The Field Pros Direct Adjuster Conference goes Virtual May 27-29

The Field Pros Direct Adjuster Conference goes Virtual May 27-29

Every year we host an annual in-person conference to kick-off CAT season with our Field Pros and Team members. This multi-day event is generally filled with networking opportunities where adjusters meet the team while getting CE credits and learning about Insurance Carriers CAT plans. These events were designed to help empower our adjusters by providing them with the tools they need to go into CAT season with confidence. 

This year’s conference will look a little different. With social distancing still in effect, like many other companies, we are stepping outside the box and launching our first completely virtual conference. Our plan is to emulate as much of the in-person aspects of the conference while keeping everyone safe at home. 

About the FPD Virtual Adjuster Conference

During this 3-day event, we are bringing together FPD team leaders, Insurance Carriers and thought leaders to provide you with a wide range of topics. The schedule includes exclusive FPD Carrier Certifications, estimate platform refreshers and even Q&A sessions. By the end of the conference, we hope that all adjusters are ready to hit the ground running when the first hurricane touches down. 

Who Should Attend?

In year’s past, these events are generally reserved for Field Pros. The great thing about this virtual event is that we can now offer it to any adjuster – whether you are in the Field Pro network or not. Feel free to invite a friend too! 

5 Reasons Field Adjusters Should Attend

We know it’s hard to commit to a 3-day event, but if you’re an adjuster looking for more exposure this hurricane season you don’t want to miss this. Here’s 5 reasons why we think you should attend:

1. It’s FREE! Most adjuster conferences can come with a price tag, in addition to travel and food costs. Now, you can get the benefits of meeting the FPD team and learning about Insurance Carriers for free.

2. No travel time. Since it is a virtual event, you can join from virtually anywhere. Your couch, your office, a park nearby (if they are open), your phone – literally anywhere with internet or cell service. 

3. Increase your exposure. By registering for our event, it gives you the opportunity to get on Field Pros Directs radar. Whether you’re a Field Pro already or become one, this is a great way to increase the odds of getting jobs with Field Pros Direct during CAT season. 

4. Pick your schedule. 3-days may not work for your schedule, but that’s ok. You can pick the sessions you want to attend. Just sign into your account at fpdconference.com and select which sessions you are most interested in. 

5. Get FPD Certifications. When you complete an FPD Carrier Certification webinar you get a certificate of completion. This is an FPD exclusive certification. By getting certified with a Carrier it increases your chances of getting assignments through FPD for that carrier. 

How Can I Claim My Free Conference Ticket?

It’s easy. Visit https://bit.ly/fpdconference2020 and select “Ticket” to claim your free ticket. Be sure to fill out your full first and last name so that you can qualify for any FPD Carrier Certifications you attend. 

The entire Field Pros Direct team is excited to be able to offer this virtual conference for you. If you have any questions about the event or registration, you can contact Ally Momot at amomot@fieldprosdirect.com. We look forward to virtually seeing you there!

Team Spotlight: Matt Cronican

Team Spotlight: Matt Cronican

This month the Field Pros Direct Team Spotlight gets shined on our Director of Customer Success, Matt Cronican for his two-year anniversary. For those of you who are new here, this series is a Q&A style-blog that will introduce you to our team on a deeper level. We highlight a different team member on their anniversary to ask them questions ranging from professional to personal. 

Customer Success is a huge part of Field Pros core values, making Matt’s job incredibly important. He does a great job empowering carriers and adjuster success, as you will see throughout the interview. Matt’s problem-solving mindset and dedication to his job influenced a lot of the conversation - and we even discovered a great fun fact at the end! 

What is your role at Field Pros Direct? What does your day-to-day look like?

As the Director of Customer Success, my role is to ensure that our client’s guidelines and processes are implemented properly. The client guidelines range from how to assign claims, how to review claims and beyond. Based on their guidelines I will create training programs and processes and make sure any changes to these guidelines are clearly communicated. I also work closely with the team and clients throughout the onboarding process. 

Each day looks very different and changes often - especially during CAT season. This is why, for me, it's important to plan what items need to get done and give myself flexibility to handle the unexpected. Each morning starts with running reports on claims received and file statuses. This way I can make sure that our open inventory is being addressed and I can monitor capacity. In preparation for CAT season I’m hosting a lot of training calls for reviewers and adjusters to make sure that everyone is up-to-date. We all know how during CAT season the schedule goes out the window and you have little room to adjust. 

