflac officers prepare to complete the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge.

Above from left: Volunteers Linda Volpe, Colleen O’Reilly and Barbara Pollack.

Employee Matters 11

A contest held during the 2014 Colum-

bus Employee Appreciation Week

contest invited employees to create

banners showing why they love Aflac.

Teams competed for bragging rights, a

cover and mention in Employee Matters

(see September/October) and lunch with

Dan Amos, chairman and CEO. The

winning team consisted of Pam Allen,

Karen Bonner, Donna Givens, Theresa

Hilton, Diana Huff, Terry Justice, Steve

Simons and Sherry Whitaker, all on the

Quality Assurance team. They enjoyed

lunch with Dan on Sept. 10 in the Exec-

utive Dining Room.

Diana, Karen and Theresa were the

main contributors to design and con-

struction. The other team members

provided conceptual inspiration. Diana

said, “When creating the design, we

decided to go green. We used past edi-

tions of Employee Matters and old office

supplies, like manila envelopes, to create

the piece.”

Above: Banner winners enjoy lunch with Dan in the Executive Dining Room. Right: The winning banner.

EAW I Aflacbanner contest

winners!!

Least-privileged principle: The Identity and Access Management team promotes a principle known as least-privileged, which states that employees only need access to systems and data that are required for the daily functions of their jobs.

This principle can be applied in many situations. For example, before sending a document, ask yourself if the receiver really needs all the information being sent to make a decision or respond to a request. If not, customize the information to reduce the risk of accidental exposure of protected data.

The mission of the Identity and Access Management team is to enable the business by providing the end-user with system access and Information Security support needed to do business in the most secure manner possible.

def • i • ni • tion

12 READY + ABLE November/December 2014

BUSINESS Strategy

When it was decided to change Aflac’s sales alignment through

Project XYZ, lead project executive Jamie Lee, vice president,

Sales Operations, knew they had to get it right. So she applied

the principles she learned from the best-

seller, The 4 Disciplines of Execution by

Sean Covey, Jim Huling and Chris

McChesney. I recently spoke with Jamie

about this book and how its lessons can

be applied to a real-life scenario.

The XYZs of

Disciplined Execution

by Jon Sullivan

JS: What’s your impression of The 4 Disciplines of Execution?JL: It creates focus. When Project

XYZ started we had a strict goal – our

wildly important goal. We needed

this new leadership structure created

by Oct. 1. With all of the moving parts,

there is no way we could have gotten

it done without applying these lessons.

JS: In the book, they talk about the whirlwind, which is the day-to-day work that could impede your ability to focus on the WIG. JL: That’s why we sequestered

everyone involved with the project for

a period of time. If we’d left everyone

in the whirlwind, doing their day-to-day

business operations, I feel that this

project would never have happened

as efficiently. Clearly not all project

teams have the ability to sequester their

teams, so the whirlwind creeps in –

that’s the nature of the beast. But you

have to dedicate time every day, solely,

to the WIG.

JS: How do you do that with so much else going on?JL: Well, that’s where the other

disciplines come into play. You have

to build the parameters around your

WIG by having and acting on the

lead measures, keeping that relevant

scoreboard and creating a cadence of

accountability.

Above: Jamie Lee, vice president, Sales Operations.

Employee Matters 13

JS: Tell me about acting on lead measures as it pertains to Project XYZ.JL: A lot came in the form of critical milestones. We set up

milestones for each of the key deliverables so that we could

choose the battles that we knew we had to win, like the ter-

ritory and state realignments. These were absolutely critical,

so we attached dates to these achievements and kept a

scoreboard on how we were measuring up.

JS: So, another discipline is maintaining a cadence of accountability. How did you manage that?JL: Well, that also goes to the other discipline, keeping a

scoreboard. Each work-stream leader has his or her own

plan regarding what they need to accomplish and by when.

So everyone has their individual scoreboard, and that creates

your cadence of accountability, which to me was incredibly

important.

JS: How so?JL: It tells you if the job is getting done. From the onset we

created two different meetings. First, we held regular executive

debriefs to keep them informed. Second, we held daily core

team meetings where team leaders provided updates every

day. We couldn’t let anything drag on, even for a day. That

creates your cadence of accountability.

JS: Does the cadence ever change?JL: Sure. It changes with needs. For instance, when we got

into the execution phase, we limited our daily meetings to ev-

ery other day and reduced our WIG sessions. We needed to

provide teams with time to actually execute. Flexibility can

be achieved while still holding all team members accountable.

JS: It sounds like you really liked this book.JL: Yes. I loved how it presented a simple and clear approach

to execution. I am very happy to see it getting so much traction

and attention around the company.

JS: Five years from now, what will Project XYZ success look like?JL: Double-digit growth and our field force living the Aflac

dream: We are all winning again.

four disciplinesof execution

by Susan Goodsell

Focus on the Wildly ImportantThe key word here is “focus.” When you focus on one wild-

ly important goal, or WIG for short, instead of trying to

improve everything at once, you can concentrate your

efforts and achieve more. In personal terms, the human

brain can only concentrate fully on one thing at a time.

