Message from the President

The response to the Calgary flooding in June and the storms in Ontario in July showcased the best in our citizens and the insurance industry alike. The residents of Alberta pulled up their bootstraps and exhibited that Western resilience by pitching in and tearing out flooded basements. There were numerous stories in the media showing people helping people.

CIAA members rose to the challenge. What the public doesn’t always know is how claims professionals uproot and leave their homes and families and begin the work of helping restore the lives of those who lost so much. I am proud of how our members mobilized and it is with quiet confidence and skill that we hone our craft achieved through education and years of experience. Events like these reinforce the value independent adjusters bring their clients by providing superior customer service to their affected policyholders.

Our association is rife with experts and specialists in all lines of business. An impressive aspect of our group is how members support each other. It is not an unusual event when one member calls upon another to solicit advice or assistance. Across the country our regional executives are always looking to recruit claims professionals with vision and a commitment to their profession. Life keeps us all very busy, but you need only volunteer a few hours a month to make a real change to our industry.

My year as President of the CIAA has been one of challenges and I am always impressed with what a relatively small group of volunteers can accomplish. Our member firms should rest assured that we provide value for their membership fees. One example is “Claims Canada,” the Association’s official publication. This magazine is one which educates and informs the claims community. CIAA’s profile has been raised to the next level since partnering with our publisher Paul Aquino and his colleague Steve Wilson. They are both an integral part of the industry as a whole and their credibility and professionalism are respected and very much appreciated.

I conclude my term at CIAA’s Annual Conference in Banff in September. I will be turning over the reins to my friend Marie Gallagher and I am confident she will achieve unparalleled success. I recommend that you check out the traditional “passing of the hat” picture in the next issue of Claims Canada, which is presented to ensure each president starts their term with a sense of humility.

One of the perks of the office is the ability to use this column as a platform. Congratulations to my business partner Tammie Norn on being elected President of OIAA for 2012 – 2013. The OIAA is fortunate to have such an inspiring person leading their association. Her support while I dedicated my time to CIAA is greatly appreciated. Finally, I want to offer my gratitude to CIAA Executive Director Pat Battle. She is the glue holding the association together. It has been said before but it is a fact: Pat and her assistant Anna Sonta make the wheels of our association turn smoothly and effortlessly.

To all our members, thank you for allowing me to serve such a great group of professionals. To the insurers, I recommend when you need an adjuster the ideal choice is a CIAA member to ensure a committed Insurance professional is on your side!