Do you have any tips for keeping your team organized during CAT season?

I think it boils down to communication, trust and expectations. Before and during CAT it’s important to set clear expectations so that everyone knows who is responsible for what. More importantly, creating a team of people you trust. When I assign something to one of our team members, there is no question in my mind whether or not it will be completed. Frequent communication is paramount. During a CAT there’s no room for slipping up, so I make sure that I communicate with the team daily (or multiple times a day) during a CAT to answer any questions or offer assistance.

Over the past year, what was your most rewarding experience?

There are a number of projects that I’ve been a part of this past year and am proud to be a part of. First off, our team has strategically doubled in size over the past year. We want to be a success story for our clients, so hiring talent from inside and outside of the industry helps us deliver on our promise. It’s been exciting to be along for the ride. 

Another one is the completion of phase 1 of our field application that we’ve rolled out to our adjusters. I work closely with our adjuster network, so I hear first-hand when they are having a problem. Once we rolled the app out, we saw that it reduces turnaround times and unnecessary phone calls and emails. It was fun and rewarding to work on a product that actually helped them. 

My most recent one was our Virtual Adjusting platform. On top of helping build out the program I stayed heavily involved in monitoring it’s progress after launching. I remember getting a call from a client after we completed our first virtual claim telling me how great this was. That’s the best reward - knowing that your hard work made an impact. 

What is your favorite benefit or feature of the Field Pros Direct solution? 

Our team and customer service. I know that’s broad and vague, but I’ve never worked with a more creative group that’s easy to communicate with. Everyday I know what is expected of me and what’s expected of others. More importantly, I know that I can ask for help if I need it. The fact that the team will gladly accept tasks when I need help, knowing that I would do the same for them really gives me peace of mind. 

Over the past year, what is the biggest lesson you’ve learned? 

Speak up! I wasn’t always one to speak up if I wasn’t the subject matter expert in the area. I’ve now realized that if I have an opinion about something, the team encourages me to let it be known. We all are SME’s of different areas of business and likely have overlapping knowledge. I may be the go-to person for a specific topic, but another team member may have insights that could trigger me to think about the topic differently. 

Another is to ask for help if you need it. The last thing you want is something to get missed because you didn’t want to ask for help. Asking for help is encouraged and when I’m not as busy, I offer my help. It’s a two-way street. Plus, when I help it generally teaches me something new. You never know when you’re going to learn something that can be applied to your role. 

In 3 words, how would you describe Field Pros Direct?

Intelligent, Collaborative and Supportive. 

We have brought together a lot of skill sets from different industries to be successful in anything we embark on. I’m surrounded by people with tremendous knowledge in business operations, finance, HR, programming and more. And, as I mentioned earlier, no matter what the skill set or job title is - everyone is here to support one another.

What is something that people may not know about you?

People probably don’t know how much I like to design and engineer things during my off time. This may be to my detriment, but I love finding different ways to solve problems I find. Recently I’ve gotten into 3D printing. During my free time I’m at home with a compass, calculator and graph paper thinking about what type of useful thing I can design and print. It’s challenging and has made me relearn things like trigonometry and geometry. It’s in my nature to solve problems. By designing and printing solutions, it makes me approach and solve problems differently and helps me see the big picture which I can translate into other areas of my life.

What is the most recent “cool” thing you’ve designed and/ 3D printed?

I’m a truck guy. I’m on my 3rd truck and frequently go camping with friends in Western North Carolina every year. One thing I find myself doing is changing up the way I sleep when I camp. I may go from a tent, to a hammock, to sleeping in the truck. No one way is ever perfect. One day I decided to use the dimensions of my truck bed to print brackets that mount to the bed rails. Using these brackets I was able to put together custom tent poles that fit into them, giving me a quick and secure way to sleep without having to carry a lot of extra gear. 

You can find more about Matt Cronican at www.fieldprosdirect.com/meet-the-team or connect with him on Linkedin. 

Interested in hearing more about Matt’s 3D adventures or asking Matt a question? Leave us a comment below! 

