When you talk to Gary Semmer (pictured), you quickly realize you’re speaking with someone who’s not only witnessed the evolution of the construction insurance industry but has also played a pivotal role in shaping it. Now part of the newly branded AssuredPartners/Gallagher team, Semmer’s journey reflects both the stability and dynamism that define the sector and the people who keep it moving forward.
Semmer’s professional path has been marked by continuity and transformation. “Not a lot of change,” he says with a laugh, but the milestones tell a different story. In 2019, his firm, Esser Hayes, was acquired by AssuredPartners – a move that established a platform for growth in the Chicago metro area. “We became part of AssuredPartners April 2019. At that point, I continued in a commercial insurance role and had a team of people underneath me.”
By January 2021, Semmer was tapped to help launch the AssuredPartners Construction Practice, alongside colleague Kyp Ross, AP surety president in the Cleveland area. “Four and a half years later, we’ve built the construction practice up with the help of Gregory Stephens, national construction practice leader to about 225 team members, with 35 to 40 offices nationwide that are Construction-centric.” The recent integration with Gallagher in August 2025 promises even greater reach: “When you combine us with Gallagher, we’ll probably have over a thousand construction team members countrywide. We’ll be a force to reckon with in the industry.”
Semmer’s day-to-day is a blend of leadership, mentorship, and hands-on problem-solving. “About 70% of my time is spent fielding emails, phone calls, and inquiries from our Construction practice team on contractor-related subjects. I get my hands dirty once in a while, working on new client opportunities, especially on the East Coast.”
The market itself, he notes, is in flux. “Conditions have softened up a bit into 2025, but challenges remain, especially in umbrella excess liability. Capacity is getting a little better, but lead umbrella underwriters are limiting their capacity to $5 to $10 million. If a client needs higher limits, we’re pushed into the excess surplus lines market, which drives up costs.”
Business auto insurance is another pain point, particularly in litigious areas like Cook County, Ill. “Even if a client has excellent claim experience and robust risk management, premiums are still going up. Nuclear liability awards in auto accidents are a big factor.”
For Semmer, the challenges aren’t just numbers on a spreadsheet – they’re about people. Labor shortages, he says, remain a pressing concern. “The construction industry is struggling to attract new talent from high schools and trade schools. The retirements of baby boomers like myself are tough to replace. Larger contractors are doing a good job reaching out to technical schools and colleges, but the challenge continues.”
Semmer doesn’t just talk about supporting the next generation, he lives it. “I’ve been guest lecturing at my alma mater, the University of Minnesota, Carlson School of Management, for about six years now. It’s a way of giving back, helping students understand what we do as insurance brokers and risk managers.”
His commitment to community goes beyond the classroom. “I’m on a board for the Boys and Girls Club of Chicago, overseeing their real estate holdings. It’s another way to give back to the community.”
Like many in the industry, Semmer sees technology as both a challenge and an opportunity. “AI is going to be an important tool for insurance, providing accuracy in reviewing policies and freeing up our teams to focus on higher-level issues. On the construction side, AI can help project management teams review plans and communicate more efficiently with contractors and subcontractors.”
But he’s cautious, too. “I hope things don’t get too far afoot and that AI stays within the white lines of what we’re trying to accomplish.”
Regulatory and environmental risks loom large on the horizon. “There’s a lot of political back-and-forth at the federal and state levels, making it hard to get things done in favour of the business sector. I don’t see that changing soon.”
When he’s not fielding calls or mentoring the next generation, Semmer finds balance on the water and among friends. “We have a condo up in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. In the summer, my wife Mary and I are up there almost every weekend, boating with family and friends. I’m also a wine aficionado and I have been to Napa and Sonoma many times. I belong to a couple of wine clubs. It’s a hobby and a way to entertain.”
What does Semmer see as the industry’s biggest challenge? Efficiency. “It sometimes feels like we’re still doing things the way we did 30, 40 years ago. My hope is for more standardization in applications and forms, which would cut down on delivery and underwriting time. AI will help, but the industry needs to come together on this.”
He also points to the need for better standardization in contract review, a time-consuming but critical part of serving clients in construction. “Standardizing insurance requirements and indemnification language would speed up contract review and avoid unnecessary costs.”
Semmer’s story is one of dedication, to his clients, his colleagues, and his community. As the construction insurance landscape continues to evolve, it’s leaders like Semmer who ensure that progress is measured not just in numbers, but in the people and relationships that make the industry strong.
