His is not the convoluted philosophy of obscure thinkers. When it comes to work, Young Gun David Sarnoski follows the simple rules he learned in kindergarten, which he admits to having attended twice.
Dave, as he signs his correspondence, is currently the team lead and an executive risk specialist at WR Berkeley’s Vela Insurance Services. In attending to his myriad duties, he has a few simple rules: “Show up, work hard, treat people with respect and have fun. It’s all pretty easy stuff we learned in kindergarten.”
“I try to be a good person first and foremost. Hopefully there is business that comes along as a result,” he added.
Although he did not know his career path would lead to insurance, having “lucked into it after college,” he enjoys his job. Specifically of E&O, he describes it as “a mentally challenging job.”
“E&O is constantly evolving so it’s important to keep up with the times. Learning to be a better leader is also one of my main focuses,” Sarnoski shared.
This Young Gun first cut his teeth issuing policies in professional lines, and honed his skills under the able mentorship of Mike Adamski, currently senior vice president for E&O at USLI, where he worked prior to taking on a post at Vela.
“Mike Adamski ran the E&O team as I was coming up,” Sarnoski related. “He always seemed really intelligent; his team spoke really highly of him and respected him. Mike and his team were always laughing and smiling. As soon as a spot opened up on his team I told him I wanted to be a part of it.”
Similarly, in Vela, he finds particular enjoyment in his involvement with the brokers and teammates he works with, he adds.
While his job keeps him on his mental toes, Sarnoski loves engaging in outdoor activities to keep his body fit. He likes to climb, hike, and camp, having celebrated his recent October birthday with a trip to Tahoe in California, where he is currently based.
He got involved because his roommate in Plymouth State University “was really into climbing” and there were great climb sites 20 minutes from where he stayed in college, where he earned his BS in Management and Economics.
“I love the outdoors and it was a great challenge,” he said.
Because climbing requires him to be in tiptop physical shape, Sarnoski hits the gym three or four days a week, during which he also takes advantage of the time to catch up with friends and “be social.”
After a busy day though, he winds down with a good tome, unabashedly admitting to devouring the Harry Potter series by British author JK Rowling (he’s currently on Goblet of Fire). He’s also spending time with “The Obstacle is the Way”, which is writer Ryan Holiday’s treatise on stoicism.
And it won’t just be more books that will enrich his mind in the years to come. His job at Vela currently gives him great satisfaction.
“The freedom,” was Sarnoski’s answer when we asked him what he likes most about his job at his current workplace. “I’m given a fair amount of latitude in my job which is perfect for me,’ he shared.
On the other side of the scale, he is conscious to balance his life with things outside work too. As he celebrated his 34th year, he has this to say: “The best thing is that I still feel young, I’m healthy, I have unbelievable friends and family… and hopefully there are still 70 or 80 years left to go.”
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David Sarnoski – Vela Insurance Services