Think about how many car accidents occur every day

because drivers are texting while driving. These are both

activities that require your full concentration.

Once the Company sets its WIG, then each division aligns

their goals to ensure success of the WIG and to “move the

needle” as Aflac U.S. President Teresa White often says.

In order to move the needle, you need to know what the

metric is, so each goal must have a measurable result.

Adding the formula “from X to Y by when” makes it possible

to measure a goal.

How does Aflac achieve excellence with our four Strategic Pillars? How do you focus on a new goal when the important tasks you have to do every day to succeed in your job demand your attention? The 4 Disciplines of Execution tells us how the four disciplines can help structure our workdays.

DISCIPLINE 1:

DEFINING THE

14 READY + ABLE November/December 2014

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PROCESS & HOW TO BECOME A FULLY ENGAGED PARTICIPANT, visit the Aflac blog discussion at myAflac.com. Open the white Career Success Center tab on the left side of the portal and then Knowledge Sharing Network Blog in the left column.

One of the best examples of defining

a wildly important goal and succeed-

ing was one set by President John F.

Kennedy in 1961 that redefined NASA’s

entire program. He declared that we

would land a man on the moon and

return him safely to earth before the

decade was out. His goal followed the

SMART formula: It was specific, mea-

surable, attainable, realistic and timely.

NASA went from identifying eight

goals in 1958 to just one in 1961. The

NASA team accomplished that goal,

which many feel was the definitive

Space Race victory!

Act on the Lead MeasuresTo understand Discipline 2, it helps

to understand the difference between

lag measures and lead measures. A lag

measure is the measurement of what

you are trying to achieve, but by the

time you get the data the results have

already occurred: They are always

lagging. A lead measure is different

because it foretells the outcome.

A good way to understand this concept

is to think about a weight-loss goal.

Your goal may be to lose 10 pounds

in two months. If you wait 60 days

and then step on the scale, you are

looking at the lag measure, and you

may be disappointed with the results.

However, if you determine your lead

measures will be how many times you

worked out per week, the duration

and intensity of each workout and

the number of calories consumed each

day, then you will be able to control the

outcome of your WIG and guarantee

success.

Keep a Compelling Score-boardThe third discipline is about engagement.

To ensure that your scoreboard is a

valuable and compelling resource, the

entire team should create it together.

With a visible scoreboard, everyone on

the team knows the score at all times,

so that they can tell whether or not

they are making headway toward the

goal. Scoreboards can be charts on a

wall, dashboards on a computer or

tracking devices in an app.

For instance, if you went to a football

game and the scoreboard was broken,

fans, coaches and players would have

to keep track of the score themselves

and then count on periodic announce-

ments from the public address system

to keep track of downs, quarters and

the score. This is a very inefficient

way for a team to work toward their

goal of winning and measuring toward

their goal of having at least one more

point than their opponent by the time

the clock runs out.

What if no one kept score at all? Would

the players try as hard to win the game?

Would the fans be as excited? Would

anyone really care about the outcome

of the game if there was no way to

measure success? No, they wouldn’t.

This is why keeping a compelling

scoreboard makes a difference in the

outcome of the WIG.

Create a Cadence of AccountabilityThe fourth discipline is to create a ca-

dence of accountability, a frequently

recurring cycle of accounting for past

performance and ongoing planning

to move the score forward. Leaders

should hold regularly scheduled meet-

ings to discuss the status of each team

member’s lead measurements. By dis-

cussing the reports among the group,

everyone becomes part of the journey

to accomplish the WIG and can even

lend a hand when a team needs help.

Weekly, half-hour team meetings

focused on the WIG will help the project

stay on track. Here is an example of a

WIG session agenda:

1. Report on last week’s commitments.

2. Review the scoreboard.

3. Make a commitment for the coming

week.

What’s important about the cadence

of accountability is that everyone works

together toward the goal. When the

project lead is out of the office, the

meetings should continue through the

completion of the project.

The authors of The 4 Disciplines of

Execution cite many examples of how

the disciplines have been put into

practice. From grocery store chains to

financial institutions, the program works

for those disciplined enough to stay the

course through the entire program.

Learn more about applying The 4

Disciplines of Execution

Several Aflac leaders just completed a

five-month series of book discussions

and studied the practical application

of the four disciplines. You will begin

to see the four disciplines applied to

Aflac’s WIGs in the coming months, if

you haven’t already.

