A dear friend of the PEO industry left us this past November. I am embarrassed to not announce it sooner.
In 1999, I was lucky to meet Doug Lillak while with Lumberman’s Underwriting Alliance (“LUA”). With his and Bob Gagne’s help, the newly-formed Risk Transfer Solutions wrote their very first master policy for a PEO on 1.1.00.
Doug went on to help start SUNZ Insurance Company and become their CEO with a business plan to only support alternative staffing, mainly due to Doug’s belief in the PEO model. That is all SUNZ still does to this day – a testament to Doug’s vision and belief in coemployment.
While Doug’s background was in the logging and lumber sectors prior to his immersion in PEO, unlike most traditional insurance executives, He got the model – the clarity – the future – the impact…
Believed…! In me 15+ years ago, and more importantly the industry as a whole.
Will so miss his candor, opinion and passion for PEO. You’d never be anywhere on any topic that he did not have something to add to –
and with Glen Destefano… always fought for the PEO industry — without regard.
I respect him greatly –
Godspeed. My heart is heavy –
-PH
HomeObituaries
Douglas Francis Lilak, 68
Posted: Friday, November 6, 2015 8:45 am
Douglas Francis Lilak, 68, died Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2015, at his home in East Jordan.
He was born on Nov. 6, 1946, in Petoskey, Mich., the son of James Francis II and Phyllis Erdine (Rogers) Lilak. He grew up in East Jordan and graduated from East Jordan High School in 1964. Doug graduated from Green’s Barber College in Detroit.
On Nov. 27, 1965, in East Jordan, he married Sally Gidley. Doug was drafted in 1966, into the United States Army. Upon his return from military service, he worked for Ford Motor Company and attended Wayne State University on the G.I. Bill. He graduated in 1977 with a Bachelor of Science degree.
Doug served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of SUNZ Insurance Company, Inc., which he co-founded, and as its Chief Executive Officer and President. Doug co-founded JAAG Risk Management, Inc. in late 2001, serviced the PEO industry in a Risk Management consulting capacity. This followed a distinguished 25-year career with Lumbermen’s Underwriting Alliance. During his tenure with Lumbermen’s, he served as Regional Vice President for approximately 10 years where he had responsibility for the Great Lakes Region’s underwriting, sales, loss prevention, staffing, collateralization and financial results.
Doug retired in 2015. He and Sally had also lived in several cities in Southern Michigan; Merrill, Wis.; and Boca Raton, Bradenton and Parrish, Fla., before moving home to East Jordan in 2011. He served as an Elder for the First Presbyterian Church in Boca Raton and East Jordan, board member of the East Jordan Family Health Center, Vice Chairman and board member of the East Jordan Housing Commission. He was a member of the East Jordan Lions Club and East Jordan Sno-mobilers Club. In addition, Doug served on many advisory boards in Wisconsin and Florida.
He is survived by his wife, Sally Gidley Lilak of East Jordan; Adam (Teresa) Lilak of Flat Rock, Ind., and Aaron (Cristina) Lilak of Beaverton, Ore.; four grandchildren, Morgan, Emma, Haylie and Caitlin; two sisters, Judy Trojanek of Bloomington, Minn., Marcia (David) Straubel of Portage; two brothers, Roger (Julie Urban) Lilak of Petoskey and Nick (Theresa) Lilak of Bloomington, Ill.; many nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, James Lilak III.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, Nov. 7, at 11 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church in East Jordan. Interment will be in Sunset Hill Cemetery, East Jordan. The family will receive friends today, Friday, from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. at the Penzien Funeral Homes, Inc. in East Jordan.
Memorials may be directed to the East Jordan Sno-mobilers, Inc. P.O. Box 80, East Jordan, MI 49727 or Crossroads Resale Shop’s new building fund. Please make checks payable to Crossroads with “Building Fund In Memory of Doug Lilak” in the memo line, P.O. 937, East Jordan, MI 49727.
