Dave Conger regarding the AICA

Date: 4/11/2005
Contact: Joan Barrett/800-690-0070

Interview with Dave Conger, Western Claims and Appraisers


Dave, could you give us some background on the Arizona Insurance Claims Association?

The Claims Association was inactive for several years and we missed the relationships that the AICA helped us build, the training classes and the frankly, the fun we had at the meetings. So, we started up the organization again with a few dedicated folks.

How is that going?

Well, it hasn’t been easy, that’s for sure. Things have changed in the industry so much that there is a lot of isolation in the insurance workplace now that didn’t exist before. It used to be that if a unique situation came up, there were people that you knew who had experienced something similar and could offer another perspective- even if they work for a different carrier, there are some universal truths that will probably apply. Now, with most adjusters working by themselves at their homes there just isn’t much a network for them to access that will address the issues that the AICA presents at monthly meetings.

So are carriers reluctant to let their adjusters attend or is it that the adjusters are too over-burdened to take the time?

It seems to be some of both of those things; there is reluctance on the part of some of the carriers to sanction the adjuster’s attendance. Ironically, even that isn’t the case, the adjusters that can really use the information and support are often too busy to take advantage.

What are your options?

We aren’t giving up just yet. We have brainstormed every option you can imagine but we haven’t been able to figure out how to travel to the adjusters to present the programs that they could use, they still have to come to us. The AICA meets in a fairly central location at the DoubleTree at Van Buren and 44th. The food is excellent and the cookies are outrageous. Our speakers have been topical and interesting and impart great information. The prices are reasonable and we go on hiatus for the summer. We would be happy to entertain any other ideas that our readers may have in order to increase the carrier attendance at the meetings.

What are your plans when you resume in the fall?

There will be an Experts Corner article in each newsletter written by long time supporters of AICA on a variety of topics. We plan to offer useful information written by local experts in the publications to try to address the challenges that face adjusters daily or infrequently.

I know that your presidential term was unexpected this year, what unexpected benefits did that situation provide, if any?

We miss Dave Moses and his vision for the association, but his departure forced us to examine our methods and we feel that we’re better prepared to meet the challenges ahead of us because of it.