Adjusters, Fire Claims & 21st Century Technology

State Approved CE Credits:DE FL NH NC OK TX

Monday, March 20 — 10:30 - 12:00
Tuesday, March 21 — 3:30 - 5:00

Ulises Castellon, CPCU, RPA, Chief Operating Officer, Fire Cause Analysis, Berkeley, CA
Douglas K. Wood, JD, Partner, Young, Minney & Corr, LLP, Sacramento, CA

• Explore the impact of modern technology and products – including the Internet of Things
• Evaluate the reliability of your fire experts’ methodology against modern-day professional standards
• Describe practical tips to effectively manage investigations of fire claims or cases involving emerging products, technologies, and the Internet of Things – “IoT”
• Assess the implications of the interplay between legal liability issues and the rapid pace of new technology products

Assignment of Benefits: Policy Giveaway

State Approved CE Credits:DE FL NH NC TX

Tuesday, March 21 — 10:30 - 12:00
Wednesday, March 22 — 8:30 - 10:00

Michael Guerra, Director, Claims Governance, Citizens Property Insurance, Jacksonville, FL
Mark Watts, CPCU, Senior Counsel, Citizens Property Insurance, Jacksonville, FL

• Describe what an assignment of benefits contract is and who benefits from it
• Review how assignment of benefit contracts comport with the established law in various jurisdictions
• Identify “red flags” for potential fraud involved with assignment of claim presentations
• Evaluate various strategies to help navigate your customer's claim through the waters of an assignment of benefits situation
• Compare alternative dispute resolution options to reduce litigation

Building Code: A Critical Look

State Approved CE Credits:FL NC TX

Tuesday, March 21 — 8:00 - 9:30
Wednesday, March 22 — 10:30 - 12:00

Joey Lang, Chief Operating Officer, Cat Claims Unlimited, St. Petersburg, FL
Mike Rimoldi, MPA, CBO, CFM, Senior Project Manager, J.S. Held LLC, Valrico, FL

• Interpret building codes to apply to various claims
• Determine which questions to ask when dealing with building code supplements
• Describe how the FEMA 50% Rule and the Roofing 25% Rule work
• Determine which building code book and new construction codes apply to a structure and how they interact

Building Estimating: The Devil's in the Details

State Approved CE Credits:DE FL NC TX

Monday, March 20 — 1:30 - 3:00
Wednesday, March 22 — 10:30 - 12:00

Robert J. Donahue, Jr., AIC, Founder, CEO, EGA, Donahue Insurance & Adjusting, Fair Oaks, CA
Todd Van Sant, Senior Project Estimator, ATI Restoration, LLC, Anaheim, CA

• Evaluate blueprints to identify the details needed for an accurate building damage scope and estimate
• Create an accurate building scope using advanced on-the-job site technology that’s readily available
• Determine and identify the necessary components required to produce an accurate estimate for residential and commercial claims

Category 3 Water: Issues, Remediation & Exposure

State Approved CE Credits:FL NC TX

Tuesday, March 21 — 1:30 - 3:00
Wednesday, March 22 — 3:30 - 5:00

Jeremy Beagle, CIH, CMC, CMCC, Sr. Principal Scientist, Sdii Global Corporation, Tampa, FL
William M. Mitchell, Sr., Esq., Partner, Conroy Simberg, Tampa, FL
Steven Romero, CPCU, AIC, ARM, Large Loss Specialist, ICAT Boulder Claims, Broomfield, CO

• Compare the different categories of water and common issues that occur by improper categorization of water
• Design a good-faith investigation strategy
• Set realistic expectations of costs associated with sampling and testing
• Describe liability concerns of expert, adjusters, and policyholder
• Implement communication strategies addressing good-faith communication techniques and limit liability exposures

Code Upgrades vs. Pre-Existing Conditions

State Approved CE Credits:FL NC TX

Tuesday, March 21 — 1:30 - 3:00
Wednesday, March 22 — 3:30 - 5:00

Joshua Davis, JD, Partner, Baker Sterchi Cowden & Rice, St. Louis, MO
William Dery, PE, SE, SVP, Chief Technical Engineer, The Vertex Companies, LLC, Cottleville, MO

• Define terms in the policy associated with code upgrade requirements
• Learn the vocabulary from the codes and requisites of upgrade analysis
• Describe scenarios impacting code updates and investigation of prior damages impacting/ adjustment of property damage claims

