Valerie Stewart
Wilmington,DE
Summary
Detail-oriented claims professional with 22 years of experience in Personal Lines. Proficient in analyzing policy language, evaluating coverage, and determining accurate claim settlements, Strong leadership abilities, and skilled in managing relationships. Excellent communication skills, effectively interacting with internal stakeholders, external partners, and customers. Strong command of conflict resolution.
Overview
22
22
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Technical Claims Consultant
Bristol West Insurance
08.2023 - Current
- Increasing efficiency in claims handling by developing streamlined processes and procedures for the team to follow.
- Streamlining workflows and implementing best practices.
- Collaborating with legal counsel.
- Conducting day-to-day administrative tasks to ensure FL lawsuits and disclosures are processed in timely manner.
- Researching claims and incident information to deliver solutions and resolve problems.
Field Claims Manager – Liability
Bristol West Insurance
03.2018 - 08.2023
- Lead a large team of people leaders within the site across all skill-sets/roles.
- Enhanced communication within the team by holding regular meets and encouraging open dialogue among all members.
- Managed and motivated employees to be productive and engaged in work.
- Enhanced customer satisfaction by resolving disputes promptly, maintaining open lines of communication, and ensuring high-quality service delivery.
- Resolved staff member conflicts, actively listening to concerns and finding appropriate middle ground.
- Cross-trained existing employees to maximize team agility and performance.
- Monitored and analyzed business performance to identify areas of improvement and make necessary adjustments.
- Developed a strong company culture focused on employee engagement, collaboration, and continuous learning opportunities.
- Achieved departmental goals by developing and executing strategic plans and performance metrics.
- Ensured compliance with industry regulations and legal requirements by implementing comprehensive policies and training programs for staff members.
- Led change management initiatives to drive organizational transformation without compromising employee morale or productivity levels.
- Championed diversity and inclusion efforts within the workplace, resulting in an inclusive environment that fostered creativity and innovation among employees from various backgrounds.
- Drove operational efficiency through data-driven decision-making processes, leveraging analytics tools for informed strategy development.
- Cultivated partnerships with internal and external stakeholders to maximize business opportunities and extend network reach within the industry sector.
- Evaluated employee performance and conveyed constructive feedback to improve skills.
- Recruited, interviewed and hired employees and implemented mentoring program to promote positive feedback and engagement.
- Leveraged data and analytics to make informed decisions and drive business improvements.
Field Claims Supervisor – Liability
Bristol West Insurance
01.2012 - 03.2018
- Oversaw daily operations of the department, ensuring smooth workflow and timely completion of tasks.
- Applied strong leadership talents and problem-solving skills to maintain team efficiency and organize workflows.
- Handled customer complaints, resolved issues, and adjusted policies to meet changing needs.
- Monitored workflow to improve employee time management and increase productivity.
- Maintained compliance with company policies, objectives, and communication goals.
- Evaluated employee performance and coached and trained to improve weak areas.
- Increased team productivity by implementing efficient workflows and setting clear expectations for staff members.
- Mentored newly hired employees on operating equipment and safety and developed training manual to use for reference.
- Resolved conflicts among team members promptly, maintaining a harmonious working environment conducive to productivity.
- Collaborated with other departments to achieve organizational goals, fostering teamwork across various functions.
- Cultivated strong relationships with key clients or stakeholders through consistent communication and excellent service delivery.
- Evaluated staff performance and provided coaching to address inefficiencies.
Field Claims Supervisor- Med/PIP
21st Century Insurance
01.2010 - 01.2012
- Successful completion of Claims Leadership Development
- Established performance metrics for the team, consistently tracking progress towards goals and making adjustments as needed.
- Developed staff skills through targeted training programs, resulting in improved performance and career growth opportunities.
- Improved customer satisfaction with timely response to inquiries, addressing concerns, and finding effective solutions.
- Maintained compliance with company policies, objectives, and communication goals.
- Evaluated employee performance and coached and trained to improve weak areas.
- Increased team productivity by implementing efficient workflows and setting clear expectations for staff members.
Senior Med/PIP Specialist
21st Century Insurance
01.2003 - 01.2011
- Responsible for Michigan and New Jersey catastrophic claims.
- Responsible for the handling of New Jersey Litigation.
- High cost savings of over 1 million dollars through investigation in claim handling of Michigan Large Loss Claims.
- Negotiated favorable settlements for clients, maintaining a high success rate in claim resolutions.
- Developed strong client relationships through consistent communication and attentive service.
- Attended training programs to deepen professional skillset and assisted in training fellow store associates on existing and new training programs.
- Earned recognition as a top performer consistently exceeding targets throughout my tenure as a specialist in the field.
Team Leader-Bill Review
AIG
01.2002 - 01.2003
- Assisted with the implementation of Mitchell Medical.
- Supervised team members to confirm compliance with set procedures and quality requirements.
- Monitored team performance and provided constructive feedback to increase productivity and maintain quality standards.
- Worked with team to identify areas of improvement and devised solutions based on findings.
- Empowered team members by delegating responsibilities according to individual strengths and areas of expertise.
- Conducted training and mentored team members to promote productivity, accuracy, and commitment to friendly service.
- Promoted high standards through personal example to help each member understand expected behaviors and standards.
Skills
- Leading Blended Teams
- Verbal Communication
- Performance Management
- Change Management
- Compliance Management
- Emotional Intelligence
- Business Acumen
- Claims Investigation
- Critical Thinking
- Team Collaboration
- Team Leadership
- Active Listening
- Decision-Making
- Policy Contract Interpretation
- Coaching and Mentoring
- Engagement and Empowerment
- DEIB Champion
Accomplishments
- Zurich Lean Yellow Belt - 07/01/2014
- CLD - 02/15/2012
- Casualty II Certificate - 10/17/2008
- NICB CPT Codes & Medical Reports - 06/07/2006
- Professional Medical Coding - 05/19/2006
- Claim PRO PIP II - 06/10/2005
Certification
- Successful completion of Elevate
- Zurich Lean Yellow Belt
- Associate in Claims
- Claims Leadership Development
Timeline
Technical Claims Consultant
Bristol West Insurance
08.2023 - Current
Field Claims Manager – Liability
Bristol West Insurance
03.2018 - 08.2023
Field Claims Supervisor – Liability
Bristol West Insurance
01.2012 - 03.2018
Field Claims Supervisor- Med/PIP
21st Century Insurance
01.2010 - 01.2012
Senior Med/PIP Specialist
21st Century Insurance
01.2003 - 01.2011
Team Leader-Bill Review
AIG
01.2002 - 01.2003
- Successful completion of Elevate
- Zurich Lean Yellow Belt
- Associate in Claims
- Claims Leadership Development
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