Sponsor Mariposa Claims announces the addition of Bob Khosropur as Sr Vice President

 

ClaimSmentor sponsor Mariposa  announces the addition of Bob Khosropur as Senior Vice President

Whitehouse, OH – January 27, 2012

 

Mariposa Insurance Services announced that Bob Khosropur has joined the company as Senior Vice President of Operations, where he will be responsible for sales, marketing, mergers and acquisitions, accounting and logistics.

“Bob brings with him a wealth of industry knowledge and experience, and we know that he will be a great addition to our team, helping us achieve our operational, reputational and growth goals,” said David Swank, Senior Partner at Mariposa Insurance Services.

Prior to joining the company, Bob served as Chief Claims Officer at Narragansett Bay Insurance, a Northeast regional insurance company that grew from $12 million to $120 million during his tenure. At Narragansett Bay, Bob was responsible for building a homeowners claims department capable of daily and catastrophe response for customers. He also oversaw the company’s Shelterpride® field underwriting arm that appraises the interior and exterior of homes for value, risk management/mitigation, and predictive modeling data.

Bob has more than 25 years of claims operations and strategy experience including 19 years with Allstate Insurance in a variety of roles, starting as an adjuster to the district claims manager, and completing with four years as a national manager of strategic sourcing for the claims department. His extensive claims operations experience includes catastrophe management involving Hurricane Andrew, the Northridge Earthquake, and multiple wind, hail, flood and freeze catastrophes. Bob also served as the first Vice President of Claims for Privilege Underwriters (PURE), where he led the build-out of the Claims Department for the start-up carrier based in White Plains, NY.

Bob holds a Six Sigma Black Belt in business defect analysis and improvement, and this past year he received National Underwriter’s Claims Magazine “Claims Professional of the Year” award at the 15^th Annual America’s Claims Event (ACE) in New Orleans.

Recognizing Bob’s ingenuity and dedication to enhancing claims services, Christina Bramlet, ACE Chairperson and Editor in Chief of Claims Magazine, said: “During a career spanning more than 20 years, he has embodied the attributes fitting of this distinction, having instituted ‘best’ practices and systematic changes to propel his organization to excellence.”

Bob holds a Bachelor’s degree in science from Goddard College in Vermont.

About Mariposa Insurance Services

Headquartered in Whitehouse, Ohio, Mariposa Insurance Services is an independent adjusting firm managing policyholder claims for insurance companies through a nationwide network of trained and qualified adjusters and a comprehensive web-based claims management system. Mariposa specializes in daily property and casualty claims and complete catastrophe support. The company also offers custom TPA services, call center services and a variety of other business process outsourcing services for insurance companies. For more information, visit www.mariposaltd.com.

For more information, contact David Swank 419-861-2557 or at david@mariposaltd.com.

Special thanks go out to the Claims and Litigation Management Alliance CLM for the donation of eight scholarships to their annual claim litigation conference- See Conference Details

ClaimSmentor gives special thanks to Adam Potter, Executive Director of the Claims & Litigation Management Alliance for awarding ClaimSmentor eight scholarships to attend their annual claim conference to be held this year in San Diego, CA March 28-30, 2012.

We have passed these on to long time ClaimSmentor sponsors Eberls Claims Service, Mariposa Claims, William Kramer and Associates, and Auto Claims Direct due to the long term committment these firms have made to support our online e-mentoring project.

This conference is an outstanding opportunity for claims adjusters, claim managers, claims counsel- both staff claims and independent claims- to network as well as participate in this conference hosting 350 speakers, CE credits, and a great location.

To learn more about this claims conference, you will find all of the valuable details here.

ClaimSmentor Welcomes Wardlaw Claims as our newest Sponsor- Wardlaw Claims Conference info February 2012

Special thanks go out to Wardlaw Claims who has joined ClaimSmentor as our newest sponsor. Watch for additional upcoming informationabout all of the training and job opportunities they offer but for now we wish to share a link to their upcoming claim conference to be held February 13 through February 17, 2012 in Waco, TX.

For complete claim conference details and registration, you can view them on their site here.

