The Sams & Associates Team
Averages Over 27 Years
Insurance Adjusting Experience

Sams & Associates helpful staff.

Our people have been carefully selected to possess not only the strong technical skills and background to handle the types of cases going to independents today, but also the people skills necessary to make it all work.

As you will see, we maintain a staff with considerable experience, and I can assure you they are committed to serving your specific claims needs with an absolute dedication to customer service.

Roger Anderson joined Sams & Associates in 2006. He graduated from San Jose State University and went to work at Allstate Insurance Company as a Commercial Claim Supervisor and multi-line adjuster for six years. He has also worked as a field adjuster for Ohio Casualty Insurance, and a Branch Claim Manager for Maryland Casualty Insurance Company. Roger is experienced in many facets of claims adjusting and has been working in the independent adjusting field for the last 17 years. Roger is based out of our Fresno office also providing coverage to the Bakersfield area.  

Steve Anderson joined Sams & Associates in 2008. After successfully operating his own adjusting company for nineteen years, Anderson Claims Service, Inc. was purchased by and merged with Sams &Associates. Steve has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration from North Park College in Chicago, Illinois. His insurance career started with Allstate Insurance Company where he worked for seven years in adjusting, management and administrative roles. He also worked for LJR Adjusting Company as a Regional Manager. Steve has experience in all phases of adjusting, TPA administration, fraud investigation, Workers Compensation, and claims training and certification. He is the Past President of the California Association of Independent Insurance Adjusters, Affiliated Adjusters, and Western States RVP for the National Association of Independent Insurance Adjusters. Steve enjoys golf, bike riding, sports, and spending time with his wife and two children. Steve can be reached at our San Ramon office.

Joan Barrett joined Sams & Associates in 2006 and is an integral part of their marketing team. She began this career as an estimator for a well-respected restoration company in Sacramento and maintained a Painting and Decorating License for many years. She owns her own marketing company, Market Share. Joan is a past-president of the Sacramento Claims Association as well as the Claims Conference of Northern California (CCNC). In addition to the boards of these organizations, she has also served on the former Property Claims Forum and the Sacramento Pond of the Blue Goose in the late 90’s, and was an associate member of the National Association of Insurance Women. She and her husband rescue Golden Retrievers for Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue and she makes blankets for children in need through the Project Linus organization. She works out of the Sams Sacramento headquarters in Granite Bay. 

Kaity Bernard joined Sams & Associates in 2004 part-time as an administrative assistant while still attending college full time. She graduated from CSUS with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology. Kaity is now full-time with Sams as a Lead Administrator. Kaity fosters kittens for the Roseville SPCA and volunteers at their shelter. Recently, she became a volunteer for a disaster relief organization that rescues animals. Kaity works out of our Sacramento headquarters in Granite Bay. 

Brian Bertke joined Sams & Associates in 2000. He has over 20 years of property experience in construction management, and has worked in the capacity of superintendent and project manager. Brian has a General Contractor License. He was an insurance and remodeling estimator specializing in fire and water losses for 5 years. He served 3 years as a licensed insurance agent and representative for Prudential Insurance, selling and servicing property and casualty policies, along with mutual fund investing. He graduated from the University of Cincinnati with an A.S. degree in Business Administration, and also studied construction technology and technical writing at Saddleback College in Orange County. Brian enjoys performing with a jazz quartet and blues band. He is a vocalist, and plays saxophone and flute. Brian is based in our Sacramento headquarters in Granite Bay..  

Jean Britz  joined Sams & Associates in 2003 and has extensive business experience owning her own construction company abroad. She is a Lead Administrator and our Office Manager based in our Sacramento headquarters in Granite Bay.  

Laura Brower  joined Sams & Associates in 2009 to serve our Northern Nevada and California Sierra areas. She is licensed in both Nevada and California and is a true multi-line adjuster. Laura retired from AAA and gained extensive experience in all phases of claims handling from SIU to Casualty to Commercial and Residential Property. She is registered for a full semester of IBC claims work starting in the fall of 2009. She is married with 2 grown sons but finds time for her quarter horse and volunteering for CASA- an advocacy group for children who have issues that require court appearances- an area that Laura is especially qualified to handle with her expertise with mediation and litigation. She is also a member of the Orchid Society. She is based in Sparks, Nevada.   

