Professional Biography
Brian Willes is a Senior Regional Consultant at YA Group with nearly a decade of experience in evaluating, negotiating, and assisting the settlement of property insurance claims. Brian provides expert guidance on complex residential and commercial losses.
He has successfully managed thousands of claims and overseen restoration projects involving single-family homes, multi-family complexes, restaurants, hospitals, and churches. His core competencies include appraisal, property damage assessments, development and evaluation of reconstruction scopes, project management, and on-site monitoring. Brian has played a key role in numerous major loss assignments nationwide, ensuring accurate scope generation and efficient resolution of high-value claims.
Credentials & Certifications
- MBA
- FAA Certified Drone Pilot
- HAAG Certified Inspector - Residential
- Haag Certified Inspector - Commercial
- IICRC - FSRT (Fire & Smoke Damage Restoration)
- IICRC - OCT (Odor Control Tech)
- OSHA - 10 Hour
Representative Consulting Assignments
- Active Living Community (30+ Structures) | Delavan, Wisconsin | Litigation/Dispute | $5M — Performed detailed evaluation and assessment of duplex structures reportedly damaged by wind/hail event and provided accurate cost recommendations to repair loss related damages.
- Ethanol Plant | Construction Consulting | $9M — Performed detailed evaluation and assessment of commercial structure damaged by fire and provided accurate cost recommendations to repair loss related damages.
- Major Municipalty (120+ Structures) | Wentzville, Missouri | Construction Consulting | $6M — Performed detailed evaluation and assessment of various commercial structures reportedly damaged by wind/hail event and provided accurate cost recommendations to repair loss related damages.
- Manufacturing Facility | Phoenix, Arizona | Construction Consulting | $20M — Performed detailed evaluation and assessment of commercial structure damaged by microburst event and provided accurate cost recommendations to repair loss related damages.
- Paper Manufacturer | Menominee, Michigan | Construction Consulting | $40M — Assisted with detailed evaluation and assessment of commercial structure damaged by fire event, performed on-site monitoring of emergency services, and provided accurate cost recommendations to repair loss related damages.
- Resort (60+ Structures) | Boca Raton, Florida | Construction Consulting | $30M — Performed detailed evaluation and assessment of various commercial and residential structures damaged by hurricane event and provided accurate cost recommendations to repair loss related damages.
- Solar Farm | Reynolds, Indiana | Renewable Energy | $20M — Assisted with the detailed evaluation and assessment of solar farm damaged by multiple events to include wind, hail, and tornado.
- Wastewater Treatment Plant | Dubuque, Iowa | Construction Consulting | $3M — Performed detailed evaluation and assessment of commercial structure damaged by explosion event and provided accurate cost recommendations to repair loss related damages.
Professional Experience
- Senior Regional Consultant | YA Group | 2025 - Current
- Assistant Vice President | J.S. Held LLC | 2021 - 2025
- Reconstruction Estimator | Various Restoration Companies | 2017 - 2021
- Sergeant (0621) | United States Marine Corps | 2012 - 2016
Education
- Master of Business Administration (MBA), Northern Illinois University (NIU), Dekalb, Illinois, 2021
- Certificate of Graduate Study, Managerial Leadership, Northern Illinois University (NIU), Dekalb, Illinois, 2021
- Bachelor of Science (BS), Technical Management, DeVry University, Chicago, Illinois, 2019
Affiliations
- Member - National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA)