Employee Spotlight : Greg Ryerson

Interview with Greg Ryerson, Vice President and Property & Casualty Account Executive

How would you describe your role at PS&F?

I handle the risk management and surety needs of our construction clients. I consider myself a partner to my clients and part of their trusted advisory team. I love finding creative solutions to solve complex problems for existing and prospective clients.

What inspired you to start a career in insurance?

In 1996, coming out of college, I didn’t know what I wanted to do. I think this story is pretty common for a lot of people who fall into the insurance business. I was interviewing with several companies across various industries, and I randomly interviewed with an insurance company; as I learned about the opportunity, it sounded like a great fit and a place where I would actually be able to grow and learn. Here I am, 27 years later, and I’m still in the industry.

What’s something exciting going on in the construction industry right now? What are some key pieces of advice you are telling your construction clients right now?

The construction industry is at an interesting inflection point—with interest rates at their highest in the last 40 years, residential construction starts and spending are trending downward. Even with the higher cost of capital, non-residential construction spending continues to increase, driven by industrial, infrastructure, and institutional spending. The recent passing of the CHIPS Act has pumped over $50 billion in funding into the semiconductor industry. Contractors working in that sector have as much work as they can handle, and their biggest challenge is finding enough workers.

The advice I am passing along to our construction clients right now is to be more cautious when selecting subcontractors. We are starting to see more subcontractor defaults, and additional screening is warranted in many cases.

What’s made you so passionate about the construction industry?

I love seeing a tract of bare land become a new school or hospital and see that from start to finish. I want to help solve problems and have clients think of me as a valued member of their team.

What advice would you give to someone who is interested in a career in insurance?

Explore your options. There are so many opportunities in our industry, from the carrier side in claims, underwriting, and loss control, to the brokerage side. Find a path that aligns with your interests and has the greatest opportunity for growth and ongoing development and learning.

What is the most valuable advice you ever received?

When I first started on the brokerage side, I worked with this cantankerous guy who was really good at what he did. He always told me: at the end of the day, remember that your clients ultimately pay your salary. Always be a strong advocate for clients and do what’s best for them, and you’ll be successful.

I think another one of the best pieces of advice I ever received was that what you do when no one is watching is meaningful. Having a sense of integrity, doing what’s right, and acting as if you’re under a microscope at all times… I think that’s a good piece of life advice, not just career advice.

Do you volunteer with any organizations or charities?

I’ve been involved with St. Mary’s Home for Boys for several years through one of my clients. This client has been a massive supporter of St. Mary’s, and they’ve built a lot of the campus here. St. Mary’s has been around for over 100 years in the Portland area. Their mission is to help kids who are on track to be in the legal system. They do amazing things with kids who were otherwise probably headed for jail. They provide counseling services and mentorships and work really hard with these kids to keep them out of the system. I’ve seen this over the last 20 years and been involved with them from a volunteer and financial standpoint. I remember a kid who was arrested for stealing a car when he was 12; several years later, I saw him speak at a St. Mary’s event, where he said he was heading off to college and had really turned his life around.

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

To me, the PS&F difference means providing the best client experience possible. I always tell my clients that I’m part of their team. It may not be in their office, but I want them to think of me as an integral part of their organization. Our best client relationships go well beyond just placing insurance and providing surety products. It’s about becoming part of their organization.

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

I love being outside, but it’s getting tough with the weather being so cold and rainy. I’m a mediocre golfer, but I enjoy getting out and playing a round of golf. I love fishing on the ocean or one of the local rivers. I have two boys that play sports, so I never miss a game. I’m always on the sidelines, cheering them on.

Tell me about your family.

My two boys are 16 and 18. I’m transitioning from having two kids in the house to one off to college and the other one around the corner to being there. It’s kind of a weird time; I still think of them as little kids, and now they are driving cars and running all over town. Other than that, I have family in the area; I have three sisters, all within about half an hour of me, so we spend a lot of time together. My sisters and I fought like crazy as kids, but we’re really close as adults now that we don’t have to share a bathroom! Other than that, I have a girlfriend that I’ve been with for a couple of years. We love to travel; we’ve been to Europe, Hawaii, Mexico, Florida, and many other places together.

Where did you grow up? What is your favorite thing about your hometown?

I grew up in McMinnville, which is 45 minutes outside of Portland. When I grew up there, there were a lot of Turkey farms. Now, there are a ton of vineyards and wineries, and the downtown area has seen a lot of investment and development. It has lots of wine shops and great restaurants and is very touristy now. It’s relatively small, probably only 25,000 people, but it’s doubled in size since I was in high school.

What accomplishment are you most proud of?

I think my biggest accomplishment is putting myself through college. I worked almost full-time for four years, went through college, and got out with some debt but very little. It was a grind, but I had a blast. I felt like I appreciated it more because I didn’t have somebody write a check every year to pay the bill for me.

What is your greatest indulgence?

Sushi.

What is the quality you admire most in other people?

Honesty, integrity, and good communication. I like people that speak their mind. As long as it’s well-intentioned, I think it’s a good quality.

What is your most treasured possession?

I’m a minimalist, so I think my most treasured possession is my time. I’ll take an experience over something material any day of the week. It’s definitely more valuable to me than anything I could physically possess.

Who is your hero of history?

I’ve read a lot of books about World War II and Winston Churchill leading the UK through World War II and how they ended up bringing the United States in to basically save the world. He’s one of the characters that really stood out to me in all the books I’ve read.

What is a talent you would like to have?

I would love to be a great golfer!

Return to Blog index