Taylor Fudge joined Claims Management Resources in 2009, the third-generation managing partner of his family’s debt collection companies. His diverse background in legal, insurance and client relations brought innovation and growth to the legacy his grandparents and father started.
In the late 1980s, Taylor’s father, Chip Fudge, was asked to help with some property claims Southwestern Bell was struggling to recover. It was a lightbulb moment that opened his eyes to new opportunities. “My dad figured out that he liked negotiating with an insurance carrier and an insurance adjuster versus somebody with a past-due telephone bill.”
Claims Management Resources (CMR) began in Oklahoma City, which its headquarters and employees still call home. “We have over 35 years of experience increasing recovery dollars on property damage claims for Departments of Transportation and utility companies,” Fudge said. “We provide claims recovery solutions for physical assets damaged in accidents such as utility poles, street signs, guardrail systems and underground facilities.”
When asked about how he brings new employees into the culture of CMR, Fudge replied, “Our cultural transparency is essential. We believe there is a lot of power in sharing information and being informed about what is happening in our organization. We are only successful if we recover money for our clients. We believe in healthy competition, where we share a strong work ethic and work together. We also believe in working in teams, and we think that has brought us success today.
“We are looking for people who have a strong work ethic, a sense of urgency and the ability to be a team player—and at the end of the day, we want our people to go home and live their lives. I don’t need our employees to have a college degree; just smart, hardworking people.”
How is Fudge looking to the future of his company? He replied, “We are trying to grow the organization using new technology such as Lean Six Sigma. I want to find every tool possible to give our employees to recover their claims, close the file and move on to the next client as quickly as possible.”
Fudge’s advice to young leaders? “Check your ego at the door. Lead with purpose and integrity. If you think that you are a leader and no one is following you, you’re just out taking a walk.”
