Katherine Papa Elected To Board Of National Association Of Public Insurance Adjusters (Napia)

Katherine M. Papa has been recently elected to the Board of the National Association of Public Insurance Adjusters (NAPIA), which is in its 70th year.  NAPIA is comprised of licensed Public Adjusting firms, from across the nation, who are dedicated to promoting the education, certification, ethics, legal and legislative representation, and promotion of the public adjuster industry.  NAPIA members are held to the highest professional and ethical standards and work tirelessly to cultivate solutions on legislation that may negatively impact the clients they serve, the public.  Katherine is honored to follow in the footsteps of her father, Ron Papa (President of NFA), who served as President of NAPIA (1992-1993), as well as her sister, Jodie Papa (Regional VP of NFA) who also recently served as President of the organization (2020-2021).

Katherine M. Papa joined NFA, National Fire Adjustment Co., Inc. (NFA) in 2007 and is a Licensed Public Adjuster, who specializes in Residential and Commercial losses.  Katherine is a fourth generation, licensed Public Adjuster who advocates for home and business owners, in dealing with property damage insurance claims.  She prides herself on her ability to not only provide outstanding service to her clients, but also develop close personal relationships with them.  Katherine works with families and business owners during one of, if not the most difficult time in their lives.  Katherine serves on a number of boards, including the American Red Cross and Buffalo Executives Association (Treasurer).  In her position on the Board of the American Red Cross, Katherine serves on the Home Fire Safety Committee, which oversees the Sound the Alarm Campaign.  The Sound the Alarm Campaign is near and dear to her heart, as its goal is to reduce fire related deaths by providing the public with free smoke alarms and fire safety tips.

Within Katherine’s role as a Director of the Board, she serves as Chair of the Unlicensed and Fraudulent Activities (UFA) Committee, who’s focus is to cultivate ways to educate those involved in an insurance claim (i.e. contractors, restoration companies, etc.) that the only ones who are licensed to advocate and negotiate a claim, on behalf of the property owners, are licensed Public Adjusters or attorneys.  A vast number of states have passed laws, through the hard work and dedication of NAPIA, that strive to protect the policyholder from those who may be offering services that only a licensed Public Adjuster, or attorney, are authorized to provide.  Public Adjusters are licensed by the state and are not only required to pass an in-depth exam and background check, but are also required to maintain their licenses by completing Continuing Educational requirements set forth by the state. The continuing education requirements are to keep the licensed Public Adjuster up-to-date on various changes within their industry, in order to better serve their clients.  Those who operate as a Public Adjuster, but do not hold the appropriate license to do so, may negatively impact the policyholder’s claim.  The UFA Committee also works closely with NAPIA’s Grievance Committee, should a company/person who is not licensed as a Public Adjuster, continues to violate the State law in which they operate.

Katherine also serves on the Marketing and Social Media Committee, who develops ways to advise the public on the Public Adjusting profession and why it may be in their best interest to hire a licensed Public Adjuster.