Newsworthy-He’s the calm in the eye of the storm

He's the Calm in the Eye of the Storm
When floods and fires hit, David Horowitz helps others get their lives together

By: Sally Friedman
1/11/2001 - Jewish Exponent

It's a life defined by drama and crisis, but calm and collected David Horowitz wouldn't have it any other way. This president and CEO of the Young Adjustment Company has himself adjusted to a professional life etched in floods, fires and tornadoes in a public adjusting firm that reaches back over 75 years.

He recalls: "I have memories of my late grandfather, Lawrence Horowitz, who began our business, and from the time I was 15 years old, I've worked in the company. I was doing inventories of burned-out buildings as a teenager, and my father [Alan] taught me so much about this business.

"But nobody pushed me into it - it was definitely a match. I love what I do, and I'm very proud of our deep roots in the area."

Today, Young Adjustment Company, which has just relocated its main headquarters from Center City to Blue Bell, includes a staff of more than 30 lawyers, CPAs, construction specialists, estimators and adjusters. The company is called in by the likes of the Port Authority of Guam, the Northern Puerto Rico Port Authority and, closer to home, the Garden State Discovery Museum in Cherry Hill, N.J., all after natural disasters struck.

The local company has also been involved in claims work for the Albert Einstein Medical Center, Drexel University, Green Valley Country Club and Toll Brothers, among a multitude of others.

"We're there when fires and hurricanes happen, when floods come along, and in other trying circumstances, and our job is to help people in need," said Horowitz, whose brother Bruce is the company's vice president and who also credits much of their success to CFO Ed Williamson, who is "almost family."

The company's goal is not only to make sure clients get everything to which they're entitled, but to ensure that every detail is meticulously tended to. The process is complex: Insurance policies are thoroughly reviewed, estimates of recovery are made, and those suffering the loss are aided in getting back to "business as usual" as quickly as possible.

"As adjusters, we also serve as advisors," explained Horowitz, who knows that the two most urgent questions from those suffering a loss are "How much will I collect?" and "When will I collect?"

The Young Adjustment Company professionals try to answer those questions accurately and immediately, along with preparing a comprehensive and complete itemized loss inventory as one of the first steps in the process.

"We obviously catch people at the worst times, but when everything is finished and finalized and the claim is settled, it's a truly wonderful feeling."

That "wonderful feeling" extends to David Horowitz's communal life as well. A longtime activist in the Jewish world, Horowitz manages to find the time to serve on the Board of Trustees of the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia, and with Golden Slipper Charities, the Jewish Employment Vocational Service and on the board of Federation Day Care Services.

He has also been a member of Federation's Young Men's Cabinet and is active on the board of the Anti-Defamation League.

"I've learned from my family that part of being in this world is giving back, and I'm happy and proud to do it," says Horowitz.

And his most important work: as proud husband to Cindy and father to Jason, 13, and Brian, 9.

"When you work in the area of crisis, it's always wonderful to come home to a supportive family," says Horowitz.

"And mine is very special."