Our Staff

A former claims manager and supervisor with several large commercial insurance carriers, Mike Farrell has over 29 years of experience handling and managing casualty claims. A University of Oregon graduate, Mike has received his Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter, Associate in Claims, Associate in Reinsurance, and General Insurance designations. Mike founded Farrell & Associates in 1995.

Cynthia Conover has over 30 years of experience as a branch manager, senior claims examiner and field claims representative. Prior to joining Farrell & Associates in 2000, Cynthia worked for Ward North America, California Casualty and Allstate. She received the Senior Claims Law Association designation, and has served as president of the Oregon Casualty Adjusters Association.

Teresa Gooley has adjusted liability claims in Oregon since 1978, previously having worked at Allstate Insurance Company, Aetna Casualty and the City of Portland Risk Management Division. She has handled serious general liability, medical and dental malpractice, police liability, product liability and employment claims. Teresa has specialized training in police civil liability discipline and labor problems, supervision, and communication. She has been with Farrell & Associates for over nine years.

Jon Schenck has handled commercial and personal lines claims since 1984. Prior to joining us in 1999, he worked for Safeco, Maryland Casualty and Ohio Casualty as multi-line claims representative and senior claims representative specializing in first party and third party property losses. He is experienced in construction defect claims and has handled long haul trucking liability in 49 states. He also worked for an insurance restoration company as an estimator and supervisor. He is trained in the use of the Xactimate estimating program. Jonathan is a graduate of the University of Oregon and is licensed in Oregon and Washington.

Sonia Smith has handed claims in Oregon since 1975, previously working as a claims supervisor and examiner with Payless Drug Stores and EBI Companies. Sonia received her Bachelor of Science degree in criminology from Southern Oregon State University. Sonia is based in Eugene. Sonia has been with Farrell & Associates for over fourteen years.

With special expertise in handling municipal liability claims, Tracy Stansbury has over 20 years of experience in the claims profession. Prior to joining Farrell & Associates, Tracy worked as a senior claims specialist for Consolidated Freightways and for City County Insurance Services, where she handled officer-involved shooting and other high-exposure claims.

Kathi Prestwood has over 26 years of claims experience, having previously worked as a field claims representative and liability staff specialist with Farmers Insurance in Portland and Bend. She is a graduate of the University of Oregon and is a licensed private investigator. Kathi is based in Bend.

Maria Berard has over 25 years of experience as a field claims adjuster and team leader for Ohio Casualty and Amica Mutual Insurance Companies. Maria is fluent in Spanish, and has completed the Vale National Property Damage Estimating course, negotiations settlement training, and Leadership Skills for Women training. She is based in Portland.

Beth Day has over 18 years of claims experience, including seven years as a field representative with Farmers Insurance Company. She is a graduate of California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo. Beth covers southern Oregon and northern California from her office in Medford.

Our office manager, Pat Stringer, has over 30 years of experience, working as a social insurance claims representative and a data review technician with the Social Security Administration in Columbus, Ohio and Portland.

Jim Prestwood has over 26 years of expertise in the claims profession, having previously worked as a field claims representative and supervisor for Farmers Insurance Group in Portland and Bend. Jim is a graduate of the University of Oregon and is a past president of the Oregon Casualty Adjusters Association. Jim is based in Central Oregon.

Erika Britton has 18 years of experience in the insurance claims profession and civil litigation, receiving her training from Safeco. She is a graduate of Western Business College with an associates degree in applied sciences as a paralegal. She is state certified as a general lines adjuster in Oregon and Washington. As an employee of Farrell & Associates, Erika handles general liability United States and Canada claims for Nike, C-TRAN and the City of Salem.

Don Placido has handled commercial and personal lines property claims in Oregon since 1995. Prior to joining Farrell & Associates in 2007, he worked for Liberty Mutual as a senior claims representative specializing in first party and third party property losses. Don owned his own construction business for 12 years prior to joining the claims profession. He is trained in the use of the Xactimate estimating program and has expertise in responding to catastrophe claims. Don is a graduate of Mount St. Mary’s College and is licensed in Oregon and Washington.

Yvonne Green has been a claims professional since 1994, having previously worked for Mutual of Enumclaw and Sedgwick Claims Management. She is bilingual and regularly interviews Spanish-speaking claimants, witnesses and insureds. She is a licensed adjuster in Oregon and Washington, and has obtained her Associate in Claims designation. Yvonne served as president of the Portland chapter of National Association of Insurance Women and received the chapter’s Claims Professional of the Year award in 2003.

Nanette Henspeter is our multi-line field claims specialist in Seattle. Nanette has over 18 years of claims expertise, having previously worked as a field representative for Aetna Casualty in Rancho Cordova, California and a senior claims specialist for Allstate, AIG, and Travelers in the Northwest. Nanette has experience handling large commercial and personal lines claims, and has expertise in writing Xactimate estimates. Nanette received her BS in Business Administration from California State East Bay.