Crystal McElroy of MetLife Receives NADP Don Mayes Leadership Award
NADP is proud to announce Crystal McElroy, MetLife, is the 2025 recipient of the Don Mayes Leadership Award, which honors volunteer leaders with three or more years of service who have made significant contributions to advancing the dental benefits industry.
Leadership and Contributions
McElroy has been a driving force within NADP for nearly a decade. She has served on the Commission on Advocacy Policy since 2016, holding the position of Vice Chair from 2018–2023 and Chair since 2023. She has also an active member of the Board of Directors, Government Relations Workgroup and currently serves as President of the California Association of Dental Plans (CADP), where she also acts as Vice Chair of the Legislative and Regulatory Committee.
Achievements and Impact
Under McElroy’s steady leadership of the Commission on Advocacy Policy, NADP has successfully navigated a wide range of legislative and regulatory challenges at both the state and federal levels. She has consistently fostered consensus-driven positions on complex issues, ensuring all perspectives within the membership are heard and valued.
Her leadership was pivotal during the 2022 Massachusetts dental loss ratio ballot initiative, where she oversaw impact analysis and coordinated regulatory engagement. In 2023, she played a key role in advancing negotiations that led to the passage of the NCOIL Dental Loss Ratio Model Act, establishing balanced and compromise-driven policy language.
McElroy has also guided NADP’s proactive responses to critical emerging issues, including adult dental coverage as an Essential Health Benefit. During her tenure, NADP’s Advocacy in Action—the annual lobbying event in Washington, D.C.—has grown in reach and influence, strengthening relationships with policymakers and amplifying the voice of the dental benefits industry.
Beyond her leadership roles, McElroy has been an active contributor to specialized workgroups addressing high-impact topics such as Medicare, network leasing, and dental loss ratio policy. Her influence extends further through her leadership at CADP, where she continues to advocate for thoughtful policy solutions.
Recognition and Service
McElroy is a respected voice and educator in the NADP community, having presented at multiple CONVERGE conferences on legislative and regulatory trends affecting dental plans nationwide. Her dedication has been recognized with three NADP Star / Evelyn Ireland Volunteer Awards (2015, 2018, and 2020), a testament to her lasting impact on the association and the broader industry.
About the Don Mayes Leadership Award
The Don Mayes Leadership Award recognizes volunteer leaders who, through at least three years of dedicated service, have significantly advanced NADP’s mission and strengthened the dental benefits industry through exceptional leadership.