Insurance legislation shapes the way restoration contractors can do their jobs. Many restorers are frustrated and dissatisfied with laws surrounding property insurance and restoration work. They’ve witnessed laws in Florida and Texas change to the detriment of restoration contractors and are worried about similar laws coming to their states. It’s easy to feel like you are powerless against unfavorable legislation, but that isn’t necessarily true. Keep reading to get advice from Josh Ehmke, Co-Founder and General Counsel at One Claim Solution, about how restoration contractors can get involved and influence insurance legislation for the better.
At One Claim Solution, we act as legal representation for restoration contractors all over the country so we understand as much as anyone how much laws surrounding insurance impact the work of restoration businesses. We’ve also played a role in influencing insurance legislation in Arizona, our home state.
Josh recalls a standout moment in 2018 when OCS secured a victory against Farmers Insurance in a case about assignment of benefits. The landmark case reached the Court of Appeals, setting a precedent and establishing case law. That case put OCS on the radar of a state nonprofit association dedicated to protecting service providers in the property and casualty insurance sector. OCS began working closely with the nonprofit and a lobbyist to prevent bills that would harm restoration contractors from becoming law.
Knowing about insurance legislation before it’s passed is half the battle. Far too often, proposed legislation that impacts contractors gets added on as an amendment to an unrelated bill at the last minute. “If we just know about the proposed legislation, we have a good chance of fighting it,” Josh says.
Educating legislators can go a long way toward preventing bad bills from becoming law. In Josh’s experience, legislators often don’t fully understand the ramifications of the bills they are proposing. “They’re only being told one version of the story from the insurance company,” Josh explains. “What it comes down to is just helping the legislators know what they’re really proposing and how it affects their constituents.” Once legislators realize the negative impact a bill could have on contractors and policyholders, they often stop advocating for it
Restoration contractors often view other restoration contractors as their competition. But when restorers refuse to let go of that mindset to partner together and advocate for positive legislation, it’s to their own detriment. “The beginning of the end is written for you,” Josh says. “You can’t win that fight if you’re fighting it on your own.” Carriers are willing to work together and play nice to get the laws they want passed. When it’s one small restoration business versus a group of large insurance companies, restorers lose the fight every time. It’s only when contractors work together as a group that they have the power to really make a difference.
Working together with other contractors to influence insurance legislation can take many forms. Getting involved on a state level is arguably the most impactful way to make a difference since most legislation that shapes the restoration industry is passed on a state-by-state basis. Some states already have existing organizations that advocate for contractors that you can join. If your state doesn’t, it could be an opportunity for you to reach out to other local restoration businesses and create a new legislation advocacy organization. You can also look into joining influential national organizations like the Restoration Industry Association.
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Hi there! I’m Connor, the Account Executive for One Claim. My goal is to guide our contractors through the sales process, ensuring you’re equipped with all the information you need to make your decision and hit the ground running once aboard. We view ourselves as an extension of your business and I strive to make the process an enlightening and consultative one.
My career has primarily been focused in software sales over a few different industries but the last few years were spent helping general contractors solve similar problems to what we’re doing here at OCS! Outside of work, I love spending time with my family, cooking and boating during the summer months.
Hello! I’m Nicole, and I’m here to champion for our employees, recruit for new talent, and impact culture at One Claim Solution. I find satisfaction in supporting a memorable employee experience and bring innovation, problem solving, and strategic view to the process. Nothing is more important than our people, and a healthy culture is my top priority! I have had the pleasure of building my career in various sectors, specializing in small to medium size firms focused on high-growth. My experience is centered around driving and implementing change, leading high-performing teams, and driving process improvements. I am excited to make an impact at One Claim. Outside of work, my family and I enjoy getting outdoors as much as possible to explore beautiful Colorado!
Great to meet you! I’m Elizabeth, and I’m the one behind all the emails and advertisements you’ve been seeing. As the Demand Generation Manager at One Claim Solution, my mission is to connect with contractors like you who need our services. I’m passionate about having an impact on others and I bring a wealth of experience in demand generation and marketing strategy to create moments of delight, curiosity, and education for you.
