Property Claims Director

MICHAEL S. BURTON

E-mail: *********@*****.***

661-***-**** (Mobile)

PROFILE

Retired insurance Claims Professional with 41 years of multi-line experience in Personal and Commercial Lines Automobile, Liability and Property Claims. Experience includes over 37 years of leadership experience. Most recent positions held were Senior and Director level management oversight of claims handling branches that handled large and complex Commercial and Personal Lines Property claims. Possesses advanced knowledge of coverage and case law, particularly in Property claims. Well versed in ISO coverage forms, litigation management, and strategies for controlling loss costs and adjustment expenses. Advanced proficiency in the understanding and use of computer applications such as Microsoft Word and Excel.

WORK EXPERIENCE

Mercury Insurance Company, September 2010 – January 2025 Divisional Claims Manager responsible for leadership over three claims branches that handled large/complex first-party homeowners and commercial property claims. Total organization of 55 claims handling personnel that included direct reporting from nine branch managers and supervisors. Reported directly to the Vice President of Property Claims. Crusader Insurance Company, October 2006 – September 2010 Divisional Claims Manager responsible for leadership over three claims branches that handled large/complex first-party homeowners and commercial property claims throughout all 10 states where the Company sells Property polices in the U.S. Total organization of 55 claims handling personnel that included direct reporting from nine branch managers and supervisors. Reported directly to the Vice President of Property Claims.

Safeco Insurance Company, January 1984 – October 2006 Various positions held in Ohio and California over 22 years, managing claims units for auto, casualty and property. Final position held was Regional Property Claims Analyst and Large Loss Property Claims Manager in Safeco’s Southwest Region. Heavily involved in the oversight and management of complex issues regarding property claims in Safeco’s Southwest Region. HIGHLIGHTS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• Proven track record of being a go-to resource for technical knowledge of property insurance contracts, legal requirements and judicial law.

• Developed team of specialized commercial property claim handling branch handlers for Mercury; also improved the efficiency and productivity of Mercury’s Large Loss and complex property claims handling branches.

MICHAEL S. BURTON

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• Developed catastrophe claims handling strategy and protocols for the handling of total losses for homeowners and commercial properties from large events such as wildfires.

• Division was one of the Property Department leaders in customer satisfaction

• Developed claim handling protocols and program for salvage recovery for Crusader’s new over the road trucking program.

• Implemented and led Safeco’s first dedicated damage assessment unit that resulted in an average reduction in loss costs of 18% for automobile claims in the Cincinnati, Ohio branch office.

• Increased the productivity and accuracy of personal property claims handling by over 50% by creating one of Safeco’s first automated computer applications for processing inventory forms for contents losses

• Played a key role in the successful management of Safeco’s Northridge Earthquake claims operation; spearheaded a unit that developed and implemented proactive claims handling processes which played a significant role in minimizing lawsuits against the company

• Designated as subject matter expert and technical consultant for property claims for Safeco’s Southwest Region; provided testimony in depositions and trial as Safeco’s Person Most Knowledgeable for property claims.

• Worked with Safeco’s corporate Home Office to discuss and develop strategies to address various legal and regulatory issues as well as significant claims trends OTHER HIGHLIGHTS

• Served as chairperson of the California Fair Plan’s Claims Review Committee EDUCATION & CERTIFICATIONS

Miami University, Ohio B.S. Accounting

Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter

COMPUTER SKILLS

Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Guidewire Claims system, Xactanalysis Management Reports

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