About Us

Meet the GCC Team

TONY DWORACK
Chief Financial Officer

Tony Dworack came to us with impeccable credentials, having formerly been the treasurer at Detroit Diesel Corporation. He has both his BS and MBA in Finance from the University of Dayton. Naturally, as our CFO, he thinks one of the biggest advantages of going with GCC is the ability to get the best policy for the best price. He also feels that due to GCC's relationships with all the major carriers, it not only has the most options in terms of policies but also the ability to negotiate the most competitive pricing. Along with that, Tony notes the value added by GCC's experience and service model. Without it, he feels the clients “lack the support needed to represent their interests when issues arise.”

Away from the office, Tony enjoys being outdoors. He likes golfing and fishing, as well as spending time with his wife, three children and five grandchildren.

JENNIFER LUKAS
Controller

Sunny and lively, Jennifer Lukas is the most personable controller we've ever met. She has her Bachelor of Science from Wayne State, and previously was a financial consultant as well as a Controller at Metaldyne.

Jennifer chose to join GCC because of its professionalism, friendly atmosphere and contemporary working conditions. Not surprisingly, she is a big admirer of the client services provided by GCC. According to Jen, “the CSRs are in a league all their own,” and she feels that having a claims specialist on board is important. She also points out that “few business professionals have in-depth knowledge of credit insurance, and when negotiating rates and/or claims, this can be costly.” She feels that GCC's agents can design better policies for the clients because they have many years of experience in commercial credit insurance and, unlike most other agents, they also come from financial backgrounds. “Companies utilizing GCC will find the time and money saved far surpasses any policy obtained through the direct market.”

When she's not crunching numbers for us or looking at balance sheets, Jen enjoys scrapbooking, cooking and horseback riding. She loves being a Mom and spending time with her husband, two kids and their dog Marley and cat Pipsqueak.

CRAIG BONNELL
Managing Partner

Craig Bonnell walks into the room, and one thing is clear. He's all business. “I've had my foot to the pedal since graduating from college,” he says. “I just don't know how to relax.”

Craig has a BS in Business Administration and an MBA in Finance from Wayne State University. Prior to cofounding GCC, he helped establish one of Michigan's largest mortgage brokerages and was also a sales manager at GE Capital, an invaluable experience where he gained a strong foundation for corporate credit. “I put this knowledge to work for my clients every day for no additional cost,” he notes.

According to Craig, two things differentiate GCC from other credit insurance brokers: financial expertise and customer service. “Unlike most agents in the industry who have insurance backgrounds, we built our team with agents who have financial backgrounds,” he comments. “Our clients rely heavily on us for credit support and for assistance in helping them safely achieve their goals. It's crucial for someone in this role to understand the objectives and have a clear plan to assist,” says Craig. “Credit insurance is very customizable, but you need to understand the product and know the carrier nuances, so you can properly structure the right solution.”

Craig has been instrumental in creating GCC's unique service model. “When I entered the credit insurance industry in the early 90's, I was surprised to see most companies were staffed to deal with credit issues after they occurred,” he commented. “Of course you would want to offer those services. But what about being proactive trying to help clients better understand the risk before they take it, in an effort to help them avoid issues down the road when it might be too late?” He adds, “Our service model was built to assist the client and is unmatched by any other broker operation.”

Outside the office, Craig enjoys spending time with his wife and two sons. He also coaches and plays baseball. His serious nature and dedication to telling the truth, even if it's bad news, has inspired a long-term client to give him the ironic nickname, “Sunshine.”

VICTOR SANDY
Managing Partner

Focused, friendly and articulate, wherever Vic Sandy is going, people will inevitably want to go with him. The office has become accustomed to “Vic-isms,” and most staffers can rattle off a few. “People don't lose, they quit before they win,” is a favorite.

It's obvious Vic has no intention of losing. A natural entrepreneur, he started his first business when he was 16. He then headed to Michigan State for his BA and on to the Bernard Baruch School of Business in New York to get his MBA. After serving as national marketing manager for Encyclopedia Britannica, he took a position at Euler Hermes, where he developed a strong foundation in credit insurance. He realized the value and market potential of the product, leaving to cofound GCC two years later.

Obsessed with service, Vic has banned “voice jail” (another Vic-ism), insisting that clients speak with a real person when they call. Unlike GCC, he thinks other brokers focus on sales at the expense of service. “They typically have 6-8 salespeople and one administrative person, so when a claim arises, they get overwhelmed,” he says, which means the clients usually have to fend for themselves when it comes to getting claims handled.

Vic feels that GCC's expertise is also crucial. “Credit insurance is not a commodity, it's a financial tool,” he points out. “It needs to be put together the right way. People think they'll save money by going direct with the carrier,” but that isn't so. Because of GCC's relationships with all carriers, “they let us know about impending changes in coverage, which enables us to be proactive with our clients.”

