Gerald K. Harris is the Founder and President of Insurance Support Systems, Inc. and the Windy City Dolphins Youth Football and Cheerleading League. They were established in 1982 and 1994 respectively. As president of both organizations, he was responsible to lead both organizations to create a healthy development, growth, and profitable entities.
Gerald is especially proud of being the longest standing minority youth football and cheerleading organization in the City of Chicago. Having the ability to assist our community in teaching youth to be accountable, discipline, responsible, and work as a team! These qualities either reveal or teach character, which are needed to be a productive adult. Windy City has been instrumental in sending many kids to the best High Schools in Chicago Land, and seen many of them continue on to have productive college careers.
Gerald started his insurance career with St. Paul Insurance Company in 1977 out of the great Dillard University, in New Orleans Louisiana. He started as a Marketing Representative in Indianapolis and was later promoted in Chicago as a Marketing Field Underwriter and Supervisor and was responsible for 60 agencies producing $26 million in premium. He went on to start ISS and in 39 years at Insurance Support Systems, was able to employ several people and assist them in going on to lead productive careers. He achieved 94% of his marketing, productions, and underwriting goals! Gerald’s education continued in insurance by becoming a Certified Insurance Counselor, completing Larry Wilson Counselor and Xerox Sales Training Program, and a host of other Insurance educational programs. He later was appointed the Regional 8 Director of the Independent Agents of Illinois.
In starting Insurance Support Systems, he proudly was able to provide minorities’ customers’ access to major Insurance Companies such as: CNA, Kemper, Hartford, St. Paul, Zurich, etc. that normally weren’t able to secure business & commercial coverage.
Through the years Gerald serves the community by serving as the Treasurer of DU Alumni Assoc., EVP of Be Strong Stay Strong, an Abuse Women & Children Funding Foundation, Chairman of Politic Forum Committee of Young Executives in Politics, Co-Founder & Treasurer of Living Colors Organizations.