About IEA

Industry Professionals with the Best Expertise

IEA's award winning services in training and education are made possible by the commitment and expertise of more than 300 faculty members all of whom are carefully chosen for their industry experience, superior knowledge, and excellent classroom skills. Scroll down to find biographical detail on some of our current faculty members

Frank Bermudez

Mr. Bermudez has extensive experience managing high exposure claims for prominent national insurance carriers and third party administrators and has performed specialized claims adjudication and resolution services. In 1992 he entered into the insurance industry where he positioned himself to experience the industry from several different perspectives. He began as an investigator - working for both in-house and private firms. As a senior claims examiner and litigation specialist, his claims adjudication involved large loss and catastrophic claims.... click for full profile

Marcus Beverly, CPCU, ARM, AIC

Marcus is the risk manager for the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) and serves as the Secretary and Managing Director of ABAG PLAN Corporation, a risk-sharing pool providing property, liability, and crime coverage to 31 cities and towns in the San Francisco Bay Area. He is responsible for all aspects of managing the PLAN, including risk financing, claims administration, and risk management programs. Marcus is active in continuing education, including designing workshops and teaching courses for a number... click for full profile

David N. Blakesley, CPCU, CIC, ARM

David has earned numerous designations, including CPCU, CIC, and ARM and has been the Curriculum Director for IEA since 1989. David graduated from San Jose State University and soon afterward began working in the property/casualty industry first as a commercial lines underwriter, a marketing representative, then as territory-underwriting manager. David as been teaching various courses including CPCU, INS, and coverage seminars for IEA since 1979. He is best known nationally for teaching ARM 54. He is an... click for full profile

Ruth Cazden, CPCU, CRIS

Ms. Cazden, an independent consultant with more than 30 years experience in the insurance industry, has been leading IEA programs since 1978. In addition to instructing Prelicensing classes, Ms. Cazden develops and leads technical workshops in both commercial and personal lines. She is the author of two insurance textbooks, and has been a speaker at the National Association of Insurance Commissioners Anti-Fraud Seminar.Ms.Cazden has a graduate degree in Medieval Spanish Literature and is an avid violinist in her spare time. ... click for full profile

John Chesebrough, CPCU, CLU, ChFC

Mr. Chesebrough has extensive experience in the Insurance Industry in California and has been an extremely valued member of our faculty for many years. In addition to his active service as an IEA instructor in programs such as CPCU, INS, and many property casualty workshops, Mr. Chesebrough is also active with the Los Angeles Chapter of CPCU, and is involved with the Society of Insurance Trainers and Educators. He has written numerous articles and assisted for many years the Insurance Institute... click for full profile

Robert J. Cornelow, WCCP

Mr. Cornelow has been teaching for IEA since 1992. He teaches CA 8, CA 10, and CA 11 both online and in the classroom. He has authored various texts on the subject of workers' compensation. Mr. Cornelow has conducted specialized seminars in PD rating and compensability. He has over 30 years experience in the insurance industry as a multi-jurisdictional claims professional and manages Cornelow and Associates, a multi-line investigation firm for over 15 years.

Donald E. Dodson

Don has been an outstanding member of IEA's faculty since 1996. He teaches various risk management programs including ARM 54, ARM 56, and Introduction to Risk Management. Known to keep audiences fully awake during his presentations, he has also been a keynote and break-out session speaker at national conferences including emergency medical services, fleet maintenance, peer support, organizational development and risk management. He has been a lecturer at University of California San Diego (UCSD) Extension. Don is... click for full profile

David R. Edwards

Dave Edwards earned his CPCU designation in 1996 and has held his insurance license since 1998. With only 5 years on the faculty, Mr. Edwards talents as a wonderful instructor earned him the honor of our Level 1 Outstanding Course Leader award. Mr. Edwards currently works as a Casualty Analyst in the Corporate Claims department at 21st Century Insurance Company.... click for full profile

Susan L. England

IEA is privileged to have Susan England among its faculty members since 1980. Ms. England has presented many IEA semester programs including CA 10, CA 11, and CA 17, as well as numerous continuing education seminars throughout the state. Currently, Ms. England, a certified specialist in the field of workers' compensation, is actively practicing out of the Law Offices of England, Ponticello and St. Clair in San Diego. She recently retired from the Workers' Compensation Appeals Board where... click for full profile

