Management Team
IAS Claim Services’ management depth inspires confidence in our clients. Each member of our executive team has more than 20 years of experience. Our management team’s leadership experience spans insurance, claims adjusting, engineering, construction, and finance. The breadth and depth of our team provides stability and allows IAS to continuously identify service delivery innovations that help our clients maintain, and improve their policyholders' experience.
Larry Cochran
Chief Executive Officer
Larry Cochran has 25 years in the management, evaluation, presentment or settlement of over $3 billion in claims. He has been an expert witness in a number of large complex claims in Federal and State courts from Pennsylvania to Texas. As a consultant and CPA, in addition to helping resolve disputed commercial claims, he also assisted businesses or creditors in the turnaround, dissolution or reorganization of troubled companies.
From early 2000 through 2006, Larry became an owner and CEO of a large oil and gas exploration and production company that was previously a client. After substantial success in developing a large portfolio of producing and proven reserves, Larry sold his interest in the company and purchased IAS Claim Services. Since acquiring the company, Larry has pursued the vision to help everyone at IAS make it known world-wide as the most respected company in the industry.
Larry earned his BBA in Finance from Texas A&M University as a Business School Administration Fellow. Larry subsequently obtained his CPA and received hundreds of hours in post-education accounting, claims, business valuation, turnaround and litigation support training. He is actively involved in many charitable and professional organizations.
Jim Buckley
Vice President
Jim has an extensive background in Large Complex first party property losses for numerous insurers and has handled claims in multiple states throughout the US. Currently Jim maintains over 26 different state licenses as well as being well versed in the Lender Placed insurance sector. Jim is and has been active in several national and regional claims organizations including:
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Loss Executives Association(“LEA”),
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Registered Professional Adjuster (“RPA”)
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Associate in Claims (AIC)
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California Association of Independent Adjusters,
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National Association of Independent Adjusters and
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Orange County Adjusters Association.
Jim is very active in his community and several charitable organizations over the years including, Toys for Tots (Board of Directors), Little League Baseball (Board of Directors) and several other charitable organizations throughout his community.
Jim brings over 23 years of experience in claims specializing in Property Claims. Jim joined IAS in October 2011 and oversees the Western US Operations and Large Losses for IAS currently. Prior to joining IAS Jim owned and operated “Jim Buckley & Associates (“JBA”) Insurance Adjusters" for over 13 years, starting in April 1998. Prior to opening his own firm, Jim was the Vice President of the Western US for Cunningham Lindsey, where he also held various management and adjuster positions including General Adjuster dating back to 1991.
Don Stephens, CPCU
National Vice President
Don Stephens began his adjusting career in 1978 with Indiana Insurance Company. He joined USAA in 1984, working in various adjusting and operating leadership positions for 19 years before entering the independent claims business in 2003. Since then, Don has focused his expertise on business development and catastrophe management. At IAS, he is also the principal coordinator of our adjuster and client training programs and seminars. Don earned a bachelor of science degree in business administration from Indiana State University, his MBA from the University of Texas at San Antonio. He also acquired his CPCU designation during his tenure at USAA.
John Reed
Vice President
John Reed has managed our Louisiana region since joining IAS in 1995. He began his insurance services career with GAB Robbins in 1989 as a property and casualty adjuster. He also spent two years as a Farm Bureau broker/agent before returning to independent adjusting with Crawford & Company in 1993. John is a member of the Baton Rouge Claims Association. He earned a bachelor of science in business administration from the University of Southwest Louisiana, where he was inducted into the MU Kappa TAU honor society.
David Terry
Executive Vice President
David Terry began his insurance services career in 1963 with GAB Robbins. Since then, he has been a proven leader in the property and casualty claims adjusting industry. Mr. Terry joined IAS in 1985, managing the company's growth into one of the top 20 independent adjusting firms in the U.S. He earned his BBA and MBA degrees from Texas Christian University, where he also played on the TCU baseball team. He is active in many insurance and claims professional organizations.
Tony Scow, CSRM
Vice President of TPA Operations
Tony comes to us from Crawford and Company where he had a proven track record for successfully attracting, leading and developing a number of major TPA accounts with both Texas and national exposure. Tony was with Crawford for over 15 years in a leadership capacity. In 2007 Tony won the Crawford & Company Circle of Excellence award as one of the top branches within the Crawford organization. Tony is a graduate of Texas A&M University.
John Gomez
Operations Manager/Special Accounts Manager, Western Region
John Gomez began his insurance services career as a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor. He eventually was owner/operator of his own Vocational Rehabilitation firm from 1988 to 1992. In 1992 he took a position with Lindsey Morden Claims Services, Inc. in Brea California as a Multiline Adjuster. This included investigation, adjustment and settlement of small and large multi-line claims, including workers compensation, first and third party auto, premise and product liability, casualty, litigation, residential and commercial property. John also was responsible for national accounts serving as account liaison for property, auto and general liability.
From 1997 to 1999, he continued his career with Cunningham Lindsey Claims Service, Inc. as a Manager/Adjuster for CSI Operations. He continued his duties as a multiline adjuster as well as special account liaison for national accounts while adding the responsibilities of supervising field operations and administrative staff. In late 1999, John joined JBA Insurance Adjusters in the role of Operations Manager/Adjuster for all California Operations. This included supervising all lines of coverage. He continued his duties as a multiline adjuster and special account liaison for regional and national accounts. In late 2011 John joined IAS Claim Services in continued managerial roles and special account management and foresees continued growth with a nationally known and respected firm.
