As restoration claims become more complex and costly, experienced consultants are playing a larger role in ensuring accurate assessments, fair pricing, and effective recovery planning.

CHICAGO, IL / ACCESS Newswire / June 3, 2026 / With rising construction costs, increasingly severe weather events, and growing complexity in commercial restoration claims, insurance carriers are relying more heavily on independent damage consultants to provide objective evaluations and oversight during the recovery process.

Mark Siegwald, Senior Consultant at Bower Group, says the shift reflects a growing need for accuracy and accountability across large property loss projects involving fires, floods, hurricanes, and mold remediation.

"We're seeing more complexity in nearly every major claim," Siegwald said. "The costs are higher, timelines are tighter, and there are often multiple parties involved. Insurance carriers want experienced professionals who can independently assess the damage and make sure the scope of work actually matches what's needed."

Siegwald has spent more than 24 years working across the insurance and restoration industries. His background includes roles as a claims adjuster, restoration professional, consultant, and project auditor. That broad experience has given him a unique understanding of how large losses are managed from multiple sides of the process.

He began his career in insurance claims with Kemper Insurance before spending more than a decade with Liberty Mutual as a claims adjuster and team lead. He later transitioned into restoration and consulting leadership roles with Munters Corporation, Belfor USA, Response Team 1, and Young & Associates before joining Bower Group as a Senior Consultant in 2023.

According to Siegwald, one of the biggest changes in the industry has been the growing importance of independent oversight.

"A lot of our work involves reviewing estimates, auditing pricing, comparing bids, and making sure repairs are being handled correctly," he said. "You want to avoid situations where work is either excessive or incomplete. The goal is to get properties restored properly and efficiently."

Independent consultants are often brought into large commercial and institutional losses where repair costs can reach millions of dollars. These projects frequently involve hospitals, municipal facilities, sports complexes, warehouses, and educational buildings.

Throughout his career, Siegwald has worked on consulting assignments that included an $18 million courthouse fire and smoke loss, a $1.2 million hospital water mitigation project, and large-scale demolition and reconstruction assessments for sports facilities and industrial properties.

His expertise includes water damage restoration, applied structural drying, mold remediation, repair estimating, contract negotiation, and restoration auditing. He also holds several industry certifications, including Applied Structural Drying (ASD), Water Damage Restoration Technician (WRT), Applied Microbial Remediation Technician (AMRT), and Associate Constructor Certification (AIC).

Siegwald says experience has become increasingly valuable as restoration projects continue growing in scale and technical complexity.

"When you've worked on the insurance side, the contractor side, and the consulting side, you understand how all the pieces fit together," he said. "That helps you identify issues early and keep projects moving in the right direction."

He also believes communication has become one of the most overlooked parts of the process.

"These losses can be stressful for everyone involved," Siegwald added. "Clear communication and accurate information help prevent delays and unnecessary disputes."

Outside of his consulting work, Siegwald remains active in outdoor sports and recreation, including fishing, hunting, golf, and competitive angling through the Rock Valley Anglers Club. A lifelong soccer player, he credits sports with helping shape his approach to leadership and teamwork throughout his career.

"Soccer taught me discipline and accountability early on," he said. "A lot of those lessons carried over into business."

As the restoration and insurance industries continue evolving, Siegwald expects independent consultants to remain an important part of large property loss recovery efforts.

"At the end of the day, people want reliable information and honest assessments," he said. "That's really what this work comes down to."

About Mark Siegwald

Mark Siegwald is a Senior Consultant with Bower Group based in Chicago, Illinois. With more than 24 years of experience in insurance, restoration, and property damage consulting, he specializes in large-loss assessment, restoration auditing, water damage mitigation, mold remediation, and repair estimating. Throughout his career, he has worked with major insurance carriers, restoration firms, commercial properties, and municipal facilities nationwide. Siegwald holds multiple industry certifications, including Applied Structural Drying (ASD), Water Damage Restoration Technician (WRT), Applied Microbial Remediation Technician (AMRT), and Associate Constructor Certification (AIC).

Media Contact:

https://www.marksiegwald.com/
info@marksiegwald.com

SOURCE: Mark Siegwald