Team - Vanguard Claims Administration, Inc.

Executive/Management

Robert Gilliam, AIC

President
30 years of experience

As the original founder and only president of Vanguard, Robert continues as the active director of all corporate operations including claims handling, marketing and finances. Even with these diverse duties, Robert still maintains a small pending, not out of necessity (considering the depth of our staff’s experience) but rather to ensure that corporate responsibilities don’t cause him to lose touch with the ever-changing state of the adjusting profession. With claims experience in almost every line of coverage and having worked for carriers, agencies TPAs and IAs, Robert remains the driving force behind Vanguard’s impressive growth.
Martha Gilliam

Executive Vice President Finance
26 years of experience

In her role as co-founder and EVP Finance, Martha works diligently behind the scenes to ensure that corporate financials are current and in a consistent state of compliance. Additionally, responsibility for report generation, invoicing, collections, and financial forecasting, all fall to Martha and her support team of bookkeepers, accountants and financial clerks. Martha also personally oversees and reviews the financial component of monthly bordereaux completion. Her steady oversight is a determining factor in Vanguard’s ongoing expansion.
Carl Gilliam

Executive Vice President
19 years of experience

Though retired from his career as an electrical engineer, Carl maintains his connection with the firm he helped found over 20 years ago. Lending support, advice and guidance to Vanguard's current owners and even providing claims data services when necessary Carl remains a vital component to the company’s ongoing success.
Brian Gilliam, AIC, AINS

Vice President Client Relations
19 years of experience

Brian began his career with Vanguard operating strictly as a Casualty Field Adjuster. Over the years, he has invested himself in property lines, automobile lines, subrogation recovery, and has been a key contributor to the building of Vanguard’s successful infrastructure. Adding to the depth and versatility of Vanguard management, Brian functions as our VP Client Relations. His duties include communicating directly with Coverholders, Brokers, and Syndicates in order to maintain our high levels of service.
Paul J. Graf, AIC

Vice President Operations
27 years of experience

With more than 27 years of claims management experience in the property/casualty industry, Paul brings extensive knowledge to Vanguard as our Vice President Operations. Paul’s areas of expertise include auto and general liability, workers’ compensation, commercial property, homeowner, CAT claims management and more. Prior to joining Vanguard, Paul managed divisions that provided emergency response for regional and national catastrophe claim events, including Hurricane Gaston, Hurricane Katrina, the 2001 World Trade Center attacks and more. Paul is licensed in several states and has an Associate in Claims (AIC) designation. He also holds a B.A. in Communications from Rider University.
Nicole Goral

Vice President TPA Services
18 years of experience

Nicole is a well-known participant in the London Market having spent many years with Jimcor Agencies as a Claims Supervisor and Litigation Manager. In her role with Vanguard, Nicole is responsible for overall management of TPA operations. With nearly two decades of progressive experience organizing and administering claims investigation efforts, managing risk exposures engendered by property, general liability and automobile claims, Nicole is a significant asset to Vanguard’s growing operation.
Jonathan Dunn

Vice President IA Services
15 years of experience

Since starting with Vanguard 15 years ago, Jonathan has successfully operated both as a casualty and property adjuster. Beginning his career as a Field Adjuster with Vanguard, Jonathan has proven to be one of our most versatile adjusters. His finance degree has served him well in his detailed Business Interruption and ALE adjustments and his prior supervisory experience allows Vanguard to address future growth from within the organization. In his present role as Vice President IA Services. Jonathan oversees all of Vanguard’s outside property adjusters.

Property Claims Administration

Krystle Massaro

Assistant Property Supervisor
7 years of experience

Krystle has been with Vanguard for more than 6 years starting in the clerical department. During this six year time period she has gained invaluable experience which makes her uniquely qualified to move claims from the initial setup to their timely conclusion. Having earned her B.A. in Law and Justice as well as her Paralegal Certificate Krystle has become the point person for maintaining Vanguard’s State specific insurance requirements. In addition to her property case load, Krystle has also recently been promoted to assistant Property Supervisor overseeing a three person team. These duties consist of report review, diary oversight, and conducting weekly claims review meetings. Krystle's work ethic and attention to detail coupled with her extensive knowledge of the applicable policies and Lloyd's requirements make her an invaluable member of the Vanguard team. Krystle reports directly to the Vice President of TPA Services, Nicole.
Scott Nicholson

