A review of the records of our Association indicates the men engaged in claim work over eighty years ago were aware of the need of an association of claims men.  There was a time each man was pretty much on his own.  There was a general distrust of each other and a lack of cooperation.  A few realized that claim adjusting was not only a necessary work, but an honorable profession.  They planned to form an association of adjusters, to develop acquaintances and friendships; to discuss and exchange information concerning matters of mutual interest, to set up a code of ethics; and to eliminate practices reflecting on their profession and the companies they represent.

As with all pioneers, earnest desire was not immediately followed by complete success.  For a number of years, informal meetings were held; but the first real semblance of an organization did not appear until about 1928 when the Stock Insurance Company's claims managers formed a group that, within a few years included managers of other insurance companies and adjusting agencies.  Stimulated by the impetus of this pioneer group, a group known as the Cleveland Casualty Adjusters Association was formed in February 1934; and by April 1934, this group desiring to include other in the claims field, drew up a constitution and by-laws and organized the Cleveland Association of Claims Men.  At that time the membership consisted of approximately thirty-five members representing about fifteen companies.

From this humble beginning, the Association has operated under substantially the same constitution and by-laws.  Its membership increased to approximately four hundred members representing more than one hundred insurance, railroad, trucking, utilities companies and adjusting agencies.

The group has continued to operate as a sovereign entity and, in recent years, has taken definite steps to further the desired goal of professionalism for the claims adjuster by promoting educational programs, establishing a code of ethics, and promulgating harmony and trust.

In 1972, the first woman adjusters were invited to join the organization.  This action necessitated changing the name of the group.  In 1976, the name was changed to Cleveland Claims Association.

The Cleveland Claims Association has worked closely with other local claims organizations within the State of Ohio and sends elected delegates to semi-annual meetings of the Ohio Claims Association.

                                                                                                                                        Robert M. Peterson