On The Scene

FirstOnSite has expanded its Ontario management team with three new appointments. Steve Gregg is now district manager of the GTA. In this role, he will oversee the operations and service delivery of several FirstOnSite locations across Southern Ontario. Jim Mandeville is now branch manager of Toronto East. Mandeville will draw on his eight years of experience in the construction and restoration industry to lead this location. Len Perdic has accepted the title of project manager in Hamilton. Perdic has established trusted relationships with the insurance industry in Hamilton and the surrounding area and will continue to respect those relationships and foster new ones in his new role, the company says in a release.

On behalf of the Canadian Independent Adjusters’ Association New Brunswick/Prince Edward Island, regional president, Luc Aucoin presented CIAA national with a $10,000 donation at the Association’s Annual General Meeting in August. National treasurer, Randy LaBrash, national executive members and the CIAA membership as a whole, express a heartfelt thank you to the region for their extremely generous contribution.
Sincere congratulations are extended to CIAA NB/PEI’s regional executive for their tremendous dedication and commitment in coordinating the province’s Emergency Measures Organization work for the benefit of the CIAA membership.
“CIAA members across the country certainly appreciated CIAA New Brunswick’s “Call for Adjusters” last year and took advantage of the opportunity to assist,” Pat Battle said in a letter to the region’s president, Luc Aucoin.
“Your region does an exemplary job in also providing valuable education and networking opportunities to the benefit of all your members and we are grateful for the support, cooperation and courtesies extended by the NB/PEI Region’s members over the years.”

Granite Global Solutions and Rochon Engineering announced the renewal of a long-term contract with Mike Rochon and Vince Rochon, founders and co-CEOs of Rochon, to continue to lead the division.
Rochon Engineering announced on Sept. 13 that Mike and Vince Rochon would be stepping down from the position in October 2011. Since then, they have decided to stay on and lead the division.
“We are delighted that Mike and Vince Rochon have committed enthusiastically to a long-term agreement to lead this expert team of forensic engineers well into the future,” said Murray Wallace, CEO of Granite Global. “We have had excellent discussions about the exciting and promising future for Rochon Engineering as part of Canada’s fastest growing network of risk management and insurance services at Granite Global.”

FirstOnSite Restoration has appointed Brad Meekin to head up its new healthcare and government services business unit.
Through FirstOnSite’s Priority Response Emergency Plan (PREP) program, Meekin will assist organizations in the healthcare and government sectors – including hospitals, retirement residences, long-term care and medical facilities – with business continuity and emergency response planning.

McLarens Canada has been renamed Granite Claims Solutions.
McLarens Canada began 35 years ago in Toronto as Ponton Coleshill Insurance Adjusters. Since then, the company has grown to over 500 employees and provides claims services across Canada from almost 50 branch offices.
“Our new name provides an opportunity to position ourselves as Canada’s leading independent adjusting firm,” says Granite Claims Solutions president Michael Holden.
“While our re-branding reflects a change for us, we remain dedicated to being the same great company that was founded 35 years ago. As we continue to grow and evolve the one thing that remains constant is our commitment to our clients.”
The organization has also teamed up with international adjusting alliance VRS Adjusters, which enables Granite Claims Solutions to service its clients internationally.
Since 1976, Granite Claims Solutions has provided claims handling, risk management and third-party administration services to local, national and international insurance markets, risk managers, brokers and public entities.
Headquartered in Toronto, Ont., Granite offers a national presence to the domestic property and casualty insurance industry. It has more than 300 specialty claims adjusters, marine surveyors and third party administrators coast to coast in Canada.

Michael McLeod has been promoted to branch manager of Crawford & Company (Canada)’s Toronto West office. McLeod will be responsible for the daily operations of the branch office, maintaining relationships and leading a team of more than 40 professionals and administrative staff.
Jennifer Tims has been named branch manager of operations for the company on Vancouver Island. Tims has been with Crawford for more than 10 years, previously working with the company’s Edmonton claims operation.

Granite Claims Solutions acquired Toronto-based BBCG Claim Services Limited.
BBCG will continue to operate under the BBCG name. It is a niche-market adjusting firm specializing in surety and fidelity bonds, builders’ risk, course of construction, professional errors and omissions and trade credit claims.
The BBCG team is led by William E. (Ted) Baker, and has offices in Ontario, British Columbia and Quebec.