Westlake Village health professional receives top honors

John Nelson Statewide health industry professionals received top honors recently for their leadership in working with the public and private sectors to improve California's health care policies.

The California Association of Health Underwriters presented the honors at its 10th annual Health Care Symposium in Los Angeles on Nov. 2.

Among the recipients, John Nelson received Member of the Year Award. Nelson, co-CEO of Warner Pacific in Westlake Village, is the 2005-06 president of the National Association of Health Underwriters.

Nelson was recognized for his leadership in helping many health care reform initiatives in California gain national awareness.

Bruce Benton received the Boardmember of the Year Award. Benton is founder of Woodland Hillsbased SmithBenton Insurance and Financial Services.

At the symposium, more than 500 public and private health care leaders and industry representatives convened to discuss how they could work together to create viable new health care policies to ensure that all Californians receive quality health care.

The underwriters association represents more than 2,600 health care professionals and serves more than 1 million health care consumers throughout California.