Delta Dental Plans Association President and CEO Kim Volk Retiring

Volk strengthened industry-leading status in 15 years at the helm

OAK BROOK, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Delta Dental Plans Association (DDPA) publicly announced today that Kim Volk is retiring from her role as president and CEO of the association which represents the nation’s largest network of dental benefits companies. Her retirement, effective on Jan. 31, 2013, marks the end of a 30-year career with the association. Volk will be succeeded on Feb. 1 by former DDPA legal counsel Steve Olson, a senior partner in the Health Care Practice at Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP.

“I feel great knowing that Steve Olson will take the reins on Feb. 1. He has been a good friend and colleague for the past six-and-a-half years, and I look forward to watching Delta Dental continue to grow under his leadership.”

“Kim’s impact as the head of DDPA is immeasurable,” said Scott Jones, chairman of DDPA’s Board of Directors. “Thanks to her leadership, Delta Dental has strengthened its position as the industry leader, and we’ve been able to donate hundreds of millions of dollars to provide oral health care to the needy. Kim has guided our brand through evolving markets, economic swings, and regulatory and legal reform. She will be greatly missed,” Jones said.

“I will always treasure my time at DDPA, and I am proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish over the years,” Volk said. “However, I am looking forward to retirement and having a chance to explore a number of interests that I haven’t been able to previously while working and raising a family.”

She added, “I feel great knowing that Steve Olson will take the reins on Feb. 1. He has been a good friend and colleague for the past six-and-a-half years, and I look forward to watching Delta Dental continue to grow under his leadership.”

In her 15 years as president and CEO, Volk helped Delta Dental grow to serve more than 60 million Americans in more than 95,700 employee groups nationwide. Additionally, the company earned $17 billion in revenues and donated more than $88 million toward community benefit efforts in 2011.

Before being named president and CEO, Volk was vice president and chief administrative officer, responsible for government relations and marketing communications, in addition to general administrative duties for the association.

Volk is a graduate of Northern Michigan University and of the Kellogg Management Institute, a general management program offered through the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.