Town Hall Speakers

Daniel Blake is a member of the Auto Club Enterprises' (ACE) Property Vendor Management Team and assists in the oversight of the national partnership between ACE and Contractor Connection. Blake began his career with ACE five years ago as a claims service representative prior to joining the Vendor Management Team.

He is a graduate from Chapman University, where he earned a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration.

Pamela is a Vendor Team Manager with AAA, which is based in Costa Mesa, CA. In addition to managing AAA's relationship with Contractor Connection, she is heavily involved in working directly with other key vendors to support several company initiatives.

During her career in the insurance industry, Pamela has worked primarily on the homeowner's side and has served as a underwriter, field adjuster, claims supervisor, auditor and process redesign specialist. Prior to joining AAA she spent the past five years as a Property Field Claim Manager for Nationwide Insurance where she had oversight over Southern California.

Pamela received a Bachelor of Science degree in marketing from Arizona State University.

Andrew White is a Claims Vendor Manager with Amica Mutual Insurance Company, which is based in Lincoln, Rhode Island. In addition to managing Amica’s relationship with Contractor Connection, he is heavily involved in working directly with other key vendors to support several company initiatives.

During his 20-plus years with the company’s claims operation, White has also worked as a claims service representative, a field adjuster and a claims supervisor. In addition, he spent more than five years working in Amica’s Talent Development department, where he had oversight of and was actively involved in claims-based training programs. Most recently, he spent nine years working as a Claims Examiner, where he oversaw more serious claims from Amica’s home and excess liability lines.

White received a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from the University of Rhode Island, and he has earned the CPCU, AIC, API, AIDA and AINS designations from The Institutes.

Matt Palczer is the Vice President of Property and Subrogation Claims Operations for Erie Insurance. He began his career with Erie Insurance in 2002 as a mail clerk in ERIE’s Murrysville, Pennsylvania, branch office. He has served in positions of increasing responsibility, including as a multi-line adjuster, Property Adjuster, Property Reinspector, Property Examiner and Property Reinspection Manager. He also developed Erie's drone program.

Palczer is currently pursuing a bachelor's degree at Southern New Hampshire University. He previously served 10 years in the United States Air Force as an F-16 Crew Chief.

Tim Salamonsen began his career with Erie on June 1, 2002, part-time in the Commercial Quotes unit. He has served in various roles in his career, including Inside Claims Rep, Multi-Line adjuster, Property Adjuster, Property Reinspector, Property Examiner, and his current role as Property Reinspection Manager.

Salamonsen has a bachelor’s degree from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania and is Erie’s Property Repair Network lead.

Edward Groark began his insurance career as an independent adjuster before joining MetLife Auto and Home in 1987. Groark has over 30 years’ experience in the insurance industry and held a number of positions over the years including Senior Field Adjuster, Field Supervisor, Inside Operations Manager and Claims Technical Administrator. Groark now works as a Manager on the Technology and Sourcing Solutions Operational Team, where he manages the Technical Accuracy Review Team and vendor relationships, including Crawford Contractor Connection.

Groark obtained a BSBA from Northeastern University in Boston, where he majored in Business Management. He also volunteers for The MetLife Foundation and Make-A-Wish.

Shannon Cragg is the Assistant Vice President for Personal Lines Property claims for Nationwide Insurance. She has responsibility for the centralized claims teams including the On Your Side Property Repair Network, Centralized Property Team, and National Catastrophe team. Additionally, she leads the Personal Lines Property Technical office and Strategy Project team.

In her current role, Cragg is responsible for establishing and ensuring quality best practices, leveraging resources to ensure best in class claims response as well as innovation and implementation of technology and strategies for the most efficient and effective resource management. Nationwide’s Property Repair Network is a key strategy for the organization and Shannon, and her team, work to ensure that the program offers a world-class solution to the Nationwide members who chose to utilize it.

Cragg has 20 years of claims leadership experience in personal and commercial lines Property and Auto claims. She currently resides and works in Columbus, Ohio.

Dave Thoman is a Technical Director of Property Claims for Nationwide Insurance. As a liaison between the claims operations and home office, Dave is responsible for driving technical excellence and consistency across Nationwide’s many geographic regions, including the OYSPRN program. Dave has been with Nationwide for 35 years, serving in varying leadership positions supporting the claims organization. He currently resides in the Annapolis, Maryland area.

Natasha Chou is the Director of the On Your Side Property Repair Network (OYSPRN) for Nationwide Insurance. She has responsibility for customer service, quality control, performance management, and positive growth of Nationwide’s OYSPRN program. Natasha has been with Nationwide for 13 years, serving in a variety of claims leadership roles across Property and Auto claims. She obtained her B.S. Science- Chemistry from Virginia Commonwealth University and her M.B.A. from Capella University. She currently resides in the Columbus, Ohio area.

Don Kindred is Assistant Vice President of the Property Damage Assessment organization at The Hartford. He oversees Outside Property and Virtual claims adjusters who leverage physical inspections, Managed Repair programs and virtual claim handling to deliver an exceptional claim experience for the customer. He has more than 25 years of industry experience with 13 years at The Hartford.

Born in Massachusetts and raised in Texas, Kindred resides with his wife and is an avid Astros Fan. When away from work, he enjoys wine tasting and traveling with his family.

Jason Metsker serves as Property Catastrophe Claims Manager. He is responsible for coordinating Westfield’s response to all catastrophic events. During his 20-plus years at Westfield, Jason has also served as Complex Claims Unit Leader, Claims Manager, Regional Property Specialist and Claims Representative.

In addition to his catastrophe duties, Metsker is responsible for vendor/managed programs and provides support to the entire property team. Metsker earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science/Criminal Justice from the University of Akron. He currently resides in northeastern Ohio and works out of Westfield’s home office in Westfield Center, Ohio.