Listen Now

Only three and half years into his independent appraiser career, Ernie Bray says Brad Fancher shines as a positive ✨ influence in the industry. A self-described process guy, Brad learned to pace himself when starting out. His mantra is to “stay teachable” as he gets great satisfaction knowing more than he did yesterday. Settle in and listen to this extended Focus On Claims conversation between two people passionate about claims and keeping it human.

In this episode, we give you some key tips that can help grow your independent appraisal business. These key tips are what can set you up for success and put your company in the right direction.

Recently Ernie Bray and Michael Calens recorded a Focus On Claims🎙podcast so packed with great advice we snack sized it and will share a little at a time. If your work involves inspecting vehicles for damage, you’ll want to hear these solid tips for appraisers. Then ask yourself, is this what I do? 🤔 Listen 🎧 in. #appraisers #estimating #iapath #adjusters #insuranceclaims

Brandon Bryant's background includes beverages, glass, vehicle history and independent appraising. Through it all, his focus is on exceptionally delivering what clients need. This guy is a people person and loves building relationships. Listening to clients, understanding what’s important and finding solutions is what drives him every day. Hear more from Brandon in his (mini) Focus On Claims interview with Ernie Bray.

What a positive ✨ impact Michael Calens has had on AutoClaims Direct Inc. (ACD) since he joined the company earlier this year. He’s tremendously valued for his insurance and automotive industry experience. At every level of an auto claim, he’s big on not losing the human touch in the process. Learn more about Michael in his mini (just 1️⃣2️⃣ minutes!) Focus On Claims interview 🎤 with Ernie Bray.

What a treat❗️Recently, Ernie Bray got to sit down with Michael O'Leary AIC for an in-person Focus On Claims interview. 🎤 There’s a lot to Mike – hear how went from being a car/body shop guy to the insurance industry, and the extensive training involved. He shares his thoughts about productivity, self-driving cars, augmented intelligence, and the consultative approach taken with clients. It's 20 minutes well spent. 😀

With claims processing, automation isn't always the answer. ACD's appraiser partner Chanel Tran in Charlotte, NC can vouch for that. Many times, vehicle owners will tell her she’s the first person they’ve talked to. People want to talk to a fellow human! Listen 🎧 to Chanel’s Focus On Claims interview with Ernie Bray – you’ll hear this solo entrepreneur’s career journey, her passion for helping people and her desire to listen, learn and succeed. 💯

How impressive is this – over 8️⃣0️⃣ years of vehicle history and automotive data related experience. This is what auto industry veterans Adam Siner and Edie Hirtenstein have, and together they’ve created a unique online vehicle data application service called VINData. Between them, thousands of custom data solutions for all vehicle types have been done for a wide variety of clients. And the best part? They’re easy to do business with. Learn more about these entrepreneurs and the company they started on Ernie Bray’s Focus On Claims interview.

AutoClaims Direct Inc. (ACD) has that service + technology combo that makes us unique in our industry. How do we do it? It starts with the right people. In his newest Focus On Claims interview, Ernie Bray talks to our very own Michelle Peck and Nick Ramirez. They describe how they serve as consultants, advisors and facilitators…being that connecting part that streamlines the claims process. And they’re awesome at it. 💯 Listen to the end to hear what these two like to do in their free time. It’s worth it!

With digital media and the manipulation possible, recognizing what’s fake versus real can be problematic. The biggest challenge for Attestiv, Inc. CEO Nicos Vekiarides is educating companies on why preventing fraud and risk is a critical issue that needs attention. But what he’s doing is getting noticed – Edgy Labs has Attestiv on their list of 10 innovative tech startups to watch out for in 2021. Learn more about Nicos on his Focus on Claims interview with Ernie Bray. This serial entrepreneur also has some good advice for other tech founders.

Small business owner Sosse Kevorkian’s path to being an independent appraiser is an interesting one. As a woman, she faced doubters and had to prove she was capable. But Sosse succeeded because she believed in herself. Advice Sosse has for other IAs? It’s so important to: ✳️communicate ✳️ status ✳️document ✳️message. Listen to her Focus On Claims interview with Ernie Bray.

Jimmy Hicks who leads AAN, Inc. remembers the days when an adjuster showed up in a suit and holding a ladder. The average cycle time? Thirty days‼️Obviously, the property side of insurance has evolved since then. Hear about Jimmy’s journey through the decades and how AAN has adapted to industry changes, how they maintain solid adjuster & appraiser relationships, and what principles guide them. Listen to his Focus On Claims interview 🎤 with Ernie Bray.

The year 2004 was pivotal for Tony Villa. The CEO of Insuresoft asked himself how do we diversify and modernize our core system platform? The result is, as Tony likes to say, “core and more.” Listen to his Focus on Claims interview 🎤 with Ernie Bray to hear what that grew into as well as his thoughts on build vs. buy, ecosystems and creating brand awareness.

What separates Darren DiMaria’s company – DCI Solution – from its competitors is the time taken to do a fair and accurate valuation on a vehicle from a client. We’re not talking about your average auto but specialty vehicles like trucks, buses, classic cars, farm and heavy equipment. The difference in valuation can be tens of thousands of dollars.

With auto claims, only about 8% involve some sort of diminished value. But the insurance industry wants to be fair and accurate with these claims. This is where Roy Duplantier, president of Accurate DIV (Diminished Inherent Value) comes in. With their data, he’s giving insurance carriers a different way of determining diminished value that takes the subjectivity out of it. His solution is seamless, efficient and more automated. Who wouldn’t be clamoring for that? Learn more about Roy’s story on his Focus on Claims interview with Ernie Bray.

Guillermo Cornejo has a passion for 🏍 motorcycles 🏍. So much so that he created the first and largest peer-to-peer motorcycle rental community in the U.S. But it wasn’t easy – for this entrepreneur it took three times and five years to launch Riders Share. His goal is to make motorcycle riding more accessible and affordable and he’s doing it! Guillermo reports 13,000 successful rides and over 20,000 reviews with an average of 4.97 stars. Hear his story and the advice he has for young entrepreneurs starting their journey on his Focus on Claims interview with Ernie Bray.

Dylan Whitehead been around the insurance block, learning the business from the ground up. When his career took him to Australia to lead a start-up, he went to the TPA market for help but didn’t find it. Instead of being deterred, he created the solution he was seeking. At the core is the perfect mix between humans and automation when it comes to servicing claims. Process-focused technology can handle 80% of claims while the other 20% are put in the hands of experienced people.

For Christopher Stanley, training is everything. Eleven years ago he was fortunate to have someone show him the auto damage appraiser/adjuster ropes via ride-alongs…four days a week for six months. Now, his company IA Path teaches new adjusters and appraisers how to get started. And he trains them properly because he knows from experience that an IA has to adjust on the fly, make decisions and, at times, negotiate. You’ll see his passion and enthusiasm on full display during his recent conversation with Ernie Bray.

A self-proclaimed data geek, Bob Frady, wants to tell you everything bad that can happen with your property. Why? Because for most people, their home is their single biggest investment and a property claim can be a huge interruption to daily life. You’ll want to hear this innovator’s Focus on Claims conversation with Ernie Bray

When it comes to the Internet, "seeing is no longer believing" is how Craig Stack describes it. Craig is the founder of Truepic a company hyper-focused on authentic photos and videos to help not only the insurance industry but lenders, jewelers, e-commerce sites, and more. The millisecond a photo is taken using his camera technology, it’s run through 22 fraud detection tests. Listen in to learn more about what Craig calls “controlled capture.”