Commercial Roofing, Damages & Investigations

State Approved CE Credits:DE FL NC TX

Tuesday, March 21 — 10:30 - 12:00
Wednesday, March 22 — 8:30 - 10:00

Robert Harrell, XCT, Sr. Product Mgr., Ins. Prod., Verisk, Dewey, AZ
Shannon Pierce, PE, National Practice Leader, Lerch Bates, Inc., Eden Prairie, MN

• Identify common types of commercial roofing systems found in the United States and applicable performance considerations
• Outline claim investigation procedures and complexities regarding damages to these roofing systems
• Describe methods for working with contractors and managing varying levels of roof repairs and replacement strategies
• Explain building code considerations when faced with repairs and replacements

Computer Fraud, Funds Transfer Fraud & Social Engineering Losses

State Approved CE Credits:FL NH NC

Monday, March 20 — 3:30 - 5:00

Kirsten Ishikawa, CPCU, ARM, AIC, Sr. Property Adjuster II, Liberty Mutual Insurance, Plano, TX
D.M. Studler, MAcc, CPA, CFF, Founding & Managing Member, SDC CPAs, LLC, Aurora, IL

• Describe Commercial Crime Coverages, including the Insuring Agreements related to Computer Fraud and Funds Transfer Fraud
• Correlate Commercial Crime Coverages and claims processes to Computer Fraud and Funds Transfer Fraud
• Survey the newer Cyber Liability Coverages, including the endorsement “Fraudulent Impersonation” also known as Social Engineering
• Assess resources to help respond to computer fraud, funds transfer fraud, and fraudulent impersonation

Contents Claims Adjustments that Sizzle

State Approved CE Credits:DE FL NH NC TX

Monday, March 20 — 10:30 - 12:00
Tuesday, March 21 — 8:00 - 9:30

Todd Breton, PMP, Program Manager, Hippo Insurance Services, Austin, TX
Deborah Johnson, President & CEO, Contents Adjuster Team, LLC, St. Louis, MO

• Explore ways to adjust personal property claims from a technical and human needs standpoint
• Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of traditional personal property adjustments
• Identify the most critical features of contents adjustments
• Describe ways to increase your expertise in handling contents claims
• Explore the differences between customer attention and customer service

Employee Theft/Employee Dishonesty Claims

State Approved CE Credits:FL NC

Tuesday, March 21 — 3:30 - 5:00

Kirsten Ishikawa, CPCU, ARM, AIC, Sr. Property Adjuster II, Liberty Mutual Insurance, Plano, TX
D.M. Studler, MAcc, CPA, CFF, Founding & Managing Member, SDC CPAs, LLC, Aurora, IL

• Identify specific concerns and procedures when adjusting a Commercial Fidelity claim
• Outline claim investigation procedures, including properly obtaining a Proof of Loss and utilizing a timeline of events
• Evaluate issues, including the expanded definition of employee, inventory shortages, limits of liability and indirect loss
• Compare strategies for release & assignment, subrogation, and underwriting concerns

Equipment Breakdown: Commercial or Residential - Now what?

State Approved CE Credits:FL NC OK TX

Tuesday, March 21 — 1:30 - 3:00
Wednesday, March 22 — 8:30 - 10:00

Timothy Begley, CPCU, Director-Claim Account Mgmt., Hartford Steam Boiler, Hartford, CT
George Dickover, CPCU, AIC, Executive General Adjuster, Selective Insurance Group, Skaneateles, NY
Patrick F. Kelleher, CPA, CFF, VP, Investigative Accounting, Meaden & Moore, Boston, MA

• Describe the potential interplay of Equipment Breakdown and Commercial Property Coverage for a variety of claims scenarios
• Identify strategies for adjusting a complex claim that involves Equipment Breakdown coverage where both Equipment Breakdown and first-party property policies provide coverage for an insured's loss
• Evaluate what is covered in Home Systems Protection as compared to the HO policy and from what causes of loss, including apportioned claims

Flooring Claims: When to Repair

State Approved CE Credits:FL NC OK TX

Monday, March 20 — 3:30 - 5:00
Wednesday, March 22 — 10:30 - 12:00

Mauricio Rodriguez, President, Nativo Inc., Pompano Beach, FL
Susan Varela, SCLA, Adjuster, Consultant, Lakeland, FL

• Identify all activities, costs, and timing that are involved when an entire floor needs to be replaced in a residential or commercial flooring claim
• Identify the types of flooring claims that are suitable for a spot repair
• Recognize the benefits for the Insured, Carrier, Environment, Community, if a spot repair is feasible
• List the necessary steps to implement a successful spot repair program