The 2012 Texas Windpool TWIA Adjuster Workshops are now posted for registration!

TWIA Texas Windpool now has the 2012 Adjuster Workshops up for those wishing to register for the 2012 workshops.

Click here for complete details.

#TX #TWIA #windpool #adjusters #claims #insurance #in

The 2012 National Flood Insurance Claims Adjuster Workshops are now up-Schedule yours today!

NFIP has the claims adjuster workshops now up for your registration purposes for the required 2012 NFIP Claims Adjuster Flood Certification workshops. Here’s the link: click here

 

Important changes coming 1/18/12 to Florida Adjuster License appointments and renewals- a must read for FL adjusters

Thanks to the Merlin Law group for sharing this update notifying Florida adjusters of upcoming changes at the FL Department of Financial Services regarding Florida adjusters licenses:

http://www.propertyinsurancecoveragelaw.com/2012/01/articles/insurance/important-changes-regarding-adjuster-appointments/

Excellent resource for Liability Adjusters- Thirty year study on Dog Bite Attacks by breed and injury summaries

Here is an outstanding resource for liability /  casualty adjusters handling Dog Bite liability cases I ran across today through www.dogbites.org.

Here is a link to the 30 year study analyzing attacks and injury types:

http://www.dogsbite.org/dogsbite-newsroom-2011-30-year-summary-dog-attack-deaths-maimings.php

Enjoy this excellent article by John Postava of Simsol estimating software ” Avoiding Property Adjusting Blunders “

I was fortunate to run across this excellent article today at PropertyCasualty360.com written by the head of Simsol estimating software, John Postava,  which I highly recommend for property claims adjusters regarding estimating blunders to avoid when writing estimates on property losses. Excellent job John!

We hope you enjoy this article and share it with your claims associates in the property claims industry:

http://www.propertycasualty360.com/2011/11/14/avoiding-property-adjusting-blunders

#in #claims #insurance #adjusters #simsol

Claims Information on November 5, 2011 Oklahoma Earthquake is now coming in

I’ve been waiting for claim information to start coming in regarding the Oklahoma 5.6 earthquake and it’s starting to roll in today.

It appears from news reports that only one percent of home owners in Oklahoma carried earthquake insurance coverage per this Insurance Journal news article. This article also gives information on the top 5 insurance companies writing business in Oklahoma which will be of interest to adjusting firms wanting to service these claims.

Mariposa Claims announces their 2012 Meet and Greet Independent Adjuster Sessions along with Xactimate training sessions- CA, FL, LA, and TX

 

Mariposa is teaming up with Xactware Level III Certified Barry Smith for an 8 hour XM8 training. Xactimate 27.3: “Preparation is the Key to Success” Acquire the knowledge and skills to quickly create accurate estimates using a variety of Xactimate tools including advanced sketch features. Learn the most efficient ways to set up, dimension, scope, and deliver professional estimates through valuable hands-on training. Class is limited and includes 8 hours of Texas CE credits “Pending registration by the Texas Department of Insurance.” Your paid reservation also includes a full Mariposa Meet and Greet cocktail event from 5-7pm where you will have a chance to meet with Mariposa senior management and executives.

 

 

February 22, 2012 Palm Springs, CA Renaissance Palm Springs ($100)

 

March 2, 2012 Orlando, FL Courtyard by Marriott Orlando Downtown ($100)

 

March 12, 2012 Houston, TX Spring Hill Suites by Marriott Houston Intercontinental Airport ($100)

 

April 12, 2012 New Orleans, LA  Boomtown Casino ($150)

 

April 26, 2012 Denver, CO Residence Inn Denver International Airport ($100)

 

For online reservations please click on this link http://www.mariposaltd.com/index.php?/resources/events

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Note if your adjusting firm is interested in posting your announcement on our ClaimSmentor adjuster information blog please email dkmoroy@dimechimes.com for more information along with your press announcement on adjuster seminars, adjuster classes, roster needs, vendor services and products, and other news to share with the Property and Casualty claims industry.