DISCIPLINE 2:

DISCIPLINE 3:

DISCIPLINE 4:

DUCK GEAR

Lexi Wristlet WalletAC154 BlackAC153 Santa Fe RedAC152 TurquoiseSALE! $12.99(regular $17.99)

Aflac Vineyard Vines Santa TiesACVIN103-REDACVIN103-GRN$44.75 each

Aflac Pillow DuckAD96 SALE! $12.99(regular $17.99)

Aflac Crystal Duck Pin AC157 $5.00

Aflac Cuff LinksAC159 $10.00

Aflac Finders Key PurseAC20$5.00

Aflac iPhone5 Charging CaseD206$28.99

Executive Golf SetCS009A$18.752014

6" Holiday Ducks CS-HD1406 $240.00 for case of 24 ($10 each)

2014 10" Holiday Ducks CS-HD1410 $180.00 for case of 12 ($15 each)

IT’S TIME TO

GET ON THE BALL

WITH YOUR

HOLIDAY

SHOPPING.

SHOP NOW! myaflac.com > Quick Action Links > Classified/Employee Perks > Duck Gear OR sell.aflac.com/ > My Toolbox > Duck Gear

CSC employees in Columbus and Omaha 6256,071,349

Calls answered by CSRs 3,955,589Total calls received, including calls in Interactive Voice Response

No. of times a customer called Aflac CSC and received a busy signal 0 144 353,576

$ 18,280,272

Aflac Way Honors received 2,7472,744 No. of Aflac Way Honors given

No. of CSRs promoted (within CSC or other areas) 28

CSRs trained in 2014 to handle Claims AND Policy topics for customers

Calls eliminated due to Claims AND Policy skill training (fewer transfers)

WOWDID YOU KNOW?

Customer Service Center – Look at these stats from January to July!

Save Desk retained annualized premium

Employee Matters 17

Aflac Japan: 40 years strongYu Yamada, Aflac Japan liaison,

reflects on his time spent in Columbusby Bianka Huling

40YEARS

November marks Aflac Japan’s 40th anniversary. Four decades ago, they pioneered Japan’s cancer insurance,

becoming the first company to sell an insurance product designed specifically to help with the costs associated

with cancer. Since then, Aflac has not only become the number one provider of cancer insurance in Japan, but

also the number one provider of medical insurance. Our bonds grow stronger every year, thanks in part to rela-

tionships forged when U.S. and Japan employees work together.

WOWDID YOU KNOW?

18 READY + ABLE November/December 2014

At the heart of Aflac Japan are the thousands of employees who continue

to shape the company into what it has become today. One such employee

is Yu Yamada, who joined Aflac Japan’s Claims department in 2001.

In April 2014, he relocated to Aflac headquarters as an Aflac Japan liaison

to learn more about the people and processes at Aflac U.S. During Yu’s

brief time here, he has adjusted to language barriers, cultural variances and

vastly different work environments between Aflac Japan and Aflac U.S.

The daily commute The differences in work environments between Aflac Japan and Aflac U.S.

begin even before Yu steps foot into the office. While Americans typically

have a commute of an hour or less, many Japanese workers in larger cit-

ies commute between one and two hours each way. Many Aflac Japan

employees use the Shinjuku Station train, which averages about 3.64 million

passengers per day. “My commute in Columbus only takes about 15 minutes

by car,” says Yu. “In Japan, it takes close to an hour by train, and we are tightly

packed together. I experience a much more comfortable commute here, and

it takes much less time.”

The workspace Yu’s workspace in the U.S. is also quite

different than it is in Japan. “At Aflac

U.S., each employee has more privacy

within their workspace,” says Yu. “Aflac

Japan employees work at long tables,

sitting directly next to and across from

each other.” For Yu, this “lunchroom

style” environment is preferable over

the cubicle spaces here in the U.S. “The

Japanese style allows me to communicate

more frequently with my co-workers,”

he says. “If I have a question, they are

right there, and I can speak with them

more directly.”

The hiring process Aflac Japan follows the cultural norm

when it comes to hiring new candidates.

In Japan, many companies hire new

graduates all at once on a fiscal year cycle

that begins April 1. Even though a grow-

ing number of people change companies

Top right: Yu works closely with coworkers, Shoko Porter and Naoko Tramel. Bottom right: Yu holds a picture of his family enjoying the sites at Stone Mountain Park near Atlanta. Right page: Yu stands in front of the Aflac Tower.

Employee Matters 19

“It also helps to evoke camaraderie be-

tween co-workers.”

During the hiring process, Japanese

candidates do not apply for specific po-

sitions available within the company;

they simply apply to be hired by the

company itself. The Human Resources

department at each company has a

greater discretion over the position

awarded to each individual.

“I have a law degree, but I have never

worked in the Legal department,” says

Yu. Since Japanese employees rotate

positions every few years, it is common

for Japanese employees to work in many

divisions and departments of the

company throughout their careers.

This gives employees the opportuni-

ty to gain diverse job experience and

increase their knowledge of different

company operations. For that reason,

Aflac Japan employees place a great

emphasis on keeping a detailed record

of their daily roles and activities.