Assistant Property Supervisor
16 years of experience

Scott has earned his B.A. in Criminal Justice along with a Paralegal Certification. Scott worked as a Paralegal for 2 years before joining Vanguard in 2003, as a Property Adjuster, then later handling Liability claims. Between 2008 and 2015 Scott worked for a domestic IA and Nationwide Insurance handling a range of claims from Homeowners, Commercial, Inland Marine and Commercial Cargo. In addition to his property case load Scott serves as Assistant Property Supervisor overseeing a two person team. These duties consist of report review, diary oversight, and conducting weekly claims review meetings. Scott's attention to detail 15 years of industry experience both as an outside field adjuster and an inside file examiner working for Lloyd’s and domestic companies makes him an invaluable member of the Vanguard team. Scott reports directly to the Vice President of TPA Services.
Paul Peterson

Assistant Property Supervisor
12 years of experience

Paul Peterson began his career with Vanguard as an Outside Field Adjuster in the midst of Super Storm Sandy. Prior to this, Paul managed a successful Allstate Insurance Agency where he developed expert communication skills with insureds and understanding of the importance of accurate claims handling. After working as a Property Field Adjuster, Paul moved to an inside role as a Property Examiner within Vanguard’s Third Party Administration (TPA) division. He interacts on a daily basis with Field Adjusters, Attorneys, Accountants, Public Adjusters, as well as Coverholders and our London contacts, to facilitate timely administration of all of his claims. Mr. Peterson was recently promoted to Assistant Property Supervisor. His new duties include report review, diary oversight, staff training and conducting weekly claims review meetings.

Rita Granroth

Property Administrator
10 years of experience
Donna Morici

Property Administrator
7 years of experience
Lina Newman

Property Administrator
3 years of experience
Regis Woodley

Property Administrator
5 years of experience
Elizabeth Smith

Property Administrator
22 years of experience

Liability Claims Administration

Scott A Gibbons

Liability Supervisor
23 years of experience

Scott has twenty-three years of claims experience working for domestic carriers writing personal auto, commercial auto and general liability policies. He has held positions as Claims Adjuster, Claims Examiner, Litigation Examiner, BI Unit supervisor, PD Unit Supervisor and Cost Containment Unit Supervisor. Most notably, in his position as Cost Containment Unit Supervisor, he exceeded all goals set for property damage subrogation cost containment which led to expansion of that unit.

Scott has achieved the Chartered Property Casualty Underwriters (CPCU) designation administered by the American Institute for Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriters as well as an Associate in Claims (AIC) designation.

Currently, Scott holds the position of Supervisor of the Liability Claims Department at Vanguard, Inc. His team of five liability adjusters include three attorneys and two examiners who hold over fifteen years of experience each. They handle a multitude of liability claims in several states with exposures totaling over one million dollars.

Tracy Seals

Liability Examiner
21 years of experience
Matthew M Bingham

Liability Examiner
5 years of experience
Corrin DeMent

Liability Examiner
8 years of experience

Subrogation Recovery Services

Dean E Barnett

Subrogation Manager
35+ years of experience

Dean brings more than 35 years of experience as an adjuster, supervisor, manager, account manager and account executive to his role as Subrogation Manager for Vanguard Recovery Services, a division of Vanguard Claims Administration. Prior to joining Vanguard, he served as a senior claims consultant in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions. Dean previously held both field and account management positions with two of the nation’s largest TPAs and worked as a claim consultant for one of the largest international insurance and risk management brokerage houses in the world. In addition to his in-depth technical claims experience, Dean holds the Associate in Claims (AIC) designation from Insurance Institute of America.

Jennifer Nixon

Subrogation Examiner
18 years of experience
Pam Powell

Subrogation Examiner
21 years of experience
Lindsay Westergard

Subrogation Assistant
3 years of experience

Catastrophic (CAT) Claims Services

John Croom

Director of CAT Services
27 years of experience

John is a dynamic and committed claims executive with decades of experience in property and casualty claim marketing and management, including extensive experience in daily and catastrophe claims handling. As the director of Catastrophe Services for Vanguard Adjustors Group, John leads his team strategically to deliver the best possible results for clients. John’s in-depth experience also includes first and third party claim handling of commercial and surplus lines, homeowners, flood and personal auto lines. His experience and strategic leadership positions the Vanguard CAT Services team to be ready to respond to client needs quickly and effectively.