5300 E Olympic Blvd
Los Angeles
CA 90022
TOPIC: Basics of property Insurance what appraisers need to know
Joe Derhake, Founder and CEO of the nation’s top third-party due diligence firm for commercial real estate, will discuss the L.A. Fires and other climate-related disasters from an engineering and environmental perspective. As extreme weather events become more frequent and severe, property insurance rates are soaring—sometimes making assets uninsurable. To combat the effects of the insurance crisis and mitigate climate-related risk, savvy investors are using due diligence data to boost climate resilience and negotiate better insurance rates. Mr. Derhake will discuss these strategies, as well as how his firm has helped property owners understand and mitigate the environmental impact of the L.A. fires on their properties.
In light of 2025 Los Angeles wildfires, Thomas Dawson, ASA will introduce Insurance fundamentals as personal property appraisers: how to communicate the value of appraisal services for insurance purposes to client, empower client to ask the right questions to insurance agent, understand the relationship and duties of the insured and insurer in an insurance contract, the claim function, and real-world examples.
SPEAKERS: Joseph Derhake, PE
Joseph Derhake, PE, is CEO of Partner Engineering and Science, Inc., the industry leader in engineering and environmental due diligence consulting. With over 25 years of experience as a professional engineer, Mr. Derhake has delivered consulting services for thousands of real estate transactions, subsurface investigations, and site remediation projects for leading national corporations, lenders, and real estate investors. Through this, Mr. Derhake and Partner have been afforded great access to key policy credit managers with national and regional lenders providing the opportunity to participate in the writing and reviewing of environmental and engineering due diligence policies for many large financial institutions. With the combined insight from his technical background, business expertise, and knowledge of real estate finance, Mr. Derhake offers unique perspective on the current state and future of the commercial real estate industry.
Thomas Dawon, ASA
Thomas Dawson, ASA, is an experienced insurance professional, appraiser, and musician with over a decade of expertise in the insurance industry. Since 2017, he has provided professional appraisals for musical instruments, music collections, valuable manuscripts, and other high-value assets. While managing a P&C insurance agency, he insured millions of dollars worth of personal property, from vehicles and jewelry to fine art and collectibles. In 2016, he became a certified commercial insurance specialist and has quoted, written, and managed thousands of insurance policies covering personal property, homes, autos, businesses, and more. His expertise bridges the gap between insurance and appraisals, ensuring accurate valuations. Beyond insurance and appraisals, Dawson is an accomplished guitarist, music producer, and editor. He has collaborated with top industry producers, performed with platinum-selling artists, and negotiated music synchronization licenses for nationally broadcast commercials. A University of Oregon School of Music graduate, he taught guitar for over a decade and has been an ASCAP member and publishing company owner since 2008.
Bryan will be able to give expert, first-hand perspective on the environmental impact of the LA fires and related mitigation efforts.
Bryan Hill, CAC, Technical Director at Partner Engineering and Science, Inc., has over 20 years of experience and professional guidance in environmental consulting and industrial hygiene services, including 15 years in wildfire assessment and response. A California Certified Asbestos Consultant, he specializes in indoor air quality assessment, hazardous materials management, and disaster response services.