Who We Are
At Cavalry Disaster Advocates our core mission is to be the voice
for underpaid fire survivors. To fight for you and with you to make sure your
insurance company gives you ALL you are entitled to.
The insurance world can be a murky world
So it is important that you know that at Cavalry we have values that are core to who we are, how we make decisions, and how we treat our clients. We want you to know what we believe and will strive to live up to as we represent you during this challenging season of life:
Honesty – we believe in honoring what is actually true in any situation, and not reinterpreting facts for our own benefit.
Advocacy – we are called to stand in the gap and be the voice for people who have lost hope.
Grit – we believe in pushing through multiple no’s to get to the yes.
Authenticity – we strive to make sure our values and actions are aligned.
Accountability – we are responsible to each other and to our clients to keep our commitments and achieve our goals.
We come to work with the goal of helping our clients rebuild their lives with all the resources available to them. We simply hold insurance companies accountable to do what they should do.
Victor M. Romero
Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Cavalry Disaster Advocates
Victor M. Romero is the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Cavalry Disaster Advocates, where he leads a team dedicated to helping homeowners recover the insurance benefits available under their policies following catastrophic residential fires.
A licensed Public Insurance Adjuster since 1992, Victor brings more than 30 years of experience in public adjusting, residential construction, and insurance claim advocacy. Throughout his career, he has assisted in the preparation, negotiation, and resolution of thousands of residential insurance claims while overseeing the reconstruction of more than 200 properties as a general contractor.
Victor has served as a construction and insurance expert for the Superior Courts of California and has worked alongside communities recovering from some of the nation's most devastating wildfires, including the Camp Fire, Carr Fire, Marshall Fire, Maui Fire, and the Eaton Fire.
Known for his integrity, practical expertise, and client-first approach, Victor co-founded Cavalry Disaster Advocates with a singular mission: to help ensure wildfire survivors receive the full insurance benefits provided by their policies.
A Los Angeles native and father of two, Victor enjoys reading, listening to spiritual podcasts, and spending quality time with friends and family.
Victor's favorite part of leading Cavalry is collaborating with talented professionals who share a common purpose: helping families rebuild their lives after catastrophic loss.
Josh Sentel
President
Josh Sentel brings a wealth of experience and dedication to his roles as a Partner, President, and CFO at Cavalry Disaster Advocates. With a background spanning over 13 years in various industries, Josh has honed his leadership skills and proven his ability to excel in any task he undertakes.
During Josh’s 10-year tenure in the insurance industry, he has demonstrated his expertise in claims management, contents inventories, and navigating complex insurance processes. He is licensed as a Public Adjuster in multiple states, showcasing his commitment to providing top-notch service to clients across the country. Josh believes there is nothing more important than doing a job safely and correctly the first time!
Josh's extensive claims experience includes handling over 1000 claims as a Public Adjuster. His dedication to his work and his clients is evident in his track record of achieving positive outcomes, even in challenging circumstances.
OOutside of work, Josh is deeply committed to his family and community. He enjoys spending time with his wife and his three daughters, as well as volunteering at his church. Josh is also a musician and enjoys hunting and fishing when time allows.
As a partner at CDA, Josh is dedicated to upholding the highest standards of professionalism and integrity while advocating for clients in their time of need. His work ethic and leadership abilities make him an invaluable asset to the CDA team.
Josh’s favorite part about the work CDA does for clients is that moment when he gets to tell a client they are getting a check when they were absolutely convinced it couldn’t be done. As they face a stubborn insurance company that isn’t going to budge, with a tenacity that finally breaks through, clients are enamored that giving up wasn’t on the table. In his words, “It’s a good feeling knowing that in someone’s mind you did the impossible.”
of Outreach & Senior Adjustor
Colleen Romero
Vice President of Outreach & Senior Adjustor
Colleen Romero serves as Vice President of Outreach and Senior Adjuster at Cavalry Disaster Advocates. She leads the company’s outreach and disaster coordination efforts and works directly with homeowners during the claim review and consultation process.
As a licensed adjuster, Colleen reviews policies, claim documentation, and insurance payments to help determine whether all available benefits have been properly identified and addressed. She explains her findings clearly so homeowners can understand where their claim stands and make informed decisions about how to move forward.
