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Blackburn has served as chief executive officer since August 2001. He is also chairman of the Boards of Directors of four companies with which COUNTRY has strategic alliances: Cotton States Insurance, Atlanta; Holyoke Mutual Insurance Company, Salem, Mass.; Middlesex Mutual Assurance Company, Middletown, Conn.; and MSI Preferred Insurance Company, Arden Hills, Minn.
Blackburn began his career with COUNTRY in 1982 as an agent in Christian County (Ill.) Later, he served as agency manager, district director of Agencies, regional vice president of Agency, vice president of Agency and most recently senior vice president of Marketing.
Blackburn earned a bachelor’s degree in English and physical education from Western Illinois University in Macomb and a master’s degree in educational administration from Sangamon State University, Springfield, now the University of Illinois at Springfield. He also furthered his education and received the Chartered Life Underwriter insurance designation. | 