Executive Committee

Chris Jolliffe

Born and raised in the Niagara Region, Chris Jolliffe is a degreed graduate from Brock University in 2013. His studies focused primarily on Biology, Health Sciences and Computer Sciences.

Chris’ biology and health sciences studies provided him with a great understanding and passion for the complex inner workings of the human body, while his computer sciences studies allowed him to increase his cyber and technological knowledge.

His insurance career began straight out of University, where he sold property, casualty and life insurance. This allowed him to expand his customer service skills and eventually lead to him becoming an independent adjuster in 2014.

Chris achieved his Chartered Insurance Professional designation from the Insurance Institute of Canada in 2016, and his Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator designation in 2019. He earned his Chartered Loss Adjuster designation in 2022, and is a Fellow of the International Federation of Adjusting Associations (2024).

Chris has served in several positions on the local OIAA Chapter Executive and is a former Niagara Chapter Delegate as part of the Provincial Executive. Chris is also a Past-President of the International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI – Ontario Chapter), and currently is the Treasurer of the Canadian Independent Adjusters’ Association (CIAA) National Executive.

Outside of work, most often you will find him swimming out in the open water, or out on the open road either on his bike or high-tailing it in his runners.

Chaussie Lawson

Chaussie is the claims manager for Portage Mutual Insurance Company. She has been with Portage Mutual for 15 years. She started her career at Cunningham Lindsey after graduating from Mohawk College Insurance Program. Chaussie has obtained her FCIP, CRM, Certificate in Rehabilitation and a Management diploma from McMaster University.

This is Chaussie’s second time on the OIAA Executive. Her first time through she started as a director, moved up the ranks to become president. Now she is the vice president again.

Chaussie really enjoys working in the Niagara Region as there are many wineries just around the corner.

Brian Hornyak

Brian is a claims representative for Portage Mutual Insurance Company. He is new to Portage Mutual, 2022 being his first year. He started his career working as a law clerk after graduating from Niagara College Law Clerk Program. Brian obtained experience working in criminal, real estate and civil law and later worked for a well-known property restoration company for over 9 years until he began working for Portage Mutual. Brian is working towards his CIP designation beginning 2023. This is Brian’s first year on the OIAA Executive, and he looks forward to building new industry relationships. In his spare time Brian really enjoys spending time with his family, friends and pets

Mike Ragona

Mike Ragona has been a longtime member of the OIAA Niagara Executive Board, his current role is Secretary. Mike served as the Chapter’s President for the 2008-09 term.

Mike has been employed at Sedgwick formerly Cunningham Lindsey since 2001. Working in the St. Catharines branch since the Spring of 2002, specializing in Municipal Liability, General Liability, Auto Liability and Property claims.

When not working, Mike enjoys spending time with his wife Hali and their three children, Paityn, Myah and Nolan. Mike is a sports enthusiast, in the spring and summer you can catch him coaching both of his daughter’s soccer teams. When he’s not spending his time coaching, he enjoys taking part and watching all levels of competition sport has to offer!

Bob McCord

Bob McCord is an Independent Insurance Adjuster with Leading Edge Claims Services in Fonthill, Ontario. Aside from his time as an Independent Adjuster Bob had started his career with Pilot Insurance in their St. Catharines Branch later becoming Aviva Canada, holding several Senior Field positions during his time within their Auto Department, Ontario Property Department, Marine Unit and Claims Investigation Unit. Although based out of Ontario throughout his career Bob has travelled to several locations across Canada in order to assist in times of crisis and extreme claims volumes caused various Natural Disasters.

Bob is licensed in all lines specializing in the handling of Commercial, Residential, Farm, Marine, Recreational and Non-Standard market claims. His diverse experience and exposure to wide range of claims and markets throughout his career leave him well qualified and efficient in the investigation and assessment of larger and more complex losses.

Bob is a graduate of the Mohawk College Insurance program and also holds a FCIP designation, a CRM designation and is also a Certified Fire and Explosion (CFEI) investigator. Throughout his career Bob has been actively involved in the Ontario Insurance Adjusters Association, serving in several positions within the Chapters executive, however has held the position of Chapter President since 2016.

Bob is known for his easy going demeanor and for his ability to relate and communicate with insured’s, insurers, brokers, and various vendors while providing excellent customer service with sound technical ability to investigate and resolve claims.

Outside of work Bob enjoys spending time with his family and friends, participating in recreational sports, outdoor activities such as hunting and fishing and is also an avid motorcycle enthusiast.