 

List of 2011 Independent Adjusting firms with Citizens of FL Tier One (Direct) Contracts

For those of you asking due to approaching Hurricane Rina- here is the link to the list up on the Citizens of Florida website with the list of Independent Adjusting firms with direct assignment contracts with Citizens as of 9/8/11 per the date on their pdf:

https://www.citizensfla.com/shared/purchasing/pdfs/AdjustingFirmsRegisteredWithCitizens.pdf

I see Eberls Claims is on the list who is a ClaimSmentor Sponsor so please let them know we sent you if you apply! There are some great firms to choose from on the list so good luck out there should Hurricane Rina strike Florida!

Hurricane Rina- Now a Category 2 Hurricane- see projected path- Is Florida a Potential Target?

Here is the latest 11 am statistics for Hurricane Rina and projections for a possible Florida target location from Central Florida news:

http://www.cfnews13.com/article/news/2011/october/333804/Could-Florida-be-a-potential-target-for-Rina-and-new-low-in-tropics

I’ll have the selected Citizens of Florida 2011 Vendor link posted later today for those looking for legitimate Florida assignments from assigned vendors. As anyone who follows my information, I do not recommend ANY adjuster work for anything but a Level I adjusting firm- meaning a firm who has the direct assignment with a carrier- not a 2nd, 3rd, or more tier adjusting firm for your own protection getting paid. More on all of this in a later post today.

Registration is now open for the January 2012 National Association of Catastrophe Adjusters Conference in Las Vegas, NV January 15-19, 2012

Convention Education Schedule Convention Registration Flyer Convention Vendor Flyer Convention Sponsor Flyer Convention Registration Book Ad Info

Greetings! www.nacatadj.org Registration is NOW open for the 2012 NACA Convention, January 15-19, at the South Point Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada! The links on the left will provide you with information regarding class scheduling, convention registration, discount hotel rates, vendor registration and sponsorships still available. NACA MEMBERS: Don’t forget the rebates and discounts your membership provides you: $100 discount off of your convention registration or vendor booth $50 rebate if you paid to attend the 2011 convention $100 rebate for a paid new attendee Not a NACA member? Visit the Members Page of our website to download an application. Complete and submit the application and dues payment prior to the convention and you are eligible for the rebates and discounts! Register NOW to: INCREASE YOUR KNOWLEDGE EARN CERTIFICATIONS & CE’S NETWORK WITH PEERS SPOTLIGHT YOUR COMPANY NACA…………A SURE BET!!   Sincerely,   Lori Ringo National Association of Catastrophe Adjusters, Inc.

Claim Handling Guidelines by State- Excellent Reference

Below find an excellent link over at Property Casualty 360 (formerly located through Claims Magazine which is now part of Property Casualty 360) which provides claim handling guidelines by state. An excellent reference for independent adjusters going on catastrophe duty out of state!

Click here for link.

January 2012 Windstorm Network Conference- Orlando, FL/ Also put to rest the rumor that attendee majority were public adjusters- see stats

The 2012 Windstorm Network Conference will be held in January 2012 in Orlando, FL from January 30, 2012 through February 2, 2012.

While researching the 2011 conference and attendees due to an upcoming opportunity to speak on behalf of ClaimSmentor to the 2012 network, I came across a most interesting blog entry putting to rest rumors even I had heard that the Windstorm network attendees are public adjusters in the majority of cases.

This article on the actual statistics put out by Attorney Chip Merlin, current Windstorm Network President,  dispells these rumors and shows that attendees are 4 to 1 dominated by independent claims personnel and staff claims personnel. I hope you find this article interesting when considering both sponsorship opportunities as well as attendance participation. All in all, I find it an outstanding networking opportunity for all parties concerned in wind topics which are important for all of us in the Property and Casualty claims industry:

http://www.propertyinsurancecoveragelaw.com/2011/03/articles/insurance/windstorm-insurance-networka-dominated-by-independent-and-company-adjusters/

Here is also the link for the January 2012 Membership and Conference Registration:
Membership- Click here

Conference Registration- Click here

 

 

Rimkus Consulting Group hosting 4th Annual Claims CE seminar in NC October 13, 2011 in Charlotte, NC

Thanks to ClaimSmentor Property and Casualty Linkedin Group member, Krista Weaver, AIC, AIS, Marketing Manager for Rimkus Consulting Group in Charlotte, NC for sharing with our ClaimSmentor group members information on their upcoming adjuster CE seminar to be held October 13, 2011 in Charlotte, NC.