4 Ways Virtual Adjusting Can Be Used By Field Adjusters

4 Ways Virtual Adjusting Can Be Used By Field Adjusters

Written by: Bonnie Winters

Lately “virtual” is in front of almost every word. Virtual Conference. Virtual Happy Hour. Virtual School. What can be virtual will be virtual these days. Claims handling is no different. The COVID-19 crisis has forced a lot of carriers to adopt some form of virtual adjusting. While some adjusters have embraced this new tool, others have a lot of uncertainty. Will virtual adjusting replace me? How am I going to learn another new software?

Virtual claims handling is exactly what it sounds like - a way to adjust claims without being on-site. Virtual adjusting software uses a combination of video collaboration and integrations with your estimating platform to document and sync the claims data. You can do things like:

• Take digital measurements

• Scope damage

• Record video

• Snap pictures

The data can easily sync to your estimating platform. In some cases the information can sync in real-time. 

Like with anything new (especially in the middle of a pandemic) it’s not always the easiest to adapt to new things. It's not any easier when you're not sure how your income will be affected. The great news about virtual claims handling is that it wasn’t built to replace Field Adjusters. Virtual adjusting was designed to accommodate policyholders and to simply help the Field Adjusters tasks.

Virtual adjusting is a tool, not your enemy

You likely have many tools in your toolbox to help you adjust claims. Whether your tools are physical tools in your car or an app on your phone - you have lots of them. Sometimes it may seem like too many! Think of virtual adjusting as another tool. There are lots of ways an adjuster can use virtual adjusting to make their lives easier. One of the big benefits is to make you more versatile as an adjuster. I always suggest that adjusters should be well versed in every aspect of adjusting. You never know what doors will be open or what will be in demand for the future. We never expected a pandemic, and now the demand for virtual adjusting continues to increase every day. 

4 ways Virtual Adjusting can be used by Field Adjusters

1. After hours claims. On occasion you have an insured that can not take off of work or works too far away from their residence to meet during their lunch hour.   For those insureds who work full-time, this can be a great alternative so they don’t have to take off work. This will eliminate the insured using accrued time off from work as well as allow the adjuster evening time with family.

2. Reduce windshield time. Sometimes a single claim may require 1-2 hours travel time round trip. What’s even worse is when you have a long commute for a small claim. Virtual adjusting can reduce windshield time, freeing up your time to process the claim or even handle another virtual claim. 

3. Process small (simple) damages. Based on the claim that comes through, most adjusters can gauge whether the claim is complex or not. If you don’t already have an on-site visit scheduled near the claim site, it may cost you more in time to travel to that claim. These are perfect cases for virtual adjusting. You can estimate the damages through the video collaboration without leaving your house.

4. Supplement adjusters with injuries. While some adjusters are in great shape, there are others that may not be. Back injuries or other injuries may limit the amount of climbing or crawling an adjuster can handle. If you have a restricting injury, virtual adjusting can help. This can be the perfect supplement for claims that can be processed virtually that may require climbing or crawling.

Did you know? You can complete a virtual claim in less time that it could take to drive to/from a property and upload your photos?

Adding Virtual Adjusting to your toolbox

Virtual adjusting doesn’t require any extra certifications if you’re already licensed in the state of the claim. You can see how Virtual Adjusting can be a great tool for Field Adjusters. As technology and the insurance industry evolves, we want to make sure that adjusters have the information they need to grow. Aside from being trained on the virtual adjusting software, some IA firms will also cover the cost of the virtual claims handling. 

Are you ready to up your adjusting game? Click here to join our roster and ask how you can become a Field Pro virtual adjuster.

Field Pros Direct Welcomes Mary Anne Medina to the Leadership Team!

Field Pros Direct Welcomes Mary Anne Medina as VP of Business Development

Atlanta, GA. Industry full-service Insurtech property claims solution, Field Pros Direct (FPD), welcomed industry expert Mary Anne Medina as Vice President of Business Development. Mary Anne brings many years of commercial and property loss and flood experience to FPD alongside her passion for educating the industry as a thought leader. 

When asked why Mary Anne wanted to join the FPD team, she said that “I loved their forward thinking approach to where the industry is going.” Mary Anne continues “The resources they are creating to better handle claims is something I knew I wanted to be a part of.” 