Prior to One Claim Solution, I had the privilege of building marketing departments from the ground up at companies in a variety of industries, including IT consulting, first protection, and healthcare. Personally, I love being outdoors, playing Dungeons and Dragons and board games, singing, and traveling.
Welcome! I’m Alisha, and I’m here to champion your success as the Director of Contractor Success at One Claim. With a passion for helping contractors thrive, I bring a wealth of experience in onboarding, customer service, and account management to ensure your journey with us is nothing short of exceptional.
Prior to joining One Claim, I had the privilege of scaling SMB and Enterprise Customer Success teams at fast-growing SaaS startups. With over six years of experience at companies like Mavenlink, Teamwork, and ServiceTitan, I honed my expertise in building high-performing teams and fostering proactive, consultative relationships. This background has equipped me with a deep understanding of the challenges faced by businesses like yours, and I’m dedicated to helping you overcome them.
Hi there, my name is Eric! I am the Chief Technology Officer here at OCS, spearheading our technical strategy. I have a background in computer science, graduating cum laude from BYU-Idaho with a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Information Technology.
Before coming to One Claim, I served as the Director of Engineering at Slingshot Technology, Inc., a company later acquired by WorkWave in 2021. My professional journey has spanned both emerging startups and established corporations, with a steadfast focus on cultivating high-trust, low bureaucracy teams and innovating technology using agile methodologies.
In my free time, you can find me flying drones, enjoying the outdoors, and spending time with my family.
Hello, my name is Cam, I’m the COO of One Claim Solution! I come from a management consulting background (Bain & Company) and hold an MBA from the University of Michigan. I have worked at a wide variety of organizations, from Fortune 500 to small-cap, in an equally wide variety of industries. I have over 15 years of experience in operations and strategic growth, and I have spent much of my career focused on developing high-performing tech-enabled service organizations through early stage and high growth phases.
Outside of work, my wife Brittny and I have four kids, ages 13 to 6. As residents of Mesa, Arizona, we love to ski and explore the national parks of the southwest!
Hello, my name is Dan, and I am the CEO of One Claim Solution. I am super excited by everything we are doing at OCS to be the market leading insurance billing specialist that advocates on behalf of our restoration contractors.
My professional experiences are predominantly corporate in nature. My career started at General Electric in finance and accounting. Immediately prior to joining OCS, I spent time as an investor at Bondcliff Partners and management consultant with Bain & Company. I also hold an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and got my BS in finance and accounting from Northeastern University.
Outside of the office, I enjoy spending time with my wife, two young children, and our family dog, Whiskey. We live in Charleston, SC and take advantage of the beautiful weather by spending as much time as possible outside at the beach or adventuring around town
Hi, I’m Josh! In 2016, I co-founded One Claim Solution with my partner Jeremy Traasdahl, and I serve as General Counsel of One Claim Solution. Working in the restoration industry, Jeremy and I saw contractors struggling to get paid quickly and fairly and we knew there was a need for change. We founded One Claim Solution to be this change and it’s been my privilege to see our company grow and to advocate for our clients as general counsel.
Outside of my passion for helping the restoration industry, I enjoy spending time outdoors, fly-fishing, hunting, skiing, and coaching my kids’ baseball teams. I’ve been married to my amazing wife for 20 years and we have a beautiful family of 5 children.
Hey, I’m Jeremy! In 2016, I co-founded One Claim Solution with my partner Josh Ehmke. Working in the restoration industry, Josh and I saw contractors struggling to get paid quickly and fairly and we knew there was a need for change. We founded One Claim Solution to be this change and it’s been my privilege to lead our amazing team.
Prior to One Claim Solution, I started my career as an inside sales rep for Avnet, then moved to Pepsico as a district sales manager. Outside of work, I love spending time with my wife and four children, two boys and two girls!
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