Traveling away from family members for enterprise isn’t simple. I used to be at a restaurant co-owned by public adjuster Brandon Lewis and his spouse, Marta, following a Georgia Association of Public Adjusters (GAPIA) assembly. Marta requested me if I ever obtained bored with all of the journey. I informed her I didn’t journey as a lot as I as soon as had, however it’s a part of the enterprise I’ve chosen. I informed her that it helps when Donice travels with me as usually as she does. She lamented and requested Brandon how he may very well be at house extra.
GAPIA has an upcoming assembly subsequent month, and I considered Brandon Lewis, who’s a founding member. Bradon is within the highlight as a result of I see, hear from, or hear of his agency’s members, Phil Grandchamp, Michael Fried, JP Norton, Kyle Herring, Jordan Mulbarger, and Craig Kobel, everywhere in the nation, engaged on all sorts of losses. Their agency, Strategic Claim Consultants, consists of street warriors. They symbolize a breed of public adjusters who depend on newer know-how and enhancing communications to run a cell group. It will not be simple working a corporation successfully when individuals are at all times away from house. I wished to debate this facet of cross-country loss adjustment with Brandon to display this angle of public adjusting, which differs from companies that deliberately keep nearer to house.
Career Path: With a profession spanning over 20 years throughout numerous sectors equivalent to eating places, actual property, and public adjusting, how have your previous experiences formed your strategy at Strategic Claim Consultants?
My expertise is huge and has been instrumental in driving our success at SCC. Each enterprise offered its distinctive enterprise rules and challenges, pushing me to undertake a holistic but discerning strategic strategy to enterprise operations and other people administration. The classes I realized from each successes and setbacks have honed my expertise in areas starting from long-term fiscal administration to environment friendly operations and expertise retention that aligns with our core imaginative and prescient and rules. I’ve additionally come to imagine within the philosophy that it’s not about extra pitching, however higher pitching.
Undoubtedly, creating actual property and working eating places, which I think about essentially the most difficult enterprise, supplied invaluable enterprise insights. These experiences not solely formed my strategy to main a public adjusting agency but in addition enhanced the nuanced problem-solving expertise which might be important for public adjusters representing policyholders throughout advanced, life-altering claims.
Foundation of SCC: What impressed the muse of Strategic Claim Consultants? Was there a defining second that led to the institution of SCC?
My public adjusting profession began at World Claim Claims Management in early 2006. I used to be instantly indoctrinated into an infinite quantity of Hurricane Katrina work with this third-generation public adjusting agency. I felt like I obtained an Ivy League schooling in public adjusting from them. I additionally realized my expertise had been well-suited for representing policyholders and managing their claims. I noticed a possibility for development by branching out independently. Observing gifted professionals working in isolation, I believed that by fostering a collaborative and rewarding atmosphere, we might create a agency providing complete, single-source declare advocacy on a nationwide scale.
How do you retain monitor of all of your initiatives everywhere in the nation?
SCC at present has giant losses in over a dozen states. We have a group of skilled leaders on the agency. Our declare collaboration strategy permits us to handle claims, offering fixed protection collectively and successfully for our purchasers’ claims.
We have additionally invested closely in constructing a world-class accounting and claims administrative division. The funding in know-how permits us to account for and transfer our purchasers’ claims quicker and with extra accuracy. You should be capable of talk. We have additionally made important investments in claims collaboration know-how. Without communications, our group couldn’t seamlessly handle and alter claims in a number of areas.
Client Work: Can you share a very difficult case from SCC and the way you overcame it to safe a positive consequence to your shopper?
Following Hurricane Sally in 2020, we represented a bunch of resort lodge properties that suffered catastrophic harm throughout 5 areas. The insurance coverage firm misinterpreted a wind-driven rain endorsement, which might have restricted ensuing water harm protection to $500,000. We argued that the service was deliberately misconstruing the named storm protection to its benefit. After a 120-day standoff, we efficiently persuaded the insurers to totally settle for all water harm claims for the 5 resorts, leading to a $60+ million settlement for our shopper. Close and cautious studying of every coverage from the start to the top is key for making a idea of protection that maximizes coverage advantages.
GAPIA’s Impact: As a founding member and previous president of GAPIA, how would you describe the group’s most important achievements in advocating for policyholders?
