Our Leaders

CEO | Managing Partner

Quinn Shepherd

Quinn Shepherd is the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Partner. He is dedicated to leading and serving the organization’s esteemed team. Quinn oversees 40+ offices, 550+ employees, 52 equity partners, and the Board of Directors. His role also involves spearheading mergers and acquisitions. As a 43-year-old Independent CEO leading a $100M revenue company, Quinn is entrusted with the well-being and success of individuals spanning five different generations. 

Prior to joining Shepherd Insurance, he was a sales advisor for Universal Underwriters, a division of Zurich Insurance. Quinn graduated from Ball State University in 2004, where he has since received the 2013 G.O.L.D.(Graduate of the Last Decade) award and was honored to be presented with the 2017 David Letterman College of Communication Information Media (CCIM) distinguished alumni award. In 2023, Quinn was elected to the Ball State University Sigma Phi Epsilon Hall of Fame. As part of his commitment to Ball State University, he was a past chairman of the BSU College of Risk Management and Insurance (RMI) Advisory Board and is an active member of the Dean’s Advisory Board for the College of Communication Information and Media (CCIM).  

Quinn actively contributes to multiple boards, including Booth Tarkington Civic Theatre Board of Directors, Indianapolis 100 Club, Central Indiana Police Foundation, Circle City Relief, and Wisdom and Grace Ministries. He was also a previous board member of the Center for Performing Arts, Westfield Insurance, and Martin Riverside Society. 

Beyond his professional accomplishments, Quinn was inducted into the Carmel High School Hall of Fame in 2022 and founded Operation Shepherding, Shepherd Insurance’s national outreach program. Quinn is a devoted husband to his wife, Ali, and a loving father to his four children.  

Founder | Chairman

Dave Shepherd

David Shepherd founded Shepherd Insurance in 1977 to provide personal insurance and top-notch service to friends and neighbors. He started the business with zero clients and is now one of the Top 50 largest P&C agencies in the country. Almost four decades later, his agency has grown to include employee benefits and financial products.

Dave serves as the Chairman of Shepherd Insurance and gives credit for the agency’s continued success to the amazing team that has been built at Shepherd. Because of them, the company was recognized in 2013-2015 as Top 100 U.S. Agency by Insurance Journal, 2014 Agency of the Year by IIAI (Big “I“), 2014-2015 Top 5000 Fastest Growing Companies by Inc. Magazine, and 2014 Top Ten Independent Agencies in Indiana by Indianapolis Business Journal. Dave was honored by Business Insurance by being inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2018.

Dave is a native Hoosier and a proud Carmel High School alumnus in Carmel, Indiana. He graduated as an All-SEC Academic All-American basketball player from the University of Mississippi. Together with his wife, Sally, he lives in Carmel. When they are not working or playing golf at Crooked Stick, they enjoy hanging out with their seven kids and eleven grandkids.

Lead President | Partner

Jeff Kweder

As President of Shepherd Insurance, Jeff Kweder is responsible for oversight of the agency including key account management, strategic direction, vendor evaluation and mergers and acquisitions. He has over 35 years of service with the agency and is licensed to sell health insurance, casualty insurance. He started the employee benefits division in 1987 and works exclusively with mid-sized to large businesses.

Throughout his career, Jeff has been actively involved in insurance organizations such as the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers Association (Big “I”), MarshBerry’s APPEX association and is a member of the Agent Editorial Advisory Board for Rough Notes magazine. He graduated with a Business Administration degree from Ohio State University. Jeff resides with his wife, Julie, and their four children in Carmel, Indiana.

Lead COO | VP of Sales | Partner

Pete Harrington

Pete Harrington is a Partner, Chief Operating Officer, and Vice President of Sales. Pete is a graduate of Butler University and an enthusiast of all Bulldog athletics. He is licensed in both life & health and property & casualty insurance. Pete has current and prior experience serving on the Agency Advisory Council for Nationwide, Selective, Secura, and Westfield Insurance companies. He is a graduate of the Kellogg School of Management series of business courses.

He serves on the board of the O’Connor House. The O’Connor House Mission is to provide a Christian home to help single, pregnant, homeless women improve life for themselves and their children. 

Though a great deal of his time is spent at the Carmel headquarters, due to Shepherd’s growth, he does travel nationally between offices. Pete oversees all lines of business managers and leads the direction of all sales agents. Pete helped create and nurture the internship program at Shepherd with an active pipeline coming from Indiana State, Ball State, and Butler Universities. Pete also continues to build strong relationships with Shepherd’s key carriers and partner carriers. Pete and his wife Stacey live in Carmel and have one of their daughters (Reiley) married, a daughter (Ellie) who is a senior at Butler University, and a son (Ty) who is a freshman at the University of Notre Dame.  

Chief Administration Officer | Partner

Tom Niccum

Tom is an Executive Partner at Shepherd Insurance and the Chief Administration Officer. He oversees marketing, property and casualty carrier relationships, and the education and development of the Shepherd team. Tom is an integral part of the onboarding of new employees and the assimilation of new partnerships into the Shepherd family. An important part of the training and development is Shepherd University, an educational program that helps Shepherd employees continue to learn and grow in the insurance industry. Tom is a part of the executive team and works to continually grow and improve Shepherd Insurance by encouraging a positive culture and helping make internal connections.

