Level Up Claims

Galen Hair

The Level Up Claims Podcast brings you real conversations with the leaders, builders, and disruptors shaping the property damage, restoration, and insurance-claims world. Each week, we dig into the strategies, systems, and mindset needed to grow, whether you're a contractor, public adjuster, attorney, or anyone working in the claims ecosystem. From business growth and leadership to industry trends, complex losses, tech, and entrepreneurship, we spotlight the people who refuse to settle and are pushing the industry forward. No fluff. No sales pitches. Just actionable insight from those who've lived it. If you're ready to think bigger, operate smarter, and level up your impact, you're in the right place.

  1. −23 h

    AI, IT & Leadership: Are You Using Technology the Right Way? with Lara Hamilton - Episode 190

    Technology is supposed to make business easier. So why does it sometimes feel like it's making everything harder? In this episode of the Level Up Claims Podcast, Galen sits down with Lara Hamilton, a multifamily IT and software support leader, to talk about the intersection of technology, AI, leadership, and operational efficiency. Lara shares her unconventional path from banking operations to multifamily IT, how she learned to eliminate inefficient processes, and why businesses need to make sure their technology actually works for their people. They also dive into the opportunities and risks of AI, including data security, employee education, governance, and the importance of verifying what AI tells you. But perhaps the biggest lesson is about leadership: the goal of technology isn't to eliminate the human element. It's to free people up to do the things only people can do. In this episode: Why technology should eliminate operational friction—not create more of it The importance of documenting processes before automating them How AI can improve reporting and efficiency The security risks businesses need to consider when employees use AI Why every company needs clear AI governance policies How leaders can use technology to give employees more room to think and grow Recognizing when your IT team is overwhelmed and becoming reactive Why taking care of your people ultimately means taking care of your clients Lara's philosophy on leadership, growth, and what it means to level up Lara's perspective is especially relevant for leaders trying to navigate rapid technological change without losing sight of the people their businesses are built around.

  2. 17 juni

    Building Operations that Survive the Storm with Ashley Bickford - Episode 183

    This special episode of the Level Up Claims Podcast was recorded live at the 2026 Level Up Claims Summit. While most businesses focus on marketing and growth, few talk about what happens after the leads arrive. In this candid conversation, Galen Hair sits down with Insurance Claim HQ COO Ashley Bickford to pull back the curtain on the operational challenges that come with catastrophe events, rapid growth, acquisitions, and scaling a modern claims organization. Highlights: ·      Why intake is often the first thing to break during a CAT event ·      The operational mistakes that nearly derailed growth ·      Building SOPs and training systems that scale ·      How Insurance Claim HQ uses AI without replacing people ·      Improving client communication and accountability ·      Solving referral tracking and attribution challenges ·      Creating operational leverage before the next storm hits ·      Lessons learned from acquiring another law firm's assets ·      Why growth exposes problems instead of solving them ·      How to identify and eliminate bottlenecks before they become crises   Episode Resources: ·      Connect with Ashley Bickgord ·      abickford@hstalaw.com ·      Connect with Galen M. Hair ·      https://insuranceclaimhq.com ·      hair@hairshunnarah.com ·      https://levelupclaim.com/

Om

The Level Up Claims Podcast brings you real conversations with the leaders, builders, and disruptors shaping the property damage, restoration, and insurance-claims world. Each week, we dig into the strategies, systems, and mindset needed to grow, whether you're a contractor, public adjuster, attorney, or anyone working in the claims ecosystem. From business growth and leadership to industry trends, complex losses, tech, and entrepreneurship, we spotlight the people who refuse to settle and are pushing the industry forward. No fluff. No sales pitches. Just actionable insight from those who've lived it. If you're ready to think bigger, operate smarter, and level up your impact, you're in the right place.