Michael Foster AIC
Hamburg,NJ
Summary
Results-oriented Oversight Manager skilled in client relations and staff supervision. Expertise in enhancing customer satisfaction and implementing process improvements. Committed to training and mentoring teams to drive performance and maintain high production standards.
Overview
25
25
years of professional experience
Work History
Oversight manager/Client Relations Specialist
Tradesman Program Managers
New York, New York
08.2023 - Current
- Developed strategies to increase customer satisfaction and loyalty.
- Conducted client meetings to clarify project requirements and refine scope.
- Coached and mentored team members, significantly boosting job performance.
- Led staff training programs to improve capabilities and performance.
- Monitored staff performance, proactively addressing issues as they arose.
- Implemented process improvements to streamline workflows and eliminate redundancies.
- Managed vendor relationships, ensuring timely delivery of goods and services.
- Held regular meetings with staff to review progress and identify improvement areas.
Claims Supervisor
Fortis Risk Solutions
Garden City, NY
10.2022 - 07.2023
- Approved reserves and payments within authority level of $50,000.
- Reviewed settlement litigation and team practices to uphold quality standards.
- Managed team members to achieve high production standards with precise results.
- Motivated team members to ensure timely turnaround for processing objectives.
- Evaluated and motivated employees to improve performance and support knowledge development.
- Recommended and communicated goals to align team efforts with targets for enhanced excellence.
- Monitored objectives to assess workflow effectiveness, identifying training needs for targeted improvement.
- Completed month-end and year-end closings, ensuring records remained audit-ready.
Senior Large Loss Liability Adjuster
Berkshire Hathaway Guard Insurance
02.2022 - 10.2022
- Recommended settlement offers and negotiated payment arrangements to achieve fair outcomes for clients.
- Reviewed, evaluated and adjusted claims to promote fair and prompt settlement.
- Handled and processed variety of claims, including general liability, APR, auto and homeowner claims
- Investigated questionable claims to determine payment authorization.
- Adhered to company and insurance client's guidelines in claims processes and claim closures.
- Assessed claims for accuracy to ensure compliance with guidelines.
- Paid and processed claims within designated authority level.
- Conducted interviews and gathered detailed information
- Trained and mentored new adjusters and staff to enhance team capabilities and improve claims handling.
Senior Liability Claims Examiner
Broadspire, a Crawford
Berkley Heights, NJ
11.2021 - 01.2022
- Handled and processed diverse claims, including commercial auto and commercial general liability, ensuring compliance with guidelines.
- Reviewed, evaluated, and adjusted claims to facilitate fair and prompt settlements.
- Adhered to company and insurance client's guidelines in claims processes, estimate writing and claim closures.
- Obtained relevant information for thorough evaluation of injury claims, enhancing accuracy in claims processing.
- Reviewed claims to ensure accuracy, resulting in multiple claim reductions.
- Paid and processed claims within designated authority level.
- Gathered information from various third parties to determine claim acceptability.
- Consulted accountants, engineers, lawyers, and physicians to gather necessary information.
- Conducted daily reviews on claim files and verified sending of status letters to policyholders.
Complex Claim Supervisor
Berkshire Hathaway Guard Ins. Co.
Wilkes - Barre, PA
04.2021 - 10.2021
- Developed and implemented operational plans and procedures to enable successful team operations.
- Direct and supervise staff performance.
- Motivated team members to achieve targeted turnaround times, ensuring timely processing of claims.
- Conducted meetings to address issues and identify solutions, enhancing overall claim handling efficiency.
- Identified appropriate solutions to minimize issues and quickly solve problems.
- Recommended and communicated goals to help team excel against targets.
- Reviewed settlements, litigation and team best practices to maintain high standards of quality.
- Trained new team members on policies and procedures for claims handling.
- Responded to insured and claimant inquiries, providing researched information to facilitate informed decision-making.
Casualty Claims Representative II
Berkshire Hathaway Guard Ins. Co.
Wilkes Barre, PA
09.2019 - 04.2021
- Adhered to company and insurance client's guidelines in claims processes and claim closures.
- Determined insurance coverage levels and restrictions by thoroughly examining claims forms
- Gathered comprehensive information for thorough evaluation of injury claims.
- Evaluated first reports of loss and supporting documentation to identify potential claim irregularities.
- Communicated with reinsurance brokers to obtain claim information for processing.
- Conducted detailed bill reviews to implement sound litigation management and expense control.
- Analyzed information gathered by investigations and reported findings and recommendations.
- Provided exceptional customer service by effectively communicating information and addressing client concerns.
- Reduced loss ratios through fair and prompt processing of claims.
- Mentored and trained new and existing employees
Claims Examiner
Athens Administrators
Parsippany, NJ
01.2016 - 07.2019
- Reviewed and verified documentation for denied and accepted insurance claims to ensure accuracy and compliance
- Reviewed and resolved open claims and change orders to determine entitlement for additional payment
- Evaluated acceptability of claims from third-parties and gathered comprehensive information
- Complied with company and insurance client’s guidelines in claims processes, estimate writing and the closing of claims
- Maintained company reputation and fostered client loyalty by effectively resolving issues and enhancing customer satisfaction
- Provided outstanding service to new and long-standing customers by attending closely to concerns and developing solutions
- Facilitated conflict resolution and negotiated agreements among parties to achieve mutually beneficial solutions and clarify misunderstandings
Asst. Supervisor / Sr. Property & Liability Claims
D & H Alternative Risk Solutions, Inc.
