Paul Mahacek of Phoenix
Date: 12/14/2005Contact: Joan Barrett/800-690-0070
Paul Mahacek recalls the days of the AICA when many carriers supported the organization by reimbursing the costs of attending and gave the adjusters time off to attend the meetings and golf tournaments. He tells of the glorious 80’s when he first joined the organization and the attendance at the meetings was counted in the hundreds to dine on filet mignon and hear speakers like the Attorney General and Phoenix Suns stars. The strong treasury of the association allowed the board to make large donations to these speaker’s favorite charities and subsidize the cost of fine dining for all.
Paul still remembers that among the prizes at the Christmas parties in those days were hot air balloon rides, fishing trips and jaunts to Las Vegas. The 50th anniversary of the Association was a black tie affair at the Ritz Carlton attended by over 400 people with a grand prize of a first class, all expenses paid trip to the 50th state, Hawaii.
Those were the days, Paul recalls, when adjusters prided themselves on customer service with an emphasis on face-to-face relationships with the policyholders and training was a feature of most of the carrier’s agendas. He wonders if technology and cost cuts have changed things so much that those days are gone forever and despairs that the education, assistance and camaraderie of the claims association may be endangered. At best the association is fighting an uphill battle to maintain participation, even when offering valuable education.
The education offered by the AICA at the annual claims conference is an opportunity as Paul sees it for the few adjusters who will make use of the practically free seminars on many different subjects. He contrasts attendance at the annual seminar with the education offered by private companies out of state for $1,500.00 to $2,500.00 plus the cost of travel and accommodations. It is particularly hard to understand in Paul’s view when there are large carriers with regional headquarters in the Phoenix area that could utilize the training for their adjusters.
Paul came to Arizona to attend ASU and met and married his college sweetheart Karen. They have a son Marc, who now resides in Fort Worth, Texas with his ex-wife and two sons. Paul currently works with the State of Arizona Risk Management where he moved after 18 years with St. Paul Insurance. Paul and Karen spend their free time with the Model A Restorers and the Phoenix Model A Club lovingly restoring their three Model A Ford vehicles.