“This is so that someone coming into

your position will be able to perform

the same job in the same manner,” Yu

says. “To me, it does not seem that U.S.

employees change jobs as frequently

as in Japan. I’ve seen people here who

have worked in the same position for

years, so keeping such detailed records

may not be as necessary.”

Aflac U.S. culture “In the U.S., I’ve enjoyed the close-knit

environment and idea of the Aflac

family,” says Yu. “I was most surprised

that Mr. Dan Amos gives every

employee a commendation in person,

especially during Employee Appreciation

Week. I have heard that this closeness

between management and employees

is also unique among American com-

panies. I also think it’s interesting that

there is a greater diversity of people

here, than in Japan.”

Aflac Japan trainees typically remain

in the United States for a year to eighteen

months. When asked what he will miss

the most about his time here, he

replied with two simple words: family

time. “I’ll miss the time that I am able to

spend with my family,” Yu says. “In Ja-

pan, I work longer hours, so I’ve enjoyed

being able to see my family each day,

especially my son. It also gives me more

opportunities to travel with my family to

different places in the United States.”

throughout their career, employees typ-

ically remain with the company that

recruited them.

“In Japan, graduates begin informally

interviewing with companies a year

before they actually graduate,” says Yu.

“Most large companies make huge an-

nouncements both internally and ex-

ternally on how many graduates they

have hired, and there is often a big

celebration for those coming on board.”

In recent years, Aflac Japan has hired

150 to 200 new graduates each year,

but when Yu joined he remembers

there only being about 90 hires. As is

typical for new hires, he and his grad-

uating class underwent a month of

training and orientation to learn more

about Aflac Japan. “The training helps

us learn more about the company’s

operations, business etiquette, history,

culture and corporate values,” says Yu.

“In the U.S., I’ve enjoyed the close-knit

environment and idea of the Aflac family.” Yu Yamada

20 READY + ABLE November/December 2014

What were some of the most meaningful aspects of your trip?

PB: I think the best thing about my trip

was meeting the Aflac Japan employees

I deal with on a daily basis — including

the members of the HR team to discuss

stock option procedures — and seeing

the operations there.

I was honored and humbled to have a

very nice visit with Mr. Yoshiki “Paul”

Otake, founder and executive advisor

of Aflac Japan; Charles Lake, chairman

of Aflac Japan and president of Aflac

International; and Mr. Tohru Tonoike,

president and chief operating officer of

Aflac Japan. Many others also went out

of their way to make me feel welcome

in Japan.

Describe how you were treated in Japan.

PB: I was treated like I was very impor-

tant! The people in Japan are the most

thoughtful and polite people I have ever

met. I’ve never lived in a place where I

was required to use subways, trains or

buses to travel to and from work, but

I was very impressed with how polite

the people were, even during rush hour

at the train station.

The trip of a lifetime

Patricia Bell reflects on Japan’s culture, customs – and cuisine

T R A V E L

JAPANIn June, Patricia Bell, second vice president, Shareholder Services,

made a business trip to Japan. She quickly discovered that Aflac

Japan provides learning opportunities that go far beyond those

found in conference rooms.

Above: Mr. Yoshiki “Paul” Otake, founder and executive advisor of Aflac Japan, meets with Patricia Bell.

Employee Matters 21

How adventurous were you when it came to sampling Japanese cuisine?

PB: I had heard that some people who

go to Japan are reluctant to try the local

food, but I wanted the full experience –

and was very happy with it. The second

day I was even using chopsticks!

I especially enjoyed the kaiseki lunch

I had with Mr. Ishii, Mr. Goto and

Mr. Morikawa. The food is prepared

in such a way that the taste, texture,

appearance and colors of the food are

balanced and artistically arranged. It

was as delicious as it was beautiful. I

didn’t want raw fish, but I did sample

one piece and really could not tell it

was not cooked. (I drew the line on

eating raw eggs, though.)

In Chofu, just outside Tokyo and home

of many Aflac Japan business units, I

enjoyed a tempura lunch with Dr. Utsude

and Mr. Takahashi. I highly recommend

it!

Was it all work and no play during your trip?

PB: No! I was so thankful that I got to

visit the Aflac Parents House, where

the parents of the children being

treated for cancer can lodge while their

children are going through their treat-

ments. I was also able to take one day

to visit Kamakura, a coastal city south-

west of Tokyo, and see some of the

beautiful country and flowers.

I really enjoyed my trip to Japan, and

hope to get to go back one day and see

more.

Top: Patricia poses for a photo surrounded by co-workers. Bottom right: Patricia enjoys a traditional Japanese meal.

22 READY + ABLE November/December 2014

Feeling good? GOOD!Emotionally spent? DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!

by W. David Varner Jr., M.D.

have written in the past about mental and physi-

cal health, but now I write about what may be the

best quality of all – having an emotionally healthy

lifestyle. People with this characteristic are calm

in the face of life’s storms, exuberant in the best of

times and are highly sought out when friends and

family need two listening ears. The good news is that you

don’t have to have lived a life of many ups and downs to

gain this good health. You can adopt some of the follow-

ing changes to be prepared when disappointments and

adversity occur.