A lifelong entrepreneur with an extensive background in customer service, Colleen believes people deserve straight answers, a clear understanding of their options, and confidence that those assisting them are acting with integrity. Her training as a certified iPEC coach further strengthens her ability to listen carefully and support homeowners facing the stress and uncertainty that follow a devastating loss. She understands how difficult it can be to make decisions about rebuilding, purchasing another home, or moving forward when the policy, payments, and claim process remain unclear. Her goal is to review each claim from the homeowner’s perspective, explain what the policy provides and what may still be owed, and give families the clarity they need to make informed decisions and move forward.
Gabriel Martinez
Vice President & Licensed Public Adjuster
IGabriel Martinez serves as Vice President and Public Adjuster at Cavalry Disaster Advocates. Licensed in California and Hawaii, he works with Cavalry’s claims team to evaluate claims, address denied or underpaid benefits, and pursue the coverage available under each client’s policy.
Before entering public adjusting, Gabriel worked in construction, developing practical knowledge of how homes are built and reconstructed. His career changed direction after his parents lost their home in the Camp Fire. Their experience gave him a personal understanding of the challenges families face after a catastrophic loss and inspired his commitment to policyholder advocacy.
Gabriel is known for his tenacity and disciplined approach to claims. When an insurance company denies payment, he carefully examines the basis of the decision, strengthens the supporting evidence, and continues pursuing the claim when the coverage and facts warrant further action. He does not view an initial denial as the end of the process and remains engaged until all reasonable avenues for recovery have been pursued.
For Gabriel, that persistence is personal. He understands what is at stake for families trying to rebuild their homes and regain stability. His determination has helped numerous Cavalry clients recover substantial insurance benefits that had previously gone unpaid.
Outside of work, Gabriel enjoys spending time with his three daughters and his dog.
Laura Nunn
Inventory Specialist
Laura Nunn serves as an Inventory Specialist at Cavalry Disaster Advocates, helping homeowners reconstruct and document the personal property lost in a disaster. She earned her degree from Butte College and brings a diverse background in customer service and other people-centered professions that required patience, careful listening, and the ability to make others feel comfortable.
Preparing a contents inventory can be one of the most time-consuming and emotionally draining parts of an insurance claim. Laura creates a calm, comforting environment and patiently guides homeowners through the process one conversation at a time. She helps clients recall their belongings and organize the details needed to prepare a thorough inventory. Homeowners do not need to complete spreadsheets, research prices, enter data, or manage extensive paperwork themselves. This allows families to focus on recalling what was in their home while Laura handles the detailed work needed to document each loss as thoroughly and accurately as possible.
Outside of work, Laura enjoys spending time with her dog and family and pursuing her interest in crafts.
Rebecca Lowers
Inventory Specialist
Rebecca Lowers serves as an Inventory Specialist at Cavalry Disaster Advocates, helping homeowners recreate and document the contents of their homes after a disaster.
Reconstructing an entire household from memory can feel daunting and emotionally exhausting. Rebecca has a way of changing that. With her quick wit, spunky personality, and natural sense of humor, she makes the process feel lighter and far less overwhelming. Clients genuinely enjoy working with her, and what could feel like an exhausting task often becomes a comfortable conversation filled with memories, stories, and plenty of laughter.
Rebecca guides homeowners room by room, helping them remember what was there while she handles the pricing and documentation. All she needs from the homeowner is their time, participation, and memories—Rebecca takes care of the rest.
She holds an associate degree in Environmental Studies from Butte College and brings nearly a decade of customer-service and supervisory experience, along with a background in benefits advocacy.
Outside of work, Rebecca enjoys gardening, art, spending time with her animals, and other creative pursuits. Her personality comes through in everything she does—warm, witty, capable, and always able to make a difficult job feel a little easier.
Cindy Lallement
Cindy serves as an Inventory Specialist at Cavalry Disaster Advocates, helping homeowners reconstruct and document the personal property lost in a disaster.
A contents inventory involves more than creating a list. It often brings back meaningful memories connected to a family’s home, belongings, and everyday life. Because the process requires time and close conversation, the relationship between a homeowner and the person assisting them can become an important source of comfort and reassurance.
Cindy’s friendly personality, thoughtful curiosity, and warm sense of humor help put people at ease. She patiently walks homeowners through each room, asks questions that help bring forgotten belongings to mind, and keeps the process moving without making it feel rushed.
