Fathers love to see their children flourish and live a meaningful life. We all keep an extra eye out for our daughters. Every father watching Diane Swerling’s induction as President of the National Association of Public Insurance Adjusters (NAPIA) was thinking of how fitting it was that it occurred over Father’s Day Weekend.
The late Bruce Swerling, a former Past President of NAPIA, was devoted to the profession of public adjusting and his legacy lives in part through his daughters, Diane Swerling and Dayle Swerling Burke. They work together at Bruce’s old firm, Swerling, Milton and Winnick. Here is a little history about the firm as described on their website:
Solomon Swerling grew up in Boston’s West End, across from a fire station. A self-proclaimed “firebug,” Solomon would travel to fires across Boston, seeing first-hand how devastating they were for home and business owners. A well-educated man, Solomon began to help business owners navigate insurance claims after fires, and in 1898, Swerling Milton Winnick was born.
Solomon’s tradition of compassion and expertise continues to this day, as a fourth generation runs the family business. Principals Diane Swerling and Dayle Swerling Burke proudly carry on the legacy of their father Bruce, grandfather Dan and great-grandfather Solomon: helping families and businesses in a time of great stress and need.
Bruce Swerling was a tremendous public adjuster. He always seemed to have a tip or two for me, as did his partner Marvin Milton, who was educated as a lawyer before becoming a public adjuster. I noted Bruce Swerling’s passing in Former NAPIA President and NAPIA Person of the Year, Bruce Swerling, Passes. I miss him, and many regretted that he was not with us to celebrate.
Many public adjusting firms are smaller family run businesses. We hosted a dinner on Thursday evening with three father/son public adjusters attending. I asked each of the sons to give a little history about when they first remember doing anything in the family business—most rode in the cars as their fathers solicited losses and started by counting personal property inventory.
Watching and starting with the basics is a good way to learn any business. There are many expert adjusters at NAPIA conventions because many started watching and working in the family public adjusting business when they were very young. When you work at something passionately your entire life, you have an excellent chance of becoming one of the best.
I want to wish a special "cheers" to Diane and Dayle’s father on Father’s Day—he did well and we miss him. To all other Fathers, enjoy and let’s not forget how our footprints live with our children long after they are grown.