Newton, NJ
01.2013 - 01.2016
- Assisted general liability adjusters with operational improvements and resolved claim handling problems.
- Led team of 6 GL and auto adjusters to support customer service department with daily operations
- Proactively identified and solved complex problems impacting operations management and business direction
- Resolved conflicts and negotiated agreements to clarify misunderstandings and achieve mutually beneficial outcomes
- Maintained company reputation and strengthened client loyalty by effectively resolving issues and enhancing customer satisfaction
- Delivered an exceptional level of service to each customer by listening to concerns and answering questions
- Created communication strategies to meet client objectives
- Planned and executed training of newly hired employees
- Led [Type] team in delivery of [Type] project requiring close cooperation among members to share information and develop solutions to meet broad array of deliverables
Auto Property Damage Adjuster
Insurance Overload Staffing/Plymouth Rock Ass.
Fairfield, NJ
01.2011 - 02.2013
- Examined automobile policies such as government automobile insurance plans with third-party liability, accident benefits and collision benefits
- Served as subject matter expert for non-standard coverage questions, property damage and collision
- Analyzed insurance organizational structures, business and intermediaries; studied basic documents, including common clauses, policies and insurance contracts
- Managed claim denials and extensions by coordinating follow-ups with relevant parties
- Resolved routine and complex issues by performing detailed research
- Built and maintained customer relationships to increase loyalty and retention
- Stayed current on industry trends and changes and participated in professional development opportunities to strengthen product and service knowledge
- Identified and resolved complex operational issues to support effective business management
Casualty Claim Specialist/ Sr. Property Damage
Avis Budget Group Inc.
New Jersey, NJ
09.2001 - 06.2010
- Drafted statement of loss to summarize damages, payments and underlying policy coverage
- Analyzed first reports of loss and underlying file material to determine if claim was suspect
- Investigated potentially fraudulent claims with focus on thoroughness, quality and cost control
- Conducted interviews and field investigations to collect detailed information on claims
- Gathered comprehensive information for thorough evaluation of injury claims
- Reduced loss ratios through fair and prompt processing of claims
- Contacted injured parties and legal representatives to negotiate final settlements for claims
- Worked with underwriting on loss reserves and risk assessment and coordinated field reviews
- Established connections with local fraud bureaus, district attorneys' offices, and professional associations to enhance collaboration
- Managed caseload of 156 clients each quarter
- Reduced financial discrepancies by accurately resolving billing issues while processing applications and cancellations
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Communication Studies
Ramapo College of New Jersey
Mahwah, NJ1993
Skills
- Client relations
- Commercial insurance
- Regulatory compliance
- Fraud prevention
- Risk analysis
- Database management
- Reporting and documentation
- Data governance
- Workplace safety
- Staff supervision
- Negotiation skills
- Conflict resolution
- Public speaking
- Risk analysis
Affiliations
• Former Member, Pompton Lakes Historical Commision
• Former vice chairman Blairstown Historical Commission
• Former President of the Walden Village II HOA
• Former Secretary of the Colonel Henry Ryerson Civil War Roundtable
• Member, Ramapo College Alumni Association
• Former Director on the Barn Theatre Board of Directors
• Former vice chairman Blairstown Historical Commission
• Former President of the Walden Village II HOA
• Former Secretary of the Colonel Henry Ryerson Civil War Roundtable
• Member, Ramapo College Alumni Association
• Former Director on the Barn Theatre Board of Directors
Accomplishments
- Selected to the ABACUS claim system design team and trainer
- Received AIC designation in 2003
- 29 state insurance adjuster’s licenses including Texas, New York, and Florida
- Notary Public
Timeline
Oversight manager/Client Relations Specialist
Tradesman Program Managers
08.2023 - Current
Claims Supervisor
Fortis Risk Solutions
10.2022 - 07.2023
Senior Large Loss Liability Adjuster
Berkshire Hathaway Guard Insurance
02.2022 - 10.2022
Senior Liability Claims Examiner
Broadspire, a Crawford
11.2021 - 01.2022
Complex Claim Supervisor
Berkshire Hathaway Guard Ins. Co.
04.2021 - 10.2021
Casualty Claims Representative II
Berkshire Hathaway Guard Ins. Co.
09.2019 - 04.2021
Claims Examiner
Athens Administrators
01.2016 - 07.2019
Asst. Supervisor / Sr. Property & Liability Claims
D & H Alternative Risk Solutions, Inc.
01.2013 - 01.2016
Auto Property Damage Adjuster
Insurance Overload Staffing/Plymouth Rock Ass.
01.2011 - 02.2013
Casualty Claim Specialist/ Sr. Property Damage
Avis Budget Group Inc.
09.2001 - 06.2010
Bachelor of Arts - Communication Studies
Ramapo College of New Jersey