Gerald J. Frankowski
Chicago
Summary
Results-driven underwriting professional prepared for this leadership role. Brings valuable experience in managing underwriting teams and leading strategic initiatives while fostering collaborative team environment. Known for achieving impactful results and demonstrating adaptability in dynamic settings. Skilled in risk management and financial analysis, with strong focus on achieving organizational goals.
Overview
34
34
years of professional experience
Work History
AVP, Group Underwriting
Chubb Workplace Benefits/Combined Insurance
03.2022 - Current
- Lead, manage, and mentor an underwriting team, ensuring they follow best practices, underwriting guidelines and consistently meet business goals.
- Adherence to underwriting strategies that align with overall business objectives, balancing profitable growth and risk.
- Review, approve, and document underwriting referrals for complex or large cases, ensuring appropriate risk assessment and pricing.
- Lead training and development opportunities to ensure the underwriting team is equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge of market trends.
- Foster a collaborative environment and encourage knowledge sharing among team members to improve underwriting consistency and decision-making..
- Work closely with underwriting leadership to ensure pricing strategies align with risk profiles and business goals.
- Continuously evaluate and refine underwriting processes to improve efficiency and accuracy while reducing cycle times.
- Identify opportunities to automate or streamline underwriting operations through the adoption of technology or improved workflows.
- Implement best practices and maintain a high level of quality control to ensure consistency and accuracy in underwriting decisions.
- Collaborate with internal teams, including actuarial, sales, and product management, to align underwriting efforts with company objectives and market conditions.
- Engage with Business Development Managers to address underwriting-related inquiries, negotiate terms, and build strong relationships.
- Communicate underwriting decisions, strategies, and any changes in policies to key stakeholders in a clear and concise manner.
- Monitor and analyze underwriting performance, including loss ratios, profitability, and claims trends, and report findings to senior leadership.
- Use performance data to make recommendations for improvements in pricing, risk management, or underwriting guidelines.
- Regularly assess the effectiveness of underwriting practices and make adjustments to meet business goals and market changes.
- Strong leadership, team management, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to motivate and guide a team.
- Excellent analytical and decision-making skills, with the ability to assess complex risk factors and pricing strategies.
- Ability to communicate complex underwriting concepts clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
- Detail-oriented with strong organizational and time management skills.
- Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and adapt to changing market conditions.
Manager, Underwriting - Voluntary Benefits
Chubb Workplace Benefits
10.2018 - 03.2022
- Manage 7 group underwriters
- Project Manager for implementation of new underwriting rating system
- Achieve profitable growth through effective use of underwriting and business skills
- Evaluate and select new risks based on established company/departmental guidelines and within delegated authority
- Maintain performance standards and meet satisfactory quote turnaround time
- Partner with sales leaders and brokers to generate new business revenues by developing prospects, visiting brokers, and participating in presentations
- Conduct loss frequency analysis; identify, analyze and provide plan for corrective action as necessary
- Guide and mentor junior staff
- Effectively negotiate and secure policy terms that align with the company directives, especially utilizing new product and service offerings to bring value to the client
- Coordinate strategy and work collaboratively with other aligned business functions including operations, actuarial, and claims
- Determine terms and conditions and complex rating plans
- Handle more complex files and portfolios within underwriting authority
Manager, Group Underwriting
Dearborn National Life Insurance
09.2009 - 10.2018
- Manage 8 new business underwriters and lead team in exceeding team metrics and organizational goals
- Manage Team responsible for all manually rated groups
- One year of responsibility managing large group underwriters with authority to release groups up to $2,000,000 in annual premium
- Manage large volumes of quote activity on a daily basis and ensure time standards are being met
- Manage intake of all new business quote activity
- Underwriting representative for small group insurance exchange implementation
- Strategic interaction with field sales force, including communication and execution of underwriting strategies
- Work with internal partners, including but not limited to product development, policy issuance, account management, claims, and actuary
- Underwriting point person for MAR Model Audit Rule process (internal audit)
- Voice of the Customer ambassador
- Underwriting ambassador for Small Group Business Redesign
Regional Sales Support and Operations Manager