John has earned certification for property and coverage analysis through Vale National. He has completed Workers Compensation Vocational Rehabilitation Training and Aspects of the Law. His certifications include, Fair Claims, Earthquake, Flood (NFIP) and Fraud. He was a member of the Orange County Adjusters Association acting as board member and President from 1998 to 1999.
Gary Amos
Regional Manager, Arizona & Southern Nevada
Gary Amos started his insurance adjusting career in 1978 in Southern California. He worked for numerous national companies prior to being one of the original adjusters at JBA Insurance adjusters in 1998. In 2008 he became the manager of the Arizona and Southern Nevada claims offices for JBA where he continues after the merger of JBA & IAS. Gary enjoys bowling, camping and his grandkids when he is not working.
John Manning
Central California Regional Manager
John Manning began his insurance services career in 1990 as a multi-line adjuster with Capital Insurance Group. Here he investigated residential, commercial, farm and automobile insurance claims. His residential and commercial property experience branched into the insurance restoration and construction industry, as a general manager and estimator. He joined Cunningham Lindsey US. Inc. in 1995, and spent the next 16 years as an adjuster, general adjuster and branch manager. He supervised Offices in Fresno, Modesto, Bakersfield and San Luis Obispo, Ca. He earned a quality reputation & trust in the Central Ca Region. In 2011, John joined IAS Claim Services to continue his managerial leadership and precise claims handling. “I am proud to be part of such a visionary company, which upholds integrity, accuracy & service as its name brand!”
John earned his BA degree from California State University Chico, Ca. He is active in the Central California Insurance Adjusters Association and a two term past president. He obtained Vale Training Solution Insurance certificates in residential, commercial, business loss income, flood & earthquake courses. He has experience as an appraiser for complex insurance cases.
Steve Dudash
Regional Manager
Steve Dudash joined IAS in 2008 as the regional manager of the Oklahoma region. Prior to joining IAS, he spent 21 years with The Republic Group as a full line adjuster. At Republic, he investigated and reviewed claims, determined coverage, identified possible subrogation and investigated potential and fraudulent claims. Steve earned a bachelor of business administration degree from the University of Oklahoma. Steve was recently named to the Board of Directors for the Oklahoma Claims Association.
Valerie Martinez
Manager, IAS ClaimCare
Valerie Martinez has over 15 years experience in the call center industry. She started as a call center agent in 1994 and advanced quickly through various call center positions such as trainer, operations supervisor and call center manager. Her qualifications include communications, business ethics, quality assurance, customer service and call center management. Valerie is also bilingual and earned a certificate for Spanish from the Foreign Languages Department at San Antonio College. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree from The University of the Incarnate Word in Business Administration and Management.
Todd Shetler
Director of Operations and Special Services
Todd’s responsibilities include assisting leadership in CAT deployment management as well as recruiting, provisioning, logistics, and establishing field operations during CAT. Prior to joining IAS Shetler has over 15 years of experience in sales, marketing and consulting with one of the leading and world-renowned medical and pharmaceutical companies. During that time, Shetler’s passion of providing his customers with tailor-made solutions earned him several awards and accolades. Todd earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Texas at Austin. He lives in San Antonio, Texas and is actively involved in several charitable organizations.
Michael Cronin
Director of Technincal Services
Michael first started with IAS in April of 2010 to develop a technology roadmap. Over the course of the next year he became an integral part of the organizations day-to-day operations so in September of 2011 Michael joined the IAS team as the Director of Technical Services. Michael is now responsible for our national infrastructure and our day-to-day operations and overall software and hardware development initiatives.
Prior to joining IAS, he spent 18 years working as a consultant across the United States managing many different technology infrastructures, software projects, network installations along with providing project management for technology implementations for a very wide range of different business types.
Jeff Bottem
Executive Vice President, CatCrew®
Jeff Bottem has specialized in catastrophic claim adjustment since 1974. In 1990, Jeff joined IAS Claim Services from GAB and helped form the catastrophe division, CatCrew®. Since launching CatCrew®, he has built one of the most highly respected catastrophic claims adjusting teams in the U.S. He has worked and supervised more than 100 different Catastrophic events throughout his career in the U.S. Jeff earned a bachelor of science degree from the University of Wisconsin. He has participated in numerous property and casualty training programs both as a participant and instructor.
Richard Morrison
Vice President, CatCrew®
Richard Morrison has 32 years experience in the insurance industry. He has been with Cat Crew 15 years, and supervised tens of thousands of catastrophe claims, while delivering high client satisfaction. He has been extremely successful in training our adjusters, while also providing them with day to day support.
Richard received his training while on the job, working for an independent adjusting firm for 8 years. He was mentored by one of the firm’s partners, and handled all types of insurance claims. Eventually, he began handling catastrophe claims all over the country. This continued for 9 years before joining Cat Crew as a manager.
Prior to embarking on his adjusting career, Richard worked over 10 years for a general contractor that focused on insurance repair work. Although he worked in all phases of this industry from carpenter, project manager, and estimator, it was here Richard honed his insurance estimating skills. Richard actually began writing detailed computer estimates in 1980, while the personal computer era was just beginning. Richard studied at The College of Engineering while attending Louisiana Tech University.
Marc Powell
Vice President, CatCrew®
Marc began his insurance career with Farmers Insurance Group, in the mold division. During that time, he supervised IC from several IA firms, completed appraisals, and attended mediations. Marc joined Cunningham Lindsey’s cat department in 2006 as a supervisor and became Catastrophe Services manager, where he supervised and managed catastrophe claims related to wildfires, wind and hail, floods, tornadoes, hurricanes and winter storms across the U.S. Prior to Marc’s insurance career, he worked for national home builders as a construction manager and quality manager. Marc has also owned and managed his own construction company. Marc studied business at Texas State University.