Ted Brown joined Sams & Associates in 2008 as a multi-line adjuster.  He graduated from UCLA with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science.  Ted began his insurance Career at California Casualty mostly handling auto claims.  Since leaving California Casualty over 20 years ago, Ted has been an independent adjuster handling property and liability claims in the Los Angeles and Orange county area. Ted is an avid reader and has a strong passion for working in politics.  

Jeff Cole joined the Sams team in 2010.  He has an Associates Degree in Drafting & Design with an emphasis on Architecture from Texas State Technical Institute, and a Bachelors of Science degree in Business Management from the University of Phoenix. He has strong property adjusting skills and has advanced training using Xactimate 25® and Sketch, and has spent years as a project manager.  He has strong communication skills, oral and written, and a passion for architecture and building design. Jeff enjoys golf and skiing and is active in the Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Bay area.  He began volunteering in 2001 and has been matched with the same little brother for the last eight years.  Jeff is based out of our San Jose office.  

Colleen Crotty joined Sams & Associates in 2009 as a property adjuster.  She has been a claims adjuster for twenty nine years and spent twenty five of those years at a large insurance company. In the previous four years Colleen has worked as an independent adjuster handling property claims.  Colleen is a resident adjuster based in Eureka. 

Chet Davis joined the Sams team in 2010. He has a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Florida and a Masters of Business Administration from the University of West Florida. Chet brings with him 20 years of claims handling experience.  After starting his career with State Farm handling auto and then property claims, he moved to Progressive where he worked his way up to Regional Manager. That also involved assisting with hurricane CATs in Florida including Hugo, Andrew, Erin & Opal.  He then became a Regional Manager over 4 western states at AIG before moving to Travelers Insurance Companies as Vice President of Claims. His responsibilities included personal and commercial claims for Auto, Property and General Liability lines of business for the California claims region. Chet and his wife are proud parents to their 6-year-old daughter and a newborn son. He volunteers as a basketball coach at his daughter’s school and at the Ronald McDonald House.  As Vice President, Chet is focused on Sams’ expansion into Oregon & Washington and is based in the Sacramento area at our headquarters in Granite Bay.

David DeTinne  joined the team at Sams & Associates in 2009. He has a strong background in property adjusting, estimating and Construction Defect claims. David grew up in Sacramento but spent some time in Corpus Christi, TX to be centrally located while storm-trooping around the country for a National catastrophe adjusting company. He has returned to Sacramento and is a licensed General Contractor and licensed abatement contractor. He especially enjoys the challenges of large commercial claims. David has a son in high school and his daughter in 6th grade. Between track and field and swim meets he is kept busy attending or officiating their events. He also enjoys rebuilding and restoring classic cars. His current project is a 1961 Thunderbird that he bought as a chassis. David is based in the Sacramento area at our headquarters in Granite Bay.  

Jim DeVard's joined Sams & Associates in 2005. His career began in 1960 when he spent five years as a Title Officer. He then began working for CSE Insurance Group handling property and liability claims. Jim remained at CSE for 37 years. For 14 years he served as Regional Vice President responsible for claims in six western states. Jim also spent six years as an Arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association. Jim's expertise is in liability and litigation management.  He is our Human Resources Manager and manages the CalVet account. He is an avid golfer and an avid grandfather. Jim is based out of our corporate office in Granite Bay.  

Eric Ehlers joined the Sams team in 2006. He graduated from University of California, Berkeley with a Bachelor of Arts degree. Eric is a Registered Professional Adjuster and a member of the California Association of Independent Insurance Adjusters. He has worked in commercial and industrial property claims, personal lines, earthquake, construction design defect, investigation and much more. Eric has 30 years of experience in the field of adjusting and is based out of our San Ramon office.