MetLife Small Business Center
01.2009 - 09.2009
- Manage a team of 21 new business raters and implementation/sales support associates across four states
- Manage large volumes of quote activity and new business case implementation
- Responsible for leading team to meet or exceed team metrics and regional metrics
- Make sure operations of all offices are running within allotted budgets
- Strategic interaction with field sales force, including communication of strategic service and underwriting initiatives
- Build relationships with internal partners, i.e
- Claims, product areas, home office underwriting, etc
- Build and maintain relationships with customers and brokers
Group Underwriter
Dearborn National Life Insurance
07.2007 - 12.2008
- Underwrite Life and STD coverage for groups with 10-2000 employees
- Quote manual dental rates for groups of 10-100 employees
- Quote manual Long Term Disability rates for groups of 10-500 employees
- Build and maintain relationships with sales partners
- Work with reinsurance partner in obtaining Long Term Disability quotes for groups over 500 lives
- Work with Dental partner in obtaining quotes for groups over 100 lives
Benefits Account Representative
The Plexus Groupe, Inc.
10.2006 - 07.2007
- Market group medical, dental, life, disability, and section 125 plans on behalf of clients
- Analyze marketing data received from insurance carriers for accuracy
- Prepare detailed proposals for clients, including fully-insured and self-funded exhibits
- Work with insurance carriers in negotiating group benefit renewals
- Handle day-to-day customer service issues for approximately 20 clients
- Activities include insuring proper claims adjudication by carriers, enrolling new hires in a timely manner, setting up meetings with carriers, and making sure clients' employee benefit programs are operating in a satisfactory manner
Regional Manager
MetLife Customer Service Center
10.2004 - 10.2006
- Lead a team of 14 Account Managers responsible for end to end service of high profile group customers up to 25,000 lives
- Direct Account Managers to meet or exceed service standards and exhibit key behaviors that promote extraordinary service
- Responsible for ensuring Account Manager's execute on customer facing activities
- Responsible for leading team to meet or exceed team metrics and regional metrics
- Financial responsibility for block of customers, including claims, billing, and overall profit and loss
- Responsible for persistency and revenue growth of customer block
- Strategic interaction with field sales force, including communication of strategic service initiatives
- Build relationships with internal partners, i.e
- Claims, product areas, etc
- Build and maintain relationships with customers and brokers
Team Leader
MetLife Small Business Center
07.2001 - 10.2004
- Underwrite new business for group customers in the 10-500 life market segment
- Supervise a group of 16 underwriters
- Prepare performance reviews for employees
- Assist manager with interviewing new job candidates
- Train all new underwriting staff
- Ongoing education of underwriting concepts for existing underwriting staff
- Special projects as assigned
Sales Specialist
MetLife Small Business Center
12.1999 - 07.2001
- Underwrite new business for group customers in the 10-500 life market segment
- Review and analyzing quote requests
- Request missing information by phone or fax from brokers
- Prepare and sell life, dental, LTD, and STD coverages to the brokerage community with respect to the 10-50 life market segment
- Train New Business Underwriters
New Business Underwriter
MetLife Small Business Center
05.1999 - 12.1999
- Underwrite new business for group customers in the 10-500 life market segment
- Review and analyze quote requests from the brokerage community
- Request missing information by phone or fax from brokers
- Maintain relationships with sales partners and brokers
Account Services Coordinator
Schwartz Benefit Services
05.1998 - 05.1999
- Market group medical, dental, life, disability, and section 125 plans on behalf of clients
- Analyze marketing data received from insurance carriers for accuracy
- Prepare detailed proposals for clients, including fully-insured and self-funded exhibits
- Work with insurance carriers in negotiating group benefit renewals
- Handle day-to-day customer service issues for approximately 30 clients
- Activities include insuring proper claims adjudication by carriers, enrolling new hires in a timely manner, setting up meetings with carriers, and making sure clients' employee benefit programs are operating in a satisfactory manner
Special Risk Underwriter
Hartford Life Insurance
01.1995 - 01.1997
Communications Associate
Jack B. Loewy Marketing Consultants
01.1994 - 01.1995
Payroll Clerk
Leo Burnett
01.1992 - 01.1993
Luggage Sales Clerk
Emporium Luggage
01.1991 - 01.1992
Education
B.S. - Marketing Communication
DePaul University
Chicago, IL06.1994
Skills
- Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Strategic Negotiations
- Data Analysis & Reporting
- Program & Project Management
- Complex Problem-Solving
- Building Strong Relationships
- Team Leadership & Development
- Stakeholder Communications
- High-Quality Risk Assessment
- Critical Thinking & Analytical Reasoning
- Client Relationship Management
- Verbal and written communication
Accomplishments
- Approved policies up to $2 million dollars.