For complete details for registration for this 4th annual claims ce seminar, click here.

Update 3 on Worley Catastrophe Adjusting firm Class Action Lawsuit- Altier vs Worley- Class Action Denied by Judge- see court documents

We are getting much interest in posts on the Worley class action lawsuit via internet searches leading folks to our blog thus I did a follow up today to see what new court documents could be located.

It is with much interest that I post this updated court document filed July 26, 2011 showing the federal case moved to Deny the Class Action Certification of the plaintiff adjusters. I find it very disturbing that the basis of the denial is that all of those adjusters working did not have signed employment contracts.

I lecture continually in our Fundamentals of Claims course for new adjusters about not going out without a signed contract due to the fact the contract is needed if there are non payment issues or disputes on fee received.

Here again is an entirely different reason for being sure you work under a signed employment contract with the adjusting firm:

http://docs.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/louisiana/laedce/2:2011cv00241/145020/187/

If you missed our original blog on the Altier vs Worley case and Update 2, here is a link to the prior blogs:

http://wp.me/p5Xno-zc

I do have a call in now to the plaintiff’s attorney for an update on the case as to what happens next. Apparently it is ongoing as I was just told all of the attorney’s on the case are out in depositions this week pertaining to the case but they would have someone call me back later today for an update.

Here is a link to North Carolina Windpool Independent Adjusting firms for Independents Looking for Work

Here is the link to the NC Wind pool Association’s list of 2011 Independent Adjusting firms for those wanting to get their resumes in early as Huricane Irene, now a Category 3 hurricane, approaches the projected North Carolina coast for those wishing to submit their resumes ahead of landfall:

http://ncjua-nciua.org/claims/2011%20Approved%20Adjusters%2020110404.pdf

Best Regards and be safe as you travel and work your new assignments!

Xactimate Training Options through Xactware Why take it anywhere but directly from the source!

Let’s talk Xactimate training!

I continue to be annoyed each and everytime I see another outrageous charge for Xactimate training by many sources who have little under their belt besides a few months to a few years of catastrophe adjusting.

First and foremost, before you pay any fee to any organization you need to verify through Xactware whether or not they are even Xactware certified to vouch for their expertise in the Xactimate programs. It is simple to do so, here is a link at Xactware where you can find instructors and verify if they have certified with them to teach a course to assure you are learning from a true and TESTED expert in this field: View list here

The second most important reason to take your training from an Xactimate certified instructor is due to the fact only XACTWARE can actually certify you in your training by truly testing your skills to verify you are adept at using their software. They offer Level I,  Level II, and Level III online certification tests. I have seen variations in requirements by adjusting firms asking adjusters to obtain their Level I and Level II and sometimes Level III certification. Thus, even if you paid an outrageous price from a non certified vendor and haven’t taken the certification level testing, it is worthless from the standpoint of securing the required Xactware certification.

You will also note that Xactware lists Certified users on their website which you can view here . It is without a doubt if I owned an independent adjusting firm and searching for qualified adjusters, I’d definitely start with this list which even shows the adjuster state of residence as well- what a find for an independent firm looking for good daily property adjusters!

The contact I received that prompted this blog post was from one of my favorite claims associations. They were proposing offering of Xactimate training by a source offering the class for $5,500.00 to the group thus the cost per participant would be apparently divided among the participants. The name of the trainer was not revealed in the email received and they could or could not be Xactware certified but I have let the group know my thoughts which was the very reason for the existence of ClaimSmentor to prevent the training abuses I have witnessed in the independent field by, in some cases, very poor trainers and very worthless certificates for attendance being given to class attendees. As a claim manager and knowing the problems existing out there with many of the training firms, a certificate of attendance at training is worthless when it isn’t backed up by proper testing to make sure you can actually produce a professional estimate and claim file.