A team member since 1999, Tom has held numerous positions within the company, including personal, commercial and truck dealerships. He has completed his CPCU designation and holds degrees in Risk Management & Insurance and Mathematics from Ball State University. He represents the agency on multiple agent advisory councils. Married with three kids, Tom and his family live in Carmel, Indiana. When he gets away from the office, you can find Tom supporting his children at sporting events, hanging out with his friends and family or participating in various outdoor activities at home or at the lake.

President of Programs | Partner

Adam Besnard

COO of the Florida & Arizona Region | Partner

Patrick Del Medico

During his 30+ years of documented success in sales, marketing, training, product development, and performance management, Patrick has spent time in executive leadership roles both nationally and internationally. His diverse expertise and strategic business planning have helped him to consistently improve business processes and create winning teams for large Fortune 500 Companies ranging from Proctor & Gamble, Stryker Corporation and Baxter Healthcare to start-up entities to family-owned businesses.

Patrick oversees the daily operations of the Florida region and provides the leadership, management, and vision necessary to grow the organization effectively and to ensure financial strength and operating efficiency.

Patrick earned his BA in Communications from DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana. He is extremely active in the local community and dedicates a great deal of his time to both multiple charities and business organizations. His passion is helping children reach their full potential and he has focused much of his volunteer efforts toward supporting causes and organizations like Girls Inc., Girl Scouts, Boys and Girls Club and Cardinal Mooney High School. 

He is currently on the Board of Directors for Girls Inc. of Sarasota County and the Gulf Coast CEO Forum. He also sits on the USF Risk Management & Insurance Industry Board and on the Advisory Board for Cardinal Mooney High School.

Patrick and his wife Jayne reside in Sarasota.  They have three children; Parker and Zack, both graduates of TCU who reside in Texas, and Maddy a graduate of Notre Dame currently resides in Chicago.

COO of Kentuckiana Region | Partner

Trent Hunt

Trent serves as an Executive Partner and COO of our Kentucky Region and an active member of Shepherd’s Mergers and Acquisitions team. In addition, he spends time uncovering new business opportunities for fellow team members on both insurance and financial services platforms. He has nearly 35 years of experience in the insurance industry and is a former chairman of Encova Insurance Groups Advisory Board. Early in his career was the Sales Manager for Indiana Farmers Insurance as well as a Marketing Manager for Encova Insurance Group in their Louisville, Kentucky region. He previously sat on the Executive Board for the Indiana Builders Association as well as the Southern Indiana Builders Association and the Southwestern Indiana Builders Association.  He is a graduate of Indiana University Bloomington with majors in marketing and forensic studies. Trent and his wife Karen reside in Southern Indiana and are proud parents of Andrew and Abby Hunt.

CFO | Partner

Steve Strigler

Steve, Chief Financial Officer at Shepherd Insurance, holds a pivotal position within the organization. As a Certified Public Accountant, Steve brings a dynamic and results-driven approach to his role. His extensive experience spans multiple industries, encompassing strategic planning, mergers & acquisitions, risk management, accounting, franchising, cash flow management, real estate, and financial reporting. Throughout his career, Steve has consistently demonstrated his ability to implement forward-thinking solutions to drive growth, ensure compliance, and achieve key objectives. Since joining the industry in 2019, Steve’s tenure has been characterized by his unwavering commitment to generating consistent agency growth. He achieves this through a combination of internal improvements, client-centric solutions, and strategic acquisitions. His diverse background in hospitality has enabled him to build trust with both clients and team members.

Before becoming part of the team, Steve earned his Bachelor of Arts in Accounting from Babson College in 1999. His professional journey began with roles in public accounting at PricewaterhouseCoopers, where he focused on auditing, relationship-building, and gaining insights into various industries. Following his time in public accounting, Steve held various accounting and finance positions in software, real estate, and entertainment. He later transitioned to McDonald’s, a global restaurant industry leader, where he served in various capacities, including his role as the Chief Financial Officer of the Southeast Region.

Steve, originally from Massachusetts, is not only a dedicated professional but also a devoted family man. He is happily married and takes pride in being a parent to three children, including a set of twins. During his leisure time, he derives enjoyment from running, spending quality time with his family, traveling, and passionately supporting his favorite football team, the New England Patriots.

President of Employee Benefits | Partner

Steve Gregory

Steve Gregory serves as the President of Employee Benefits and is an Executive Partner that leads Shepherd’s Employee Benefits division. He is called upon for his expertise in financial evaluation, benefit design and implementation of risk management strategies for employer-sponsored health and wellness plans. Additionally, he performs insurance contract analysis, vendor assessment, claims analysis and overall plan reviews.

With over 29 years of experience in the insurance industry, Steve engages as a public speaker on issues relating to strategic planning, alternate funding strategies and the employee benefits landscape. In addition to his time at Shepherd, Steve serves on the Board of Prevail, Inc. and the Forte Sports Medicine Research & Education Foundation.

Steve is a graduate of Indiana University and is married with two daughters. During his free time, he loves being with his family, skiing, and competing in triathlons.

President of Personal Lines | Partner

Susan Morgan

Before joining Shepherd Insurance in 2014, Susan worked as a Territory Manager at MAPFRE Insurance. She has over 25 years of industry experience on both the company and agency side in areas of customer service, underwriting, sales and territory management.

In her role as President of Personal Lines she ensures that high levels of customer satisfaction are being met by improving ongoing service procedures.  She develops strategies as well as overseeing the day-to-day operating activities of the Personal Lines Division. Additionally, she closely manages the agencies personal carrier relationships to ensure that our customers are continually receiving quality products and services. 

Susan has served on several agent advisory boards for many of our top carrier partners including Safeco, Central Mutual, Hanover, Encova and Secura.

