Instructor Profiles

Charlene Cabral

AAI, AIC, CRIS, LIA

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.

Robin Federici

CPCU, AAI, ARM, AINS, AIS, CPIW

Robin C. Federici, CPCU, AAI, ARM, CPIW , began her career in the property & casualty insurance business over thirty years ago. She has in-depth knowledge and experience in both insurance agency and company operations and procedures. For over fifteen years, Robin served as the Director of Education and Communications -- and then Assistant Executive Vice President -- for Rhode Island's largest professional trade association for independent insurance agents and brokers. In 2003, Robin formed her own training and consulting company, - Insurance Education & Training Associates, LLC (IETA).Robin earned the Accredited Adviser in Insurance (AAI) designation in 1987. In 1992 she earned the Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) designation and in 1999, the Associate in Risk Management (ARM) designation.She is a past president of the RI Chapter Society of CPCU and is currently serving as a member of their Scholarship Board. Robin also serves as a National Governor and member of the national Society of CPCU Board of Governors. Robin has served the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America (IIABA) on several committees, most recently as a member of the ACSR sub-committee and the Virtual University Research and Development Committee. Robin was also a long-time member of the Accredited Customer Service Representative (ACSR) Advisory Committee of the Insurance Institute of America/American Institute of CPCU.During her tenure with IIARI, Robin earned many awards from IIABA, including the prestigious L.P. McCord Education Award.

Daniel G Fink

CIC, CRM, AAI, CPCU, CRIS

Daniel Fink has 35 years of experience as an Independent Insurance Agent in the Midwest and Southwest. In addition, he teaches many insurance education classes (including CIC and Rubles) and also works as an insurance expert witness in state and federal courts. Daniel has helped defend many insurance agents and has assisted plaintiffs as an expert witness. After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts (cum laude) in Journalism and English from Oakland University, Rochester, MI, Daniel worked as a free-lance newspaper reporter. But then he married into an insurance family in 1982. And most of his creative writing turned into the writing of insurance coverages. He learned insurance from the ground up and helped grow the family agency, eventually managing the commercial lines department and starting a hospitality insurance division specializing in hotels, restaurants, and taverns. He began studying insurance and earned his CIC designation in 1992 and his CRM designation in 2006. Now he is honored to be teaching insurance to other learners and helping others advance the way other instructors have helped him. In 1999, Daniel returned to his home state of Arizona with his family. He ran his own agency for a time and then merged with a larger Arizona agency. For six years, Daniel worked on the company side, helping a small carrier grow in the Southwest. Now he is a producer with General Southwest Insurance, Phoenix, AZ. Since 2004, Daniel has been teaching classes for the Risk & Insurance Education Alliance and state associations, including the CIC, Ruble, and CISR programs. He is also a speaker at convention and trade associations on insurance topics and risk management. In 2011, Daniel served as President of the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of Arizona. Before that, he served on its board of directors and as chairman of its education committee. Daniel also serves as an expert witness on insurance matters and standard of care assisting attorneys on insurance litigation matters. He has served on the committee to review the insurance agents licensing exam for the State of Arizona.

Douglas J Fleming

LUTCF

Mr. Fleming, entered the life insurance business in 1971 with the Boston Agency of the Connecticut Mutual Life Insurance Company. After ten years of personal production, Doug was named to a management position as new agent training supervisor, a position he held for three years before joining Berkshire Life as an agency supervisor, a position he held for ten years. He is currently affiliated with the Boston agency of the Union Central Life, as a brokerage supervisor.Doug moderates licensing classes for PIIAM of New England and Educational Training Systems of Southborough, Massachusetts.In 1990, Doug was named to the associate faculty, Insurance and Financial Services of Northeastern University, Boston, Mass. and was also named to the National Faculty of CIC, Austin, Texas.

Jill Haynes Gidge

CIC, CPCU, AAI, CPIW

Jill Haynes Gidge, CPCU, CIC, CRIS is the owner and president of Insure-Ed, founded in 1996, an independent insurance education consulting and training company. She does expert witness work for errors and omissions cases. She serves as an External Writing Partner for The Institutes and an Adjunct Professor of Insurance and Risk at Great Bay Community College in Portsmouth, NH. Jill is a Magna Cum Laude graduate of the University of Massachusetts - Lowell with a Baccalaureate degree in applied science and nursing (BSN, RN), and a minor in behavioral science and also holds the CISR, AAI, ACSR, AAM, AIT, CPIW, and AIS professional designations. She was an agency principal of Gidge Insurance Services, Inc. marketing all lines (P & C, Life, A & H) for over 30 years. She also serves an instructor for the National Alliance for the Certified Insurance Service Representative (CISR) program. The Institutes recognized her as an Outstanding Course Leader for 2009. Jill resides in Nashua, NH.

