National Life Group Promotes Key Leaders in Operations – August 2025

Montpelier, VT - (August 21, 2025) National Life Group Executive Vice President of Operations Achim Schwetlick announced the promotion of Kristin Cook, Crystal Trepanier, and Johanna Petty-Dunlap to senior leadership roles in Operations, reinforcing its continued growth among the top 10 life insurers in the U.S.

Kristin Cook has been promoted to Senior Vice President, Life Underwriting and Business Development, with leadership over all Life New Business and Underwriting. Cook initially joined National Life Group 20 years ago and has held several leadership roles of increasing responsibility in Operations and Distribution

Cook is a graduate of the LIMRA and LOMA Strategic Leadership Experience program, offered in partnership with Wharton Executive Education. She has a B.A. degree in Political Science and Government with a minor in Biology from the University of Vermont as well as her AALU, ALMI, and ACS designations.

“Kristin is also a very visible and widely recognized ambassador of National Life in the Underwriting Community,” Schwetlick said. “Her strategic acumen, enterprise mindset, and long-standing commitment to a differentiating Service Experience have made her a critical contributor to our leadership team.”

Crystal Trepanier  has been promoted to Vice President, overseeing both Contracting & Licensing and After-Issue Operations. Since joining National Life in 2007, she has held various leadership roles in Finance and Operations.

“Over the years, Crystal has made a significant impact in each of her roles,” Schwetlick said. “Her leadership was instrumental in implementing electronic delivery of policy packages, innovating our payments processing approach, and just recently in the roll-out of the new agent contracting platform.”

Trepanier was selected by the ACLI to join the 2025 Class of Rising Leaders. She holds a B.S. in Business with Finance and Accounting from Plattsburgh State University of New York, as well as her ALMI designation. 

Johanna Petty-Dunlap  has been promoted to Associate Vice President, Head of Claims. With more than 25 years of client service experience, Johanna began her insurance career in 1997 and joined National Life in 2018.

“Dunlap’s influence has extended across key organizational initiatives, most notably her pivotal role in transformation of the Claims Organization,” Schwetlick said. “In addition to being a force inside of National Life, Johanna is also a well-known advocate for the company in the Claims community.”

Dunlap holds a B.A. in Business Management from Briarcliff College and an MBA in Management from Ashford University, as well as her ALMI designation.

About National Life Group

National Life is here to bring you peace of mind. We’ve been keeping our promises since 1848. Believe in tomorrow. Do good today. Learn more at NationalLife.com

Learn more here about National Life Group’s corporate philanthropy with programs that include LifeChanger of the Year, Do Good Heroes, a commitment to ending childhood hunger and supporting children’s mental health, among others.

Contact: Daphne Larkin, corporate communications, National Life Group, 802.229.3607.

National Life Group® is a trade name of National Life Insurance Company, founded in Montpelier, Vermont, in 1848, Life Insurance Company of the Southwest, Addison, Texas, chartered in 1955, and their affiliates. Each company of National Life Group is solely responsible for its own financial condition and contractual obligations. Life Insurance Company of the Southwest is not an authorized insurer in New York and does not conduct insurance business in New York.