You can learn to remain calm and strong in bad times, as well as the good:

First, strengthen those areas of physical health that you may

be lacking. Make every effort to get enough rest, practice good

nutrition and participate in some type of exercise on a reg-

ular basis. You may have heard the saying, “I need to take a

long walk and clear the cobwebs from my brain.” Adopting

good habits gives a powerful antidote to stress, anxiety and

depression.

Strengthen your mental health to improve your emotional

outlook. Participate in activities that positively affect others.

This not only will help them, but will build your own self-es-

teem. Practice focusing on the brighter things in life, not the

negatives. By doing this, it can help you overcome despair and

helplessness when pitfalls of life do occur.

Challenge your brain by trying to learn something new; for

example, try reading different types of books, learning a new

language or planning a trip to someplace new. You will be

amazed at what you might learn to appreciate.

Do everything possible to limit unhealthy mental habits such as

worrying about things you have no control over. This begins to

drag on your whole mental equilibrium and harm your emo-

tional well-being. Often the stresses of work and family will

naturally cause excessive worrying: Recognize this is hap-

pening, and then redirect yourself toward activities that you

enjoy and give your brain some rest!

You probably have met people to whom everyone seems to

gravitate for conversation and, often, deeper personal talk.

What separates their personality from ours? They are good

listeners!

They ask you about your family, your children and your work;

they don’t dwell on their own lives. When times are tough,

they also listen to your troubles without judgment and with-

out offering a quick fix. Just the opportunity to talk with a

sympathetic listener helps put one’s mind at ease. There is no

reason you can’t develop that same habit. The best way to find

a good listener is to be a good listener yourself!

Finally, people who are emotionally healthy possess:

s A sense of contentments The ability to deal with stress and bounce back from

adversitys A sense of meaning and purposes The ability to maintain fulfilling relationshipss Self-confidence and high self-esteem

You can start strengthening your emotional health right now.

Then, when times get tough and you think you may be veering

toward a brick wall emotionally, use some of the tactics above

as you focus on Bobby McFadden’s great advice, “Don’t Worry,

Be happy!”

Aflac provides Employee Assistance Plan resources to help

you deal with and resolve personal issues. Explore the resources

shown below.

I

Adopting good habits gives a powerful antidote tostress, anxiety and depression.

FIND OUT MORE by calling 800-807-1535, or by going to myAflac.com > Employee Services > Benefits > Benefits Guide > Employee Assistance Plan.

Employee Matters 23

24 READY + ABLE November/December 2014

Shekeyla Lemon Premium Processing LAS

Philip Lewis Process Sales Cont

& Comp

Sherrin Kennedy Premium Processing LAS

Jamie Howard Electronic File Processing

Lametis Johnson Client Relations

New Faces

Itzel Alicea Electronic File

Processing

Mandy Best Claims

Lindsey Bryant Risk Management

Nakia Carwise Premium Processing LAS

Donna Dickson Claims

Tonya Engram-Chappelle

EVP COO

Tamara Fleming Customer Service

Benita Glover Premium Processing LAS

Margaret Goodall Risk Management

AFLACBENEFIT SOLUTIONS

COLUMBIA

Andrea Hampton Sales Cont & Comp

Carol Hartwell Premium Processing LAS

Susan Houghtaling Account Manager LAS

Vernon Holland Client Services

Whitley Handy Aflac Benefit Solutions-Inc.

Lisa Lampron Aflac Benefit Solutions-Inc.

Jeremy Lewis Aflac Benefit Solutions-Inc.

Matthew Anderson Aflac Benefit Solutions-Inc.

Lucas Frost Aflac Benefit Solutions-Inc.

Employee Matters 25

Gloria Wiley Account Manager LAS

Desiree Mozingo Client Relations

Nikki Neal Premium Processing LAS

Joyce Owens Client Relations

Joy Priester Client Services

Liz Thompson Client Services

Kenetha Washington Premium Processing LAS

Felicia Wilson Customer Service

Shaulanda Manigault Premium Processing LAS

Yashica McCall Customer Service

Lakarsha Mack Premium Processing LAS

Angela Livingston Premium Processing LAS

COLUMBUSKala Branch

Customer Service CenterCarleigh Briley

Customer Service CenterDanetra Brown

Customer Service Center

John Clifton Compensation

Von Marie Cardona Lai Customer Service Center

Sheila Connally IT

Sharmaine Davis Customer Service Center

Karina De La Cruz Admnistration Training

Tricia Griggs Health Services

Lay Castellano Customer Service Center

Shanteriya Copeland Customer Service Center

Maurie Dugger Federal Relations

Belva Greenage Product Development

Maci Griffith Customer Service Center

Brandon Hardin Customer Service Center

Jessica Harris Customer Service Center

Christy Harris Customer Service Center

26 READY + ABLE November/December 2014

Say “hello” to some of Aflac’s newest employees.

