Best's Insurance Professional Resources
Client-Recommended Attorneys, Adjusters and Experts
Best's Insurance Professional Resources
Client-Recommended Attorneys, Adjusters and Experts


Best's Recommended Insurance Adjusters

P.O. Box 6481, Syracuse, New York 13217

Established: 1980

Licensed in New York, Vermont, Connecticut, Maine, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Delaware and North Carolina.

Services

  • Automobile (All Lines)
  • Bonds
  • Business Interruption
  • Cargo
  • Casualty (All Lines)
  • Commercial and Residential Property
  • Commercial Fire
  • Construction Defects
  • Construction Losses
  • Environmental Exposures
  • Fire and Allied Lines
  • Hail
  • Homeowners
  • Inland Marine
  • Large Loss Commercial
  • Liquor Liability
  • Motor Truck Cargo Losses
  • National Flood Insurance Program Certified
  • Photographs
  • Pre-trial Investigations
  • Product Liability
  • Property (All Lines)
  • Settlement Negotiations
  • Slip and Falls
  • Subrogation
  • Trial Preparation
  • CAT

Video Profile

About Us

Fort Orange Claim Service, dba FOCUS, was established May 1, 1980. The company grew quickly to become one of the largest, regional, independent adjusting firms in New York State.

With professional claims people across Upstate New York, Fort Orange Claim Service is large enough to service all of your independent adjusting needs, yet flexible enough to respond to the individual concerns of your company.

When Fort Orange Claim Service represents your company you receive:
• 24 hour service from all locations
• Fully staffed offices
• A company-wide average experience level of over 25 years
• Two hour acknowledgement of loss
• Itemized bills based on a Scheduled or Time & Expense billing
• Dedicated professionals and a "Best in the Business" management team concept to ensure:
-- Immediate contacts - 2 hours or less
-- Timely Reports
-- A superior product upon which the insurance industry has come to rely

Additional Locations

Professional Memberships

  • New York Association of Independent Adjusters, Inc.
  • Syracuse Claims Association

Service Area

Serving New York State

Personnel Information

Michael Schell

Michael obtained his higher education degree from SUNY Delhi where he graduated with an AAS in Architecture.
Michael began his career in the mobile/modular home industry where he worked in all aspects of home construction, set up and service. Moving on to an active duty enlistment in the U.S. Army, he performed as a Field Artillery Surveyor and later as a Combat Engineer in the U.S. Army reserves, with deployments to Saudi Arabia and Iraq during Operation Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom. He performed as a Drill Sergeant for 14 years with the U.S. Army Reserves before retiring as a 1st Sgt in 2013. From Active duty U.S. Army, Michael began a 20+ year career with the New York State Police with postings in Plattsburgh, Morrisville, Herkimer, Tarrytown and Schuyler before retiring as a Sergeant in 2018. Looking for a new career direction after retirement, Fort Orange Claims provided the perfect fit and developmental opportunity. Michael obtained his insurance adjusters license in 2017 and has continued to further his skills with Xactimate training. He is a current member of The SIU Association of New York and CLM.

Brian Hansen

Brian began his adjusting career in 2007 with Arbitrage Adjusting Services, Inc. where he served as an adjuster in the Albany office. Brian continued his adjusting career with Homesite Insurance and McNeil & Company before joining Fort Orange Claim Service in 2017. Brian’s experience with both residential and commercial claims has enhanced his ability to handle claims of all coverage lines. Brian graduated from LeMoyne College with a BA in Criminal Justice. Brian has completed training at Vale Technical School and the ILX Construction Training with Xactware. Brian is also NFIP Certified.

Alan W. Young

Branch Manager
Alan began his adjusting career in 1979 accepting a position with GAB Business Services. He held the position of adjuster until he became a Senior Adjuster and Liability Supervisor. After leaving GAB, he was employed by Fort Orange Claim Service as an Adjuster-In-Charge, and promoted to Branch Manager of the Syracuse Branch. He also was an Adjunct Professor of Insurance at Utica College of Syracuse University.
Memberships:
  • CLM Buffalo
  • Utica and Syracuse Claims Associations
  • The SIU Association of New York
Education:
  • Utica College, B.S.
  • Nathan Mallinder
  • Matthew McCormick

Service Areas

Auburn, New York, USA 30 miles

Binghamton, New York, USA 74 miles

Elmira, New York, USA 92 miles

Ithaca, New York, USA 55 miles

Oswego, New York, USA 42 miles

Rochester, New York, USA 88 miles

Watertown, New York, USA 71 miles

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