"David leadership and commitment to the financial services industry has helped tens of thousands of professionals and their companies grow and prosper," said Louis P. DiCerbo, II, CLU®, ChFC®, RFC. "Throughout his career and during his tenure as the Chief Executive Officer of NAIFA, Dave was passionately dedicated to the significance and importance of the insurance professional in our industry."

Each year the Round Table of New York presents its Lifetime Achievement Award to an individual that has made significant contributions to the insurance and financial services industry. The award recognizes individuals for their accomplishments in the areas of professional ethics, education, industry leadership. Past industry luminaries that have received this award include:

Lawrence R. Pike, CLU®, FLMI   Chairman Emeritus, Union Central Life
Dr. Kenneth Black, JR, CLU®   Dean Emeritus, Georgia State University
Joseph J. Melone, CLU®, ChFC®   Pres. & CEO Emeritus, AXA Financial
Samuel Weese Ph.D., CLU®, CPCU   Pres. & CEO Emeritus, The American College
Maurice Stewart, CLU®, ChFC®, CLF®   Senior Vice President, Penn Mutual Life
Charles Smith, CLU®, ChFC®    CEO Emeritus, GAMA International

Woods' contributions to the financial services industry are numerous. He is a founder of and since 1995, the President of the Life and Health Insurance Foundation for Education, (LIFE), a non-profit organization dedicated to educating the public about the essential role of life, disability income, long-term care insurance and annuities in sound financial and retirement planning and the value added by insurance agents and other financial advisors.

From 2003 until this past August 31 Woods also served as Chief Executive Officer of the National Association Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA), a trade organization representing approximately 60,000 insurance and financial professionals. There he spearheaded a financial turnaround and led the creation and adoption of a sweeping new strategic plan known as "NAIFA 21." Woods also served as the President of NAIFA's predecessor organization, the National Association of Life Underwriters (NALU) from 1986-1987.

Over the course of his career, Woods has contributed his time and energy to the success of other notable industry organizations. He is a former director of the Association for Advanced Life Underwriting (AALU) and is a member of its Legislative Circle. He is on the Board of the Insurance Marketplace Standards Association. (IMSA).

In 1997 he received The John Newton Russell Memorial Award, the industry's highest honor for service to the industry and the community.

Woods also served on the Board of Trustees of The American College, the nation's leading financials services educator, and is a member of the institution's President's Circle and Golden Key Society. He earned his Chartered Life Underwriter® (CLU®) designation from The College in 1967. He later went on to earn his Chartered Financial Consultant® (ChFC®) designation in 1983 and his LUTC Fellow from the institution in 1984. Woods also has a bachelor's degree in economics from Loyola College in Baltimore.

David Woods started his career in 1961 in the Home Office of Fidelity and Guaranty Life Insurance Company. From 1966 - 1995, Woods was a leading agent with the MassMutual Financial Group in Springfield, MA. and still holds an Agent Emeritus contract with that company. He has been a member of the Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT) since 1970 and is a Knight of the MDRT Foundation.

Woods is a frequent author and speaker in both the United States and abroad. He served in the United States Air Force as a jet fighter pilot. He and his wife Evie have been married since 1958 and have four children and eight grandchildren.