Deanna Spencer Customer Service Center

Sarai Santiago Customer Service Center

George Haywood Customer Service Center

Kristi Leisner Customer Service Center

Paula Hopkins Customer Service Center

Whitney Hurst Customer Service Center

Jenita Jordan Customer Service Center

Miranda Kirkland Customer Service Center

Karen Lawburgh Sales Training

Vanessa Lundy Customer Service Center

Felichia Hunsucker Customer Service Center

Cherell Jefferson Customer Service Center

Karen Llano CSC Overhead

MeShawn McCallum Customer Service Center

Cambrie Moyer Customer Service Center

Emily Murphy Customer Service Center

Xilef Remigio-Morales

Customer Service Center

Jasmine Russell Customer Service Center

Todd Pate Risk Management

Jessica Reyna Customer Service Center

Chris Thomas Sales Compensation

Yaritza Vazquez Customer Service Center

Sarah Wiltshire Customer Service Center

Martha Vargas Customer Service Center

Zahily Vazquez Customer Service Center

Lauran Turnage Customer Service Center

Pamela Raney Customer Service Center

Kenneth Jordan Distribution

Courtney Rivers Customer Service Center

Akeshia Valrie Customer Service Center

Employee Matters 27

COMMUNICORP

Matthew Hammers Customer Service Center

Ricky Grimes Customer Service Center

Pattie Banner Customer Service Center

Donnie Coulter Bindery

Nicholas Cummins Customer Service Center

Crystal Ford Customer Service Center

Sandra Galloway Bindery

Ira Henderson Bindery

Eric Taylor Digital Print

Megan Chism Customer Service Center

Malchia Douzart Customer Service Center

Nancy Goodell Customer Service Center

OMAHATyrina Lyle

Customer Service CenterAsti Oneal

Customer Service CenterBreyonna Murray

Customer Service Center

Keya Pettway Customer Service Center

Donna Peeler Customer Service Center

Jason Scranton Customer Service Center

Tawanna Washington Customer Service Center

Angela Vampola Customer Service Center

28 READY + ABLE November/December 2014

All in the FamilyCONGRATULATIONS TO

Katheryn Alba, who was promoted from account service specialist III to lead account service specialist, Triage Unit.

Shirlena Allison, who was promoted from account service specialist II, Outbound Contact, to account service specialist III-on demand, Operations.

John Anderson, who was promoted from business process consultant, Business Analytics, to financial planning and analytics consultant, Financial Planning and Analysis.

Danielle Aricheta, who was promoted from accounting specialist II, Accounts Payable OH, to accounting analyst, Tax Department.

Tomika Bass, who was promoted from advertising compliance analyst III to senior advertising compliance analyst, Compliance.

Brie Beckman, who was promoted from customer service specialist I to customer service specialist II, CSC Nebraska.

Milotenia Benjamin, who was promoted from customer service specialist II, Customer Service, to senior group set-up specialist, Group Setup.

Janet Biehl, who was promoted from customer service specialist I to customer service specialist II, CSC Nebraska.

Trisha Blakely, who was promoted from customer service specialist I to customer service specialist II, CSC Nebraska.

Ratna Bowens, who was promoted from account service specialist II, Outbound Contact, to account service specialist III-on demand, Operations.

Katherine Bracero, who was promoted from claims specialist I to claims specialist II, Claims.

Johnathan Brooks, who was promoted from customer service specialist I, CSC Trainees, to customer service specialist II, CSC-Customer Service.

Jerome Bryant, who was promoted from data analyst, Client Services, to senior operations analyst, Aflac Benefit Solutions.

Latrice Bush, who was promoted from accounting specialist II, Premium Collection and Billing, to account-ing specialist III, Premium Processing LAS.

Rogerlene Carter, who was promoted from account manager II to account manager III, Client Services.

Renee Chapman, who was promoted from accounting specialist II, Premium Collection and Billing, to account manager I, Client Services.

Deborah Charlson, who was promoted from customer service specialist III to supervisor, operations, CSC Nebraska.

Courtney Childs, who was promoted from accounting specialist II, Premium Collection and Billing, to quality auditor, Quality.

Melinda Coslor, who was promoted from customer service specialist III to lead specialist, CSC Nebraska.

Veronica Covington, who was promoted from research specialist, Policy Service Escalation Operations, to account relations executive II, Outbound Conservation.

Tiffany Deal, who was promoted from senior print and communication services specialist, Marketing Print/Communication, to compliance analyst I, Compliance.

Calvin Derico, who was promoted from bindery support specialist II, Bindery, to customer care specialist I, Customer Assurance-Merchandise.

Donald Dickson, who was promoted from building technician II to building mechanic, PSA Campus Support.

Matthew Dorminey, who was promoted from wingspan services coordinator III, Enrollment Services, to account relations executive IV, Account Relations East.