Susan worked as a volunteer with Franciscan Alliance Foundation-St Francis Hospice Foundation from 2009-2016 and is currently a volunteer with the Damar Guild.  She lives in Greenwood, IN with her husband, Wes, and their five kids. She enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling, playing golf and reading.

Susan’s designations include CPIA. She has received the Bill & Edie Shepherd Leadership Award from Shepherd Insurance 2019. She has also been awarded the Award of Excellence from Safeco Insurance 2019, 2020, 2021. Lastly, she has been recognized as a Blue Streak Underwriter with Central Insurance, active since 2018.

President of Commercial Lines | Partner

Briggs Orsbon

Briggs Orsbon, MBA, UACRM oversees the operations of the Commercial Lines Department. He is responsible for establishing efficient and consistent processes for all Shepherd offices, which includes both new and renewal business.

Briggs is also responsible for coordinating new business marketing strategies across all Shepherd offices. He markets commercial insurance on platinum accounts as well as building solid, lasting relationships with Shepherd’s commercial carriers. In addition, he coordinates Shepherd’s Student Internship Program and sits on multiple advisory councils for our partner carriers.

In 2012, Briggs joined the Shepherd team full-time, after serving at Shepherd as an intern. He previously served as Shepherd’s New Business Coordinator and New Business Director. He is currently licensed as a Resident Producer for Property & Casualty and Life & Health.

He obtained his MBA from Butler University in December 2015. In 2012, he received his bachelor’s degree in Risk Management Insurance and Financial Planning and Investments, graduating Summa Cum Laude. He was a member of the Ball State football team for four years and served as team captain his senior season. Briggs and his wife, Courtney, have three children: Kennedy, Crew and Daxton.

Mergers & Acquisitions | Partner

Austin Akers

Austin Akers, JD/MBA is a Partner who oversees Shepherd’s mergers and acquisitions. He is responsible for the financial analysis, due diligence and legal support on agency acquisitions. These skills align well with Austin’s role as a benefits consultant.

Austin obtained his JD from Ohio Northern University, his MBA from Butler University and his Bachelor’s Degree from Eastern Illinois University, graduating Summa Cum Laude. Austin was a member of the Eastern Illinois basketball team and served as team captain his junior & senior seasons. Austin’s favorite thing to do is spend time with his wife, Jenna and daughter, Alivia.

Branch President & Producer | Partner

Rob Barnes

Partner

Lori Brown

Lori is directly responsible for the overall performance of the Columbus and Vernon locations. She is passionate about investing in the communities that surround these two offices and imbedding the offerings of Shepherd Insurance into the commercial and personal residents.  Lori’s book of business is diversified in nature with a large commercial portion residing in Indianapolis, her home for nearly 20 years. 

Before joining Shepherd Insurance in October 2013, Lori owned her own data management company for 14 years in Indianapolis.  As a former business owner, she understands first-hand the importance of partnering with a quality insurance agency when shopping for health benefits, property & casualty insurance, worker’s compensation insurance and retirement options.  Lori also held the positions of Accountant, Controller and General Manager prior to starting her own business.  Lori received her bachelor’s degree in accounting from Indiana University, Bloomington in 1992.

Lori is an active member of Zenas Baptist Church and is the current Sunday School Superintendent.  Lori assists with the Prison Ministry in Jennings County and is the local spokesperson for the United Way of Jennings County. Lori is a Rotarian and the Past President of the Columbus Rotary Club.  Lori is currently the President of Advocates for Children, serving Jennings, Bartholomew and Decatur Counties.  Lori is also an elected member of the local Trustee Board and a member of the Jennings County Community Foundation.  Lori also serves as VP and Treasurer of the Jennings County Swim Club and a board member of the Jennings County Athletic Board.

Lori’s husband, Deron, is a school and private Psychologist and a high school tennis coach. They have been married for 31 years and have three daughters, Hailey(21), Reagan(18) & Tatum(16) and one son, Tod(25).   Lori added a son-in law, Cody, in 2021 too.  Lori enjoys watching and supporting her children in their activities including church, music, athletics, and 4-H.  Lori built a home on her family farm in Jennings County in 2007 and she has dogs, goats, rabbits and adores her horses.  Lori enjoys the outdoors, horseback riding, playing tennis, running, music and most importantly time with family.

Human Resources | Partner

Barb Bryant

(PHR, SHRM-CP) Barb is the Vice President of Human Resources and a Partner with the Agency.  She works closely with all Shepherd offices and the executive team to handle recruiting and hiring needs. This includes finding top-notch talent to fit our culture and the needs of a growing company. In addition, Barb works one on one with the staff to guide their professional development. She also works with department leaders to conduct annual performance evaluations and compensation strategies.

Barb earned her Accounting degree at Ball State University. After graduation, she spent 5 years in Houston, working for Shell Oil Company as an oil accounting supervisor. Barb returned to Indiana in 1985 and began her career in the Insurance Industry.

Before joining Shepherd in 2013, Barb began her insurance career in 1985 as an Accounting Manager with a national brokerage firm. She spent 20 years with an Ohio based agency as an Accounting Manager and Regional Talent Manager.

Barb is a proud mother of 2 daughters and 2 grandchildren.  She loves spending her free time with her family, cheering on the Colts and listening to audio books and podcasts.

Barb lives by the motto “Never Slow Down, Never Stop Evolving and Never Quit Smiling”.