“The resources they are creating to better handle claims is something I knew I wanted to be a part of.” 

As VP of Business Development, Mary Anne will be focusing on expanding FPD’s lines of business and servicing new markets. She will also be a part of developing robust claims training programs and maintaining her thought leadership role in the industry. 

“We are excited to have Mary Anne on the team. She brings a wealth of experience and expertise to our entire team and  I admire all of her claims training experience. I look forward to having her optimistic personality on the team to help enhance our programs.” states Matt Anderson, CEO and Founder of Field Pros Direct.

How Virtual Adjusting Will Impact Insurance Beyond COVID-19

Written by: Matt Anderson and Ally Momot

Business today looks very different than it did as little as 2 weeks ago. Coronavirus (COVID-19) has impacted businesses across the globe, forcing companies to seek alternative ways to maintain “business as usual”. While this forced change will impact all businesses in both negative and positive ways, we’re seeing businesses across the nation step out of their comfort zones in effort to keep their team and society safe. 

A large part of this “new world” we’re all living in is the replacing in-person interactions with virtual ones. This is pushing industries that you never thought were capable of hosting virtual anything to being fully virtual companies. Brick-and-mortar businesses are finding ways to function remotely. Live events are being streamed over the internet. Toddlers are continuing their education through virtual classrooms.

The Virtual Impact in Property and Casualty Claims. 

The insurance industry is no exception, especially in the claims processing department. Traditionally adjusters would investigate claims on-site without being worried about social distancing or putting the policyholder’s health at risk. With the COVID-19 pandemic numbers rising, Insurance Carriers needed a quick solution to handle claims without running the risk of potentially spreading this rapidly growing virus. Aside from the use of hand sanitizer,  N95 masks and rubber gloves, Carriers are turning to virtual adjusting to help continue to process claims. While claim volume is low right now, virtual adjusting also proved to be a cost-beneficial way to process claims quickly and safely. 

What is Virtual Adjusting and how does it work?

Virtual adjusting is a platform that allows adjusters to use video collaboration with the policyholder to assess damages. Once the software is implemented, the adjuster sends the policyholder a secure link to their phone. This link will give the virtual adjusting software access to the policyholders phone camera while geo-tagging the location to reduce the risk of fraud. Experienced licensed adjusters can guide the policyholder through the property to assess the damage while taking measurements, photos, and videos. Once completed the measurements and photos are sent to the estimating platform. Some solutions even offer real-time integration with your estimating platform. 

The Benefits of Virtual Adjusting Beyond COVID-19

Right now it’s hard for some companies to look too far in the future, especially with the uncertainty of when the Country is going to be “back to normal”. While Virtual Adjusting is a timely solution for this pandemic, it’s going to become a long-term solution for many carriers as wellThe benefits of claims that can be handled virtually stretch beyond COVID-19 and are proving to be considered a valuable part of a company’s claims handling process. Some of the benefits we’ve seen from our clients are:

1. Decreased claims cycle times.  The speed of settling claims has always been one of the first components of quality.  In most  cases it could take an adjuster more time to travel to/from a claim and upload the pictures than it would to completely process a virtual claim. 

2. Better customer service and quality reports. While some policyholders will always prefer an on-site Field Adjuster, Virtual Adjusting gives you the ability to accommodate policyholder’s preferences with more options. Virtual adjusting provides more than a solution for social distancing by offering convenience and an improved claims experience - resulting in better customer service.

3. Broader reach. Carriers often struggle with having active adjusters nationwide, which is why they often rely on independent adjusting (IA) firms. IA’s that offer virtual adjusting could potentially double the amount of accessible adjusters. Since the adjuster can handle claims faster in the comfort of their own home, you eliminate the barrier of location. 

What Does This Mean to Field Adjusters?

Virtual adjusting or virtual claims handling shouldn’t make field adjusters feel intimidated or nervous.This should be looked at as another tool for adjusters to utilize. Certain claims will always require an adjuster to be on-site. Some policyholders even prefer an on-site adjuster because they feel comfortable being able to see what’s happening and ask questions without picking up a phone. It’s like the people who never use online chat or email because they prefer to just call if they have a question. 