Darci Federoff joined Sams & Associates in 2003 as a clerical support person for our administrative team processing insurance claims reports, typing and accounts receivable. Darci has two daughters and is a proud grandmother to her 1-year-old granddaughter, Jayden. She is also an active volunteer for Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue. She is based in our corporate headquarters in Granite Bay.  

Gil Finney joined Sams & Associates in 2007. He worked for Langhammer & Associates in San Diego, for 31 years and prior to that he worked for Royal Insurance Company. He is a General Adjuster specializing in large Residential and complex Commercial property losses.  He has worked on several large catastrophes, including the 2003 and 2007 San Diego wild fires, some of which came within blocks of his home. Gil is based in San Diego. 

Joan Fowler joined Sams & Associates in October, 2005. She started her career in insurance at Safeco Insurance in 1976 as a clerical assistant; within nine months earning the position of trainee adjuster. She has worked at various insurance companies as an inside adjuster handling personal lines and commercial liability and property claims. About 1999 she became an inside adjuster for GAB Robins and primarily handled the California Department of Veterans Affairs property losses for the State. When Sams won the service contract for CalVet in 2005, Joan moved to Sams and continues to be the primary examiner on the account. She is based at our Sacramento headquarters in Granite Bay.

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Frank Frisina joined Sams & Associates in 2009. He started his insurance career at Farmers insurance Co as a property adjuster in the Long Beach area. He then handled more complicated property losses at The Hartford for the next six years while training other staff in field inspections and adjusting techniques. In 1984 he joined the Independent Adjusting firm of S.W.Eller Co., Inc. in Downey and later purchased the company. He specialized in appraisal services for insurance company disputes while handling major catastrophe residential and commercial claims. He was able to call on the law degree he achieved in 1987 by acting as an Independent Inspector for the court approved settlement of Sherman vs. Allstate Insurance. Frank and his wife reside in San Pedro and enjoy travelling to Mammoth Lakes and Kauai whenever he can find the time. The couple's two sons are football oriented and while one plays football at the University of Redlands, the other is looking forward to a college football career after he graduates from high school.

Charles Gabbanijoined Sams & Associates in 2010 as Catastrophe Manager.  He graduated from Santa Clara University with a Bachelor of Arts degree.  Charles is National Flood Certified, and is earthquake certified by the California Earthquake Authority.  Charles has been in the insurance industry for over 30 years, spending the first 20 years as a claims representative for California State Auto Association.  Charles spent the last eight years at CSE Insurance Group as a senior property specialist for commercial and residential property and in 2005 did catastrophe duty for Hurricane Rita.  He is an active board member of the Sacramento Claims Association and a participant in the PLRB.  Charles is also involved in Santa Clara University Alumni Association and is based out of our corporate headquarters in Granite Bay.   

Don Gordon joined Sams & Associates in 2009 and is an experienced liability adjuster. He graduated from Northern Illinois University with a Bachelors degree in Business Management. Before Don joined Sams he was president of County Line Claims Service based in Los Angeles for 30 years. Don is past president of the California Association of Independent Insurance Adjusters and past vice president of the National Association of Independent Insurance Adjusters. He is an avid tennis player and has raced vintage race cars for 30 years on all of the west coast tracks. Don is based out of our Sacramento headquarters in Granite Bay.

Greg Greening joined Sams & Associates in 2010 as a liability adjuster.  He attended San Jose City College studying Administration of Justice. Greg has been in the insurance industry for 30 years and is experienced in handling construction defect claims, general liability, commercial liability, professional liability and auto claims.  His past experience includes 3 years at Fireman’s Fund as a senior claims examiner.  Prior to that he spent time as a claim analyst, senior claim examiner and senior claim adjuster.  Greg plays the guitar with his praise team at church.  Greg is married with four children and is based out of our corporate headquarters in Granite Bay.

Diana Lessner joined Sams & Associates in 2008 and is the perfect fit for claims in the Las Vegas area. She has a solid background in property claims, having been trained at Wawanesa Insurance in San Diego and then Property and Liability claims at Allstate in Las Vegas. Diana came to claims from a background in customer service learned in the retail field, where she was a very successful manager and merchandising expert. Her degree of AA in Business Administration was earned through studies at the University of Riverside, Chaffey College and San Diego State . She loves the outdoors, and is our Multi-line adjuster, handling claims throughout the southern Nevada area.  

