The Claim Hunters

Your host, Chris Tidball, talks with the Team Lead of Gallagher Bassett, Christa Johnson. Christa discusses the rising threat of cyber attacks, including ransomware and business email compromises. Christa explains her team's role in managing these claims and highlights the financial and operational impacts of such incidents. The episode emphasizes the importance of cyber hygiene, robust backup sys...

Your host, Chris Tidball, talks with the Director of Risk Management at Marriott Vacations Worldwide, Angela Cabado. Angela discusses her transition from a workers' compensation adjuster to a risk management expert, emphasizing the importance of understanding the claims process in the vacation ownership industry. She highlights trends such as medical inflation and litigation, and the differences i...

Your host, Chris Tidball, talks with the Founder of Rising Insurance Star Executives, Amy Cooper. Amy highlights Rising Insurance Star Executives's mission to support early career professionals through mentorship, leadership summits, and educational events. Amy shares her unexpected journey into insurance and emphasizes the importance of attracting new talent, adapting to technological advancement...

Your host, Chris Tidball, talks with the Consultant Expert of Suite 200 Solutions, Lawrence Beemer. Lawrence shares his career journey, the evolution of claims investigations, and the challenges faced by modern claims adjusters. He emphasizes the importance of thorough investigations and proper training for new attorneys and adjusters. Lawrence also touches on financial incentives that can lead to...

Your host, Chris Tidball, talks with the President of CLM Alliance, Susan Wisbey-Smith. Susan and Chris discuss the insurance industry’s challenges, including talent shortages, an aging workforce, and consumer education. Susan highlights CLM’s efforts to build community, attract younger professionals, and address staffing issues. The conversation also covers the impact of third-party litigation fu...

Your host, Chris Tidball, talks with the Managing Partner of Arizona and Washington at Tyson & Mendes, Sitar Bhatt. Sitar discusses his role in overseeing the firm's operations across multiple states. He emphasizes the importance of education, collaboration, and consistency in the legal and insurance defense industry. Sitar shares insights from an annual conference, highlighting the...

Your host, Chris Tidball, talks with the Senior Partner of Hawkins Parnell & Young, Elaine Fresch. Elaine shares her unique journey into the legal field and her specialization in construction and equine law. She discusses the complexities of construction defect claims and the niche area of equine law, which involves incidents related to horses and riders. Elaine also recounts a surprising post...

Your host, Chris Tidball, talks with the Assistant Vice President, Risk Management-Claims at Marriott Vacations Worldwide, Cade Williams. Cade discusses his career in insurance and the operations of Marriott's timeshare properties. He explores the evolution of timeshares, now offering flexible points systems, and the company's global reach with 120 resorts. Cade shares his career journey, from stu...

Your host, Chris Tidball, talks with the Divisional Sr. Vice President of Great American Insurance Group, Ronald Morrison. Ronald shares his unique journey into the insurance industry, starting as a field adjuster after initially aiming to become a major league umpire. He discusses Great American Insurance Group's focus on integrity and specialized products, and recounts experiences handling claim...

Your host, Chris Tidball, talks with the Managing Partner- New York Office at Kahana Feld, Jeff Miragliotta. Jeff delves into New York's strict liability laws, recent legal developments, and the challenges of handling claims. Jeff highlights the role of third-party litigation funding, the prevalence of fraud in the construction industry, and the importance of collaboration among defense firms. The...

Your host, Chris Tidball, talks with the VP of Business Development at Brown & Joseph, Joe Falletti. Joe shares his journey in the insurance industry, starting as a skip tracer and advancing through various roles. The discussion highlights Brown & Joseph's specialized approach to insurance collections, focusing on recovering unpaid premiums and managing discrepancies. Joe emphasizes the im...

Your host, Chris Tidball, talks with the Claims Leader and Special Investigations Leader of Frontline Insurance, Richard Wickliffe. Richard shares his journey in the industry, focusing on his experience managing special investigation units and tackling insurance fraud. He recounts notable cases, including the infamous Sun Gym gang incident, and discusses the significant impact of fraud on insuranc...

Your host, Chris Tidball, talks with the Senior Vice President of Sapiens, Gayle Herbkersman. Gayle's path into the insurance industry is a testament to the power of experience and the drive for process efficiency. With a rich background in insurance software, Gayle has witnessed first-hand the pivotal role emerging technologies play in shaping the industry. Gayle shed light on Sapiens' mission as...