Field Adjusters should embrace Virtual Adjusting. Find IA firms that offer Virtual Adjusting and apply to be on their roster. Usually they will front the bill for any required Virtual Adjusting software and train you in the process. 

Whether you’re an insurance carrier or field adjuster, virtual adjusting will become a standard industry term well beyond this pandemic. Uncertainty can create innovation as companies are forced to survive in circumstances they may have never imagined. Carriers that may never have considered virtual adjusting are not only using it, but are experiencing the benefits. Our advice is to start small. Whether it’s the Field Pros Direct virtual adjusting platform or another provider, choose simple claims to start with, smaller losses where coverage is clear. Once you see how it works with your claims process, then decide whether you want to completely add this to your claims process. 

What is the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”)? A Simple Guide Designed for Independent Contractors

Written by: Danielle Manzo

This article was last updated on April 7, 2020. The latest, official updates can be found here.

On March 27, 2020 the U.S. federal government signed the $2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act into law. The Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) is one of the key measures of this bill providing $349 billion Small Business Administration (SBA) loans aimed at encouraging businesses to keep workers employed during the coronavirus pandemic. 

Starting this Friday, April 10, 2020, independent contractors and self-employed individuals can apply. We encourage you to act quickly, as there is a funding cap under the legislation and applications are processed as received -- so here is everything you need to know:

Key Highlights: 

• 100% guaranteed loan by the SBA 

• All small businesses are eligible -- including sole proprietorships, self-employed individuals, and independent contractors

• You cannot receive Unemployment Benefits and PPP at the same time

• Maturity rate of 2 years and an interest rate of 1%

• No loan payments are required for the first 6 months

• No collateral or personal guarantees are required 

• No borrower or lender fees

• Intended to cover eight weeks of expense starting from the loan origination date

• Can be forgiven and turned into a non-taxable grant

Do I qualify for the program?

Small businesses, sole proprietorships, independent contractors, and self-employed individuals can all qualify who have 500 or fewer employees (exceptions apply for those over 500) and your business was operational as of February 14, 2020. 

Do I qualify as a sole proprietorship, independent contractor and/or self-employed individual? 

• Sole proprietorship - If you run your own business, you are a sole proprietor, even if you have not registered with the IRS. Your revenue is reported on a Schedule C within your personal income tax return. 

• Independent Contractor - If you work independent of the company on a contracted basis and are not an employee, you are an independent contractor and by default considered to be a sole proprietor by the IRS. Your revenue is reported on a Schedule C within your personal income tax return and you likely receive 1099-MISCs from the companies you do business with. 

• Both sole proprietors and independent contractors are typically self-employed individuals.

• If you are an LLC taxed as an S Corporation or C Corporation or your business is incorporated, you are considered a small business within the guidelines of PPP. You likely will not have received 1099-MISCs and file a separate corporate tax return. 

How much can I receive? 

The maximum amount you can borrow is your monthly average payroll cost in 2019 multiplied by 2.5, up to a maximum of $10 million. 

For new businesses, your monthly average payroll cost may be calculated using the time period of January 1, 2020 to February 29, 2020. 

What are “payroll costs”?

Under the PPP program, “payroll costs” are: 

• Salary, wages, commissions or tips (maximum of $100,000 on an annual basis for each employee).

• Employee benefits including costs for vacation, parental, family, medical, or sick leave; allowance for separation or dismissal; payments required for the provisions of employee health benefits including group health care coverage, insurance premiums and payment of any retirement benefit.

• State and local taxes assessed on compensation of employees.

For a sole proprietor or independent contractor: “Payroll costs” are wages, commissions, income, or net earnings from self-employment or similar compensation, (maximum of $100,000 on an annual basis for each employee). 

What if I don’t use a payroll provider? 

You are likely still eligible for the Paycheck Protection Program. The main exception is businesses set-up as C Corporations or S Corporations must use payroll to pay their owners. If you have not been paying yourself a salary through payroll (with tax withholdings) and are set-up as an S Corporation or C Corporation, then those payments are not covered under PPP as “payroll costs”. 

What can I use the loan proceeds for? 

