Toyota Pro/Celebrity

Biography

A successful, nationally recognized executive who retired from the life insurance business in 1993, Pasant transformed Jackson National Life, where he served as president and CEO, into a top-earning, ethically minded company.

Pasant was instrumental in developing the principle of paying life insurance policyholders a portion of their benefits when facing catastrophic illness. Pasant went on a two-year mission to change state laws, and public perception, related to the life insurance industry.

Since retiring, Pasant has pursued a variety of business interests. Among them: owning auto dealerships and the San Francisco Spiders of the International Hockey League. He’s also currently a minority owner of the Spokane Indians of the Northwest League of Professional Baseball.

Pasant, who enters this year’s race as one of two 2010 Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race charity auction winners, supports several worthy causes, including Ele’s Place in Lansing, Mich., which helps grieving children cope. He also serves on the board of the Capital Area United Way in Lansing. Pasant has previously raced in the Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race three times, and his wife, Jill, has driven in it once. The couple lives in East Lansing, Mich., and Redondo Beach, Calif.

Highlights:

• Plays the ukulele but also collects them—to the tune of 150 of the instruments


• Is an avid astronomer, car collector and fly fisherman


• Has previously raced in the Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race three times. This makes No. 4