C-Level Awards 2026: Jay Zahn, Director of Surety, Hausmann Group

Jay Zahn has built a career defined by integrity, servant leadership and an unwavering commitment to helping others succeed. As director of surety at Hausmann Group — an independent insurance agency founded in 1946 that provides business insurance, employee benefits, surety bonds and personal insurance — Zahn leads a team within a 125-person organization where he has driven significant growth since joining in 2021.

Zahn brings more than two decades of surety expertise to his role, including 15 years as a bond specialist at R&R Insurance Services and prior experience as a senior underwriter at Travelers.

His leadership approach centers on listening first, acting with empathy and empowering those around him. “I believe leadership is about helping others succeed — when one of us wins, we all win,” Zahn said.

Ariana Carney, construction property and casualty consultant at Hausmann Group, praised his impact. “Jay leads by example, listening first, acting with empathy and empowering others to achieve their best,” Carney said on behalf of the company.

Zahn’s community involvement includes co-founding Operations Hometown Heroes and serving on the board of the Construction Financial Management Association of Madison. In 2020, he received the Wes Meilahn Memorial Award from ABC of Wisconsin.