Partner

Jason Bukowski

Jason works in commercial lines and employee benefits for all commercial industries, with a focus on Franchise Truck and Franchise Auto dealerships and Public Entity business including schools, cities, towns and municipalities. He works closely with business owners, as well as supervisors and managers, Jason brings a proactive approach to risk mitigation and claims avoidance. This approach helps him identify any gaps in current coverage, but also aids in premium stability and savings. His past experience in the Employee Health Benefit marketplace, allows Jason to strategically help employers through the complications of Healthcare Reform and the rising costs of healthcare.

Jason came to Shepherd Insurance in September of 2011, bringing with him five years of experience with Farmers Insurance Group in Indianapolis, both as a producer and company representative, and one year with SIHO Insurance in Columbus, IN. Jason graduated from the NADA/ATD Dealer Academy program in August 2015, making him the first insurance rep to graduate from this program out of more than 700 alumni. These unique experiences allow him to better understand the operational challenges that lie within franchise truck dealerships and solutions to common dealer issues, while establishing relationships with future truck clients.

Jason currently resides in Seymour, IN with his wife Andrea (Ude) and two boys Eli and Henry. Jason grew up in a golfing family and was fortunate enough to become a four-year lettermen on the Purdue University Men’s Golf Team, where he got to tee it up with some of the best players in the country. 

He proudly serves Seymour in a variety of ways, including Seymour Main Street Board of Directors.  Jason has also served his community as Seymour Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, Seymour Girls Inc. Board of Directors, past chair of the Schneck Medical Foundation’s Business Relations Committee, and past member of Rotary International.  Much of his free time is spent coaching Eli in soccer and Henry in baseball. 

Partner

Jim Burke

James Michael Burke the son of James and Karen Burke, was born in Marion Indiana, January 12^th, 1970. Jim attended Marion High School and graduated in 1988. He attended Glen Oaks Community College where he also played baseball. After two years at Glen Oaks, he went on to Butler University to continue his education and playing baseball. After graduating from Butler in 1993, Jim started working at Farm Bureau insurance in Noblesville Indiana. In 1996 Jim started working at Shepherd Insurance. Jim has two daughters Lauren and Katelyn. Lauren is a junior at Indiana University and Katelyn is a senior at Carmel High School. He enjoys working out, playing golf and spending time with family and friends.  

Partner

Ben Coe

Since joining Shepherd Insurance in 2010, Ben has worked faithfully for individuals and businesses all over the country. He has a passion for solving issues and coming up with creative solutions to complex problems. He believes that his approach of putting his clients first and maintaining a high level of professionalism on their behalf is what makes clients eager to refer him to their family and friends. 

As a graduate of the Insurance and Risk Management program at Indiana State University, Ben gained strong foundational knowledge in personal, commercial and life insurance. At Shepherd Insurance he specializes in home insurance, auto insurance, umbrella, all business lines of insurance, and life insurance. 

Ben lives in Westfield with his wife, Elizabeth, and in their free time they love traveling the world, spending time outdoors and attending professional football and baseball games all over the country.

Partner

JP DeLaney

JP joined Shepherd Insurance (previously Logan Lavelle Hunt) in March 2013 and now serves as a Partner. He has over 20 years of sales and sales management experience. He is a Trinity High School graduate and attended the University of Louisville. JP has completed numerous training courses and is a commercial and personal lines insurance specialist. He focuses on association programs and is an active member of many committees. He sits on numerous boards in his community and takes great pride in being involved. While JP enjoys boating, golfing and hunting, his favorite thing is to spend time with his wife Beth, daughter, Lilly, and son, Austin.

Partner

Margi Furey

Margi began her insurance career in 1991 in Northern Virginia. She remained in NOVA working with Independent Agencies until 2007 when she and her family moved to Florida. Once in Florida, she began working in the Commercial Lines Department of Al Purmort Insurance. Over the next several years, she managed a book of business as an Account Manager. In 2012, she was named the Commercial Lines Manager until 2015 when she became the Director of Special Business Development. While continuing her insurance career, she also expanded her knowledge of the various systems that agencies work with (Applied, AMS, etc.). This has led Margi to the desire to train co-workers on the systems to ensure everyone has working knowledge of the Agency Management System.  

Margi’s focus is working with business owners to design property and liability insurance programs to protect their assets from potential loss and litigation exposure. She loves to educate her clients to ensure they understand the products they are purchasing are truly in their best interests.  

In the Sarasota and Manatee area, Margi volunteers with various organizations however she holds a special place in her heart for Girls Inc of Sarasota. If Margi is not working, she loves to spend time with family and friends. She and her husband Matt love to be on their boat with a fishing pole in their hands or spending time with their daughter Shannon. 

Partner

Robbi Gwaltney

Partner

Jeff Johnson

With specialized focus in a handful of industries including motorsports, contractors, garage operations, manufacturing and real estate, Jeff Johnson works with Shepherd clients to determine how to best protect their people, their businesses and their teams. He takes great pride in remaining accessible to clients whenever they need him, 7 days a week, and his focus on niche industries helps him to understand his clients’ needs more thoroughly.

A third-generation insurance agent, Jeff attended Indiana State University, where he studied Insurance & Risk Management. He began his insurance career in 2000 and joined Shepherd Insurance in 2012.

Jeff has continued to advance his career while at Shepherd.  In 2019 Jeff won Shepherd’s Regional Sales Excellence Award, followed by 2020 where he was named Partner at Shepherd. He and his father, “Team Johnson”, were awarded the 2020 National Sales Excellence Award.

Jeff was named the Indiana Big I Independent Agent of the year for 2021.  This is considered one of the highest honors available in the independent agent community.

