Jennifer Flick

I've been in the insurance field for about 17 years, and I'm currently the president of Paragon Claims Group, which I started in August of last year. We provide an exclusive roster of adjusters to insurance companies when they're overwhelmed with claims after large events, and we also work in the government sector helping determine grant money allocation after disasters. I got my start in this industry after a boyfriend's friend told us adventurous stories about working after Hurricane Katrina and making great money. We both got licensed, and though we didn't stay together, I went on to work Hurricane Irma in New York as my first venture. I've done both in-office admin work dealing with policyholders, attorneys, and public adjusters, as well as field work doing property inspections and writing estimates. Our company now specializes in commercial properties, working with business owners and HOAs. What I'm most proud of is being a woman in a male-dominated industry who was able to climb the ranks from entry-level positions all the way through management to opening my own firm. I work in a good old boy network, and I've learned to use my femininity to work to my advantage instead of my disadvantage. Two years ago, I thought I was burned out and moved overseas to Italy to go back to school for design and get my degree. But when my dad got sick, I came back home to Ohio, and after hurricanes Helene and Milton hit Florida, I started back in insurance. It gave me a renewed appreciation for the industry, and that's when the idea for opening the firm came about.