It is almost certain trainee adjusters are spending upwards towards $10,000 dollars attending claim conferences, seminars, insurance carrier certification workshops and in the majority of their cases they have yet to receive their first assignment. It is actually shocking. More on this subject later.

In the meantime, I cannot stress enough that you should take your Xactimate training directly from the source. It is more cost effective, it accomplishes the need to properly get certified to your own advantage, and with all of the new options they have available through webinars, online training, self study training, and opportunities to take field classes you obtain the proper workbooks so you’ll have them on the road with your first assignments, but also find step by step guidelines to reference as needed.

The most common complaints I hear constantly from adjusters taking Xactimate courses from numerous other sources include but not limited to the fact that the trainer to student ratio is very poor, that hours into the first day are wasted while instructors have to load Xactware on adjusters computers who didn’t follow instructions to do so before classes, and that they walked away with no training material whatsoever for future references which is greatly needed when it may be months between your class instruction and when you actually receive your first assignments.

Listen folks, do yourselves a favor and take this training seriously. It isn’t he with the cheapest class or the class most convenient to your home that matters. If your estimates are not professional and properly formatted, as an independent you will earn NOTHING as your files will continue to be rejected for corrections. Over the years of running ClaimSmentor, I’ve heard countless number of stories from trainee adjusters who couldn’t cut it in the field and were released and sent home due to poor estimatics, poor estimating skills, and many other reasons we discuss in our Fundamentals of Claims courses.

Do the right thing for your own career.Here is the list of all programs Xactware offers on webinars and Xactimate training….run don’t walk to register through Xactware for all of your Xactimate training needs. I just cannot stress this enough. You can prevent becoming a victim of poor training without certification and have all of the options to meet your individual learning styles such as instructor lead, self study, webinars, etc all the while saving on those costly traveling expenses to attend field classes.

We continue to thank Xactware for the ever continuing effort they make with great progess I’d say in the last year or two to making Xactimate training options even more user friendly for adjusters today than ever before!

To all of you Xactimate users who have obtained your Level I, Level II, and even your Level III certification- my hat’s off to you for taking the professional route to learning the software. I understand there is a fee for each level of testing which is outlined on the Xactware site but for what it can do for your career and opportunities as well as your own comfort level- BRAVO to you!

ClaimSmentor Property and Casualty Group- Join us on Linkedin! Social media updates and stats for ClaimSmentor

We continue to grow our ClaimSmentor Property and Casualty group by leaps and bounds!

Thank you to all of our members participating at all of our various social media outlets.

Here is where we are today in our efforts to grow our membership in support of professional training and education opportunities as well as current event updates of interest to Property and Casualty claims personnel from the trainee adjuster to the claim executive level:

Here at our blog at www.dimechimes.wordpress.com which is our ClaimSmentor blog we have now surpassed 236,000 views with the hottest topic always adjuster salaries. I’ll post our 25 hottest topics by number of views which are often directed our way through search engines in the next few days.

My favorite social media site is at Linkedin where you will find us for networking in two locations. First is my own personal profile at:

www.linkedin.com/in/claimSmentor

as well as our ClaimSmentor Property and Casualty group which we’d love to have you also join us for news you can use as well as posting of many job opportunities. Here is the link to our Linkedin group (note you first have to become a member of Linkedin yourself. We only approve those with completed linkedin profiles to verify they are “linkedin” to the claims industry:

http://www.linkedin.com/groups/ClaimSmentor-Property-Casualty-Claims-Group-1820952?gid=1820952

We have almost reached 1600 members on my personal Linkedin profile and almost 1,000 now in our new ClaimSmentor P & C group on Linkedin.

Twitter- now at over 1,200 followers at http://www.twitter.com/ClaimSmentor

Facebook- www.facebook.com/dimechimesclaims

Please note you can also subscribe to this blog to be notified of new posts if you wish to follow along with important news in the claims industry! Just look for the FOLLOW button at the top of our blog to sign up!

Thank you to all of our members for networking with us!