Leader Spotlight – Mark Siegwald

With more than 24 years in the insurance and restoration industry, Mark has seen property losses from nearly every angle – as a claims adjuster, restoration professional, consultant, and auditor. As a Senior Consultant with Bower Group, that background now shapes how he evaluates complex commercial losses, from hospitals and schools to manufacturing plants and courthouses. In this interview, he talks about what objective consulting really looks like, how the industry is changing, and what keeps clients coming back.

Mark Siegwald, Senior Consultant, Bower Group

Can you introduce Bower Group and describe your role as a Senior Consultant?

I serve as a Senior Consultant with Bower Group, where I work with insurance carriers, contractors, and property owners to evaluate complex property losses. My role is to assess damage after events like fires, floods, storms, and other disasters, develop repair scopes, review estimates, and provide objective recommendations. I've spent more than 24 years in the insurance and restoration industry, working as a claims adjuster, restoration professional, consultant, and auditor. That broad background allows me to approach every project from multiple perspectives while keeping the focus on accuracy and practical solutions.

How does Bower Group deliver its consulting services?

Our work is built around experienced consultants who perform independent assessments and provide technical expertise throughout the claims and restoration process. We collaborate with insurance carriers, contractors, engineers, and property owners, but our role is to provide an objective evaluation of the loss. Every project is different, so our approach is tailored to the property, the scope of the damage, and the client's specific needs.

What sets your approach apart in the property damage consulting industry?

I think the biggest difference is experience combined with objectivity. I've worked on both the insurance and restoration sides of the industry, so I understand how each stakeholder approaches a project. That perspective helps me evaluate damage fairly without losing sight of the practical realities of restoring a building. My goal isn't to make a project bigger or smaller than necessary. It's to make sure the repair plan accurately reflects the damage and supports a successful recovery.

What types of clients and industries do you typically work with?

Most of my work involves commercial and institutional properties. Over the years, I've worked on hospitals, schools, municipal facilities, courthouses, sports complexes, warehouses, manufacturing facilities, and office buildings. Every type of property presents different challenges. A hospital has different operational priorities than a warehouse, and a manufacturing facility has different concerns than a school. Understanding how each building functions is just as important as understanding the physical damage.

What services do clients rely on you for most often?

Clients typically bring me in to perform damage assessments, develop repair scopes, audit restoration estimates, review pricing, evaluate reserves, and provide consulting throughout the recovery process. Many of the projects involve large commercial losses where multiple parties need an independent assessment to help guide decision-making.

How do you stay current in an industry that continues to evolve?

The best education still comes from being in the field. Technology, building materials, and restoration methods continue to change, so I make it a priority to stay engaged with projects and continue learning. I also maintain industry certifications and pay close attention to how restoration practices evolve. Every project teaches me something, and I think staying curious is just as important as staying informed.

Do you work with repeat clients, and what keeps them coming back?

Yes. Much of my work comes from long-term relationships with insurance carriers and organizations that value consistency and objective evaluations. Trust is built over time. Clients know they're going to receive honest assessments, thorough documentation, and recommendations based on the actual conditions rather than assumptions. I think reliability is one of the biggest reasons people continue working together.

How do you measure success on a project?

Success starts with accuracy. I want to know that we've correctly identified the damage, developed a realistic repair scope, and provided information that helps everyone make informed decisions. Good communication is another important measure. When property owners, contractors, and insurance representatives understand the process and have confidence in the information they're receiving, projects generally move much more smoothly.

What does your involvement look like after your initial assessment is complete?

It depends on the project. In many cases, I continue reviewing documentation, answering technical questions, evaluating updated estimates, and providing additional consulting as repairs move forward. Large commercial losses often evolve as more information becomes available, so ongoing collaboration is an important part of the process.

How are consulting projects typically structured?

The specific billing structure depends on the assignment and the client. Consulting engagements are tailored to the scope of work, so there isn't a single pricing model that applies to every project.

What types of projects have you worked on over the past year?

I've continued working on large commercial property losses involving fire, water, wind, and mold damage. These have included projects for healthcare facilities, municipal buildings, industrial properties, and commercial organizations. Every assignment is different, but the common goal is always to help clients understand the damage and develop a practical path toward recovery.

Are there projects you choose not to take on?

The right fit depends on the type of property, the scope of the loss, and whether my experience aligns with the client's needs. My work is focused on complex property damage consulting, so I generally concentrate on projects where independent technical evaluation can provide meaningful value.

What challenges has the industry faced in recent years?

The biggest challenges have been rising construction costs, labor shortages, supply chain disruptions, and increasingly complex buildings. Restoration projects today often involve advanced building systems and more coordination between multiple stakeholders than they did earlier in my career. Those factors have made careful planning, communication, and accurate documentation even more important.

How do you adapt to changes in the restoration industry?

I try not to assume that the way something was done ten years ago is automatically the best approach today. New technology has improved documentation, moisture detection, estimating, and communication, but technology doesn't replace experience. My goal is to combine modern tools with practical field knowledge to make better decisions.

How important is teamwork in your work?

It's essential. Restoration projects involve insurance carriers, contractors, engineers, consultants, facility managers, and property owners. Everyone has a different responsibility, and successful projects depend on clear communication and mutual respect. I've learned that listening carefully is often just as important as providing technical expertise.

Where do you see the property damage consulting industry heading over the next decade?

I think we'll continue seeing greater use of technology, better documentation, and more sophisticated building systems. At the same time, I believe experienced consultants will remain essential because someone still has to interpret the information, understand the building, and make sound professional judgments. The human element won't disappear.

How has your leadership style changed over the course of your career?

Earlier in my career, I thought leadership meant having answers quickly. Today, I think it means asking better questions, listening carefully, and creating an environment where people can make informed decisions. Experience has taught me that confidence is valuable, but humility is equally important. There is always more to learn.

What developments in the industry are you most excited about?

I'm encouraged by improvements in technology that allow us to gather better information and document losses more accurately. Moisture mapping, thermal imaging, digital estimating platforms, and other tools have made the industry more efficient. What excites me most is finding ways to combine those advances with the experience that still comes from walking buildings and understanding how they perform in the real world.

What advice would you give to professionals building a career in this field?

Don't be in a hurry to think you have all the answers. Spend time in the field, ask questions, and learn from the people around you. Pay attention to the details because small observations often lead to the biggest insights. Most importantly, remember that you're not just evaluating buildings. You're helping people recover from difficult situations. If you keep that perspective, you'll make better decisions and build stronger relationships throughout your career.