- Successfully fostered three interns resulting in full time employment in underwriting roles.
- Collaborated with internal teams in the development of a new end to end Underwriting and Administration platform.
- Consistently helped achieve and exceed sales goals through underwriting collaboration with Business Development Managers and sales leadership.
Other Notable Work Experiences
- Special Risk Underwriter, Hartford Life Insurance, 01/01/95, 12/31/97
- Communications Associate, Jack B. Loewy Marketing Consultants, 01/01/94, 12/31/95
- Payroll Clerk, Leo Burnett, 01/01/92, 12/31/93
- Luggage Sales Clerk, Emporium Luggage, 01/01/91, 12/31/92
Internship
PR Internship, Margie Korshak, Inc., Not Specified, Not Specified
Languages
English
Full Professional
Timeline
AVP, Group Underwriting
Chubb Workplace Benefits/Combined Insurance
03.2022 - Current
Manager, Underwriting - Voluntary Benefits
Chubb Workplace Benefits
10.2018 - 03.2022
Manager, Group Underwriting
Dearborn National Life Insurance
09.2009 - 10.2018
Regional Sales Support and Operations Manager
MetLife Small Business Center
01.2009 - 09.2009
Group Underwriter
Dearborn National Life Insurance
07.2007 - 12.2008
Benefits Account Representative
The Plexus Groupe, Inc.
10.2006 - 07.2007
Regional Manager
MetLife Customer Service Center
10.2004 - 10.2006
Team Leader
MetLife Small Business Center
07.2001 - 10.2004
Sales Specialist
MetLife Small Business Center
12.1999 - 07.2001
New Business Underwriter
MetLife Small Business Center
05.1999 - 12.1999
Account Services Coordinator
Schwartz Benefit Services
05.1998 - 05.1999
Special Risk Underwriter
Hartford Life Insurance
01.1995 - 01.1997
Communications Associate
Jack B. Loewy Marketing Consultants
01.1994 - 01.1995
Payroll Clerk
Leo Burnett
01.1992 - 01.1993
Luggage Sales Clerk
Emporium Luggage
01.1991 - 01.1992
B.S. - Marketing Communication
DePaul University
Similar Profiles
Diane KishDiane Kish
Independent Licensed Sales Agent at Combined Insurance (A Chubb Company)Independent Licensed Sales Agent at Combined Insurance (A Chubb Company)
Pam Saldivar, CTMPPam Saldivar, CTMP
Senior Talent Acquisition Consultant at Combined Insurance a CHUBB CompanySenior Talent Acquisition Consultant at Combined Insurance a CHUBB Company
Cherry LeavellCherry Leavell
Customer Service Representative at COMBINED INSURANCE A CHUBB COMPANYCustomer Service Representative at COMBINED INSURANCE A CHUBB COMPANY