Rob Fiorido

For those who do not know me, I am Senior Claims Representative for Portage Mutual Insurance Co for the past 11 plus years. I have been in the insurance industry since 1988 and in claims since 1990. I was an independent adjuster for 20 + years. I started my career at Royal Insurance after graduating from Mohawk College Insurance Program.

I first became part of the OIAA when I was in Hamilton area as director and treasurer. I was then transferred to the Niagara Region in 2012 and took a hiatus until becoming the Niagara Delegate to the Toronto chapter in 2023.

While I am not working, I enjoy travelling, sports, attending the gym on a regular basis and spending time with my family

Jeff Edge

Jeff began his Insurance Adjusting career with Adjusters Canada Inc. in 1990 gaining experience in several cities throughout southern Ontario. He and his family re-located to Niagara Region in 1999 and have remained there ever since.

Jeff’s commitment to professionalism, meticulously thorough work ethic, and first rate customer service have earned him many accolades from clients and the insured public over the years and created a strong following of loyal customers. Jeff believes that continual training, learning and refinement of skills are integral to ensuring the best possible outcome for his customers.

Jeff is a long time active member in the Ontario Insurance Adjusters Association Niagara Chapter having served positions on the local Chapter Executive and is a former Niagara Chapter Delegate as part of the Provincial Executive. Jeff has also served executive positions including President on the National Executive for the Canadian Independent Insurance Adjusters Association (C.I.A.A) and has been recognized as a Fellow of the CIAA.   He is a Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator

Outside of work, Jeff enjoys spending time with his wife and boys in numerous activities in every season, enjoying an active lifestyle in many facets, particularly on his bikes and on the water.

Eric Griffi

Eric was born and raised in the Niagara Region, Eric graduated from Brock University in 2014. His studies focused on History.

Eric’s Insurance career began in 2017 where he started with Crawford & Company as a desk PD adjuster. After completing a short stint as a PD adjuster, Eric took on a role as a Property and Casualty Field Adjuster for the Niagara Region and the GTA. This developed into a Mutlilines Adjuster role when he started to take on more commercial insurance work and bodily injury work.

In April of 2021 Eric returned to the Auto PD side of Insurance in a managerial capacity as a Team Leader, he continued in this role until October of 2021 when he became the Claims Manager for the Inside Claims Personal Lines.

Outside of work most often Eric will be with his family Kirsten, Samuel and Maxwell travelling around the world, playing soccer or on the golf course.

Randy Henderson

Randy Henderson is the Marketing Manager with Arcon Forensic Engineers. Randy has his M.B.A. from the University of Toronto and over 30 years of progressive business-to-business marketing experience in Fortune 500 corporations and entrepreneurial ventures. His professional mantra for the business services industry is “on-time, in-scope, on-budget”. Randy has been an active member of the OIAA Niagara chapter since 2013.

When not attending to his client relations work, Randy enjoys live music performances, gardening, golf and playing soccer as well as tobogganing and pond hockey when weather allows! He is also active in the community through his participation with local sports & service clubs and his local ratepayers association.

Dave Giles

Dave is an Sr. Environmental Consultant at Caskanette & Associates Consulting Engineers in the Haldimand-Norfolk area. As a graduate of the Fish and Wildlife program at Sir Sandford Fleming College in Lindsay, Ontario, Dave completed several contract positions in research and highway construction quality control prior to focusing the last 18 years of his career providing environmental consulting services to the insurance industry.

As a senior project manager, Dave provides emergency spill remediation consulting services for trucking, residential and commercial claims, mould assessment and sampling, designated substance surveys, asbestos and lead abatement remediation protocols, soot and combustion by product assessments and narcotics clearance testing. Dave also has experience as a contractor, managing spill remediation projects and operating heavy equipment.

Dave joined the OIAA Niagara as a Social Director in 2022.

Outside of work, Dave enjoys spending time with his Wife and three children and being outdoors.

Avery Edge

Avery is a graduate of the Mechanical Engineering Technology program at Niagara College. Avery spent 4 years working in industry managing maintenance and packaging departments and staff within the facilities. He garnered significant and valuable experience working with site specific processes, mechanical maintenance planning and execution, repair scheduling of materials and labour forces, production efficiency improvements and achieving corporate targets. Expanding interests lead him to seek new challenges.

Having grown up with exposure to the insurance claims industry and the wide array of claims scenarios it entails, Avery decided to shift into the field in order to explore the broader opportunity for expanded learning and service offerings that claims adjusters have. Avery is currently working towards obtaining his CIP designation amongst other learning opportunities with the focus on being able to apply his education and experience to the claims industry servicing commercial, mechanical and industrial sectors.