Bob Lund joined Sams & Associates in 1995 and is the company’s chief operating officer and CFO. He began his claims career in 1989. His experience includes auto and general liability, and property claims. He was previously with Progressive Companies, including National Continental Insurance, and United Financial Adjusting, with an emphasis in trucking and rental car losses, and litigated large loss claims. Bob spent thirteen years in the restaurant industry before changing careers. He has a Bachelor of Science degree from Humboldt State University. Bob is also the manager for our fraud prevention and private investigation company, Sams Investigations Unlimited, Inc. (SIU), California PI # 22240. He is a past president of The Property Forum of Northern California. He is married with four daughters and enjoys drumming in the worship band and alternative youth band at his church. Bob is based out of our corporate headquarters in Granite Bay. 

Kristin Maddox joined Sams & Associates in 2008 as part of our clerical staff. She has extensive administrative experience and worked for Saturn for five years. She is working on an AA degree in Deaf Studies and enjoys working with the deaf community.  She participated in the Adopt-A-Family Program (a program that adopted 15-20 local families and provided them with food, clothes and gifts) for the Sullivan Automotive Group and actively participated in monthly fundraisers.  During the holidays she and her siblings adopt a family and provide them with food and presents. Kristin works in our corporate headquarters in Granite Bay.  

Pam McDonald joined Sams & Associates in 2008. She started her career in 1993 working for TPA Scott Wetzel Services handling workers compensation and commercial liability claims. In 1997 she worked at Royal Sun Alliance handling auto accidents and working closely with house counsel on litigated files and specialized in SIU and minor impact (MIST) cases. When Royal pulled out of the U.S. 4 1/2 years later Pam moved to Cencal Insurance Services as a Senior Claims Rep for this MGA for a year, before becoming a liability field adjuster for CSAA for 3 years. Following a brief stint doing marketing, estimating and project management for a major Bay Area restoration company, Pam worked for Golden Eagle/Liberty Mutual until the closure of their Walnut Creek office. She is a graduate of Vale National property adjusting school, and is now truly a multi-line field adjuster. Pam is a second generation claims adjuster, as her mother is also a long-term veteran in this field. Pam lives in Antioch and handles losses in the Bay Area and Central Valley. 

Jeff Mikles, PMP, has been a consulting member of the Sams team since 2002. His 35 years of experience includes managing, auditing and evaluating organizational, operational and financial performance of private and public sector organizations. His specializations are project management, business process improvement, finance, and human resources. Jeff was previously a Senior Consultant to several domestic and international accounting and consulting firms, Personnel Manager for an international company, Assistant City Auditor of San Jose, CA, and Senior Management Auditor for the California Auditor General’s Office. He has audited the California Department of Insurance and numerous insurance companies. Jeff is certified by the Project Management Institute as a Project Management Professional (PMP). He holds a bachelors degree from Michigan State University and a master’s degree from Arizona State University. Jeff is based in our corporate office in Granite Bay. 

Glenn Nashban joined Sams & Associates in 2008. He began his claims career as a Liability Field Adjuster and then Unit Supervisor with Kemper Insurance in Walnut Creek beginning in 1975. After 5 years he moved to DL Glaze Adjusting Company where he worked for 12 years. Subsequently he worked for Allied Insurance for 9 years, where he further honed his investigative and settlement negotiation skills on a wide variety of casualty claims. Glenn went to work for Anderson Claims Service in 2001, and comes to Sams via our acquisition and merger with ACS in October 2008. Glenn brings decades of dedicated expertise, and has worked his entire career in the San Francisco Bay Area. He is based in our San Ramon office.

