About Paladin Risk Management
Paladin Risk Management are experienced wrap administrators and risk management professionals. We have more than 10 years of experience in assisting carriers, brokers and insureds administering Owner & Contractor Controlled (OCIP & CCIP) projects and more than 25 years reducing potential losses and costly litigation by enhanced management of pre and post-loss activities.
Our Team
Paul Bryan
Paul Bryan is one of the most respected experts in residential risk management in the USA. He started his career in 1976 at the age of 16 working at Lloyds of London. After a successful career as a broker specializing in complex litigations claims, he moved to California where he co-founded DBH Resources, the first independent residential wrap administrator in the USA. After developing DBHR into a leader in its class, DBHR was sold to AON where Paul continued to work as an EVP. Because of his keenly developed talents in communicating, and understanding the builder’s needs, Paul was approached and spent several years helping to develop strategies for the quality assurance group, Quality Built. More recently, Paul joined Paladin Risk Management as President to support the progress, and develop robust ties with the builder and insurance communities.
John Distefano
Prior to joining Paladin Risk Management in 2010, John had been in the insurance industry for more than 25 years starting his career as an agent, then ultimately managing a sales team of more than 60 producers. John started with Paladin as a Loss Control Consultant and Wrap Up Project Manager and quickly advanced to Senior Project Manager while obtaining his CRIS and OSHA certifications. In 2016, John was promoted to Vice President of Business Development. John leads his clients with a clear style that is not only intuitive but extremely personalized. The efficient design of his wrap and certificate tracking programs are instrumental to his client’s success.
Lance Pagel
Lance joined the Paladin Risk Management team in 2021 to form and manage the Paladin Quality Assurance Division. His role of Vice President of Quality Assurance Services will add a broader industry offering that benefits the customers of Paladin Risk Management and supports Paladin’s other successful Divisions providing Risk Management, Loss Control, Wrap Administration, and Certificate Tracking. Lance came from Constructive Forensics, a leading 3rd Party Quality Assurance company, where Lance started in 2010 serving as a Building Inspector, Forensic Investigator, Vice-President of Business Development, and then President starting in 2017. Prior to join Constructive Forensics, Lance successfully owned multiple businesses focused on providing Planning, Development, Real Estate, and Construction Services. Lance holds a current California General Building Contractor’s License (B1049096) as well as his National certification as a Building Inspector (B1) through the Intl. Code Council (ICC). Lance earned his Bachelors Degree in City and Regional Planning from Cal Poly University, and his MBA from William Jessup University. Lance has decades of proven experience and a broad knowledge of construction quality and is looking to supplement the construction risk industry with a practitioner’s approach to current insurance claims and construction defect litigation practices.
Jodi Ascencion
Jodi Ascencion joined Paladin Risk Management in 2013 as a Wrap Up Account Manager with several years of certificate tracking experience. Jodi quickly advanced to a Wrap Up Project Manager and began her certification as a Construction Risk and Insurance Specialist. Upon completion of her certification and expanding knowledge while growing with the company, Jodi then advanced to Senior Project Manager of the Wrap Up Division. Jodi continues to manage a portfolio of her own while guiding and educating the rest of the wrap up team on current industry standards and protocols.
Allan Zema
Allan Zema joined Paladin Risk Management in 2017 as a site safety liability inspector after earning his OSHA certification. Prior to joining the company, Allan worked for 15 years in architectural design and visualization, graphic design and marketing. As the owner of Zema Safety, Allan is dedicated to educating clients on the importance of ensuring a safe work environment, and insurance and OSHA compliance.