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Executive Team

LARRY TAYLOR
President  

Larry, a graduate of Purdue University, is President of Merchants Bonding Company. He joined Merchants’ Phoenix branch office in 1989. In 1994, he moved to the Corporate Headquarters in Des Moines, and he became the company’s President in 1996. Larry is a Board Member of the Surety & Fidelity Association of America, past Chairman of the National Association of Independent Sureties, a past Board Member of the Greater Des Moines Partnership, a past Board Member of Master Builders of Iowa Associate Council, a Board Member of Youth Homes of Mid-America, and a United Way Campaign volunteer.

   
MIKE FOSTER, AFSB
Executive Vice President, Underwriting

Mike serves as Executive Vice President of Underwriting for Merchants. He holds an accounting degree from the University of Kansas and began his career in the surety industry in 1980. His background includes years with USF&G and TransAmerica Insurance. He joined Merchants’ Phoenix branch office in 1992 and relocated to Corporate Headquarters in Des Moines in 1997. He is a member of the Contract Bond Advisory Committee of the Surety & Fidelity Association of America, is on the Government Affairs Committee for the AGC of Iowa, Master Builders of Iowa, and the National Association of Surety Bond Producers. Mike has obtained the Associate in Fidelity and Surety Bond underwriting designation from the CPCU Society.

STAN MCCORMACK
Executive Vice President & Claims Manager

Stan, who works in Merchants' Phoenix office, is Executive Vice President and Claims Manager. He was formerly Assistant Vice President of Underwriting in Merchants' Corporate Headquarters and had a six-year tenure as an insurance and surety agent before becoming Claims Manager in 1986.  Stan graduated from Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa, with a degree in Business Administration.  He was Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Bond Claims Association for 7 years and is a member of several regional surety claims organizations.

BILL WARNER JR.
Secretary

Bill is Merchants Bonding Company's Secretary.  He attended Louisiana State University and has been with Merchants since 1988.  Bill has worked in Merchants’ Phoenix, Austin, and New Orleans offices during his career.  From 2001 to 2003 Bill owned Coastal Surety Services, Inc. in Gulf Breeze, Florida, then returned to Merchants Corporate Headquarters in Des Moines in 2004.

THERESE WIELAGE
Vice President, Marketing

Therese serves as Vice President of Marketing for Merchants Bonding Company.  She graduated from Miami University of Ohio and spent 15 years an award-winning broadcaster before becoming an entrepreneur.  Before joining Merchants she was Owner and Chief Marketing Officer for three technology start-up companies honored on the INC 500 list of fastest growing companies in 2003.

JAY STUKERJURGEN
Vice President, Information Technology

Jay is Merchants’ Vice President of Information Technology. He is a graduate of Iowa State University with a BBA in management and an emphasis in information systems. He serves on the E-Business Advisory Committee of the Surety & Fidelity Association of America. Prior to joining Merchants in 1997, Jay worked as a programmer and systems analyst for Midwest Legal Services.