Ellen A. Fizer, CEBS, CPDM

Ms. Fizer has been an instructor in the Certified Professional Disability Management designation program since 2003. She is a retired Benefits Director for a large public school system in northern Virginia where she was responsible for all employee benefit programs, including the implementation and administration of an integrated disability management program. She received her BA degree from Fisk University and her MS degree from Vanderbilt University, both in Nashville, TN. Ms. Fizer also teaches courses in the Certified... click for full profile

Marleece Y. Goo Sun

Marleece Y. Goo Sun has been an instructor for IEA since 2005 teaching CA 16A - PD Rating and the AMA Guide. She began her career in workers' compensation claims in 1978. Marleece received her Bachelor of Arts degree from UCLA and her MBA from National University. She also earned the WCCA certificate and WCCP designation from IEA and has earned the California Self-Insurance Administration Certificate.

Barbara Goodwin, MBA, CPCU, ARM

Barbara Goodwin, MBA, CPCU, ARM has over 20 years experience providing practical and leading-edge risk management consulting services to her clients.
In addition to operating a successful consulting business, Barbara is recognized as an excellent public speaker, and an outstanding IEA faculty member. Barbara has
recently received a prestigious award for the consistent pass ratio and success of her students in IEA's ARM 56 (Risk Financing) course. Included among... click for full profile

Michael L. Hernandez, CPDM

Michael Hernandez began his professional teaching career in 1976 as an Instructor/Counselor in a private rehabilitation center for troubled youth. He became a Vocational Rehabilitation counselor in 1982, upon completion of his Masters Degree in Counseling Psychology. Mr. Hernandez is employed by the State of California Division of Workers Compensation since 1989, and has been in charge of the Division Of Workers Compensation, Information Service Center since 1998 and is currently... click for full profile

Doris Hoopes

IEA is privileged to have Ms. Hoopes among its valued faculty members since 2006. She has taught the AIC - Associate in Claims online courses for IEA. She is currently employed by Chubb & Son as an Agency Education Learning Specialist. She has taught CPCU and IIA courses for various insurers as well as local community colleges. During her five years with the American Institute for CPCU/IIA, she managed the reinsurance, surplus lines, and fidelity and surety... click for full profile

Kenneth A. Kingdon

IEA is privileged to have Mr. Kenneth Kingdon among its valued faculty members. Mr. Kingdon teaches CA 16A and B. He is a workers' compensation defense attorney with the Law Offices of Floyd, Skeren, and Kelly in their Orange, CA office. He is a Certified Specialist in Workers' Compensation by the State Bar of California, and is a licensed Certified Public Accountant. He earned his JD from the New York Law School and an LLM from... click for full profile

Dennis R. Knotts, WCCP

Dennis Knotts, WCCP, is among IEA's leading experts in workers' compensation. With more than 20 years industry experience, Mr. Knotts has worked in a variety of companies from multi-line/muti-state carriers to TPAs and Public Entities. A published author in trade journals, he has also authored Administrative Regulation 9785(b), There shall only be one primary treating physician at a time, which was the focus of several en banc decisions. Mr. Knotts has... click for full profile

Don Ko

Don Ko has been with the State Compensation Insurance Fund since 1983 and has held various positions including claims adjuster, vocational rehabilitation counselor, reinsurance/structured settlement specialist, claims supervisor and most recently as a claims manager. He writes columns for various newspapers and magazines for the Korean community. Don has been teaching for IEA since 1992. His courses include CA 8, CA 10, CA 11, and CA 20. click for full profile

Victor F. Lorch, ARM, MBA

Victor Lorch as been teaching for IEA since 1992. He has over 30 years experience in the insurance industry. The last 13 years have been in the area of public entity risk management. Prior to his career in risk management he spent 15 years in various roles as a claims adjuster, claim supervisor, and general adjuster for several major insurance companies. He entered the insurance profession as a multi-line field claims adjuster for Safeco Insurance and ended... click for full profile

Tessa M. Lucero

Ms. Lucero has been an instructor for IEA since 1991 teaching various CPCU, AIAF and ARe courses. The American Institute for CPCU awarded her the prestigious Jack F. Derrickson Award for Outstanding Course Leadership in 2008 and has named her a Level V outstanding course instructor. She earned her CPCU in 1989. Ms. Lucero has worked in the insurance industry since 1985. She started at G.J. Sullivan & Associates in the excess and surplus lines broker division,... click for full profile

Robert J. Marshburn

Robert Marshburn is a 30 year veteran in risk management, and a nationally recognized expert specializing in analysis, design, implementation, and presentation of risk management programs. A highly sought after IEA faculty member, Mr. Marshburn is a dynamic public speaker, and a talented professional educator, consistently rated by independent sources as one of the nation's top risk management consulting and training resources.

