CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — GreatAmerica Financial Services is proud to announce the promotion of Steve Rybos to vice president and general manager of the Specialty Markets Group (SMG), which includes the Construction, Healthcare, Automotive, Franchise, and Direct Programs divisions. In this role, Rybos will be responsible for the sales, marketing, operational oversight, and strategic direction of SMG. Rybos most recently served as vice president and managing director of SMG, where he oversaw all sales and marketing efforts.
“Steve is known for his creativity, vision, persistence, and genuine care for others. His relationship-building skills are truly remarkable,” said Brian Bjella, chief revenue officer at GreatAmerica. “SMG is a growth engine for GreatAmerica, and Steve's contributions over the years make him incredibly qualified to take SMG to the next level.”
Rybos, a nearly 18-year veteran of GreatAmerica, has been instrumental in the growth and success of the company’s Distribution/Automotive business unit. He began his career at GreatAmerica as a national account manager in the Automotive division and quickly advanced to various sales and management leadership roles throughout the company. During his tenure, he significantly boosted originations and contributed to strategic planning, internal collaboration, and industry relationship-building.
“I’m honored to lead this incredibly dedicated and caring team that prioritizes our customers, delivers on commitments, and pursues market-driven solutions,” Rybos said. “I look forward to leaning into and developing the strengths of the SMG team and getting out into the market to listen to our customers.”
Before joining GreatAmerica, Rybos held sales management positions at Home Capital, Inc. and MassMutual Financial Group. He earned his B.S. degree in Industrial & Systems Engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology.