Katia Smith
Fort Worth,TX
Summary
Results-driven Claims Examiner with a proven track record in fast-track claims handling, liability investigation, and property damage control. Committed to ensuring compliance and enhancing customer satisfaction through effective communication and meticulous attention to detail.
Overview
8
8
years of professional experience
Work History
Claims Examiner 1 (Contract)
Texas Windstorm
Austin, TX
03.2025 - 03.2026
- Executed $50,000 in independent settlement authority to negotiate property damage claims, resolve losses, and obtain necessary legal releases.
- Conducted fast-track investigations to verify coverage, determine comparative liability, and analyze facts of loss, enhancing claims processing for high-volume personal lines.
- Managed rental vehicle timelines, audited repair estimates, and streamlined total loss settlements to control indemnity and expense spend.
- Maintained organized daily pending file diary, ensuring compliance with state regulations and established claim procedures to support efficient claims management.
Claims Specialist
State Farm
Columbus , OH
12.2022 - 09.2024
- Utilized $100,000 in settlement authority to evaluate loss causation, negotiate direct property damage and bodily injury claims, and execute final settlements.
- Investigated, evaluated, and resolved complex auto claims of varying complexity in a fast-paced personal lines environment.
- Communicated liability and coverage decisions to insureds, claimants, and repair facilities, contributing to high customer service ratings.
- Managed rental vehicle allocations and total loss vehicle files, reducing rental duration and minimizing storage charges.
Process Administrator (Contract)
Huntington National Bank
Whitehall, OH
04.2021 - 10.2022
- Loan & Document Processing: Systematically classified, reconciled, and maintained complex financial records for high-volume auto loan portfolios; ensured 100% accuracy in digital loan applications and supporting legal documentation.
- Served as primary liaison for automotive dealer partners, delivering real-time guidance on application status updates, funding requirements, and account-level discrepancies to ensure seamless transactional flow.
- Identified and remediated account discrepancies through deep-dive audits into loan files; collaborated with internal underwriting teams to resolve approval roadblocks and authorize financial disbursements.
- Compiled daily/weekly status reports for department leadership, ensuring compliance of financial transactions with internal bank policies, state lending regulations, and federal audit standards.
Claims Processor, Material Damage (Contract)
Nationwide Insurance
Columbus, Ohio
03.2020 - 10.2020
- High-Volume Claims Lifecycle: Managed end-to-end claim processing for high-volume desk, overseeing FNOL intake, liability determination, and final settlement payments while adhering to state-specific regulations.
- Technical Estimate Auditing: Conducted comprehensive audits of automotive physical and material damage estimates using CCC One, ensuring alignment with industry standards for repair shop line items, labor rates, and vehicle body part pricing.
- Dispute Negotiation: Resolved repair-related conflicts by interpreting policy coverage language and negotiating estimate revisions directly with collision center managers and body shop estimators.
- Coordinated as the central technical point of contact for preferred repair facility networks, monitored repair cycle times, and directed workflow logistics to reduce rental vehicle exposure.
LOA Coordinator/Claims Assistant / Service Center
Sedgwick
Columbus, Ohio
06.2018 - 03.2020
- Leave of Absence (LOA) Coordinator (06/2019 – 03/2020): Managed complex portfolio of specialized Leave of Absence (FMLA/statutory leave), Disability, and medical casualty files; analyzed medical reports, legal physician certifications, and work capacity forms to determine claim validity and benefit eligibility; maintained active diaries for 40+ daily file updates.
- Workers' Compensation & Claims Assistant (10/2018 – 06/2019): Facilitated claim intake and high-volume FNOL processing for workplace injuries; gathered initial incident reports, medical records, wage history, and witness statements to support senior examiners in compensability research.
- Service Center Representative (06/2018 – 10/2018): Handled high-volume telephonic communication with injured workers, policyholders, and medical providers; provided verbal and written policy interpretations to clarify benefit decisions and resolve inquiries.
Data Migration Analyst
ComResource (Temp)
Columbus, OH
01.2018 - 05.2018
- Executed precise information collection and data mapping protocols, ensuring all historical file notes and claim lifecycles remained completely accurate, accessible, and compliant for end-user adjusters.
- Collaborated with cross-functional project teams, identifying and reconciling data discrepancies or missing file information prior to final system integration.
- Developed structured digital file hierarchies and standardized naming conventions, enhancing data integrity and supporting high-volume portfolio launches.
- Audited, organized, and cataloged complex historical claims documentation, facilitating seamless transition of legacy corporate records into updated core insurance databases.
Education
High School Diploma -
Licking Heights High School
OhioSkills
- Claims processing, High-Volume Diary Management, Rapid FNOL Resolution, Short Cycle Times, Personal Lines Auto
- Loss research, Point-of-Impact Analysis, Coverage Verification, Statutory Compliance, Comparative Negligence
- Total loss evaluation, Vehicle Valuation, Rental Cost Control, Salvage Processing, Releases & Paperwork Execution
- Adjuster license compliance
- Communication & Software: Claims Management Software, Guidewire ClaimCenter, CCC ONE, Customer De-escalation, Multi-System Navigation
- Loss research
- Coverage evaluation
- Loss analysis
Timeline
Claims Examiner 1 (Contract)
Texas Windstorm
03.2025 - 03.2026
Claims Specialist
State Farm
12.2022 - 09.2024
Process Administrator (Contract)
Huntington National Bank
04.2021 - 10.2022
Claims Processor, Material Damage (Contract)
Nationwide Insurance
03.2020 - 10.2020
LOA Coordinator/Claims Assistant / Service Center
Sedgwick
06.2018 - 03.2020
Data Migration Analyst
ComResource (Temp)
01.2018 - 05.2018
High School Diploma -
Licking Heights High School