Vic enjoys spending time with his wife and two kids. He has traveled extensively and is a bit of a renaissance man. He loves cooking in his kitchen, which is equipped with all the latest gadgets.

DAVID GIBSON
Chief Operating Officer

Calm, confident and collected. Friendly, rational and efficient. Chat with David Gibson for a short while, and these qualities become pretty evident. So it's easy to see why GCC chose him as its Chief Operating Officer. It's obvious that David is all about finding solutions and implementing them. He'll also put his considerable skills to use as a mentor for the staff.

A 26-year veteran of the industry, David makes no bones about why he chose to come here. "GCC is the leader when it comes to customer service in the credit insurance industry," he says. "Nobody invests in customer service like GCC, all in an effort to help clients achieve their revenue goals safely. Best of all, GCC does this at no added cost to the client." David should know; he has spent most of the last decade with Euler Hermes in charge of broker relationships.

When it comes to client relationships, David believes that knowledge is power. "Credit insurance is a proactive product. You can't measure its value by the dollar amount of claims received." David, like GCC, knows that a well-balanced credit approach protected under a credit insurance policy offers many benefits to a client. If the policy is properly structured and serviced, it provides far greater value than the original premium cost. David thinks credit insurance can "help a client do deals they might not be able to do otherwise, improve the relationship with their lenders so they can get additional working capital, and protect one of their largest assets against major loss."

Hailing originally from Pittsburgh, David is a die-hard fan of the Pittsburgh Penguins, and not too fond of hotels that don't carry hockey games. In a surprising twist, he volunteers that right after college, he did a short stint as a funeral director. "People like to kid me that I've been both an undertaker and an underwriter. There's a big difference," he smiles. David and his family are in the process of relocating to Detroit.

PRANAB K. DAS
Regional Vice President, Eastern Region

One could easily picture Pranab Das as a diplomat or a college professor. He has lived abroad, traveled all over the world, and speaks six languages. Pranab is the consummate heavy hitter, having previously held senior positions at the Bank of Boston and Euler Hermes, the largest credit insurer in the world. Pranab has a BS from Northeastern and has completed coursework toward his MBA at Boston University. He is also a Licensed Insurance Producer and a member of both the FCIB and TMA/CFA. Prior to coming to GCC, Pranab was weighing five different offers. In the end, he chose GCC because of the “integrity and credibility of the principals. They set a very high bar.” He also was attracted by GCC's experience across a large variety of industries.

Pranab sees each client as a fresh challenge and puts a lot of effort into understanding the client's business. He has learned “to listen, big time.” He thinks it's important to speak to clients in their own terms and to demonstrate that he is interested in contributing to their success. In good times, he believes the coverage is readily available, it's just a matter of finding the right fit. But in harder times, in addition to coverage, “you are also guiding them in limiting their own exposure. You're giving them info that could save their business.” Pranab draws an important distinction between direct agents and GCC. “Direct agents work for the carrier,” he says, “but GCC works for the client.”

On a personal note, Pranab is married, enjoys sports and travel, and was impressed by the book, Barbarians at the Gate. He thinks “personality without humor is a lost cause,” and is partial to Steve Martin and Woody Allen. “They could be standing still, and I'd be laughing,” he says.

BOB FRANCISCO
Regional Vice President, Southeast

After many years with the credit insurance industry's largest carrier, Bob Francisco evaluated his next move carefully. In the end, he chose to come to GCC because the company closely matched his desire to provide effective customer service after the sale. According to Bob, “Too many agents don't know how to provide service under a credit insurance policy. But GCC has built a strong business model that has customer service as its foundation.”

Bob has a BS in financial management and his MBA from Babson College. With his extensive knowledge of the industry and GCC's relationships with all carriers, Bob is ideally suited for finding out-of-the-box solutions, something which he prides himself on. Besides its very strong service orientation, he thinks GCC distinguishes itself with experience and knowledge. “We spend a lot of time understanding the policies,” he notes. “We understand things like forward coverage, backward coverage and contract compliance. You don't know you need us until you have a bad experience with someone else.” He sees his role as advisor and consultant, so he works hard at educating potential clients, staying on top of their businesses and “finding out where they're vulnerable, so I can help protect them.” He also puts a lot of effort into explaining how they can make money with credit protection. “It's a way for them to increase sales without taking on any additional risk.”

Unconventional and intelligent, Bob has varied interests outside of work. He takes performance driving lessons on the track, and he's also a serious photography buff. He loves taking nature shots with his camera and fiddling with them afterward on the latest photo editing software. Bob is married and has three children.

MARK MATHENEY
Regional Vice President, North Central

Mark Matheney is tall, soft-spoken and has a dry sense of humor. Yet he's the opposite of laid back. Mark is all about the big picture and maximizing potential. He says he lives by the motto, “Carpe Diem”(i.e., Seize the Day). He means it. “My whole life is an odyssey,” he says with a wry smile.