Gregory Parini

Gregory J. Parini, CPCU, ITP, AIS, Vice President - External Relations, Civil Service Employees Insurance Group, holds a Masters Degree in Human Relations as well as a Bachelor of Science in Insurance from Golden Gate University and a Bachelors Degree in Political Science from the University of San Francisco. He began his insurance career in 1972. After serving in various underwriting capacities with three insurance companies he joined Civil Service Employees Insurance Company in 1982. With CSE he... click for full profile

Dan W. Pynn

Dan Pynn has been teaching seminars and evening courses for IEA since 1983. He's most noted for teaching the Overview of Workers' Compensation Underwriting seminars. Dan currently is an independent agent with Kirkeby Insurance Agency and is also an economics instructor for Mt. San Jacinto College. He has held various positions at Safeco Insurance, Industrial Indemnity, and Cypress Insurance Co. Dan earned his BS degree from California State University at Pomona and his MBA at the University of... click for full profile

Mark A Rodriguez, JD

IEA is honored to have Mr. Mark Rodriguez, J.D. among its valued faculty members. Mr. Rodriguez has been with IEA since 2001. He obtained his degree in Liberal Arts from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles and his law degree from the American College of Law. He is a highly credentialed and talented instructor and continues to teach CA 10, CA 11, CA 17, and CA 20. In addition to teaching for IEA Mr. Rodriguez was a... click for full profile

Jerry Snow MPA, WCCP, SIA

Mr. Jerry Snow has over three decades of educational and administrative experience in both the public and private sectors. This included time as the Director for the Law Enforcement Center at Southwestern Community College and a community college instructor. For five years, Mr. Snow was a bilingual vocational counselor in the worker's compensation system and is qualified with the State of California as an Independent Vocational Evaluator (IVE). He is a... click for full profile

Phil N. Walker

Phil Walker is a professional speaker, teacher, and national trial counsel for California workers' compensation and Longshore defense based in San Francisco, CA. For over 20 years, he has represented California's largest airlines, shipyards, steel companies, retailers, universities, and insurers in workers' compensation and Longshore matters. Phil served as House Counsel for US Steel, General Counsel for New York City's largest residential real estate firm - Insignia Douglas Elliman, and Managing Attorney for Fireman's Fund Insurance Company. He was a... click for full profile

H. Neal Wells, Esq.

Mr. Wells is the managing partner in Woodland Hills for Hallett, McCormick, Emerick, Barba and Wells. He has over 20 years experience in workers' compensation defense and has been a Certified Specialist in Workers' Compensation since 1993. Mr. Wells earned his B.A. degree in 1983 from Occidental College in Los Angeles and his J.D. degree in 1986 from McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento. He received an appointment to the Executive Committee on Workers' Compensation, State Bar of... click for full profile

Malaney Wood

Ms. Malaney Wood has served on IEA's faculty since 1989, teaching both semester courses and one-day workshops in workers' compensation.She currently holds the position of Underwriting Manager for Majestic Insurance Company, and participates, supports and holds membership in the San Francisco Insurance Women's Association. Ms. Wood, a former language teacher, graduated with a MA from Florida State University.

Susan C. Zoboli, CPCU, MBA

Susan Zoboli serves as the director for corporate purchasing and insurance for the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation in Williamsburg, VA. She is responsible for the property and casualty insurance program, assists with loss control and manages the procurement team who purchases all goods and services for the Foundation that are not consumed or re-sold. Ms. Zoboli's career in risk management and insurance spans over 30 years including underwriting management positions with Sequoia Insurance Company, TIG and CAMICO Mutual Insurance Company.... click for full profile