Instructor Profiles

John Fear

CPIA, CISR

John Fear has worked in the insurance industry for over thirty years in the areas of Life & Annuity, Small Commercial, Boiler & Machinery, Field Operations, Process Engineering and Personal Insurance. In 2007, John left the corporate life to start his own consulting firm – Premier Business Consulting.As National Director of Agency Development at a Fortune 100 Insurance Company, John conducted over 100 workshops for agency owners and developed and facilitated dozens of sales training sessions throughout the country for hundreds of Producers and CSRs. He has consulted with dozens of agents across the country, focusing on improving sales and maximizing operational efficiencies.Since starting his own business, he has been a featured presenter at several National Sales Meetings for major insurance companies and Independent Agency organizations. Those experiences have given him an outstanding knowledge of, and insight into, real life solutions that effectively meet agency needs. His workshops enable agents to meet and exceed their business objectives by incorporating sound business principles into their everyday operations.John lives in the Adirondack Region of New York State with his wife Cheryl and their Cairn terrier Sasha.

Marshall Katz

CIC, MS, AAI, LIA, LUTC

Steven D Lyon

CPCU, CIC, CRM, CRIS, AAI, ARM, AIS, MLIS, AFIS

Lyon is the founder and principal of Lyon Consulting Services LLC, an independent consulting and educational firm. He utilizes his 35 years of expertise and experience associated with owning, operating and managing an independent insurance agency in northern New Jersey. In addition, Lyon has served as the regional director of education and regional vice president in charge of personal lines for the insurance division of a dynamic banking institution. He has earned his Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter, Certified Insurance Counselor, Certified Risk Managers, Accredited Adviser in Insurance, Associate in Risk Management, Associate in Insurance Services, Construction Risk Insurance Specialist and Management Liability Insurance Specialist designations. Lyon conducts more than 150 insurance-related classes each year for agencies and companies throughout the U.S. He works regularly with the Professional Insurance Agents of New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and New Hampshire along with the Society of CIC. His fast-paced, unique teaching style, makes him a favorite among seminar attendees.