Contract Underwriting Leadership

Jason Dettbarn, AFSB - Vice President, Contract Underwriting

Jason Dettbarn, AFSB

Senior Vice President, Contract Underwriting

Jason serves as the senior vice president of contract underwriting. Jason began his surety career at Merchants in 1998 and has held several positions in our contract underwriting department covering various territories. He is a member of the National Association of Surety Bond Producers and is a graduate of the University of Northern Iowa.



Josh Penwell - Regional Vice President, Contract Underwriting - South Region

Josh Penwell

Vice President, Contract Underwriting - South Region

Josh serves as the vice president of contract underwriting overseeing the South region. Josh began his surety career at Merchants in 1996 and has held several positions including senior vice president managing our contract underwriting department. He currently serves on the Surety and Fidelity Association of America’s Contract Bond Advisory Committee and is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin.



Aaron Raschke, AFSB - Regional Vice President, Contract Underwriting - Southeast Region

Aaron Raschke, AFSB

Vice President, Contract Underwriting - Southeast Region

Aaron serves as the vice president of contract underwriting overseeing the Southeast region. Aaron joined Merchants in 2005 and relocated to open our Dallas/Fort Worth office in 2009. He returned to our home office in 2014 to oversee our contract business in the Southeast. He is a graduate of Drake University.



Kirk Rathjen, AFSB - Regional Vice President, Contract Underwriting - Midwest Region

Kirk Rathjen, AFSB

Vice President, Contract Underwriting - Midwest Region

Kirk serves as the vice president of contract underwriting overseeing the Midwest region. Kirk joined Merchants in 1999 has held several positions in our contract underwriting department. He also leads the training program for new contract underwriters at Merchants. He is a graduate of Central College in Pella, Iowa.



Doug Schnicker - Regional Vice President, Contract Underwriting - West Region

Doug Schnicker

Vice President, Contract Underwriting - West Region

Doug serves as the vice president of contract underwriting overseeing the West region. Doug began his surety career at Merchants in 1995 and has held several positions in our contract underwriting department covering various territories. He is a graduate of the University of Iowa.



Ed Sipfle, AFSB - Regional Vice President, Contract Underwriting - Northeast Region

Ed Sipfle, AFSB

Vice President, Contract Underwriting - Northeast Region

Ed serves as the vice president of contract underwriting overseeing the Northeast region. Ed joined Merchants in 2005 with more than 17 years of experience in surety. He served as President of the Surety Underwriters Association in 1999 and is a graduate of Iowa State University.