Ed Peltier joined Sams & Associates in 1990. Ed holds a BA from San Jose State University. Previously had employment with Industrial Indemnity, Transamerica Insurance, George Hills Co., Associated Claims Management, Granite Construction Co., Hunt & Ferguson, Robert Hampson & Associates, Omega Claims Services and Custard Insurance Adjusters, Ed joined Sams & Associates in 1990. Experienced as a multi-line adjuster, handling auto and commercial liability, as well as homeowners and commercial property losses, he is a resident adjuster based in Fresno.

Scott Rew joined Sams & Associates in 2007 as a property adjuster.  He graduated from UC Irvine with a Bachelors in Criminology. Scott began his insurance career at Farmers as a property claims supervisor, from Farmers Scott moved to Golden Eagle Insurance handling commercial and personal property claims. During his time at Golden Eagle, Scott also served as lead administrator for the golf course claims program, handling all losses involving golf courses and country clubs. He loves golf, fishing and also loves coaches his children’s soccer teams. Scott is a resident adjuster based out of his home in Quail Valley.

Dan Richardson joined Sams & Associates in 2010 as a property adjuster, bringing with him 22 years of contracting experience.  He spent 14 of those years as owner of Richardson Roofing.  Dan holds a Texas adjusters license, is Farmers certified, USAA certified, and rope and harness certified.  Since 1992, Dan has also been a rice farmer and farms about 260 acres in Sutter County.  Dan loves target shooting and riding dirt bikes up in the hills with his two boys.  He also has five horses that he loves to go riding on and actually takes care of their horseshoes himself.  Dan is based out of our corporate headquarters in Granite Bay.

Yogi Roesner joined Sams & Associates in 2004 handling personal and commercial liability and trucking claims in the Las Vegas area. She began her claims career in 1981 with Allstate Insurance Company. She also worked for American Excel, California Casualty and Colonial Penn Insurance Companies before moving to the independent adjuster ranks with R. L Gresham Company. Yogi has been a Sr. Casualty adjuster and supervisor. She specializes in all types of liability claims including Medical Malpractice, and has handled claims in Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Colorado, Oregon, Washington, Montana, Wyoming and New Mexico. Yogi works and resides in Las Vegas with her husband and daughter.

Jesse Rusmisel (JESS) joined our team in 2006 as a multi-line adjuster. He has extensive experience in the building industry as a residential and commercial property inspector, and is a licensed General Contractor. He was the 06-07 President of the Los Angeles and Ventura County Real Estate Inspection Association with extensive continuing education in plumbing, venting, electrical, geotechnical, grading, radon, furnace, photovoltaic, mobile home, roofing & professional witness issues, to name just a few. He is President of the local San Luis Obispo Chapter of CREIA for 2009/2010. He has also been elected to the BOD as Region 5 Director through 2011 and appointed Chairman of the Education Committee for the California Real estate Inspection Association. Jesse's adjusting background is in property and catastrophe related claims. Jesse worked Wilma claims in Florida for Citizens Ins. Corp. and did FEMA inspections for Katrina in Mississippi. His hurricane experience now includes the 2008 storms: Gustav in New Orleans and Ike in Houston. He is also a licensed adjuster in Texas. Jesse is equally comfortable working liability or property claims.  He is based in Paso Robles on Hwy 101, and serves the Central Coast region.

Michael Salinas joined Sams & Associates in 2006 as a property General Adjuster. Michael has worked on homeowners and commercial claims since 1982, when he graduated from the Insurance Technical Training Institute in Dallas, Texas. He worked for Hartford Insurance for three years before joining A.L. Wisdom & Associates to work on Hurricane Hugo claims in South Carolina. Michael also worked for Mann & Kason Adjusters, specializing in homeowners, commercial and liability claims. He worked as the Senior Property adjuster for Mercury Casualty in their Large Loss unit before coming to work for Sams & Associates. Michael is proficient in Xactimate and Marshall Swift estimating software. Michael serves all of Southern California and Los Angeles region from his home in Corona.  

Don Sams founded Sams & Associates in 1990 in Emeryville, CA. Don began his career as an independent claims adjuster in 1976 with Crawford & Company in Chicago, Illinois, before coming to California. In 1978 he joined Brown Brothers Adjusters in Sacramento. He was Senior Vice President when he left Brown Brothers Adjusters following the sale to Frank B. Hall. Don holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Eastern Illinois University with a major in Business Administration. Don has 2 children and resides in Granite Bay, working out of our corporate headquarters in Granite Bay.  