I take immense pleasure in GAPIA’s position in educating Georgia’s public adjusters and contractors. Growing from 12 to over 75 members, we’ve fostered collaboration, networking, and business experience by way of steady instructional conferences. The significance of ongoing schooling and idea-sharing can’t be overstated, particularly on the subject of staying forward of insurance coverage firms. Our board has additionally fostered sturdy relationships with key figures within the insurance coverage sector, together with Georgia Insurance Commissioner John King.
Puerto Rican Policyholders: Your advocacy for insurance coverage legislation adjustments in Puerto Rico post-Hurricanes Maria and Irma is commendable. Could you element these adjustments and their affect on policyholders?
The devastation brought on by Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017 was unparalleled. I used to be shocked to find that earlier administrations on the Puerto Rico Department of Insurance had invalidated the appraisal clause in insurance policies bought to native customers. We labored diligently behind the scenes to efficiently amend the Puerto Rico insurance coverage code, reintroducing the appraisal clause as a substitute dispute decision mechanism. This important change, retroactively relevant, was a monumental win for all Puerto Rican claimants.
Media and Public Influence: Considering your frequent interactions with the media and authorities, how do you understand their position in public adjusting and policyholder advocacy?
Media performs a pivotal position in educating customers about their choices following a catastrophic loss. However, it’s important to know and navigate the media’s agenda to make sure policyholders’ finest pursuits stay on the forefront. The media also can stress uncooperative insurance coverage firms by highlighting their actions. My recommendation to my group is at all times, “When dealing with the media, proceed with caution.”
I observe your work with the Red Cross; how do you emphasize the significance of public and pupil schooling on insurance coverage claims and policyholder rights?
I cherish the alternatives to collaborate with impactful organizations. I imagine educating the general public is essential, guaranteeing a stage taking part in discipline with insurance coverage firms and safeguarding policyholder rights. Our agency’s Strategic Claims Charitable Giving Fund additional underscores our dedication to neighborhood restoration after main disasters.
Leadership Philosophy: Given your esteemed repute, might you share your management philosophy and its evolution through the years?
At SCC, my management mantra is “lead by example.” I’ve cultivated a collaborative tradition, emphasizing teamwork in shopper claims. I additionally stress that each declare has its distinctive DNA, urging our group to strategy every case individually, contemplating varied elements, from harm to coverage coverages.
Future of Public Adjusting: How do you envision the way forward for public adjusting, particularly contemplating technological developments and potential regulatory adjustments?
Technological developments would possibly distance insurance coverage firms from policyholders, emphasizing the necessity for public adjuster illustration. It’s essential for public adjusters to spend money on rising loss measurement instruments. Staying up to date on regulatory adjustments and supporting organizations like NAPIA, GAPIA, and others is important for preserving policyholder rights.
Advice to New Adjusters: With your huge business expertise, what steering would you supply to budding public adjusters?
New adjusters ought to search mentorship underneath skilled professionals and prioritize steady schooling. I’d additionally wish to reference Law #5 from The 48 Laws of Power: “So much depends on reputation, guard it with your life.” Embrace the duty of guiding policyholders by way of their restoration journey, and at all times attempt to be a promise keeper, guaranteeing trustworthiness from begin to end.
What is your obsession with U2?
In the early Eighties, throughout my highschool years, I discovered myself at a quaint new wave live performance venue. A band I had by no means heard of took the stage, and from the very first chord, I used to be spellbound—it was love at first sound. Their music deeply resonated with me, virtually on a non secular stage. Since then, I’ve seen them carry out over 30 instances in varied international locations worldwide. I’m excited to go to Vegas this October to look at them reside on the Sphere for “UV Achtung Baby Live.”
Brando Lewis and his management group have constructed fairly a corporation. This has not occurred by luck. I’ve observed that they present up and take part within the regional public adjuster associations. They additionally take nice pleasure in exhibiting me how they hold their recordsdata so they’re immediately accessible, searchable, and usable. Information know-how is a vital funding for these deciding to conduct their enterprise on the street.
Conducting enterprise on the street, away from the acquainted comforts of my own residence, has at all times posed distinct challenges for me. The unfamiliar environment could be mentally and bodily draining. However, these experiences have honed my adaptability, opened so many studying alternatives, and allowed me to make so many associates through the years. I’ve realized to embrace the journey and even turn out to be enthusiastic about it.
Still, I can relate to the look on Brandon’s face when Marta Lewis requested him if he might spend extra time at house. You can’t be at two locations on the similar time.
Thought For The Day
Every traveler has a house of his personal, and he learns to understand it the extra from his wandering.
—Charles Dickens