Your host, Chris Tidball, talks with the Regional Managing Attorney and General Counsel of Vernis & Bowling, Ian Matthes. Ian's path into the insurance world was both intriguing and instructive. He began his career at an insurance defense litigation firm in Atlanta, Georgia, which laid the foundation for his deep understanding of the industry. His journey took him through various roles at a re...

Your host, Chris Tidball, talks with the Founder and President of Suite 200 Solutions, Taylor Smith. The conversation began with an exploration of the study conducted by Suite 200 Solutions—the research aimed to understand the hurdles that insurance defense attorneys encounter in their practice. Taylor delved into the findings, it became clear that the legal industry is grappling with issues that...

Your host, Chris Tidball, talks with the Partner of Wood Smith Henning & Berman, Frances OMeara. Frances' path to law was as dynamic as the cases she handled. With a background in sports, particularly basketball, she earned a scholarship to play at Stanford. However, her trajectory took a turn toward law school, leading her to specialize in insurance defense. Her story is a testament to how di...

Your host, Chris Tidball, talks with the Founding Partner of Cruser & Mitchell, Bill Mitchell. Bill's story is a testament to the power of vision and determination. Growing up as a blue-collar kid in Detroit, his future was shaped early on by his father's aspirations for his children. Despite not having a high school diploma, Bill's father envisioned successful careers for his kids: an account...

Your host, Chris Tidball, talks with the Litigation Specialist of SECURA Insurance Companies, Taylor Rawal, and the Attorney of DunbarMonroe, Chris Dunnells. Taylor has carved a niche for herself at SECURA Insurance Companies, climbing the ranks from the call center to handling litigation files. Her expertise spans personal lines, commercial lines, and specialty lines, though she candidly admits t...

your host, Chris Tidball, talks with the Executive Vice President and General Counsel of First Acceptance Insurance, Sarannah McMurtry. Sarannah's career trajectory is as fascinating as it is instructive. She began in the legal field, focusing on insurance defense, coverage-related litigation, and the thorny issue of bad faith claims. Her expertise led her to a pivotal role at First Acceptance Ins...

Your host, Chris Tidball, talks with the Partner of Gerber Ciano Kelly Brady LLP, Kelly Petter. Like many of her peers, Kelly's entry into the insurance sector was somewhat accidental. After graduating from law school during the recession, job opportunities were scarce. She was unaware of insurance defense as a field until she received a job offer the day after her bar exam. Grateful for employmen...

Your host, Chris Tidball, talks with the SVP of Sales and Marketing of DigitalOwl, Sean Allen. Sean's journey into the insurance world was quite serendipitous. Nearly three decades ago, he was asked to manage the insurance vertical at a company where he worked. Despite the industry's reputation for slow decision-making, Sean took on the challenge and has since been deeply involved in the servicing...

Your host, Chris Tidball, talks with the Director of National Claims Operations of Marsh & McLennan Agency, Angela Lee. Angela's entry into the insurance world was serendipitous. After graduating college during a challenging job market, she found her first role as a claims assistant at Travelers. Here, Angela discovered her passion for the technical nuances of insurance and the profound satisf...

Your host, Chris Tidball, talks with the Senior Claims Counsel of OOIDA, James Luce. OOIDA stands out as a unique organization dedicated to representing the interests of truck drivers. Unlike the Trucking Insurance Defense Association (TIDA), which focuses on trucking companies, OOIDA is committed to individual truck drivers whether they are company drivers, lease owner-operators, or independent o...

Your host, Chris Tidball, talks with the VP of Business Development of Paragon, Sean Garret. Sean's path to the insurance sector is as intriguing as it is inspiring. Transitioning from the hospitality industry, he found his niche in insurance, where he now plays a pivotal role at Paragon. His story is a testament to the dynamic nature of career paths and how skills from one industry can translate...

Your host, Chris Tidball, talks with the CEO of CLM Alliance, Ronna Ruppelt. Ronna's career is a testament to the dynamic nature of the insurance industry. Her journey is filled with valuable lessons for professionals at any stage of their careers. Ronna's rise to the top echelons of the industry wasn't just about hard work and expertise; it was also about recognizing opportunities and the importa...