Mark has a BA in Economics and an MBA in International Business. He has traveled to over 35 countries and did a year of studies in Luxembourg. Mark came to GCC after serving as VP at a major bank and also as regional manager and underwriter at commercial credit insurance carriers. He chose GCC to establish his career because of GCC's reputation for working hard for its clients. “Top notch,” he says, succinctly.

A firm believer in the unique advantages GCC offers, Mark thinks it is important to ask any broker under consideration if they have financial analysts, a claims representative and dedicated client service reps on staff. He adds, “then ask … do they have anything close?” He is sometimes frustrated that people are creatures of habit, when switching to GCC would obviously help them. “If a broker is only touching base with them once a year at renewal, then they are not getting the service they need or deserve. ” He strives to show potential clients how they can use credit insurance to enhance their business. His background in international finance is often a plus.

Mark lives with his wife and a combined family of six kids, Brady Bunch style. He is a history buff and proficient in German. Be sure to ask him about the college bungee jumping incident and his time working as a congressional volunteer.

SCOTT WATERWORTH
Vice President

Friendly and optimistic, Scott Waterworth believes that “if one door gets shut, it creates an opportunity for two more doors to open.” Which explains how he got into the industry. “They came after me; I'd never even heard of it,” he says. Upon learning more, he decided to make the leap, accepting a position with a major carrier. After working with Scott from that side of the business, we were impressed and happy to have him join GCC.

Scott has his BS in Management and Marketing, and has attended the Allianz International Management Seminar in Germany. In addition to his experience carrier-side, he also spent several years as VP at a financial services company. Scott has made it his personal mission to make sure prospective clients understand the value proposition of credit insurance. He takes the time to thoroughly explain how it is a financial tool that can assist in sales expansion, improving both the borrowing base and terms, and also allowing a company to increase its line of credit. He feels that “making sure I really understand what a company is trying to accomplish is critical. I think trust comes with that.” He thinks the GCC full service model is unique in the industry and helps him to serve his clients better. “All the processes are in place,” he says. A big stickler about integrity, he mentions several times that he is happy to work with management who feels the same way.

Scott's personal interests are eclectic. On the one hand, he enjoys hunting, kayaking and sports, holding three black belts in martial arts. Yet he is also a serious wine collector. Scott lives in Baltimore and enjoys spending time with his two children.

KELLIE LEE
Director of Client Services

You'd be hard-pressed to find a more energetic and friendly person than GCC Director of Client Services Kellie Lee. She came to us on a bit of a lark. In 2001, she was planning to move back to Florida, where she grew up. But after a last-minute interview with GCC, she decided that it was a great fit and a great opportunity. So she stayed, and we couldn't be happier. “I love my job,” says Kellie. “Even if I won the lottery, I wouldn't quit.”

Kellie's philosophy on serving the clients is pretty uncomplicated. “I give them the service I would want to be given.” To that end, she has taken the opportunity to learn up on her clients' businesses, even attending the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI) convention to make herself more knowledgeable about the metals industry. Customer service runs through Kellie's veins. In dealing with clients on a daily basis, she has learned that “every task, no matter how little, is important to them,” so she always goes the extra mile. If the client is not happy, she isn't, either. She wants all prospective clients to know that even though the extra services provided by GCC “are top-notch,” it doesn't cost them anything additional. It's just part of the way the company does business. In addition, she thinks GCC's strong relationships with the underwriters helps keep information flowing both ways, making it easier to get the clients' needs met.

When she's not chasing down financials for clients or otherwise negotiating on their behalf, Kellie spends her time hanging out with her daughter, her dog Pal and cat Cali. She believes everyone has a story, and is currently writing a book about her life.

CINDY OPARKA
Client Services Representative

CSR Cindy Oparka came to us with over a decade of experience in the insurance and financial services industries. With her warm and chatty demeanor, you might be surprised to learn that she has her BA in Criminal Justice. Yet when you know Cindy, it all comes together in her gung-ho commitment to service. “We are always working to get the best result for the client,” she says. She thinks it helps that GCC is an independent credit insurance broker and not beholden to any particular carrier.

GCC's system of assigning each client his or her own customer service representative is crucial in Cindy's opinion, enabling her to “get to know her clients and their businesses.” And she takes pride in the fact that “we also have financial analysts on staff,” a resource not found at other credit insurance brokers. In her day-to-day interactions, Cindy feels strongly about getting back to clients promptly and listening to them carefully. “Sometimes it's the little things,” she notes. She likes the way GCC customer service operates as a team. “We all have the same goal – trying to help the client grow his or her business safely.”