Hail Damage to the Building Envelope

State Approved CE Credits:FL NC OK TX

Monday, March 20 — 3:30 - 5:00
Tuesday, March 21 — 3:30 - 5:00

Brian Bean, AIC, Executive General Adjuster, Grange Insurance, Columbus, OH
Robert A. Danielson, PE, Principal Engineer, Haag Global, Inc., Adel, IA

• Describe various hail impact patterns (large to small hail) and the effects on the building envelope including roofing and wall claddings
• Differentiate between hail-related impacts and non-hail-related impacts to exterior building components and cladding
• Determine the approximate timeline of a hail event by gathering manufacturing dates from roofing and building components

Late Reporting Claims with Prior Damage

State Approved CE Credits:FL NC

Monday, March 20 — 3:30 - 5:00
Wednesday, March 22 — 8:30 - 10:00

Chase Anderson, PE, Senior Associate, Thornton Tomasetti, Tampa, FL
Roy Didion, Executive General Adjuster, Engle Martin, Atlanta, GA
Primitivo Suarez, Senior Project Manager, DBI Construction Consultants, Orlando, FL

• Evaluate filing deadlines and inspection team alignment
• Analyze loss event related materials
• Investigate and document reported damage(s) and non-reported damage(s)
• Interpret and compare reported and observed damage(s)

Property Claim Ethics: Adjusting in Good Faith

State Approved CE Credits:FL NH NC OK TX

Monday, March 20 — 10:30 - 12:00
Tuesday, March 21 — 10:30 - 12:00

Jonathan Barger, JD, Partner, Butler Weihmuller Katz Craig, Chicago, IL
Nanci L. Smilie, CPCU, AIC, Litigation Specialist, Erie Insurance Group, East Peoria, IL

• Describe various challenges that claims professionals face when adjusting property claims
• Identify good faith methods for resolving these challenges
• Review recent bad faith case law developments
• Describe how to avoid bad faith dangers in property claim adjustments

Remote Estimating: Providing Value & Answers

State Approved CE Credits:FL NC

Monday, March 20 — 1:30 - 3:00
Tuesday, March 21 — 8:00 - 9:30

Christopher McDermott, AIC, CCP, PTC, Property Product Manager, Crawford & Company, Peachtree Corners, GA
Jeff Taxier, SCLA, Consultant, ATI Restoration, LLC, Anaheim, CA

• Explain the history of remote property estimating through today
• Describe the role and significance of remote estimating for insurers and insureds
• Implement techniques for effective remote estimating
• Explain and, if necessary, defend remote estimates from challenges by insureds and/or their representatives

Tenant Improvements & Betterments in Commercial Cases

State Approved CE Credits:DE FL NC OK TX

Monday, March 20 — 3:30 - 5:00
Wednesday, March 22 — 1:30 - 3:00

Thomas Carstens, CPCU, Senior Vice President, Crawford & Company, Peachtree Corners, GA
Seth Jackson, JD, Partner, Zelle LLP, Framingham, MA
Kory Stucky, Property Claims Supervisor, Central Insurance Companies, Van Wert, OH

• Analyze commercial property policies regarding tenant improvements and betterments
• Identify insurable interests of landlords and tenants
• Evaluate leases and insurance responsibility for coverage implications
• Compare legal cases impacting loss adjustment

Water Mitigation Challenges & Updates

State Approved CE Credits:FL NC TX

Tuesday, March 21 — 10:30 - 12:00
Wednesday, March 22 — 1:30 - 3:00

Ed Jones, VP of Education and R&D, CodeBlue an Accuserve Company, Lorena, TX
Rochelle Ptacek, IICRC ASD WTR AHERA, Process Design Lead Consultant, Allstate Insurance Group, Chandler, AZ

• Describe IICRC guidelines and recent updates to S500 guidelines and how they regulate water mitigation activities
• List important water damage mitigation basics
• Obtain appropriate documentation and ask questions to manage the loss in the mitigation process
• Identify common challenges adjusters face with water mitigation claims
• Drive compliance and consistency with in- and out-of-network contractors

Wind & Hail Damage: Was it Nature or Human?

State Approved CE Credits:FL NC OK TX

Monday, March 20 — 1:30 - 3:00
Wednesday, March 22 — 10:30 - 12:00

Aaron Boehm, AIC, PCLS, Property Claim Manager, Western Reserve Group, Wooster, OH
Joseph Tamilio, PE, CEO, Trinity Engineering, PLLC, Locust, NC

• Identify physical characteristics of genuine hail and wind damages
• Differentiate manufactured (man-made) damages from natural with examples of damage
• Describe options for claim resolution when fraud damages are documented
• Compare the benefits and draw-backs to each option