Jake Gilbert

General Manager, Distribution Management

Vertafore - Jake Gilbert
Distribution sits at the heart of insurance, and while the ecosystem is incredibly complex, our mission is simple: to make it easier for agencies, MGAs, carriers, and state insurance departments to do business. I’m passionate about bringing together great people, technology, and deep industry expertise to remove friction and help our customers grow.”

Jake joined Vertafore as a Financial Analyst in 2013 and built his expertise across the company’s Finance, Customer Operations, and Product organizations. He brings a deep understanding of Vertafore’s team, customers and business to his role as General Manager of Distribution Management. Jake’s combination of operational expertise, customer focus and financial acumen positions him well to steer Vertafore’s distribution management solutions through the next phase of growth. 

Jake is based in Michigan and serves as the site leader of the company’s East Lansing office, as well as the Executive Sponsor of the Vertafore Parent Network. Jake and his wife, Alexis, stay busy with their three children—Poppy Josephine, 7; Summer Ann, 4; and Teddy Mario, 2—and their dachshund, Oscar Meyer.  

Jake's 5 Fast Facts

What do you love most about your role at Vertafore? 

Solving real world problems and getting to do it in partnership with our great customers and industry partners.  Insurance is a relationship business, and the InsurTech space is no different.  Getting in a room, rolling up our sleeves, and using the power of Vertafore solutions and software to improve a customer or end-insured’s experience is what charges my batteries.

 

How did you get into the InsurTech business? 

My introduction to InsurTech came when I joined Vertafore in 2013 as a Financial Analyst. 

 

What are you most excited about for the future of InsurTech? 

The pace of change and the power of artificial intelligence. AI is reshaping the way we think about our work and the problems we solve. Change used to happen over days or weeks. Today, it feels like things are changing by the hour. With that change comes opportunity to be on the cutting edge of advancement. That’s why I’m so excited about Vertafore, our position, and our vision for enabling and optimizing the distribution channel. 

 

What’s your idea of the perfect weekend? 

I’m a Michigan State Spartan through and through! A perfect weekend in the fall starts with a Saturday tailgate at Spartan Stadium, enjoying the beautiful campus, the atmosphere, and everything that the University has to offer. I’d round it out with a jam-packed Sunday with my wife and three kids, whether at a cider mill, picking pumpkins, riding our bikes, or whatever we can do where we’re all together. 

 

I’m coming to visit you! What are your favorite/must-do things in your city? 

Summers in Michigan are something special. The weather, the lakes…it’s truly hard to beat during those summer months. Give Lake Michigan or upper Michigan a visit. In the winter, head to Crunchy’s in East Lansing before you take in the Breslin Center and a Michigan State basketball game—one of the best environments in the sport! 

Education

  • Bachelor’s Degree, Finance – Michigan State University
  • Masters of Business Administration – University of Michigan, Dearborn

Experience

  • Vice President, Operations, Vertafore
  • Senior Director, Operations, Vertafore,
  • Director, Customer Operations, Vertafore

Leadership at Vertafore