Greg Podolak
McFarland,WI
Summary
Organized Team Leader builds positive rapport, inspire trust and guide teams toward achievement of organizational goals. Strong facilitator adept at working cross-departmentally with co-management and top-level leadership. Excellent trainer and mentor. Proud to have very engaged, motivated and happy teams with zero turnover in managed staff.
Overview
17
17
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Claims Team Lead - Liability
Sedgwick Claims Management
03.2022 - Current
- Supervise, train and mentor a group of as many as 8 colleagues handling Commercial Auto Bodily Injury claims including litigated and complex cases with zero turnover rate.
- Entrusted with takeover of multiple large struggling accounts with positive restoration of client confidence and trust, while driving improved results.
- Managed team consistently one of the top performers in unit.
- Interview perspective colleagues, address staffing and performance challenges to assure efficient production.
- Provide positive, understanding and calm leadership in a high volume, fast paced environment.
- Managed schedules, accepted time off requests and found coverage to ensure client needs were met.
Field Claims Representative
Auto-Owners Insurance Company
01.2018 - 03.2022
- Field Representative for dedicated territory in southeastern Wisconsin investigating and handling both residential and commercial Property and Liability losses.
- Conducted comprehensive interviews of witnesses and claimants to gather facts and information.
- Read over insurance policies to ascertain levels of coverage and determine whether claims would receive approvals or denials.
- Clarified coverage of losses to policyholders and provided assistance in itemizing damages and finding alternative living arrangements.
- Visited customer locations to evaluate damage and provided cost estimates for remediation.
- Assisted homeowners by coordinating vendor services, emergency repair, cleaning and contractors.
SIU Desk Investigator
Contract Employee for American Family Insurance
09.2017 - 01.2018
- Managed fraud tagged files in the auto and personal property lines of business for client.
- Conducted detailed phone interviews to gather pertinent information with witnesses and clients.
- Evaluate detailed background checks, analytics and reports.
- Furnish precise reports to management and handling adjusters with fraud recommendations.
Senior Claims Representative
NSI, a Division of West Bend Mutual Insurance
10.2014 - 06.2017
- Analyze coverage, investigate and handle to resolution litigated and non-litigated complex Commercial General Liability, Employment Practices Liability and Long Term Care losses for the Major Case Unit.
- Conduct in person casualty and property field investigations on high severity losses in all 10 states operated in, specifically for premises liability, aggravated assault and death losses.
- Successfully resolve cases via informal negotiations, mediations, and settlement conferences.
- Managed an Employment Practices case through trial and received a favorable defense verdict.
- Establish and maintain loss reserves and round table losses above my authority limits with management.
Multi Lines Claims Adjuster
Pekin Insurance
02.2013 - 10.2014
- Work out of a residence office and handle both first and third party casualty and property losses for five western Wisconsin counties.
- Handle high severity losses including casualty death cases, property fire losses, and coverage disputes.
- Establish close relationships with local independent agents, vendors and business owners/customers to ensure policyholders are receiving excellent service.
- Member of the Catastrophe Team, dispatched to various Midwestern locations during storm season to provide quality, timely customer service to policy holders and adjust storm losses.
Multi Lines Claims Adjuster
Wisconsin Mutual Insurance
08.2011 - 02.2013
- Handle Auto, Property and General Liability investigations for two satellite claims offices, obtain pertinent statements from all parties involved in a loss, review and analyze accident reports, conduct scene investigations, and make sound liability decisions.
- Work directly with attorneys and claimants to settle bodily injury claims.
- Review medical records and interview injured parties to evaluate injury claims.
- Negotiate with adverse carriers, attorneys, and claimants to reach fair and reasonable settlements.
Claims Representative
Qbe Insurance Group
02.2009 - 08.2011
- Manage and coordinate personal and commercial automobile loss investigations, interpret and determine insurance policy coverages and loss exposures.
- Worked productively in fast-moving work environment to process large volumes of claims.
- Developed in-depth understanding of insurance policies and procedures.
- Conduct Liability investigations, take statements from parties involved in a loss, gather pertinent evidence, and make sound liability decisions.
- Assign and supervise independent agents and vendors to aid in the claim process.
- Held Independent Adjuster licenses in North Carolina, Florida, Michigan, Kentucky, Oklahoma, and Louisiana.
Sales Consultant
CarMax Auto Superstore
01.2008 - 04.2009
- Guide customers through the sales process and deliver exceptional customer service.
- Interview customers in order to find what they are looking for in a vehicle and find the right vehicle, service plan, financing, and accessories for their specific needs.
- Followed up with existing customers to provide additional support and address concerns.
- Overcome customer objections and deal with special circumstances or difficult situations.
- Consistently one of the top performers in sales each month.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Sports Management
University of Wisconsin, Parkside
Kenosha, WISkills
- Coaching and mentoring
- Relationship building
- Strategic planning
- Employee engagement
- Trend tracking
- Performance monitoring
- Client communication
- Work assignment delegation
Certification
- AINS (Associate in General Insurance)
- AIC (Associate in Claims)
- CCLS (Casualty Claim Law Specialist)
- CPCU (Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter) - in progress
Languages
English
Native or Bilingual
Polish
Native or Bilingual
Timeline
Claims Team Lead - Liability
Sedgwick Claims Management
03.2022 - Current
Field Claims Representative
Auto-Owners Insurance Company
01.2018 - 03.2022
SIU Desk Investigator
Contract Employee for American Family Insurance
09.2017 - 01.2018
Senior Claims Representative
NSI, a Division of West Bend Mutual Insurance
10.2014 - 06.2017
Multi Lines Claims Adjuster
Pekin Insurance
02.2013 - 10.2014
Multi Lines Claims Adjuster
Wisconsin Mutual Insurance
08.2011 - 02.2013
Claims Representative
Qbe Insurance Group
02.2009 - 08.2011
Sales Consultant
CarMax Auto Superstore
01.2008 - 04.2009
- AINS (Associate in General Insurance)
- AIC (Associate in Claims)
- CCLS (Casualty Claim Law Specialist)
- CPCU (Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter) - in progress
Bachelor of Science - Sports Management
University of Wisconsin, Parkside
Similar Profiles
Elizabeth CarrionElizabeth Carrion
Care Team Representative at Sedgwick Claims ManagementCare Team Representative at Sedgwick Claims Management
Iyalna LesterIyalna Lester
Claims Coordinator at Sedgwick Claims ManagementClaims Coordinator at Sedgwick Claims Management
Jennifer DittmarJennifer Dittmar
Independent Appraiser at Sedgwick Claims ManagementIndependent Appraiser at Sedgwick Claims Management