Grand River and FC Capital Announce Recent New Hires Including Mark Van Lieshout as Director of Agency Relations and Expansion and Anne Kraske as Director and Chief Information Officer

TROY, Mich.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Grand River and FC Capital today announced recent new hires in agency relations and expansion, information systems, underwriting and claims administration units.

Mark J. Van Lieshout has been named as director of agency relations and expansion for Grand River Insurance, a managing general underwriter of commercial lines insurance in the Midwest. Mr. Van Lieshout joins Grand River’s senior executive ranks on the strength of a commercial lines insurance career spanning 32 years. Most recently, Mr. Mark Van Lieshout served as a territory manager for Selective Insurance Company. In making this announcement, Gregory Clapp, Grand River’s president, noted that "Grand River enjoys strong relationships with a carefully selected network of elite agencies. Our business started in Michigan and is growing nicely through the Midwest. Mark’s broad experience in small market commercial lines insurance will add increased depth to our agency relationships, and he will lead the continued expansion of our network in new states together with our expansion executives. We look forward to Mark’s contributions to our management team." Mr. Van Lieshout resides and works in the Appleton, WI area.

Anne P. Kraske has been named as a director and chief information officer of FC Capital Partners, the parent company of Grand River Insurance, Grand River Services, Bridge Excess Solutions and Stone Falls. Ms. Kraske joins FC Capital with extensive experience in property and casualty insurance software systems. She most recently served as managing director of ABH Advisors, a consulting firm focused on the insurance industry. Previously, Ms. Kraske served as vice president of product management with Adaptik, a vendor of core insurance software solutions, and as a business and information technology professional with Travelers in their claims and commercial lines divisions. “The high caliber of underwriting and claims service delivered by Grand River and our other units continues to advance as a consequence of our on-going investment in our systems as well as our professionals. We are pleased that Anne’s leadership will advance further the technologies that drive efficiencies and innovation in our services to our agency partners,” commented Mr. Clapp, who is also a co-founder of FC Capital. A graduate of Brown University, Ms. Kraske resides and works in the Hartford, CT area.

Grand River Insurance has named three new account executives and one new expansion executive. These recent new hires are:

Anita L. Evans, AINS, AIS, AU-M, CIC, who has joined us most recently from Bitco Insurance where she served as a commercial lines underwriter. Anita resides in the Indianapolis area and will cover Grand River agencies primarily in Indiana.

Derika N. Grutter, CLCS, who has joined us from Foremost Insurance where she served as a commercial lines underwriting team manager. Derika resides in the Rockford, Michigan area and will cover Grand River agencies primarily in Michigan.

Brenda K. Hershberger, CISR, AIS, AU, CLCS, who has also joined us from Foremost Insurance where she served as a commercial lines underwriting team manager. Brenda resides in Nashville, Michigan area and will cover Grand River’s agencies primarily in Michigan.

Jason A. Johnson, AINS, joins Grand River’s agency expansion team from The Cincinnati Insurance Company where he served as commercial lines underwriter. Jason resides in the Cincinnati area and will develop further Grand River’s network of elite agencies in Ohio.

Mr. Clapp noted that, “We are delighted that these veteran professionals have joined our team. Grand River is focused on consistently serving our independent insurance agency partners through proven underwriters with considerable experience in developing strong relationships with agencies. Grand River’s strength is its relationships with a select group of elite independent agencies. We look forward to expanding and deepening ties with elite agencies in Indiana, Michigan and Ohio with the talents of these professionals.”

Grand River Services, which provides claims administration services to business underwritten by Grand River Insurance and other affiliates, has named two new claims executives. These recent new hires are Courtnee´ K. Gilliard and Melissa S. Simmer.

Ms. Gilliard joins Grand River Services from Hastings Mutual Insurance.

Ms. Simmers, AIC, joins Grand River Services from AAA Insurance.

Stacy M. Klein, Grand River Services’ director of claims, commented that, “Courtnee´ will play a key role in providing and implementing high quality service for our clients. Melissa possesses a high level of technical expertise and industry knowledge that will enhance our core strengths. Both employees are great additions to Grand River Services.”

About Grand River and FC Capital

Troy, Michigan-based Grand River Insurance and Grand River Services are units of FC Capital Partners. Grand River Insurance is one of the fastest growing managing general underwriters. In 2017, Grand River managed approximately $40 million in written premium and has quickly become an important partner to many elite independent insurance agencies in the Midwest.

FC Capital is privately-owned and led by its co-founders Kurt W. Fuller and Mr. Clapp.

Please visit us at http://www.fccapmgmt.com/, http://www.grandriverinsurance.com/ and http://www.grandriverservices.com/.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180710005909/en/

At Grand River Insurance:

Mark Van Lieshout, 920-328-4926

Director of Agency Relations And Expansion

or

At Grand River Services:

Stacy Klein, 248-519-2390

Director of Claims

Source: FC Capital Partners, LLC