Jeff and his wife Rachel have three children and a Silver Labrador and live in Fishers. His love for racing started early – attending his first sprint car race when he was just 8 weeks old. Along with spending time with his family, Jeff also enjoys golf, boating, and coaching little league.

Partner

Jacob Julius

Prior to starting in the insurance industry, he pursued a career in professional baseball. Jacob played 5 seasons in the Baltimore Orioles minor league system, topping out at AAA after being drafted from the University of Arkansas. 

Jacob has used that same work ethic to partner with companies of all sizes to help solve their business insurance challenges. He specializes in creating risk management strategies including workers compensation and builders’ risk. He spends a lot of his time in the real estate and construction industries. He is passionate about partnering with clients to help them protect what is most important to them. 

Jacob and his wife Meghan have three children – Ethan, Dolle and Bowman. They are lifelong residents of Southern Indiana and enjoy spending time with their family and being active in the local community. Jacob has served on numerous boards and is currently a board member of the Indiana Builders Association and the Harrison County YMCA. He also coached baseball at Providence High School for parts of 8 years, where the team won state titles in 2016 and 2021.

Partner

Nita Knies

As Vice President of Commercial Services, Nita K. Knies (CIC, API, CISR, AINS) is responsible for the entire commercial lines service division of Shepherd Insurance. Nita manages the customer service team and works to develop and maintain excellent customer service standards. Nita serves as a mentor to our staff and consistently provides assistance and the tools necessary to help our employees set and achieve career goals which in turn results in career growth within our company. She works constantly with our entire commercial lines team to access our processes and procedures to make sure we are always a step ahead in the insurance service industry.  

Nita brings her 30 plus years of insurance expertise to the Shepherd team, joining in 2014 via the Consolidated Insurance Services merger. Specializing in management, personal, commercial and life & health insurance, she is able to be utilized in a variety of capacities by the company. Nita serves as member on the Professional Insurance Associations Certified Insurance Service Representative (CISR) committee. She has been a Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC) for 25 years. In 2019 Nita was awarded Shepherd’s Manager of the Year Award and in 2020 was named a Partner in the organization. Also in 2020, Nita received Shepherd’s highest honor the Bill & Edie Shepherd Leadership Award.  

For pleasure Nita likes to travel and take in concerts. She inherited a love for dancing and live music from her parents and will take every opportunity for a dance! Nita makes her home with husband Glenn. The couple have two children Jon, who is also making a career with Shepherd Insurance and Lindsey currently studying at IUPUI.

Partner

Dennis Lizotte

As Director of Commercial Production, Dennis is responsible for review, preparation, marketing, and placement of middle market and platinum accounts. His prior claims handling/managing experience uniquely positions him to analyze current coverages as well as proper risk transfer solutions for prospective clients. Dennis also focuses on building and maintaining relationships with the carriers Shepherd represents.

Being transplants from Michigan, Dennis and his wife, Christina have established roots in Westfield, IN along with their daughter Zoe, and son Roman. On weekends they can be found at the Carmel Farmers Market and Midtown or a local playground

Partner

Stan Logan

Stan graduated from the University of Kentucky and The College of Insurance in New York. Past Certified Insurance Counselor. Currently President of PIA services. The for-profit arm of PIA National. Past President and Trustee on Local Fire Department Board. Past PIA agent of the Year. Stan has a passion for boating and spending time with friends and family.

Partner

Dena Shepherd London

Dena has been with the agency for over 20 years specializing in Commercial, Personal and Life Insurance. She is dedicated to writing new business and managing current policies as well as customizing each individual or family’s insurance needs. Dena works diligently on behalf of valued clients as an advocate and liaison between the clients and the insurance companies. She has a wide array of experience with high-net-worth clients, as well as product knowledge of carriers within our agency and can provide full-comparison analysis with prospective clients.

Dena received her bachelor’s degree in Exercise Physiology from Purdue University. She is married to John London, VP of Planes Companies and lives in Carmel, IN. As a mother of 3 sons, Nolan, Trey and Jonah; she enjoys watching their athleticism and God-given talents both on and off the court/football field. A graduate of Carmel High School, she is also a volunteer and worship singer at her church. Dena is active in the community with a strong focus on health & fitness. She also enjoys being an accountability partner and mentor to many women in her sphere of influence.

Partner

John Long

John Long (AAI,TRS) joined Shepherd Insurance in 2014 as risk management consultant in our Property & Casualty department and quickly grew to become a Partner in the firm. John functions as a consultant in our Transportation practice group and manages accounts in the Real Estate and Environmental industries as well. His experience has allowed him to gain extensive knowledge in the strategy, design and administration of large deductible and self-insured retention plans along with captive insurance alternatives.

John and his team work to better serve clients by first understanding the company’s top initiatives, then designing a tailored risk management solution in alignment with those initiatives.

Partner

Ross MacLennan

Ross is a seasoned insurance professional with a wealth of knowledge and experience in the industry. He graduated from Indiana University Bloomington School of Business in 1985.  Following an internship with Commercial Union, he embarked on a career at MacLennan & Bain Insurance in January 1986.  With a commitment to professional development, Ross has earned the prestigious Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) designation. This designation signifies exceptional knowledge and proficiency in the property and casualty industry.  Ross specializes in commercial and professional liability with a unique niche in healthcare malpractice insurance.  

Ross made the decision to join forces with Shepherd Insurance in 2024 and looks forward to continuing to serve his customers with the added strength Shepherd brings. When not serving his clients, Ross enjoys golf with friends, skiing in the mountains, and playing his guitar.