Homeowners do not need to research prices, enter data, or complete the paperwork themselves. Cindy handles those details while working alongside them to prepare a thorough, well-supported inventory. Her goal is to ease the burden of the inventory process while helping families document their loss as thoroughly as possible.
Preston Doughty,
Licensed Public Adjuster
Preston joined Cavalry Preston joined Cavalry Disaster Advocates in October 2024 while attending California State University, Chico. A quick learner with a strong work ethic, he developed his adjusting skills under Cavalry’s senior leadership and advanced rapidly into a full-time role as a licensed public adjuster.
Licensed in California and Hawaii, Preston takes pride in helping homeowners recover after catastrophic wildfire losses. He believes an insurance claim should provide the financial resources available under the policy so families can rebuild and regain stability.
Since joining Cavalry, Preston has contributed to several substantial recoveries for the company’s clients. He approaches each claim with careful attention, determination, and a genuine commitment to the homeowners he represents.
Outside of work, Preston enjoys playing guitar and racing outrigger canoes.
Gigi Buduan
Disaster Coordinator
Bio Coming Soon
Jo Johnson
Office Manager
As Office Manager at Cavalry Disaster Advocates, Jo supports the administrative and payment-processing functions that help move each client’s claim forward. She works closely with the adjusting team to coordinate documentation, maintain communication, and help ensure recovered insurance funds are processed efficiently.
Jo considers it especially rewarding to see clients receive the funds they need to begin rebuilding and restoring stability after a devastating loss. She understands that every payment represents more than a claim result—it can provide a family with meaningful options and the ability to move forward.
She is proud to work alongside a team committed to representing homeowners with compassion, professionalism, and persistence.
David Grigg
Estimator
David Grigg serves as an Estimator at Cavalry Disaster Advocates, where he reconstructs detailed representations of homes lost to fire to support an accurate assessment of the property damage.
With more than 20 years of experience in fire and water damage estimating, David has an extensive understanding of residential construction and how homes are assembled. When blueprints or building plans are unavailable, he works closely with homeowners, using their photographs, descriptions, and memories to recreate the design, features, and details of the home as thoroughly as possible.
A graduate of the University of California, Davis, David combines technical knowledge, experience, and genuine curiosity in his work. He continually refines his estimating skills and takes particular interest in the distinctive construction methods and architectural details found in older homes. His approachable manner and careful attention help homeowners feel comfortable sharing the information needed to accurately document what was lost.
David is also an ordained minister, musician, writer, and avid gamer. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his wife, Sarah, and their dogs.
Kellen Gutierrez
Software Engineer
Kellen works with Cavalry Disaster Advocates as a Software Engineer, where he helps build and manage the technology the team relies on every day. From resolving everyday computer issues to developing new tools and optimizing existing software, his goal is to make it easier for everyone at Cavalry to focus on helping clients.
Growing up near Sacramento, Kellen developed a passion for engineering through building with LEGO bricks and solving problems. That curiosity eventually led him to software engineering, where he enjoys finding practical solutions that make a meaningful difference.
The most rewarding part of Kellen’s job is celebrating alongside the team when they achieve great results. Although he works behind the scenes, he finds it incredibly fulfilling to know that the tools and systems he builds help make everyone’s job a little easier. And when technology decides to keep the team on its toes, he will be there to help.
Ryan Escue
Systems & Automation Engineer
Ryan serves as the Systems Engineer at Cavalry Disaster Advocates, where he works behind the scenes to ensure the technology and systems that power the company run smoothly and securely. From protecting sensitive client information to developing custom software, automating processes, and supporting the team's technology, Ryan's goal is to remove obstacles so the adjusters can focus on what matters most, helping clients recover after a loss.
Although Ryan may not work directly with clients every day, he takes great pride in knowing that the technology he builds helps claims move faster, reduces delays, and allows the team to serve clients more efficiently. Whether it's creating new applications, improving workflows, or troubleshooting technical issues, he is constantly looking for ways to make the claims process smoother for both the team and the families they serve.
One of Ryan's favorite moments is celebrating alongside the team when a client receives insurance funds that were rightfully owed to them. Seeing the relief and happiness those settlements bring reminds him that even behind the scenes, his work plays a meaningful role in helping people rebuild their lives.
Outside of work, Ryan enjoys staying active at the gym, video games, exploring new technologies, working on software projects, and continually learning about cybersecurity and automation.