Jacqueline Dumas, who was promoted from customer service specialist I to customer service specialist II, CSC Nebraska.

Beth Eveland, who was promoted from business consultant to manager, Aflac Benefit Solutions.

Scott Farrell, who was promoted from technical support analyst, IT Aflac Group, to actuary I, Actuarial.

Donzetta Faulk, who was promoted from customer service specialist II to payroll account specialist III, Customer Service.

Cheri Flynn, who was promoted from lead specialist, Sales Leads, to account relations executive II, Account Relations East.

Doug Gibson, who was promoted from operations analyst II, IT, to manager, Enrollment Services.

Mirinda Glenn, who was promoted from customer service specialist II to customer service specialist III, NBS-Conversions.

Lashonda Greenlee, who was promoted from account service specialist II, Outbound Contact, to account service specialist III-on demand, Operations.

Sherdell Griffin, who was promoted from customer service specialist I to customer service specialist II, CSC Nebraska.

Yolanda Hamilton, who was promoted from customer service specialist II to payroll account specialist III, Customer Service.

Vameika Hampton, who was promoted from customer service specialist II to payroll account specialist III, Customer Service.

Jeff Hardin, who was promoted from manager to senior manager, resource management, U.S. Operations Columbus.

Cierra Harris, who was promoted from customer service specialist I to customer service specialist II, CSC Nebraska.

Renee Harris, who was promoted from claims specialist II to claims specialist III, Claims.

Ann Hayes, who was promoted from account service specialist I to account service specialist II, NBS Conversions.

Lymaira Hernandez, who was promoted from account service specialist II, Outbound Contact, to account service specialist III-on demand, Operations.

Barbara Hodges, who was promoted from compliance analyst I to compliance analyst II, Operations Risk Management.

Essie Horn, who was promoted from account service specialist II, Outbound Contact, to account service specialist III-on demand, Operations.

Jesenia Johnson, who was promoted from customer service specialist II, CSC Trainees, to customer service specialist III, CSC-Customer Service.

Kendrea Jones, who was promoted from customer service specialist II, Customer Service, to payroll account specialist III, Premium Collection and Billing.

Jennifer King, who was promoted from account manager I to account manager II, Client Services.

Glenn LaFleur Jr, who was promoted from customer service specialist II, CSC Trainees, to customer service specialist III, CSC-Customer Service.

Quentin Lee, who was promoted from accounting specialist III to senior accounting specialist, Aflac Group Insurance – Financial.

Sabrina Little, who was promoted from accounting specialist III to lead specialist, Premium Collection and Billing.

Nikole Lyles, who was promoted from customer service specialist III, CSC-Customer Service, to business process analyst I, Pre-Sales PIC.

Lisa Malone, who was promoted from executive assistant II to operations analyst I, IT.

Machel Marshall, who was promoted from account service specialist II, Outbound Contact, to account service specialist III-on demand, Operations.

Cynthia McCaskill, who was promoted from claims specialist II to claims specialist III, Claims.

Sharon McCaster, who was promoted from account service specialist III, New Business, to account manager I, Client Services.

Darren McCray, who was promoted from customer service specialist I, CSC Trainees, to customer service specialist II, CSC-Customer Service.

Michelle McLaurin Price, who was promoted from underwriting specialist I to underwriting specialist II, SR/Life Products.

Charles Mitchell, who was promoted from customer service specialist I, CSC Trainees, to customer service specialist II, CSC-Customer Service.

Kendell Moore, who was promoted from senior strategic consultant to senior manager, Resource Planning/Change Management.

Johnny Moses, who was promoted from senior agent validation specialist, Agent Validation, to group implementation coordinator II, Enrollment Intake.

Myles Oliver, who was promoted from customer service specialist I, CSC Trainees, to customer service specialist II, CSC-Customer Service.

Kristyn Ortiz, who was promoted from customer service specialist II, CSC Trainees, to customer service specialist III, CSC-Customer Service.

Employee Matters 29

TO SHARE NEWS OR SUGGEST STORIES AND IDEAS for publication in the employee magazine, scan the QR code to the right or email employeematters@aflac.com.

Johnathan Ponto, who was promoted from workflow specialist to operations analyst I, Resource Planning.

Porsche Prowell, who was promoted from customer service specialist I, CSC Trainees, to customer service specialist II, CSC-Customer Service.

Chelsea Raley-Ramos, who was promoted from data analyst, Client Services, to business process analyst II, Sales Contracting and Compensation.

Millie Richardson, who was promoted from account services specialist III to lead account service spec, New Business.

Shondora Ricks, who was promoted from customer service research specialist to senior customer service specialist, Customer Service.

Morreka Rivers, who was promoted from administrative support specialist II to underwriting specialist I, SR/Life Products.

Michelle Roberts, who was promoted from executive assistant II to advertising compliance analyst I, Compliance.