Partner

Chris Maynard

Chris Maynard (MBA, AAI) started with Shepherd in March 2014. Prior to starting in the insurance business, Chris worked in sales for various pharmaceutical and medical device companies within the healthcare industry. Building on that experience, he has used his industry knowledge to help employers limit waste and provide better benefit solutions for their employees.  He is passionate about providing benefit plans tailored specifically to the employers’ needs and is well-versed in the various financial levers that can be utilized within a plan to control costs and risk.  Chris also manages the southwest Indiana region for Shepherd.

Born and raised in Evansville, Indiana, he is a graduate of Mater Dei High School. Chris attended Lewis University and played collegiate baseball for the Flyers.  He received his BA and MBA from Lewis.

Chris and his wife, Alissa, have a daughter, Reese, and three sons, Chase, Jackson, and Brooks. They are members of Good Shepherd Catholic Church and School. In his free time, Chris enjoys watching his children participate in all of their activities and traveling with his family. 

Partner

Ryan McCarty

Ryan McCarty, CIC is a partner and manages the Northern Kentucky location. He oversees the daily operations of sales and service. Ryan is a mentor to the sales team and provides the leadership necessary for his team to effectively operate at a higher standard.

Ryan earned his BA in Business Management from Northern Kentucky University.  He has worked in the insurance industry for over 20 years. He has served on several insurance boards, and currently serves as a board member with the PIA of Kentucky. Ryan is also on the Board of Directors for the Matthew Mangine Jr. Foundation. This foundation provides education and training to parents, coaches and athletes on implementing proper emergency action plans in youth sports. Additionally, it provides financial support for necessary life-saving equipment for schools in need.

Ryan and his wife, Brandy, have two children, Carson and Sophia.

Partner

Fred McClaine

Fred McClaine has assisted business owners as their strategic insurance consultant for over 35 years. He is a holistic consultant, analyzing the business not just for insurance, but what is needed in avoiding risk in the ever-evolving world today. Fred helps explore Insurance coverages and premiums that best suits a business plan. Serving all lines of business, Fred specializes in business risk management including Directors & Officers Liability, Professional or Errors & Omissions Liability, Medical Malpractice, Cyber Liability & Data Breach, Employee Benefits, and business financial planning for owners and key executive employees.

He began his career with AAA as a leader of their largest office in Indianapolis. After ten successful years, Fred started a private Property & Casualty insurance brokerage as a marketing partner with of Lincoln National Life. That company merged into Agency Associates, Inc. (AAI) and he became their president in 1996. The agency had 800% of dynamic organic growth during Fred’s tenure as president. AAI then merged with Brown & Brown Insurance, the sixth largest agency in the nation. McClaine led their Indiana operations, and it became the largest insurance agency in the state during his six years. McClaine joined the Shepherd team in May of 2014 as Senior Consultant and became a Partner in 2016.

At Shepherd Insurance, McClaine has driven growth of the Medical Professional Liability division to become one of the largest and most respected in the Midwest. He works with his team and clients all over the country advising on business insurance needs.

McClaine is a graduate of The Scott School of Business at Indiana State University with a BS in Marketing. In the insurance industry, he served as president of the Greater Indianapolis IIAI, was president of the Young Agent’s Council, and was also the IIAI Young Agent of the Year. Fred is a member of the Indiana Medical Group Management Association (IMGMA) and the Indiana State Medical Association (ISMA).

Fred has served on numerous boards including the Marian University Committee for Scholarship & Educational Advancement, the Sands Resort Strata Board in Turks & Caicos Islands, co-founder, and Chairman of the Board of “Exodus90” a Catholic Men’s educational group influencing men all over the world to live their life free of the trappings of society.

Partner

Brad McNulty

Brad McNulty works closely with many of the largest franchise truck dealers in the country helping them analyze and implement the best garage liability and workers comp packages available in the marketplace.

Brad has been with Shepherd Insurance for over 20 years. Prior to joining the Shepherd team, he was the general sales manager at Palmer Dodge on the north side of Indianapolis. Before that, he coached college basketball at Ball State University and the University of Wisconsin from 1976 to 1989.

A true lifelong Hoosier, Brad grew up in Kokomo and attended Purdue University, on a basketball scholarship, where he earned his degree. Brad is passionate and committed to helping Shepherd Insurance continue to grow and be successful in the future. When not working Brad enjoys traveling with his wife Lissa around the US and abroad to attend big Thoroughbred races, along with the breeding and racing of Thoroughbreds. He lives on the north side of Indianapolis with his wife of over 38 years, Lissa. They have one son, Matthew, who lives in Zionsville.

Partner

David Moore

David graduated from Ball State University in 1984.  After graduation, he joined his parents in the insurance industry at John Moore Agency in Seymour, IN. While living in Seymour, he earned his CIC designation in 1987 and served on the advisory council of Citizens Insurance Company (now part of Hanover). He also served locally as Board President of Girls, Inc., as a member of the Membership Services Committee for the Seymour Chamber of Commerce, and as an elder at his church.  He also was heavily involved with coaching his kids in basketball, baseball and softball.

In 1998, David purchased the agency from his parents and continued to grow the book until merging with Shepherd Insurance in 2007, becoming the second agency-partner to join the company.

