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Phil Forker initially planned on becoming a radio and advertising executive and he worked for Fairfield University鈥檚 radio station while earning his bachelor鈥檚 degree in political science. Advertising wasn鈥檛 quite as exciting as he鈥檇 hoped, though, and his brother introduced him to the idea of a career in surety.

Forker鈥檚 40-plus years in the industry began with Seaboard Surety Co. in lower Manhattan. In 1980, he joined Reliance鈥檚 Eugene office, opened its office in Honolulu a year later, then returned to run its Portland office. Forker joined Anchor in 1994, became a principal a year later and is now president.

鈥淏eing a participant in the construction process has been what makes my job fun and exciting. My admiration for contractors knows no bounds. They are risk takers with a can-do attitude,鈥� he said. 鈥淏eing around high-energy, organized, motivated people and seeing the positive impact they make all while betting the farm they can beat the number they bid will always blow me away.鈥�

Forker noted that while the fundamentals of the surety industry remain the same, what have changed are the tools and methods used and the speed of the process. From cables, faxes and snail mail to job costing and accounting software, the industry鈥檚 technological evolution has made contractors much better financial managers.

鈥淭oday鈥檚 pace is much faster, but it still is a people business where information and communication either upholds credibility and confidence or undercuts it,鈥� he said.

Forker has served on the board of the National Association of Surety Bond Producers and on its Government Affairs Committee. He said it is important to him because he believes in what surety does and how it protects the public.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a fact that the surety industry does a terrible job of promoting the benefits and value of its product,鈥� he said. 鈥�… Disclosing surety financed claims interventions would be great testimonial for the product, but it would compromise the back-on-track customer with an almost tipped over label. Surety is a behind-the-scenes engagement.鈥