Joe Kendall is an independent CAT adjuster living in the Dallas Fort Worth area. His 15 years of experience in construction motivated him to seek out opportunities within the adjusting field. He is driven by a desire to help others and offers the claims process a unique perspective.
Joe made the career switch to the adjusting industry about three years ago. He wanted to help people in a meaningful way with his work and a friend in the business recommended the industry and Crawford. Joe’s construction knowledge gives him a broad understanding of how claims work. He knows what to look for in a building structure and in an inspection. He understands how one damaged piece could be impacting another even if it’s not fully visible damage. He also knows what it takes to build structures and can offer policyholders a detailed, accurate explanation of the rebuilding process and timeline.
His friend’s deployment experiences with Crawford pushed Joe to join the company’s roster and seek employment opportunities. Since his first assignment during Hurricane Florence, Joe has felt included in the Crawford family. He said that even though the company has a worldwide reach, it still feels like a small company in how people work together as a team. He feels comfortable reaching out for assistance at Crawford because he knows his team members genuinely want to help. A family-like culture is important to him, and he believes he has found that with Crawford.
“Crawford is wholesome,” he said, “and it feels like a family atmosphere instead of a corporation where you’re really just a number.”
When deployed on an assignment, Joe strives to complete four inspections a day but insists on taking the time to fully inspect the property while building a rapport with the insured. He acknowledges that everyone always has a story to tell and he is there to listen. He wants to make sure the insured understands the process and that he is there to support them. Communication skills are very important for the adjusting career.
“I try my best to make sure people are taken care of,” he said. “I don’t like to make mistakes.”
Joe enjoys being able to fulfill Crawford’s purpose of restoring and enhancing lives, businesses, and communities. Recently during deployment for Hurricane Laura, he inspected a business that had collapsed on itself. It was a total loss and Joe could tell even though the business owners were disappointed at the loss, they were happy that he was there. Joe said it’s difficult to pinpoint one meaningful claim because the insured are experiencing different kinds of losses and they are so grateful for the support.
“We need adjusters in the field who understand what goes into making a home restored again—not just a claim,” he said.
Joe’s top enjoyment of his job is being able to help others. He is passionate about being present and offering aid to people in need. He also appreciates the freedom that the adjusting job offers so he can tailor his deployments with his availability. When he is on assignment, he dedicates himself to his work but when he’s off assignment, he is focused on his family.
“It’s the best feeling in the world to say, ‘Hey, we’re here to help you out,’” he said.
Joe describes himself as a family man. He has a 14-year-old daughter and a three-month-old daughter. His eldest daughter is on a golf team, and he enjoys golfing with her. He recently went on a fishing trip with his entire family to Oklahoma and appreciated being able to spend quality time together before his deployment. Joe is not only knowledgeable in his field but also works hard to embody Crawford’s RESTORE values.
