Declan Kelly
Fairfield
Summary
A knowledgeable and dedicated customer service and logistics professional with extensive experience delivering exceptional service and managing complex operational demands. A solid team player with an outgoing, positive demeanor and a proven ability to establish rapport with clients. Highly motivated to maintain customer satisfaction and contribute to organizational success. Specializes in quality, speed, and process optimization. Articulate, energetic, and results‑oriented, with a passion for developing relationships, cultivating partnerships, and driving business growth.
In addition, a former collegiate football athlete with a strong background in high‑performance training, discipline, and physical development. This athletic foundation fuels a growing interest in personal training and coaching, supported by hands‑on experience in strength conditioning, team leadership, and structured athletic programming. Brings the same competitive mindset, resilience, and commitment to excellence into professional environments and future fitness‑focused roles.
Overview
6
6
years of professional experience
Work History
Nacora Claims Marine Liability Specialist
Nacora Insurance Brokers, Inc.
Jersey City, NJ
10.2025 - Current
- Managed multimodal claims portfolio — Oversaw more than 120 active claims at a time across air freight, ocean freight, freight forwarding, and contract logistics, each governed by different liability regimes and contractual frameworks.
- Issued settlement release documents — Prepared and executed formal release documents authorizing payment to customers following claim approval and settlement negotiation.
- Drafted liability determination letters — Authored detailed determination and denial letters on behalf of the company, ensuring alignment with internal policy, contractual terms, and applicable international conventions.
- Applied global liability regimes — Interpreted and applied Montreal Convention, Hague‑Visby Rules, CMR, NVOCC terms, house bills, and contract logistics agreements to determine exposure and carrier/forwarder liability.
- Conducted forensic document review — Analyzed commercial invoices, PODs, AWBs, BOLs, packing lists, photos, and survey reports to establish causation, extent of damage, and liability.
- Coordinated with carriers and insurers — Communicated with airlines, ocean carriers, freight forwarders, warehouse operators, and insurers to obtain evidence, negotiate outcomes, and resolve disputes.
- Maintained compliance with internal policy — Ensured all claim decisions, settlements, and denials were fully compliant with corporate claims policy, legal requirements, and audit standards.
- Delivered customer‑facing communication — Provided clear, professional updates to customers, including settlement offers, liability explanations, and required documentation requests.
- Developed and implemented insurance policy analysis processes to enhance client service delivery.
- Managed client accounts, ensuring compliance with insurance regulations and policies.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to streamline documentation and reporting procedures.
- Analyzed client feedback to drive enhancements in service offerings and customer satisfaction metrics.
Sea Logistics Corporate Rotational Internship
Kuehne+Nagel
Jersey City
07.2024 - 09.2025
- Gained comprehensive experience in sea logistics and export contract and pricing management. Responsibilities included reviewing documents, conducting market potential analysis, maintaining rate sheets, auditing carrier invoices, and collaborating with trade teams.
- Reviewed and managed 1,400+ export contracts, identifying and resolving discrepancies by coordinating with internal and external stakeholders.
- Developed expertise in contract troubleshooting, ensuring accuracy and compliance with shipping terms.
- Maintained and organized contract records for efficient tracking and retrieval.
- Worked in Less-than-Container Load (LCL), using Shipper CTS to research and input shipping rates into contracts.
- Specialized in Refrigerated (Reefer) container shipments, preparing detailed quotes with origin and destination charges for clients and internal use.
- Utilized Excel to track and manage contracts, ensuring accurate record-keeping and quick data retrieval.
- Created pivot tables and data visualizations to analyze large datasets, identifying trends and discrepancies in contract pricing and shipping costs.
Service Advocate
Target
Fairfield, NJ
08.2022 - 07.2024
- Promoted a superior customer experience by swiftly addressing concerns with empathy and resolving issues efficiently. Assisted a high volume of customers daily with a positive attitude and a strong focus on satisfaction.
- Executed opening and closing functions to support operational needs and ensure excellent service.
- Provided accurate information about promotions, customer programs, and products, contributing to high customer retention.
- Delivered drive-up and pickup orders promptly, enhancing overall customer convenience.
Delivery Driver
Master Pizza
06.2021 - 08.2022
- As a Delivery Driver, I ensured timely deliveries by selecting the most efficient routes, consistently meeting deadlines.
- I provided exceptional customer service through professional interactions in person and over the phone, demonstrating a sense of urgency to enhance customer satisfaction.
- By optimizing delivery routes to handle multiple orders per trip, I achieved high performance ratings.
- Additionally, I adhered to delivery protocols by staying alert and aware of my surroundings, familiarizing myself with delivery areas, and verifying order quality and accuracy to maintain high standards of food and service quality.
Personal Vehicle Driver
UPS
11.2020 - 01.2022
- Performed routine vehicle inspections, maintained consistent safety standards, and ensured timely, high-quality deliveries.
- Managed customer paperwork, tracked fuel costs, and adapted to varying schedules, including holidays and peak periods.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Business Administration and Management
Montclair State University
01-2024
Skills
- Multimodal Claims Management
- Settlement Release Preparation
- Liability Determination Writing
- Application of Liability Regimes
- Forensic Documentation Review
- Carrier & Insurer Coordination
- Claims Policy Compliance
- Customer Service
- Safety and Compliance
- Logistics and Export Management
- Data analytics
- Market analysis
- Marketing campaign development
- Leadership
Timeline
Nacora Claims Marine Liability Specialist
Nacora Insurance Brokers, Inc.
10.2025 - Current
Sea Logistics Corporate Rotational Internship
Kuehne+Nagel
07.2024 - 09.2025
Service Advocate
Target
08.2022 - 07.2024
Delivery Driver
Master Pizza
06.2021 - 08.2022
Personal Vehicle Driver
UPS
11.2020 - 01.2022
Bachelor of Science - Business Administration and Management
Montclair State University