In 2016, David moved to Scottsdale, AZ, and helped grow the Arizona footprint which now includes offices in Payson, Prescott, and Tucson, AZ. He has kept in touch with his Indiana clients during the move and continues to grow his book of commercial, benefits, life, and high net worth personal lines business. He serves as a resource to several attorneys, financial planners, and advisors in the area and assists people in different parts of the country by solving their professional liability needs. He also acts as a liaison to our partner agencies in Arizona, serving as a conduit to the staffs and helping them learn the Shepherd way of doing business.

David’s wife, Shannon, is also a Shepherd employee now, helping seniors navigate the Medicare marketplace. They have three children – Ashley, Nick, and Amanda – and two grandchildren.  In his spare time, he enjoys running, hiking, playing golf, and traveling the west coast.

Partner

Susan Morrison

At the age of 19, Susan began her career in the insurance industry as a receptionist at House-Chilson & Associates agency in Prescott, AZ. The owners must have thought she had promise because she was quickly promoted to a personal lines producer, then became a commercial lines producer and ultimately acquired 50% of the agency upon the retirement of one of the agencies original partners. In 2019, she and her business partner sold the agency to Shepherd Insurance where she remains as a senior sales executive and oversees the day-to-day operation and management of the Prescott office.

In her spare time, when she is not trying to keep up with her young daughter Journey, she enjoys volunteering within the community and her church. She has served as Chaplain and Vice-President for the Fraternal Order of Eagles Women’s Auxiliary.

In addition to her professional endeavors, her proudest accomplishment is having the opportunity to raise her daughter and be a positive influence in her life.  She is looking forward to the future with Shepherd and seeing what can be achieved together as an organization.

Partner

Lori Munroe

Lori specializes in medical professional liability insurance providing coverage solutions for physicians, hospitals, long-term care facilities, home healthcare, surgery centers, labs and all other types of providers and entities delivering healthcare.

Prior to joining Shepherd Insurance, Lori worked with two of the largest medical malpractice insurance companies in the nation, ProAssurance and Medical Protective. In 1988 she joined ProAssurance where she held positions as their Indiana market manager and senior underwriter.  In 2001, Lori joined Medical Protective as their market manager for Illinois. Since 2003 she has represented healthcare clients as an independent agent for Agency Associates, joining Brown & Brown after an acquisition and now Shepherd Insurance.  For more than 25 years, Lori has worked closely with the Indiana State Medical Association and Indiana Podiatric Medical Association consulting with and providing services for their membership.  

Lori is a graduate of Northern Illinois University where she received her B.S. in Education. She has two adult children and resides in Noblesville, Indiana with her husband and a Staffordshire Terrier named Milo.

Partner

Skip Oliver

Skip began his started my insurance career in 2007 with Farmers Insurance. In 2011, he went to work for Dean Webster Insurance. Dean Webster Insurance was acquired by Shepherd in 2016. With the help of his friend and mentor, Doug Annakin, his career and focus on Commercial Lines took off.  In his second full year with the company, Quinn and Shepherd took a chance on me and opened an office in Carmi, IL. The first full year, he was blessed to win the Agent of the Year. He has since added a Regional sales award. His focus and niche is now in the oil and gas industry. He has developed strong relationships with the three oil and gas associations in the area. Developing this niche has given Shepherd the opportunity to become a trusted agency in the industry.

A lifelong west-sider, Skip graduated from Reitz High School then, the University of Southern Indiana. Skip has two children, Devin and Mya and is in a long-term relationship with Lindsay Botsch. Lindsay is the current Evansville Market President at German American Bank. When not working, Skip enjoy fitness and has become an avid runner.  He has competed in the country’s largest marathons, Chicago, New York and Boston, several times

Partner

Miles Parker

Partner

Clark Pence

Clark Pence is a Partner and the Director of Towing for Shepherd Insurance. As Director of the towing program, he is responsible for retention, overall growth of the program, and maintaining relationships with carriers. While doing so, he continues to develop new relationships with carrier partners, and quoting new business while managing his own book of business.   

Clark joined Shepherd Insurance in 2016 after graduating from Northern Kentucky University and was a member of the baseball team. Clark resides in Indianapolis with his wife Cara and their two dogs. He enjoys golfing, the Colts and spending time with his family.

Partner

Shannon Russell

With 30 years of employee benefit consulting experience, Shannon uses her knowledge of employee benefits and industry trends to design custom solutions to meet client objectives and budgetary constraints.  She excels in structuring plans, conducting program analysis and leveraging resources to advise cutting edge strategies for my clients.  

She is a graduate of Purdue University with a major in Mathematics.  She began her career in employee benefits working as a large group underwriter for Indiana’s largest insurer and has been consulting directly with large, multi-state clients since 1998.

She was born and raised in a tiny town in southern Illinois and moved to Indianapolis in 1992, never leaving. She now lives in Fishers with her ten-year old son, Fletcher, and her thirteen-year old dog, Franklin.  In her spare time you’ll find her reading or spending time with family.

Partner

Paul Schafer

Paul is responsible for managing and growing a commercial and personal book of business in Indianapolis that is comprised of many former Consolidated Insurance Services clientele. Prior to joining Shepherd, Paul worked for Consolidated Insurance Services, Inc. and served as a Producer / Vice President / Principal / Partner. He began his career at C.N.A Insurance Companies: Senior Sales Representative and also worked at Indiana Insurance Company as aTerritory Manager.

Paul currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Indianapolis Police Department Motorcycle Drill Team, Citizens Speedway Committee / Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Hoosier Suds Foundation, American Business Club and the Big I Indianapolis. He has previously served on the board of the Indiana Motorsports Association., the Sports Car Club of America and the Lambda Corporation.

