Meet Our EGAs: Kyle Markowitz—National General Adjuster

Davies’ Executive General Adjusters are elite among claims adjusters in the U.S., handling the most complex and costly claims in their regions. In this Specialty Risk Division series, learn more about who they are, what they do, industry trends they’re seeing, and the most interesting project each has worked on to date.

Quick Background 

Since 2015, Kyle has handled complex commercial property losses nationwide and throughout the Southeast, specializing in builder’s risk, quota share and large-loss commercial claims. His expertise includes coverage interpretation, damage analysis and claims management, with extensive experience in fire, flood, water damage, hurricanes and tornadoes, equipment breakdown, business interruption, hail and roof losses, condos and HOAs, hospitality, healthcare, manufacturing, municipalities, marinas, retail operations and luxury high-rises.

Home: Nashville, TN
Region: Nationwide
Certifications: Property Technical Certificate (PTC)

Q&A

What trends are you seeing in catastrophe losses, and how are insurers adapting to a changing risk environment?

Weather-related losses have become one of the defining challenges for the property insurance industry. What stands out today is not just the occurrence of major catastrophes like hurricanes, but the overall increase in loss severity and growing frequency of secondary perils such as severe convective storms, hail, flooding and wildfires. These events are driving significant insured losses across regions that historically were not considered high-risk catastrophe areas.

Insurers are enhancing catastrophe response capabilities by pre-positioning resources, expanding vendor networks, and leveraging technology to accelerate inspections and claim resolution. The goal is to provide a faster and more consistent response while maintaining accuracy in coverage and valuation determinations.

You’ve worked across industries ranging from healthcare and hospitality to manufacturing and municipalities. Are there certain sectors experiencing more frequent or complex claims today, and why?

Having worked across a wide array of sectors/risks, I’d say we’re seeing increased complexity across nearly every sector. But the sectors experiencing the greatest claim complexity are generally those with highly specialized operations and limited downtime tolerance. The more critical the operation and the more interconnected its systems and revenue streams, the more challenging the claim becomes. That’s why successful claim resolution today requires not only strong property expertise but also a thorough understanding of how the insured’s business actually operates and generates revenue.

Your portfolio includes large-scale catastrophe losses, including hurricane claims exceeding $10 million. What are the biggest challenges you’re seeing today in commercial property claims compared to when you started in the industry?

One of the biggest changes I’ve seen in commercial property claims since I started is the level of complexity. Years ago, most losses were centered around direct physical damage, and the adjustment process was generally more straightforward. Today, we’re dealing with significantly more complex property schedules, layered insurance programs, sophisticated building systems, and much larger business interruption exposures.

The expectations of stakeholders have also changed. Insureds, brokers, carriers, lenders, and attorneys all expect faster communication, more transparency, and frequent status updates, even while the investigation is still developing. Managing those expectations while ensuring a thorough and accurate adjustment requires a high level of organization and communication.

On catastrophe claims specifically, we’re also seeing more disputes around causation, pre-existing conditions, code upgrades, and concurrent damage from multiple events. The documentation and forensic analysis needed to support coverage and valuation decisions are far more extensive than they were in the past.

The key is balancing those tools with sound adjusting fundamentals, strong policy knowledge, and relationship management. At the end of the day, commercial insureds need an adjuster who can navigate a complex claim, communicate clearly, and move the file toward resolution even under difficult conditions.

For organizations looking to reduce claim severity, what practical lessons have you learned from investigating major losses that every property owner or risk manager should know?

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned from investigating major losses is that claim severity is often determined long before the loss occurs. The organizations that recover most successfully are the ones that invest in preparation, resilience, and recovery planning before a loss happens.

While no organization can eliminate risk entirely, proactive planning, accurate valuations, disciplined maintenance, and business continuity readiness can significantly reduce both the severity of a loss and the time required to return to normal operations.

What’s the most interesting project you’ve ever worked on?

One of the most interesting projects I’ve worked on involved the construction of a stadium for a professional indoor golf league. What made the loss particularly unique was the combination of traditional construction risks and the highly specialized technology for the putting green and simulation.

The loss occurred a month before they were scheduled to broadcast on national television and involved damage to portions of the structure, as well as components critical to the golf simulation and broadcast infrastructure. Because the facility was being built to support a professional sports product, there were significant concerns beyond the physical damage itself. The stakeholders were focused on project completion deadlines, event scheduling commitments, contractor coordination, and the potential financial impact of any delays.

Get in touch with Kyle to learn more about his service regions and capabilities, and learn more about our overall Specialty Risk Division solutions.