Carol Schalla joined Sams in October 2008 with our acquisition of Anderson Claims Services. She has an extensive background in business, holds a BA from the University of California at Berkeley, and is the administrative professional in our San Ramon office.  

DeNoal Sloan joined Sams & Associates in 2009. He has been known throughout his career in insurance and fraud investigations as ‘Dee ’. He started working in law enforcement originally, and has spent the years since 1991 working in the areas of fraud investigation, subrogation investigation, adjusting auto claims and property claims for large insurance carriers and as an independent adjuster. Dee has conducted training on fraud detection and monitored attorney activities in depositions and examinations under oath with extensive property and auto experience in tow, as a resident adjuster in Bakersfield.  

Mandi Smith joined Sams & Associates in 2008 as an administrative and marketing assistant. She is working on obtaining her Bachelor’s degree in Marketing with a minor in Business Administration.  Mandi is very experienced in administration and worked for the Sullivan Automotive Group for over 3 years before joining Sams.  While at Sullivan, she managed the Adopt-A-Families Program (a program that adopted 15-20 local families and provided them with food, clothes and gifts) and monthly fundraisers.  Mandi is based out of our corporate headquarters in Granite Bay.  

Glenn Smyth joined Sams and Associates in 2004. Glenn has worked for several insurance carriers including Mercury insurance. He specializes in casualty losses, auto liability, and all types of injury claims. Glenn is also experienced in mediations and arbitrations, settlement conference and has been involved in the claims administration of public and private entities. Glenn enjoys living by the beach in sunny Oceanside, serving not only the San Diego region but all of Southern California.

Kristy Taylor joined Sams & Associates in 2010 as an administrative assistant.  She graduated from CSU Sacramento Summa Cum Laude (maintained straight A’s throughout her college career) with a Bachelors of Arts degree in History.  At the young age of 3 Kristy began her gymnastics training career at Tricks Gymnastics.  In 2003 she began working there as a coach, team director, mentor, trainer and manager.  Her strong background in customer service and her love of people is a welcomed addition to the SAMS team.  Kristy loves to travel and also has a strong passion for history and education.  Kristy is based out of our corporate headquarters in Granite Bay.

Iain Wallace joined Sams & Associates in 2009 as a property adjuster.  He graduated from Western Washington University located in Bellingham, WA with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Pre-Architecture. Iain began his career working for architects and switched over to the insurance industry in the early 80’s. He spent five years with Aetna Insurance as an outside property adjuster and moved to USAA where he spent the last 20 years as an examiner, manager and outside property adjuster. Iain has worked in numerous catastrophes, including flood, hurricane, earthquake and hail all over the continental United States. He has done work with Habitat for Humanity and loves working on classic cars and hot rods.  Iain’s current projects include a 46 Ford pick-up and a 56 Ford pick-up. Iain is based out of our corporate headquarters in Granite Bay.

Joe Watanabe joined Sams & Associates in 2004. He has been adjusting property and casualty claims for 36 years. He worked as a Senior Adjuster for Transamerica Insurance group, and has experience in Third Party Claims Administration.  Joe's experience includes first party property claims handling, large loss exposure claims, liability/ casualty claim investigations and litigation management. Joe is adept in Xactimate and is a General Adjuster. He is a resident adjuster based out of his home near San Bernardino.  

John Weber joined Sams & Associates team in 2002. He began handling both commercial and residential property insurance claims as an estimator for Pacific Restoration in 2000. John has over 7 years experience as a contractor, primarily as a project manager for environmental testing sites. John has a B.S. degree from University of San Francisco in Organizational Behavior. John enjoys music, theater, film and exercise, and is generally considered one of the nicest people you could ever meet. He is married and lives in Concord. John is based in our San Roman office, covering the entire Bay Area region.  

"Our well-qualified claims staff
averages over 27 years
insurance adjusting experience."

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