Crawford mpany : Adjuster spotlight - Joe Schaub

Joe Schaub, Executive General Adjuster with Crawford GTS, started at Crawford & Company in August 2015 and is celebrating six years during 2021. In 2016, he made the move to Phoenix, AZ which is where he is currently based.

Joe started at Crawford with U.S. Loss Adjusting in our New York, New York office. Originally, Joe chose to work at Crawford because he enjoys helping people and solving problems.

'People with insurance claims have had something go wrong in their life,' says Joe, 'and I am there to help them get back to normal.'

Since starting, Joe says that Crawford has given him the opportunity to reach a wide variety of people in all sets of circumstances. A snapshot of a typical week for Joe looks like conference calls with carriers, brokers and insureds; loss inspections in the field can be local or throughout the country to work with other adjusters at Crawford on various losses and projects. Ensuring that all claims are handled timely and appropriately, Joe and his team make sure claims are handled with the utmost care and consideration.

In addition to the various opportunities, Joe also loves the flexibility and support Crawford shows. The ability to provide support and assistance when needed and the opportunity for Joe to handle his work independently means a great deal to him.

'Crawford hires their employees to do a job and then empowers them to excel in that job. I can't imagine going anywhere else.'

Crawford is recognized as an industry leader, and there is a sense of pride that comes with working with us.

A few years ago, when Hurricane Harvey swept through Texas, Joe assisted on a school district claim in Houston. The school had significant flooding and sustained over $40 million in damages and made national news, as it was one of the defining properties affected by Hurricane Harvey, and students were going to other schools part-time and the staff was furloughed.

'This was my first exposure to Crawford Global Technical Services,' says Joe. 'I was tasked with the initial inspections and handling of the claim.'

Joe attributes the great teamwork between the insured, contractors and consultants to the fact that the school re-opened before the end of the school year-which was a major surprise to all.

Shortly before the school reopened, Joe received an email from the district superintendent personally thanking Joe for all his work and provided a video of what the repaired school looked like.

'She ended by saying that she believed it was my initial work and abilities that allowed them to get started on the right foot,' says Joe. 'That I played a big role in the reopening ahead of schedule. She was extremely happy with Crawford.'

With the school reopening, it allowed for students to return to their familiar school, reconnect with friends and return to a sense of normalcy within the community.

'This will always stick out to me as what Crawford is truly about. We strive to restore and enhance lives, businesses and communities. To be recognized for that and doing the right thing guides all claims that I handle.'

For the future of adjusting, Joe believes that there will be a heavier focus on technology and automation for both desk and field adjusters. But, he believes that will be no substitute for in-person service and the need for adjusters who can adapt to the technological advances in the field. The need to still provide an in-person customer service element will be what is needed to thrive.

'At the end of the day, when someone files an insurance claim, something has gone wrong in their life,' says Joe. 'An adjuster who can connect with each individual party will always be able to drive positive outcomes.'

When Joe is not at work, he can be found going to the gym, playing hockey, or golfing. Because of the weather in Arizona, golf is a year-round activity that Joe is excited to take part in. Joe and his wife also enjoy hiking, traveling, and spending time with their two girls, Brianna who is four, and Olivia who is two.

'Our girls have enough sass and personality to make handling any claim seem like a piece of cake.'