Joel Ario

In June 2007, Gov. Edward Rendell nominated Joel Ario to serve as Pennsylvania's Insurance Commissioner, describing Ario as "a highly qualified and seasoned administrator with a strong and proven record of fighting to protect the rights and needs of consumers." Prior to his Pennsylvania service, Ario was the chief insurance regulator for the state of Oregon (2000-2007) and worked in the public interest movement for 15 years.

Ario serves on the National Association of Insurance Commissioners' (NAIC) Executive Committee and is chair of the Climate Change Task Force and vice chair of the Health Insurance Committee.

Additionally, he serves on the Consumer Participation Board of Trustees, as well as the Board of Directors for the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR), a collaborative enterprise between the NAIC and the regulated community to modernize agent licensing systems. He was that organization's president and board chair from 2002 to 2004.

Ario approaches issues from a consumer perspective. His current priorities include implementation of federal health reform to increase access and control costs, expanding the insurance industry's role in addressing climate change, modernizing regulatory oversight through financial reform and market analysis, strengthening consumer rights, and enhancing consumer education and outreach programs.