Cindy especially likes the “close-knit family feel” at GCC. Not surprisingly, we've felt like she's part of our family from day one. On her own time, Cindy enjoys camping with her husband and is a self-professed soap opera junkie.

AMANDA BILSKI
Client Services Representative

A former office manager in the medical field, Amanda Bilski exudes warmth and patience. But don't be mislead by all the niceness; she is also quite the go-getter. She mentions a James Dean quote that has inspired her: “Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today.”

Amanda believes in going for it, especially when it comes to client service. “We put our customers first, and we do whatever we can to meet their requirements.” Compared to going direct with a carrier, she believes GCC gives the clients “a lot more one-to-one attention.” She repeats, “a LOT,” and laughs. Amanda pulls out all the stops to establish their credit limits, take care of information requests, pull D&B reports, and more. She'll do everything in her power to try to help meet the clients' needs. She is genuinely a little shocked by stories she hears from clients who switched to GCC. One client told her that at the previous company, “they hadn't talked to a real person for years.” Like everyone else at GCC, she thinks it's important that you can talk to a real person when you have a problem, and not get stuck in voicemail.

In her personal life, Amanda is spontaneous and doesn't believe in stressing over the small stuff. She likes golfing, being outdoors and doing things with her daughter. She loves Vegas and usually goes at least once a year.

CHRISTINE LAETHEM
Client Services Representative

When CSR Christine Laethem sets her mind to a task, you can be sure of one thing: she will not rest until it is done perfectly. An admitted Type A, she is a stickler about following the rules and getting things right. So it comes as no surprise that she's super organized and is constantly finding tools to help her stay that way. She's a whiz at software like Microsoft Outlook, wringing the maximum benefits out of its flagging system.

Christine thinks GCC separates itself from competitors by having great service every step of the way, as compared to others who focus on issuing policies but fall short when it comes to servicing them. One way Christine looks after her clients is to scrutinize every claim carefully before it is submitted to the carrier. She makes sure the paperwork is completed correctly and all the documentation is there, so the claim can be processed smoothly. “Helping the client get a timely payment is a good feeling,” she says with a smile. She believes in “keeping in touch” throughout the process, and says her motto is “Follow up and follow through.” We stole Christine away from the automotive industry, where she was responsible for taking complicated part orders and arranging just-in-time deliveries – effective skills that help our clients' claims to be processed accurately and quickly.

Away from the office, Christine and her husband donate their time to animal rescue, with three of their four dogs having been rescues. She formerly had her own podcast, “The Pampered Pooch,” on PetLifeRadio.com.

ELIZABETH HYNES
Assistant Client Services Representative

Don't let the sweet demeanor fool you. Elizabeth Hynes is one tough cookie. Having spent several years in the insurance industry, Elizabeth recently joined GCC as an Assistant Client Services Representative.

According to Elizabeth, the client service at GCC is on a whole different level. "I don't think anybody here misses anything," she says with pride. She thinks anyone who's serious about growing their business should consider GCC and credit insurance. "If they're nervous about their receivables and the economy, they'd have more stability," she notes. "Credit insurance not only protects their receivables, it protects their line of credit and can help secure increased working capital."

Elizabeth is a big fan of positive thinking, as well as constant communication and follow through. She spends the necessary time to make sure that clients understand their policies. She also works hard to ensure they keep up with their reporting and documentation so that they get maximum benefit from their policies.

On her own time, Elizabeth is a serious sportswoman. She's an avid snowmobiler and belongs to a women's skeet shooting league. She's also gone on fishing charters, once reeling in a small marlin single-handedly. Elizabeth has four children and lives at home with her daughter Ashley. Her newest toy is an AP Drone Wifi Quadricopter, and trust us, she knows how to use it.

JAIME BUREAN
Administrative Assistant

About ten seconds into a conversation with Admin Jaime Burean, you'll start to smile. Bubbling with enthusiasm, she describes how she once spent too much time on a first date telling the guy all about why he should switch his policy to GCC. She guesses it wasn't too bad, since years later, they're still together. Much to our delight, Jaime returned to GCC after a year long hiatus. “I missed the people and talking with the clients,” she says.

Jaime interacts with everybody at GCC and remains impressed by the client service. “Our CSRs are awesome,” she says. “The level of service they provide is unlike any other I've experienced, even as a customer.” Personally, Jaime sees her job as a bit of a goodwill ambassador for GCC, and she likes being in charge of her own little domain. “I'm the first person they talk to when they call, so I try to make sure somebody can help.” Always alert, she recognizes many of our clients' voices when they call, even before they say their names. She also helps the service team by following up on coverage requirements with the underwriters, which helps provide the clients with timely results.

With her associates degree in literature, Jaime has an artistic side. She quotes from the Batman movies and admires Paul McCartney for his ability to reinvent himself. In her spare time, she runs the lights for a local band.