As an insurance industry leader, Stan Freerks spent more than 40 years bringing peace of mind and financial stability to individuals and businesses in St. Louis and beyond. Early in his career, Stan was an account executive who worked directly with the insurance-buying public before forming his own business, S. A. Freerks & Associates, a wholesale insurance products and services company focusing on the transportation, hospitality and construction industries. Stan, who earned an MBA from the University of Missouri–St. Louis in 1992, credits the UMSL College of Business Administration for taking his insurance firm to the next level.
"The quality and flexibility of the UMSL MBA program was extremely valuable as I grew my insurance brokerage," he said. "The faculty became my consulting firm as I dealt with the issues in building my business."
Through his company, Stan worked on behalf of retail insurance brokers with specialty insurance firms, placing business with more than 20 insurance companies and several underwriters at Lloyds of London. S. A. Freerks & Associates was acquired by global insurance giant Arthur J Gallagher in 2011, and Stan was tapped to lead the firm’s subsidiary, Risk Placement Services, where he remained until his retirement in 2017.
Stan’s community focus has included roles with the Missouri Surplus Lines Association and the Capitol Indemnity Agency Advisory Council. He is also active in the St. Louis Master's Swimming organization and the Cornell Water Polo Club. Stan also gives back to UMSL. He serves on the board of the St. Louis Mercantile Library while supporting various UMSL initiatives. He contributes, along with his wife, Terry, to the success of the Alumni Association 5K Run & Walk while funding upgrades to the student-athlete academic commons.