• Salaries, Wages and Commissions

• Vacation, sick, parental/family/medical pay

• Retirement contributions

• Group health care coverage premiums

• State and local taxes 

• Administrative Costs: (in force before February 15, 2020)

  • Utilities (electricity, gas and water) 

  • Communication (phone or internet access) 

  • Insurance premiums or other healthcare costs

  • Rent and lease agreements

  • Interest on mortgage obligations

How will the loan be forgiven? 

As long as a minimum of 75% of the PPP loan is used to fund payroll and employee benefit costs and the remaining 25% is spent on administrative costs (listed above), you will be eligible to apply for 100% forgiveness. The loan forgiveness application will start 8 weeks following your loan signing date. 

The amount forgiven may be reduced if:

• Your business reduces the number of employees retained; or 

• If wages are reduced by more than 25% for any employees that made less than $100,000 annually in 2019. 

If you’ve already decreased your employees, you have until June 30, 2020 to restore your full-time employment and salary levels. 

TIP: Create a new bank account to hold the funds and keep detailed accounting and bookkeeping records so it is easier to track and document expenses when you are applying for loan forgiveness. 

What if the loan is not forgiven? 

The first payment is deferred for 6 months and fully paid in 2 years at a 1% fixed interest rate. There are no prepayment penalties or fees. 

How do I apply? 

First contact your existing banking institution and find out if they are participating in the PPP SBA lending program. They may have an application online or refer you to another banking institution. 

You can also submit to any existing SBA-approved lender here.

QuickBooks Online is working on a loan application for the PPP and expecting to release it on Wednesday, April 8th. 

The complete SBA’s PPP application is here.

TIP: Complete the paper application even if your banking institution has an electronic version so you will have all the documents and information readily available and documented in case your banking website times out or you have to re-apply. 

What supporting documents will I need? 

Sole Proprietorships, Independent Contractors and Self-Employed Individuals will need have the following documents ready: 

• 2019 tax return (filed or to be filed) including the Schedule C illustrating income and expenses

• 1099-MISCs

• Identification (i.e. Driver’s License) 

• If you have employees, a Payroll Report and 2019 IRS Form 941s

TIP: Have documentation relating to mortgage interest, rent payments and utilities available as some SBA-approved lenders may ask for more supporting details. 

How long will this program last? 

The program is open until June 30, 2020. 

Are there other relief programs? 

Yes, you can find additional information on those on the SBA website here.

References: 

U.S. Department of Treasury Fact Sheet: https://home.treasury.gov/system/files/136/PPP--Fact-Sheet.pdf

SBA: https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/coronavirus-relief-options/paycheck-protection-program-ppp

U.S. Department of Treasury: https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/top-priorities/cares-act/assistance-for-small-businesses

PPP Application: https://home.treasury.gov/system/files/136/Paycheck-Protection-Program-Application-3-30-2020-v3.pdf. 

DISCLAIMER: 

Field Pros Direct, LLC do not provide tax, legal or accounting advice. This post and material has been prepared for informational purposes only and does not constitute and should not be relied on for legal, business, or tax advice. Each person should consult his or her own attorney, business advisor, or tax advisor with respect to matters referenced in this post. Field Pros Direct, LLC assumes no liability for actions taken in reliance upon or engaging in any transaction based on the information contained herein.

Team Spotlight: Bentley Laytin

Written by: Bentley Laytin and Ally Momot

Welcome to the Field Pros Direct Team Spotlight blog series! As part of our team’s anniversary celebrations, we want to highlight them on a deeper level. This Q&A blog will be our way of introducing you to our team on a deeper level and proving how we put into action the creation of an empowering and fun company culture. 

To kick-off our Team Spotlight series, we are interviewing our Chief Operating Officer, Bentley Laytin. In March 2020 he celebrated his one-year anniversary with the Field Pros Direct leadership team. Leadership plays a large role in cultivating the type of culture we want to provide to our company. By the end of the interview, you will clearly be able to see why Bentley is such a great leader! 

What is your role at Field Pros Direct? What does your day-to-day look like?

I am the Chief Operating Officer (COO) who handles day-to-day operations. This ranges from client solutions, internal coaching all the way to technology innovation. My day generally starts off by looking at inventory and reports to see what’s going on within our platform and to ensure that our clients' needs are being met. Throughout the day I work closely with a majority of our team members. I really enjoy speaking to clients not only to check in, but to collaboratively seek innovations for our platform that will help them solve a problem.

