Mr. Markel is the President for VFIS, a subsidiary of Glatfelter Insurance Group in York, Pennsylvania. He joined VFIS in 1990 as a Length of Service Awards Program (LOSAP) Sales Executive. Shortly afterwards, he quickly learned each of the programs within VFIS including the property & casualty and accident & sickness programs. In 1998, he became a Regional Vice President. Responsibilities included managing twenty-nine states within the VFIS program aimed at insuring and providing risk management solutions for emergency service organizations throughout the United States and Canada.

Mr. Markel has a bachelor's degree from Shippensburg University. He earned the Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC) designation in 1995 and his Certified Risk Manager (CRM) designation in 2007.

A member of the Board since 2006, he also serves as a (corporate) sustaining member on the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) Foundation.