Profile: NASBP President Susan Hecker

Get to know NASBP’s 2015-2016 President Susan Hecker.

Published in the summer 2015 issue of NASBP Surety Bond Quarterly.

When NASBP’s 2015-2016 President Susan Hecker considers everything she’s gained from her association membership, one benefit tops all the others: “It’s all the friendships I’ve made,” she said. “There’s not a place in the country where I can’t pick up the phone and find someone to help me if one of our customers has an issue.” Hecker, Executive Vice President and National Director of Contract Surety for Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. in San Francisco, has been developing those friendships for 38 years. She got involved in the surety industry by accident—literally. “I was in nursing school, studying for an exam, cooking and watching TV at the same time. A pot of grease caught on fire, and I was badly injured, spending a month in the hospital,” she said.

The hospital stay delayed her nursing classes, so Hecker accepted a job in the bond department with Fireman’s Fund in 1977. “I really loved it, and after a couple of years I wanted to become an underwriter,” Hecker recalled. “Back in those days, there were female underwriters, but they were either on the fidelity side of the business or in commercial surety, but I knew my passion was working with contractors.” With the support of management, Hecker entered Fireman Fund’s training program in 1980. She remained with the company for 20 years, eventually transferring for a management position. When she left the company, she was running the flagship surety operation in San Francisco.