Over the past year, what was your most rewarding experience?

That’s easy...working with my team. I’m heavily involved in our onboarding process and stay connected with each team member as much as possible. We are still at the size where I’m able to have a personal connection with each team member and I love that. Everyone is so committed to FPD! It’s amazing to see them work through challenges because everyone comes together and raises their hand to pitch in. They really are the most rewarding part of each day. 

As a leader, how did you decide that culture would be at the forefront of Field Pros Direct?

Company culture has always been important to me, even before I was in a leadership position. Culture helps align the company. I’ve been in the insurance industry for over 25 years serving various positions within each company I worked at. Saying that you provide culture and actually acting on it are two completely different things. I would see culture come and go within a company, but when you do it right it empowers your team. An important part of culture here at FPD, and a critical part of our success, is collaboration. This gives people the opportunity to really take ownership of ideas and advance within the company. 

What is your favorite benefit or feature of the Field Pros Direct solution? 

Because I’ve been in the industry for a long time, I’ve experienced a lot of different technologies and witnessed, first hand, different parts of the claims process. My favorite feature is that our technology is so flexible and scalable. It can be whatever you need it to be. We started with claims, but we can take that same model and replicate it to so many other aspects of the insurance industry. I love being able to go to a potential client or existing client being able to say that our platform can actually deliver a solution to an issue they are having. I’ve sat in their shoes, so I know how the power of finding a trustworthy partnership can serve as a sigh of relief for executives.  

Over the past year, what is the biggest lesson you’ve learned? 

Like most startups, when I first started we did a lot of short term strategizing because we needed to get things done quickly. Sometimes this worked to our benefit, while other times it caused us more work down the road. I would say my biggest lesson is to do your best to think long term and ensure that you have alignment with your strategy - whether it’s a technology strategy, business strategy, etc. 

In 3 words, how would you describe Field Pros Direct?

Fun. Collaborative. Versatile.

Fun is a big one for me personally because I love what I do and I try to share that enjoyment with others through laughing. We all will put our heads down and work hard, but we also enjoy laughing. Whether it is a meme in our Slack channel or a good belly laugh on a call, we try to keep things fun. 

What is something that people may not know about you?

One of my proudest accomplishments (aside from my son) was work that I did with the Special Olympics in college. I was playing baseball and our coach encouraged us to volunteer. My freshman year I chose the Special Olympics and ended up working with them every year throughout college. It was incredibly humbling. I realized how fortunate some of us are to have the ability to do simple things that we often overlook.

To connect with Bentley some more, you can find him on Linkedin

Field Pros Direct welcomes Jeff Lee to the Leadership Team

Atlanta, GA. As Field Pros Direct continues to build out their leadership team, they have recently welcomed Jeff Lee as Director of Specialty Operations. Jeff brings over 18 years of industry experience with a strong tie to Catastrophe (CAT) operations. Prior to joining the Field Pros Direct (FPD) team, Jeff worked on developing Third Party Administrative programs and was heavily involved with implementing CAT teams - ranging from roster development to on-site CAT management and execution.

When asked why Jeff wanted to join the FPD team, he said that “I was drawn to the FPD culture. The leadership truly believes in the quality of their product and team.” Jeff continues “All of the team members are valued and contribute to the success of our products. It’s empowering to be surrounded by such a unique culture.”

As Director of Specialty Operations, Jeff will be heavily involved in CAT planning and execution as well as our Third Party Administrative services catering to the London market.

“We are thrilled to have Jeff on our team. Not only because of his extensive CAT expertise and Lloyd’s experience, but also because of his perfect alignment with the Field Pros Direct culture. Jeff is a great addition to our leadership team” states Matt Anderson, CEO and Founder of Field Pros Direct.

About Field Pros Direct: Field Pros Direct is an Insurtech claims company that simplifies the claim process from start to finish. Our proprietary matching platform ensures the best licensed Field Pros are matched with each assignment. As a result of our platform and our people, we are creating a new industry standard for insurance adjuster services, third party administrative solutions and so much more. To find out more, visit www.fieldprosdirect.com