On the Scene (December 01, 2010)

Deanna Hodges has joined Insignia Forensic Group Inc. Hodges is a chartered accountant who has specialized in insurance loss quantification for 10 years, with a particular expertise in income replacement benefit calculations.

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Granite Global Solutions Inc. — the holding company of McLarens Canada, Sibley & Associates, King Reed & Associates and Rochon Engineering — has announced a series of board and executive appointments.

The appointments include:

• John Chippendale, vice chairman of HKMB Hub International, to Granite’s board;

• Richard Evans, a past president of Liberty Insurance Company of Canada, to Granite’s board;

• Duncan Smith to chief financial officer of Granite; and

• Will W. Chang to vice president, general counsel and coporate secretary of Granite Global Solutions.

Smith most recently served as CFO of EISI, a private equity-backed technology company. Chang’s previous post was head of legal for Transat Holidays.

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Esporta Wash Systems Inc. no longer has an exclusivity agreement with WINMAR Property Restoration Specialists and Disaster Kleenup Canada (DKC).

WINMAR and DKC signed an agreement with Esporta Wash Systems in 2007, giving the two Canadian restoration contractors exclusive rights to use the Esporta technology for the restoration of soft contents.

Esporta Wash Systems’ patented and proprietary technology helps restore large amounts of the soft contents traditionally cashed out by insurance companies, thus requiring fewer damaged goods to be transported to landfill sites.

“The Esporta Wash System technology has provided us with the benefits of reduced loss costs, as well as being more sustainable,” said Glen Oxford, national property claims manager for Co-operators Insurance. “The end to the Canadian exclusivity is important to us, because it makes the technology available to more contractors and other organizations who can bring the benefits of the Esporta to a greater number of our clients.”

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In anticipation of the transition of HCAI from a project to an operation, an insurer user group has been formed.

The user group consists of six elected representatives from the corporate adjuster community and one elected representative from Ontario’s independent adjuster community.

The members of the group are: Insurers with +10% Market Share

• Erin Warry

• Valerie Burke

Insurers with 4%-10% Market Share

• Ann Shewchuk

• Stephanie Brown

Insurers with 0%-4% Market Share

• Jackie Brouwers

• Rowena Griffin

Laurie Walker of McLarens Canada will be filling the seat of independent adjuster, with Kelly Stevens of Crawford & Company (Canada) Inc. serving as the alternate. A subcommittee is being formed of all independent adjusters handling Ontario Statutory Accident Benefits Claims. If you are an independent adjuster and wish to participate in this group, please email laurie.walker@mclarens.ca or kelly.stevens@crawco.ca for more information.

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Crawford & Company (Canada) Inc. opened an office in Prince George, B.C., effective Sept. 1, 2010.

“The addition of this office, which covers an important territory in northern British Columbia, will allow us to service our clients even more effectively than before,” said Walter Waugh, vice president of Crawford’s Western Canada operations.

Robin Stevens, CIP, managing professional, will operate the Prince George office. Stevens has more than 18 years of experience as a multi-line adjuster, and will report to Dave Lemire, branch manager for Vancouver and Vancouver-area offices. • Canadian Independent Adjusters’ Association Nova Scotia Region president Grant King presented a plaque and cash award to Jennifer Greene of Intact Insurance in Halifax for Best Performance by a 1st Year CIP Student, during the Insurance Institute of Nova Scotia’s Awards Dinner on Nov. 3, 2010.

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Canadian Independent Adjusters’ Association Nova Scotia Region president Grant King presented a plaque and cash award to Susan Hatt of Marsh Adjustment Bureau for Highest Result in C110 -Essentials of Loss Adjusting, during the Insurance Institute of Nova Scotia’s Awards Dinner on Nov. 3, 2010. •