INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS GROUP - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Member of the Leadership Team
- Head of Claims, Canada
With 30+ years in the industry, Barb Smith has lead top performing multiline claim teams in both Ontario and British Columbia with claims relating to Property, Home Warranty, GL, Auto BI & AB as well as entertainment claims. Barb's specialties include Auto Bodily Injury and Catastrophic Accident Benefit claims. Her experience also extends to Ombudsman, Compliance and audit duties. Barb is knowledgeable in reinsurance from her role as Claim AVP at a prominent Toronto Reinsurance Broker. Barb is passionate about mentoring and train young claims professionals. Her outstanding customer service landed her the role of Claim Relationship Manager for two large Municipal Accounts with a major insurer. During her career, Barb was a multiline adjuster specializing in Auto Bodily Injury and Catastrophic Accident Benefit Claims.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Leadership Team
- Managing Director, Canada
Initially trained as a psychiatric nurse, Ms. Schindler switched careers to the insurance industry, and worked as a bodily injury examiner for BC's government automobile insurer, ICBC. Ms. Schindler then went on to become an independent adjuster, ultimately opening her own firm in 1993. Providing multiple services, Blue Schindler and Co. adjusted a variety of losses specializing in municipal and general liability claims. Ms. Schindler also became a licensed mediator and was chosen to mediate hundreds of disputes. As an instructor for the Insurance Institute pf BC, Ms.Schindler taught Liability, Auto and Bodily Injury courses. In 2005 Schindler and Co. was acquired by SCM Insurance Services.
Ms. Schindler is now responsible for managing and directing IPG's operations, including its professional and financial resources, training programs, operational processes, and business planning.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Leadership Team
- Head of Operations, Canada
Brett Colville is an experienced operations manager, communicator, and problem solver with over 25 years of experience in the insurance industry managing high-level claims and providing strategic leadership to multiple teams of industry professionals simultaneously. Before joining IPG, Mr. Colville worked at a large International claims management company where he spent over 15 years working his way up from a supervisory position to director of business operations, where he provided strategic leadership and support for multiple teams of industry professionals across Canada. He has earned expertise across various risk management insurance specialties including property, casualty, automobile, transportation, government, errors and omissions, and directors and officers.
As the Director of Operations, Mr. Colville provides operational strategy, evaluation, and leadership for IPG staff in the Toronto area and across Canada. He holds a Canadian Risk Manager (CRM) designation, Chartered Insurance Professional (CIP) designation, and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Windsor.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Leadership Team
- President, North America
Darren Goldman is an experienced insurance professional with over 25 years in the industry, 20 of those in the London market. Darren started his career as a lawyer in South Africa before moving into Insurance, working as a claims adjuster for a firm in Johannesburg. He then moved to London, UK working as a Senior Claims Adjuster for Crawford's Global Tech Division. In 2005, he joined QBE EO International Casualty Division where he worked for four years before moving to Toronto to set up QBE's local office as Claims Manager. In 2018, Darren was promoted to General Manager for QBE Canada.
In 2022, Darren joined International Programs Group as President for IPG North America. He provides leadership to the management team with a focus on people, client service, data analytics, and operational efficiencies.
Job Titles:
- Managing Director
- Member of the Leadership Team
- Managing Director, United States
David Elliott is Managing Director. He has over 10 years of law enforcement with an emphasis in investigation. This investigative work included a Commendation for Medal of Merit. He has worked under both state and federal levels of law enforcement.
Mr. Elliott has been in claims for over five years working property, auto, cargo and heavy equipment claims. He also has been involved with several key liability investigations.
Mr. Elliott has recently acquired his piloting license, giving him an edge in dealing with aviation claims.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Leadership Team
- Head of Operations, United States
Melissa began her career in IPG's Information Technology department in 2005. While in the IT Department, she helped design and develop custom Claims Management software features. She obtained her Associates in Claims from the Institutes and adjuster license and moved into the claims department as an adjuster. She has since been promoted to Training Manager/Claims Supervisor, where she is responsible for a training and managing a team of new and experienced adjusters. Melissa holds her Associates in Claims from ITT Technical Institute and an Associate in Applied Science degree (Information Technology) from University of Arkansas at Little Rock.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Leadership Team
- Vice President Business Development, United States
Mike Grubbs has over 25 years of experience in the insurance and claims industry, holding various management positions in the South, Northeast, and Midwest. His education includes a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (Marketing and Finance) from Southeast Missouri State University. He has also completed several technical management insurance courses, in addition to many years of professional development in the industry. Mike is a member of the St. Louis Claims Managers Council, VCIA (Vermont Captive Insurance Association), St. Louis Risk Insurance Management Society, and National Association of Independent Insurance Adjusters. He is also on the Executive Committee for the Claim Professional Liability Insurance Company (CPLIC) and is Secretary and Board Member of MOCIA (Missouri Captive Insurance Association), and on the Executive Advisory Council for National Association of Independent Insurance Adjusters.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Leadership Team
- Director Business Development, Canada
- Director, Business Development for IPG
Paul Burns is a claims insurance professional with over 20 years of experience in the industry in both the domestic P&C insurance and Lloyd's markets. Throughout his career, Paul has held senior-level management positions and has demonstrated excellent teamwork, customer service, leadership, and management skills.
As Director, Business Development for IPG, Paul is responsible for driving net new business and strategic account management functions, assuring highly productive relationships and client partnerships are both cultivated and maintained. He ensures that IPG remains competitive and well positioned in the marketplace, demonstrating TPA strategic leadership for an established sector dealing with Canadian Coverholders and MGA's, London Brokers, London Syndicates, Specialty Insurers and Canadian Brokers.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Leadership Team
- Head of Claims, United States
Prior to working for IPG, Scott was the Assistant Vice President for the Transportation Division at Maxum Casualty Insurance Company and Team Leader. His experience encompasses 21 years' experience in commercial, over the road trucking and cargo as well as off road equipment. His training involves, Ethics, Vale Tech Heavy Equipment Estimating, Truck Litigation Management, Handling and Managing Bodily Injury Claims, Bad Faith Claims in Georgia, California Compliance Training, Anti-Fraud Training, and Certified in Safety Training.