Wes Bradshaw

Experience

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  State Farm

  Feb 2001 - Jul 2019

  Lead business units of up to 100 employees, establishing department vision, operational and financial expectations. Frequently represented firm to external regulators and political bodies across the U.S. Create and repeatedly reinforce a continuous improvement culture, utilizing various methodologies/tools including Lean, Shingo, Kaizen and Agile Development. Provide senior-level direction and accountability to large teams handling complex and litigious claims in the following policy types: first/third-party auto injury, auto liability, Medicare supplemental, hospital-surgical, long-term care and disability incomeAnalyzed injury claim workflows, implemented process improvements in case evaluation and reporting, resulting in a 23% YOY (2014) decrease in overtime Using Lean principles, led the long-term care claims department to decrease year over year overtime expenses by 42%, improving customer responsiveness index scores by 30%Consistently met and often exceeded operational and financial targets while leading 11 managers and 82 claim handlers with 7,000+ injury claims and 400+ active lawsuits. Developed jurisdictional expertise in Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and WisconsinVetted and monitored performance of 50+ external defense law firms throughout the Mid-West, as they represent policyholders and the enterprise in high-stakes litigationFound and/or created development opportunities for direct/indirect reports, resulting in promotions of 50+ high potential associates or mentees since 2014 Established and monitored multi-million-dollar budgets. Consistently met and often outperformed expense expectations, including a 1.5% below target expense mark for 2018.Coordinated response to an adverse State Supreme Court Decision, mitigated $10M+ exposure through proactive case review and communication with regulators Show less Led technical and procedural activities of claim teams in homeowners’ property, homeowners’ liability, commercial property, commercial liability, auto property and auto injury claims in various environments.Led team with 1,200+ injury claims and 140+ active lawsuits in Minnesota. Independently managed policyholder and enterprise risk in complex litigation with authority in excess of $250,000 per caseAddressing a high-stakes regulatory matter, created start-up department to handle international injury claims virtually. Hired and trained 120 handlers under aggressive timelines. Through operational discipline, improved regulatory compliance and a 20% reduction in handling expensesLeveraged Excel & Access expertise, developed performance metrics for a start-up department, improving team/individual accountability and responsiveness to the customers’ needsCoordinated enterprise response to catastrophic events, including tornados and hurricanes. Managed up to 50 claim handlers over large geographic territories under challenging conditions Show less

  • Operations Management, Health Claim Superintendent & Injury Claim Section Manager

    Apr 2014 - Jul 2019

  • First-Line Leader, Claim Team Manager (Catastrophe, Injury & PIP/MPC)

    Nov 2008 - Mar 2014

  • Customer-Facing Associate, Claim Representative (Catastrophe & Centralized Auto)

    Feb 2001 - Oct 2008
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  Wawanesa Insurance

  Aug 2019 - Oct 2021

  Manager, Claims - Property & Injury

  Provided senior-level leadership to US Property Claim division, coordinated division overhaul beginning in November 2020, achieved, and sustained significant improvements in customer satisfaction and operational metrics Provided senior-level leadership to US Injury Claim divisions responsible for the handling of all auto injury and property liability claims Successfully led a multifaceted project to open Wawanesa’s first Claims Branch outside of U.S. Headquarters. Delivered project on time and under budget. Under an aggressive timeline, built multiple diverse teams of claim handlers that were seamlessly integrated into existing enterprise processes. Initial teams built include First Notice of Loss Auto & Homeowners, Non-Complex Auto and Complex Auto.Since 2019, teams within my division consistently achieved industry-leading Net Promoter Scores at both First Notice of Loss & Closed claim intervals. Show less

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  SageSure

  Oct 2021 - now

  Independently and in collaboration with a small team of peer Claims executives, designed and launched a full service property claims department within 90 days of hire. Led the creation of claims handling guidelines, adjuster and manager hiring strategy, onboarding/offboarding program, estimating platform configuration and production scorecard development. Additionally played a key role in the development of estimating guidelines, claims and estimating system configurations, carrier relations strategy, vendor vetting and selection, compliance strategy and quality assurance strategy and process. Within the first year of operation, met or exceeded all carrier, financial, operational and customer service targets. Post-launch, responsibilities include: + Non-Cat Claim Team guidance and leadership (technical & operational) + Field Team operation guidance and leadership (technical & operational) + Litigation Team guidance and leadership (technical & operational) + Claims Services Call Center - FNOL & Claim Inquiry process owner + Carrier Relations & Reporting + Claim system optimization, enhancement & innovation key collaborator + Claim process optimization, enhancement & innovation key collaborator Show less

  • Vice President - Claims Operations

    Aug 2023 - now

  • Assistant Vice President - Claims Operations

    Oct 2021 - Jul 2023