In a continuation of our team spotlight series, we’re featuring another member of our team—one who recently rubbed shoulders with Drew Carey during an intense Showcase Showdown. Previously, you met Brad Eldridge and for March we’d like to introduce Russ Light, marine insurance expert and game show contestant.
Based out of San Francisco, Russ joined Falvey Cargo Underwriting in 2008. As vice president of the western region, Russ is in charge of production underwriting, generating new business while maintaining the existing book of business, and cultivating and developing strong broker relationships. He travels extensively to service brokers in his region and collaborates with Falvey’s underwriting, claims, loss prevention, recovery, and finance teams. Russ is an influential leader for Falvey Cargo and has been a big part of the company’s growth.
“At Falvey Cargo Underwriting,” Russ says, “we have the tools available to us to get the deal done in a competitive market place.”
Russ likes to say he has “32 years of experience–I got my start in 5th grade.” After his stint selling locker theft insurance to grade-school classmates, Russ realized he’d found his calling and his professional experience has revolved around the insurance industry. In the years just prior to joining Falvey, he was assistant vice president at Arch Insurance Group and underwriting manager at Great American Insurance Group. His previous roles include being an ocean marine manager at Kemper Insurance Company, Travelers Property Casualty, and Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company.
Russ earned his Bachelor of Science degree from “Harvard of the West” California State University, Sacramento, in Business Administration, with a concentration in Finance. He’s currently on the board of directors for the Association of Marine Underwriters of San Francisco, and served as president in 2007, 2013, and 2014. Russ is also an approved continuing education instructor for Cargo Insurance in Arizona, California, Oregon, and Washington.
Outside of his career, Russ’s hobbies include bowling, golfing (including on-course reporting at The Falvey Cup), stand-up comedy, TV game shows (he was a contestant on “The Price Is Right” in February 2018!), baseball, coaching youth sports, biking, going to the gym, and—last but not least—mechanical bull riding. Russ is married with two college-aged children: His son, Greg, is a senior at University of Nevada, Reno, and daughter, Jessica, is a sophomore at the University of Alabama.