Employee Spotlight : Alec Gumpfer

Interview with Alec Gumpfer, Surety Account Executive

How would you describe your role at PS&F?

My role is to help construction companies increase their profitability, manage risks, and achieve their long-term strategic goals. That comes in many different forms—maximizing surety bond credit, addressing contractual, market, and project-specific risks, establishing financial controls, and continuity planning are some of the primary areas in which I provide guidance.

What inspired you to start a career in insurance, particularly surety? What inspired your specialization in construction?

Surety is a career that I just fell into. As I was finishing my undergraduate degree in finance at the University of Washington, I was interviewing at various places, and surety underwriting sounded more interesting to me than your average corporate FP&A type of position. As a surety underwriter, you get a wide range of business experience and exposure to C-suite executives in a very short period of time, which is rare for an entry-level position, so I found that intriguing. As an underwriter, I got to know a couple of the surety guys at Parker, Smith & Feek, and in 2021, Guy Armfield and Scott Fisher convinced me to come over to the brokerage side.

What’s made you so passionate about your role? ­­­­­

There’s something special about the construction industry to me. It’s a foundational part of our society, and the projects that contractors build leave a very tangible impact on our everyday lives. As a partner to those companies, I’m able to help them be successful and make that tangible impact. I love seeing the direct results of our work on the projects they build. That’s what drives my passion.

What is the most valuable advice you ever received? 

It goes back to when I was very young. My dad told me there are a lot of things in this world that you can’t control, but one thing you can always control is your work ethic. I think that has been a guiding principle for me throughout life.

We talk a lot about the PS&F difference. How do you make a difference?

To me, the PS&F difference is really just about always doing the right thing. Whether that’s for my clients, colleagues, or my community, I try to make a difference by always trying to be a team player and leaving a positive impact on those around me. It could be anything from helping a client navigate a tricky situation to helping a colleague better understand surety — I always try to help out wherever I can.

What is something your co-workers would be surprised to learn about you?

I love to cook! I grew up in Hawaii, so there’s a big melting pot of cuisines. I love cooking Asian, Hawaiian, Portuguese, Mediterranean, and Italian.

What do you like to do when you’re not working?

I love to play golf, travel, and spend time with friends

Where did you grow up?

I grew up in a small town called Kula on the Island of Maui. It’s a beautiful, small farm town on the side of Haleakala. It’s a very special place. It’s quiet, peaceful, has great people, and when you look up at the sky on a clear night, you can see the Milky Way.

I think a lot of tourists go to Hawaii because they want sunshine, they want the beach, and they want some good food. That’s all very true about Hawaii; it’s awesome! But there’s a totally different cultural side of Hawaii that tourists probably don’t see in the popular destinations they visit. It’s a simple way of life; people just want to do the right things for their family and community and enjoy time with one another. There’s a very communal and familial cultural quality to Hawaii that not everybody gets to experience or appreciate if they’re just a tourist at a resort.

What is your greatest indulgence?

Cookies. I love a good chocolate chip cookie.

What is the quality you admire most in other people?

Integrity. I respect people that have a set of values, stick to them, and are true to their word.

What is your most treasured possession?

Time is definitely the most valuable thing to me.

Who is your hero of history?

Winston Churchill. He was bold, brave, and exhibited formidable leadership amidst incredible adversity.

What is a talent you would like to have?

I would love to be able to draw or paint because I’m a genuinely terrible artist.

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