Traveling away from loved ones for business is never easy. I was at a restaurant co-owned by public adjuster Brandon Lewis and his wife, Marta, following a Georgia Association of Public Adjusters (GAPIA) meeting. Marta asked me if I ever got tired of all the travel. I told her I did not travel as much as I once had, but it is part of the business I have chosen. I told her that it helps when Donice travels with me as often as she does. She lamented and asked Brandon how he could be at home more.

Continue Reading Brandon Lewis—Public Adjuster Spotlight

I saw Justin Skipton of Skipton Claims Management at a United Policyholders fundraising event in California last week. I recalled Amy Bach from United Policyholders mentioning how impressed she was with Justin at a recent National Association of Insurance Commissioners meeting. My mind then wandered to this thought: “What was it like working with David Skipton?”

In one of my presentations, I display a picture of David Skipton, informing the audience that he epitomizes someone who has undergone significant personal growth and development. Since our first meeting, his expertise in persuasion, personal interaction, and knowledge has soared due to his commitment to self-improvement. David obtained the CPCU and SPPA designations and even wrote a book, Broken Promises. However, I was curious about what David Skipton was like as Justin’s boss before witnessing this transformation.

Continue Reading Justin Skipton—Public Adjuster Spotlight

Should I stay or should I go? This pivotal question is one many of us grapple with in our relationships. Everyone in long-term bonds will, at some point, confront moments of doubt or uncertainty. I believe it is essential for individuals to reflect on the underlying reasons for these feelings. A critical question to consider is, “Why am I in this relationship?” By understanding the purpose and fulfillment derived from the relationship, you can make more informed decisions about its future implications, whether you stay, leave, or change.

While interviewing Tim Woodard over the past two weeks, I returned to these thoughts about staying or leaving relationships. For public adjusters, “Why should you join an association? What do you get out of it? Why join one versus another?”  

Continue Reading Tim Woodard—Public Adjuster Spotlight 

Where else are you going to be involved in American lava flow claims other than Hawaii? What is really going on following the Maui wildfires? Restoration contractors who are thinking of becoming public adjusters, public adjusters who are sole practitioners, and those new to the public adjuster business will appreciate the story and my interview with Robert Joslin. Robert is self-made. He had a very successful construction and insurance restoration contracting business before becoming Hawaii’s first full-time resident public adjuster. His website noted the following:

Continue Reading Robert Joslin—Public Adjuster Spotlight

(Chip’s Note—This is the fourth post of a weekly feature of this blog which I am writing to obtain perceptions from experienced and leading public adjusters in the public adjusting profession.)   

Who should you learn from? There is so much misinformation and wrong information available today from people that are really good at social media advertising or just trying to get your eyes on their website, that the answer is really hard to discern—who are the true professionals who have withstood the test of time and have achieved measurable success whom you should trust to learn from?   

Continue Reading Matthew Blumkin—Public Adjuster Spotlight

(Chip’s Note—This is the third post of a weekly feature of this blog which I am writing to obtain perceptions from experienced and leading public adjusters in the public adjusting profession.) 

About twenty years ago, I asked past NAPIA President Harvey Goodman for his opinion about who the best public adjusters were. He raised his hand and said, “If I have one hand up, Ron Papa would certainly be among the top five.” Ron Papa is the CEO of National Fire Adjustment (NFA.) While I usually ask about the history of a public adjusting firm, readers should go to the NFA website to see the timeline for this 100-year-old public adjusting business.  

Continue Reading Ron Papa—Public Adjuster Spotlight

(Chip’s Note—This is the second post of a weekly feature of this blog which I am writing to obtain perceptions from experienced and leading public adjusters in the public adjusting profession.) 

Want to learn something from a public adjuster whose firm has been in existence and helping policyholders with their property insurance claims for nearly 100 years? Stephen Sarasohn of Sarasohn & Company is my spotlight public adjuster this week because his firm has stood the test of time. Further, his father, Ira Sarasohn, was somebody I knew closely, and as a leading public adjuster, I would suggest others should aspire to emulate.   

Continue Reading Stephen Sarasohn—Public Adjuster Spotlight

(Chip’s Note—This will be a weekly feature of this blog which I am writing to obtain perceptions from experienced and leading public adjusters in the public adjusting profession.)   

Amy Bach and I were on a phone call last fall trying to determine a course of action to support policyholder interests regarding proposed legislation in Florida. She asked if I knew Rick Tutwiler. I laughed and said that I knew him and could tell her stories his mother, Linda Tutwiler, would tell me about Rick. Amy Bach then told me that Rick had been forwarding her all kinds of helpful articles and information about Florida’s insurance marketplace and was actively supporting United Policyholder efforts. 

Continue Reading Rick Tutwiler—Public Adjuster Spotlight

Do insurance companies support training for their claims adjusters and managers to promote good faith and ethical claims handling? Barry Zalma recently stated in his September 1st insurance industry newsletter, Zalma’s Insurance Fraud Letter, the following:

Continue Reading Insurance Fraud By Insurers—Do Insurance Companies Live, Teach, and Promote a Culture of Ethical Good Faith?