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.

Mishell K Magnusson

CIC, CISR, CPIA, AAI, FIPC

Mishell is the owner of KJM Consulting & Training, Inc. in Munnsville, New York. KJM specializes in providing a broad range of high quality training programs to insurance agencies; insurance companies and banks throughout the north east.In 2018 Mishell was named the recipient of The Gold Level Outstanding Course Leader Award and in 2016 The Silver Level Outstanding Course Leader Award. Both by The Institutes Risk & Insurance Knowledge Group in recognition of teaching classes that met or exceeded the national pass ratio.Mishell was named the 2013 AIMS Society - CPIA Facilitator of the Year as well as the 2014 Federation of New York Insurance Professionals - Tina A. Bobak Insurance Professional of the Year. She received the National Customer Service Representative of the Year award by the Professional Insurance Agents in 2004. She was also named one of 25 Women in Leadership in Central New York State in 2004.Mishell is also contributing editor to Agents of America for a series "Insurance Agency Risk management - A Comprehensive Guide to Avoiding E&O Claims". These books are published nationally by West Legal Ed center, a business of Thomas Reuters.Mishell is a contributing author for PIA Management Services Inc. New York and New Jersey Professional Insurance Agents magazine; Wisconsin Professional Agent; Professional Insurance Agents of Florida; Professional Insurance Agents of Indiana, Inc. and The Professional Insurance Agent of Nebraska/Iowa. Her class presentations have also been featured in National Underwriter Magazine.Mishell is the author of a local central New York state historical book called “Images of America Madison and Hamilton” that has been sold world-wide. Due to her passion for history, Mishell was presented the Madison County Historical Society Volunteer of the Year Award in 2013.Mishell currently holds New York State Property and Casualty Brokers License; a New York State Life and Health Brokers License; a New York State Producer License to Act as a Consultant; a Certified Insurance Service Representative designation; a Certified Insurance Counselor designation; the Accredited Advisor of Insurance designation; Certified Professional Insurance Agent designation; and the Federation of Insurance Professional Counselor designation.Mishell is a frequent speaker for The National Alliance for Insurance Education & Research; Florida Association of Insurance Agents; and The Professional Insurance Agents of New York, New Jersey, Vermont, New Hampshire & Connecticut for designation programs along with various other topics. She is a member of the AIMS (American Insurance Marketing & Sales) Society for the instruction of the Certified Professional Insurance Agents courses and for the Big I NY’s (Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of New York) Errors & Omission courses along with their various other programs.Mishell has written and presented specialty programs for numerous insurance companies including Allegany Insurance Group; Dryden Mutual Insurance Company; HR Keller Group; Midstate Mutual Insurance Company; nycm Insurance Company; Preferred Mutual Insurance Company; Security Mutual Insurance Company; and Plymouth Rock Assurance Company, as well as being one of the primary presenters for The New York Automobile Insurance Plan Producers Procedures Course.In addition, Mishell has worked as an Adjunct Professor for Mohawk Valley Community College; Bryant & Stratton College; Madison/Oneida BOCES and State University of New York (SUNY) Oswego. Mishell is also a member of The National Notary Association.KJM Consulting & Training, Inc.5869 Bishop Road, Munnsville, NY 13409-2221315-439-6764mishell62@outlook.com

Mark A Palinkas

CIC

Mark is currently employed as a Commercial Underwriter & Marketing Representative with the Oswego County Mutual Insurance Company of Parish, NY. Mark received his Certified Insurance Counselor designation in 1995 and obtained his Certificate of General Insurance in 1991. Mark continues to maintain a valid New York State insurance broker's license and has been an active instructor for CIC and CISR institutes since 2001. He is the Educational Consultant for CIC institutes conducted in New York and current resides in Hastings, NY.

Catherine L Trischan

CPCU, CIC, CRM, AU, AAI, CRIS, ARM, MLIS, TRIP

Cathy Trischan entered the insurance business upon graduation from Rutgers University. After her first job as a claims adjuster for a carrier, she moved to the agency side of the business. She held various agency positions including Commercial Lines Manager, Producer and, most recently, Director of Commercial Underwriting. In 2023, she began to work full-time in her training and consulting business. In addition to her work with PIA, Cathy is a regular presenter for various agents’ associations and other organizations. She is a National Faculty member of The National Alliance, speaking in the CIC, CISR, Ruble and ProFocus programs. Cathy has also written numerous articles on various insurance topics. A firm believer that one should never stop learning, Cathy holds several professional designations including CPCU, CIC and CRM.