In this episode of The Claim Hunters, host Chris Tidball sits down with Dave Fernandez, Chief Claims Officer at Kingstone Insurance.

Dave shares his unexpected journey into insurance, from a temporary role at Progressive to over three decades in the industry. The conversation covers Kingstone's growth plans, the shift to fully remote work, and the importance of hiring self-motivated, curious adjusters. They also explore AI's role as a productivity tool rather than a replacement for human judgment, and discuss strategies for improving retention in an industry facing ongoing staffing challenges.

To learn more about Dave's work, click HERE.

Connect with Dave on LinkedIn HERE.

Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE.

Want to learn more about Chris' work at SecondLook? Check out his website at https://secondlook.net/.

In this episode of the Claim Hunters, your host Chris Tidball interviews Rob Bowers, Chief Claims Officer at Westfield, as he reflects on his nearly four-decade career ahead of retirement.

Rob discusses the dramatic evolution of claims handling, from handwritten logs to AI, drones, and satellite imagery. He shares insights on remote work, the "Amazon mindset" of modern customers, nuclear verdicts, and the irreplaceable role of human empathy in claims. Rob closes by expressing excitement about retirement, grandchildren, travel, and continued community service.

To learn more about Rob's work, click HERE.

Connect with Rob on LinkedIn HERE.

Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE.

Want to learn more about Chris' work at SecondLook? Check out his website at https://secondlook.net/.

In this episode of the Claim Hunters, your host Chris Tidball interviews Taylor Smith, Founder and President of Suite 200 Solutions, about the 2026 CLM Defense Council study.

They discuss rising claim severity, increasing indemnity and defense costs, and the growing use of AI by plaintiff firms to secure larger settlements. The conversation highlights the defense industry's struggle to keep pace with AI-driven advocacy, a generational staffing crisis in defense firms, and the shortcomings of traditional hourly billing models. Taylor emphasizes the urgent need for insurers and defense counsel to modernize through AI adoption, alternative fee arrangements, and improved negotiation training.

To learn more about Taylor's work, click HERE.

Connect with Taylor on LinkedIn HERE.

Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE.

Want to learn more about Chris' work at SecondLook? Check out his website at https://secondlook.net/.

In this episode of the Claim Hunters podcast, your host Chris Tidball interviews Krista Glenn, Chief Claims Officer at Westfield Specialty.

Krista explains how Westfield Specialty, launched in 2021, operates as a specialty division focusing on cyber, excess casualty, and professional lines, with a growing global presence. She shares her career journey from law school to building Westfield Specialty's claims team from scratch. Key topics include hiring strategies, team culture, the complexity of specialty claims, and AI's role in claims processing, which Krista views as a helpful tool rather than a replacement for human expertise.

To learn more about Krista's work, click HERE.

Connect with Krista on LinkedIn HERE.

Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE.

Want to learn more about Chris' work at SecondLook? Check out his website at https://secondlook.net/.

In this episode of The Claim Hunters, host Chris Tidball speaks with Lauren Watstein from W. R. Berkley Corporation, who oversees legal bill review for 17 Berkley entities and manages corporate panel counsel.

Lauren explains how her experienced team of legal professionals audit invoices for accuracy and compliance with billing guidelines. She highlights common red flags like pattern billing and clerical tasks billed as attorney work, while emphasizing fair, collaborative resolution. Lauren also shares her career journey from retail to legal bill review and offers practical advice for claim adjusters navigating complex legal invoices.

To learn more about Lauren's work, click HERE.

Connect with Lauren on LinkedIn HERE.

Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE.

Want to learn more about Chris' work at SecondLook? Check out his website at https://secondlook.net/.

In this episode of Claim Hunters, your host Chris Tidball speaks with Mike Cummings, Head of Claims at Norfolk & Dedham (N&D Group).

They discuss rising litigation costs, inconsistent claims handling, and strategies to combat claim severity, including social media investigations and surveillance. Mike highlights challenges with soft fraud and inflated medical bills, and shares how AI is being used to streamline claims processing and improve adjuster efficiency. They also cover the impact of winter storms on property claims, the balance between remote and hybrid work models, and the ethical and legal questions surrounding full AI automation in claims handling.

To learn more about Mike's work, click HERE.

Connect with Mike on LinkedIn HERE.

Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE.

Want to learn more about Chris' work at SecondLook? Check out his website at https://secondlook.net/.

In this episode of Claim Hunters, your host Chris Tidball speaks with Hope Remetta, Director of Claims at Berkley Industrial Comp.

Hope explains her team's focus on high-severity workers' compensation claims, including fatalities, amputations, and traumatic brain injuries, involving highly skilled workers in hazardous industries. She highlights Berkley's flexible, creative approach to claims management, sharing a notable amputation case where specialized prosthetic care helped an injured worker return to work. Hope also discusses fraud challenges, third-party recoveries, and her accidental career path from aspiring speech pathologist to 21-year claims industry veteran, starting at Liberty Mutual before joining Berkley.

To learn more about Hope's work, click HERE.

Connect with Hope on LinkedIn HERE.

Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE.

Want to learn more about Chris' work at SecondLook? Check out his website at https://secondlook.net/.

In this episode of Claim Hunters, host Chris Tidball speaks with Montana attorney Brandon Shannon about litigation management challenges.

Brandon explains why subrogation is difficult in Montana due to the state's "made whole" rule. He highlights the importance of early case evaluation within 45–60 days and advocates for standardized litigation guidelines to improve consistency across insurers. Brandon also discusses how AI tools help summarize depositions and medical records efficiently, while attorney oversight remains essential. The conversation concludes with an interesting look at Montana's vehicle registration benefits, including no sales tax, which attracts out-of-state LLC registrations.

To learn more about Brandon's work, click HERE.

Connect with Brandon LinkedIn HERE.

Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE.

Want to learn more about Chris' work at SecondLook? Check out his website at https://secondlook.net/.