Competitive Edge Comes in Handy for 2005 Alumnus

We had some pretty good teams when I was at Hamden Hall with Coach Beckerman and Coach Christman,” recalled Marcus. “Looking back, I guess my love of competing carried over into my professional life.”

While Marcus is currently vice president of risk management at USI Insurance Services, basketball has always played an important role in his life.

“I went on to receive a scholarship and play basketball at Franklin Pierce University, which was part of the Northeast 10 Conference,” said Marcus. “I was the captain of our basketball team, and I earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration and management.”

After college, Marcus went on to pursue his master’s degree.

“I received a scholarship from the University of New Haven, where I got a master's degree in sport and fitness administration/management. In exchange for the scholarship, I worked as a graduate assistant and assistant basketball coach for my two years there.”

While Marcus loved basketball, he decided not to continue his coaching career.

“I was going to stay in the coaching world, but it's very tough to make a living coaching basketball,” said Marcus. “So, I started my sales career as an account manager with the W.B. Mason Company. I was a high-performer at W.B. Mason for over seven years.”

Marcus was introduced to the regional vice president at Allianz Trade in North America, who also worked at W. B. Mason for his first job.

“He understood the path and knew my success in the office supply industry,” said Marcus. “He felt that I would be a good fit at Allianz, and he hired me! I was a risk management consultant at Allianz for four years, working with mid-market CFOs and CEOs on protecting their receivables.

“I really enjoyed working at Allianz. It's one of the top insurance companies in the world, but I had a recruiter reach out to me, two years ago, for a broker position at USI Insurance Services, which is one of the top 10, privately held brokers. It was a huge opportunity for me to grow my brand and be able to offer more solutions to clients and prospects. I’ve become a vice president of risk management at USI and a trusted advisor/consultant to my clients.”

Marcus works hard at USI, but his day doesn't end when he gets home.

“My wife, Gina, and I live in Southington, and my office is in Glastonbury,” said Marcus. “She works in education, and we have two daughters. Gianna is 7 years old, and Mya is 4. It's a lot of work, but they're the best gift I've ever received. Mya is very active. She already rollerblades around the house, and Gianna loves school.”

Gina was actually Marcus’ prom date back at Hamden Hall.

“She didn’t go to Hamden Hall, but we were friends and I invited her to my prom,” recalled Marcus. “When she accepted my invite, we had no idea that 20 years later we would have two kids and be married for 10 years and going strong.”

Marcus takes a level of competitiveness into everyday life.

“My wife may say I'm crazy at times, but that’s what makes it all work out for me,” reflects Marcus. “If you’re thinking about a career in sales, you need to be willing to learn every day. If you're open-minded and willing to learn, there are a lot of opportunities. It can be demanding, but you have to trust that putting in the work and building relationships will all pay off in the end. And, as a former athlete, I love competition.”