John Puchalski

John Puchalski is a Senior Claims Consultant for Horton’s Risk Advisory Services division. He assists property clients in navigating the insurance claims process, focusing on resolving property claims while protecting the client’s best interest.

John brings 19 years of industry expertise to his team, primarily focusing on adjusting property claims. Throughout his career, he has skillfully handled claims ranging from full denials to multi-million-dollar settlements. His experience includes desk and field adjusting across E&S Lines, Quota Share with layers, and London Markets. Most recently, John served as a property claim advocate at Aon, supporting a diverse client base, including real estate firms, property management companies, manufacturers, HOAs, municipalities and builders’ risk policies.

Drawing from his background as a former adjuster, John offers invaluable insight into the inner workings of insurance carriers and adjusters. “Being a prior adjuster has provided me with insight into the workings of the insurance carrier and adjuster, and I use that mindset to assist on the client side,” he explains. This perspective enables him to navigate the claims process expertly, always protecting his clients’ best interests while resolving claims efficiently.

One of John’s most memorable experiences was his multi-month deployment to Texas following Hurricane Harvey, where he helped hundreds of clients recover from devastating flood damage. This opportunity to make a real-world impact reflects what John finds most rewarding about his work: “I always put myself in the client’s shoes to see the issue at hand from their point of view. It’s important to keep myself engaged with the client but with a sense of purpose, integrity, and loyalty.”

John’s approach has earned him high praise from past clients, who commend his attention to detail and ability to lead through complex claims processes. He’s proud to have settled numerous multi-million-dollar claims without litigation and takes great satisfaction in guiding challenging claims to resolution.

John’s career is built on the belief that the claims process should work for the client, not against them. Whether directing a complex claim or celebrating the growth of a long-term client relationship, John is dedicated to making a meaningful impact in the property claims space.

“I can’t wait to look back 5–10 years from now and see how far my clients have advanced and grown,” John says.

John views the property claims industry as both challenging and evolving. While the past five years have been marked by COVID-19, inflation, and natural disasters, he believes the market is beginning to stabilize. However, John acknowledges ongoing hurdles in the claims world, including high workloads, turnover, and an unwillingness to negotiate. Despite these challenges, he remains optimistic, proactive, and committed to delivering results for his clients.

Outside of work, John lives near the western suburbs of Chicago with his wife, Amy, and their two daughters, who are active in gymnastics, Girl Scouts and softball. When he is not cheering on his daughters, he enjoys hiking, traveling and rucking.