Michael Bradbury has worked in the adjusting industry his entire professional career. He is currently working as an Operations Manager for a large national carrier based out of Crawford’s Allen, TX office. Michael has worked in various positions throughout his career, but has a passion for training and educating adjusters.
Michael started working as a staff adjuster in the early 2000s in Florida. From there, he became an independent adjuster mostly working on inside, property claims. He has adjusted numerous claims ranging from simple, small claims to multimillion total losses. For the last seven years, he has worked on training adjusters and developing curriculum. Michael is grateful for the opportunities and lifestyle the adjusting industry has afforded him, and he wants to be able to help others in the field achieve that. He began working for Crawford in March 2020 as a Claims Manager with an additional focus on training and development. He transitioned into his current role in September. Michael had heard about positive experiences with Crawford and hoped to work for the company someday.
“I knew Crawford had a great reputation, I knew that once the opportunity arrived to work there, I would take advantage of it.”
When Michael first started, he was one of a few new hires who knew little about the company culture and RESTORE mission. He recalled being on a late-night call when Rohit Verma, CEO of Crawford & Company, was talking about the importance of empowering employees to move the business forward. Michael was surprised that Rohit was even on the call. During his previous work experiences, he had little interaction with the company’s executive leaders. At Crawford, there is an open culture that he considers refreshing. He feels comfortable reaching out to colleagues and asking for help. Over time, he has realized how the RESTORE mission is not just something the company implements, but it is also what Crawford employees live by.
“The company isn’t just talking the talk, they’re also walking the walk,” he said.
Michael wants to RESTORE by empowering others through knowledge and training. He enjoys helping the policyholders, but his true passion is helping adjusters become better at their job. He encourages adjusters never to stop learning. In the office, Michael sets out a candy bowl on his desk that is open for sharing, but in order to take a piece of candy, the individual has to tell him one thing they’ve recently learned.
“It’s exciting to watch adjusters grow,” Michael said. “I like going through the process with them. I teach them everything from what shoes you put on your feet to how you’re going to get paid.”
Michael is currently working on a virtual reality (VR) property adjuster training which will be completed by using headsets. He enjoys thinking creatively and challenging himself to find advanced solutions. He said that while it can be scary, technology is unavoidable. He appreciates the hands-on approach to training but recognizes that new technological skill sets will be in demand for adjusters. Michael wants to help them thrive in the industry, and he encourages adjusters to embrace the change and find ways to utilize these systems and devices to their advantage. He understands that many adjusters fear losing their jobs due to technological advancements, but reminds them that the technology “will never be that shoulder to cry on.” The human connection an adjuster creates with a policyholder cannot be replicated and therefore adjusters will be needed.
“Successful adjusters will be those who embrace the technology,” he said. “They will have to be smarter, work harder, and be tech-savvy.”
Michael enjoys having adjusters who want to improve come to him to learn from his experienced career and knowledge. He is able to build personal relationships with those that he teaches, which offers a sense of fulfillment. Michael has a growth mindset that focuses on providing adjusters with better tools and training than he had.
Michael’s family is a large inspiration for how he does his job and the approaches he takes. His wife is also in the adjusting industry. Michael reflects on the opportunities he had in the industry and hopes to help adjusters achieve the same for their families.
“This industry has taken care of my family, and I enjoy helping adjusters take care of theirs,” he said.
Michael and his wife credit their livelihood to their adjusting careers despite the sacrifices they’ve made. They have a 16-year-old daughter and an 11-year-old son and appreciate the time they get to spend together. Michael enjoys traveling with his family to his home state of Florida where they can go to the theme parks. Michael is a certified scuba diver and has dived in multiple countries. The adjusting industry and Crawford mean a lot to Michael and his family. He hopes he can give back by training and empowering current, new, and future adjusters.