Delgarcia Scott, who was promoted from account manager I to account manager II, Client Services.

Sonja Sims, who was promoted from accounting specialist II, Premium Collection and Billing, to payroll account specialist III, Customer Service.

Robert Sofaly, who was promoted from operations analyst II to resource planning analyst III, Resource Planning.

Kimberly Specht, who was promoted from lead specialist, Account Relations, to supervisor, Large Account Services.

Michael Steele, who was promoted from building mechanic to building maintenance engineer I, Main Campus Support.

Lashona Sudduth, who was promoted from lead account service specialist, New Business, to lead quality auditor, Quality and Audit.

Darryl Tull, who was promoted from building technician II to building mechanic, PSA Campus Support.

Anthony Turner, who was promoted from building mechanic to building maintenance engineer I, PSA Campus Support.

Shana Tyner, who was promoted from claims specialist I to claims specialist III, Claims.

Porsha Webster, who was promoted from customer service specialist II to payroll account specialist III, Customer Service.

Raphael Wright, who was promoted from claims specialist I, Claims, to quality auditor, Quality and Audit.

Tracy Wright, who was promoted from account service specialist II, Triage Unit, to payroll account specialist III, Premium Collection and Billing.

GRADUATIONS

Colleen O’Reilly, New York Policyholder Service, received her bachelor’s degree in Business, Risk Management and Insurance concentration, from Excelsior College.

PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS

David Pope, IT, won first place in the Toastmaster Area contest on Sept. 6 and represented the Excellence Enunciators at the Division contest in October.

TYING THE KNOT

Jerry Ballas, Event Production Audio Visual Services, married Becky Page, Aflac Sales Associate in the Auburn, Alabama district office, May 31 in Opelika, Ala.

Darin Cordell, Claims PIC Risk Management, married Jason Pearce, Communicorp, July 5 in Washington, D.C.

Jacqueline Harris-Bradford, Account Relations, married retired Command Sgt. Maj. John Bradford July 26 at Ft. Benning, Ga.

Amanda Green, Administration Training/Center of Excellence, married Robert Tarvin Sept. 20 at Uchee Creek, Ga.

NEW ARRIVALS

Russell Barrett, Broker Sales Effectiveness, and his wife, Jessica, celebrated the birth of their daughter, Hunter Lynn-Renee Barrett, July 28.

Melanie Beck, Underwriting, and her husband, Brian, celebrated the birth of their son, Jackson Clyde Beck, Jan. 28.

Anne Marie Christian, Internal Audit, and her husband, Laurence, welcomed their son, Harrison John Christian, March 23.

Jennifer Rowe, Policy Service, celebrated the birth of her nephew, Ethan Aleksander Dalton, born March 21.

Judith Rowe, Customer Service Center, and Paul Rowe, Policy Service - Wingspan Support, celebrated the birth of their first grandson, Ethan Aleksander Dalton, born March 21.

IN APPRECIATION

Congratulations to one of Aflac’s family members for finishing his cancer treatment. At age 10, Nicolas Duncan, son of Roya Duncan, Business Tech Solutions, was diagnosed with stage 4 Lymphoblastic Lymphoma. Due to the severity and the spread of the disease, he was placed on the ALL (Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia) treatment plan for 39+ months in which he experienced 137 rounds of chemo infusion via a portacather, 31 procedures under anesthesia (including 27 chemo injections via spinal tap), 35 breathing treatments, 51 days in the hospital, and daily oral chemo medicines throughout. He took his last chemo pill at age 14, on October 12. The Duncan family wishes to thank their Aflac family for their prayers, love and support on their journey.

SYMPATHIES

Aflac New York sends sympathies to Michelle Bollacker in the loss of her grandmother, Marie Wieland.

Aflac New York sends sympathies to Michael Chille in the loss of his parents, Anthony and Sylvia Chille.

IT sends sympathies to Richard Lemieux in the loss of his mother, Phyllis Lemieux, Aug. 10, and his uncle, Richard Lemieux, Aug. 30.

READY+

ABLENov./Dec.

2014

The 2014 Aflac Holiday Duck tries his hand — ahem, his wing —

at ice-skating

Not only can you purchase this festive fellow at aflacduckprints.com, Macy’s department

stores, macys.com and myAflac > Employee Services > Perks > DuckGear through the

holiday season, you can watch as a balloonicle, based on this 2014 Holiday Duck design,

joins Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade lineup!

Since Aflac partnered with Macy’s for the first Aflac Holiday Duck program in 2001,

it has raised more than $3 million for childhood cancer hospitals across the country.

All net proceeds will benefit the nearest participating pediatric cancer hospital in the

region where the duck is purchased.

Worldwide Headquarters1932 Wynnton Road

Columbus, Georgia 31999

PRSRT STDU.S. POSTAGE

PAIDAFLAC

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! Scan the QR code to the right to send your news, ideas and suggestions for stories or email employeematters@aflac.com.