His hobbies include: Vintage Car Collecting and Racing, Cooking / BBQ, White River Yacht Club., BMW Car Club of America., Mercedes Benz Car Club of America, Porsche Club of America, Sports Car Club of America and the Indianapolis Triumph Club. Paul is married to Jill Fewell. Director, ‘Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans’ Non-Profit and affiliated with the Indiana Department of Veteran Affairs. He has two Stepsons: Isaac Fewell 24 and Jeremy Fewell 28. He is a graduate of Indiana University. With a BA in Telecommunications and Marketing. He was a member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity.

Partner

Paige Sexton

Paige Sexton (CIC, CRM, CISR) manages over $13 million in premiums across the nation, with 95 percent focus on truck dealerships. Working closely with the producers and executive officers, she has established a long track record of solid client relationships. Her expertise is working with clients to determine the best coverage strategy meeting each respective company’s unique needs as the company continues to change. Other areas of supervision include renewals, proposals, audits, and client claims. Paige also conducts monthly educational classes within the truck dealership department.

In 2005, Paige was awarded the Shepherd Insurance Customer Service Agent of the year award and received the 2016 recipient of the Distinguished Customer Service Representative Award by the Independent Insurance Agents of Indiana.

A veteran of the banking industry, Paige brought her financial expertise to the Shepherd team in 2000. Her professional experience in customer service and strategic business development has paved a solid foundation for her current responsibilities.

A University of Evansville graduate, Paige has been married for 26 years to husband, Greg. The couple enjoys spending family time with their daughter Savannah and son Wyatt. A proud Army family, Greg has served his country for 20 years including two deployments to the Middle East, and a Purple Heart recipient. They love their two dogs, Black Lab Patton, and Yellow Lab Lincoln. Paige is an active member of the Noblesville First United Methodist Church, where she is a member of the Student Ministries Advisory Council, volunteers with the Youth Ministry, participates in mission trips to Give Kids the World & Guatemala, is a regular usher and has served as a Stephen Minister. Paige and her husband are actively involved with the Pets Healing Vets program through the Humane Society for Hamilton County, which matches sheltered animals with qualifying veterans suffering from PTSD or TBI at no cost to the veteran. She is also an active member of the Phi Beta Psi Sorority, a national civic organization that raises money for cancer research. Paige loves to read, watch movies, crochet, bake and decorate cakes.

Mergers & Acquisitions | Partner

Steve Shepherd

Steve began his insurance career in 1983 after graduating for the University of Indianapolis. He sold his agency (S.R. Shepherd Insurance Agency) in the mid-1990s to merge with his brother, Dave … and the rest, as they say … is history.

After prospecting, selling, and servicing all lines of insurance for over 40 years, Steve now dedicates his time to the merger and acquisition arena. He is responsible for prospecting successful, independent agencies that are seeking the strong connection and the defined culture that fits the Shepherd model.

Steve was born and raised in Carmel, IN. A member of the 1977 Boys State Championship Basketball Team and a 1979 graduate of Carmel High School, he attended Indiana Central University (now University of Indianapolis) on a basketball scholarship and majored in education. He now has 3 children and 5 grandchildren. In his spare time, he enjoys golf, tennis, travel, music venues, spectator sports and a good game of euchre with family and friends.

Partner

Jeremy Sims

Jeremy Sims is a Partner and Senior Sales Executive at Shepherd and works with New Franchise Truck Dealerships and Middle Market businesses to help them define their risk management goals and put the proper protection in place. He is responsible for prospecting, renewing and implementing insurance programs for Shepherd’s National Franchised Truck Dealer Program. Jeremy also helps coordinate sales, training and coverage analysis with Shepherd’s team members and carrier partners.

Jeremy joined the Shepherd team as a sales agent in 2008, after previously working at The Bridgewater Club. He attended the University of South Florida, where he was a member of the men’s golf team.

Partner

Matt Smith

Matt Smith (CRM) is the Director of Dealership Programs for Shepherd Insurance. As Director he is responsible for retention and overall growth of the program, maintaining relationships with carriers, developing new relationships with carrier partners, quoting new business, and managing some larger accounts within the department.   

Matt specializes in creating insurance solutions for the needs of his diverse clientele by focusing on unique exposures for Franchise Truck Dealerships, in the garage liability and lease/rental space.  He works with insureds to review exposures, negotiate renewal terms, and helps insureds review their overall risk appetite.  

Matt obtained his degree from Ball State University, majoring in Risk Management and Insurance.  He joined the Shepherd team in 2008 working as an intern for the commercial department.  After graduating, Matt accepted a position as an account manager in the Franchise Truck Dealer Department, and has held a CRM designation since 2011.  Matt, his wife Jaclyn, and their daughter Averie reside in Westfield, IN.

Partner

Angela Smith

Angela is responsible for overseeing the commercial lines team in Florida in efforts to manage key accounts and drive new business sales. She ensures that high levels of customer satisfaction are being met by improving ongoing service delivery methods and controlling the planning, organizing, staffing, and day-to-day operating activities of the commercial lines division.

Angela has been with Al Purmort Insurance since 2013 and has 11 years of insurance expertise and over 28 years of professional experience working in the automotive space and new business start-ups.  She is a graduate of the University of Houston in Texas. Additionally, she attended the PIPI Finance School in Oregon and earned her degree in Culinary Arts at the Le Cordon Bleu Culinary Institute in Scottsdale, Arizona.     

She is a Board Member at The Girl Scouts of the Gulf Coast where she volunteers her time to a great cause and the local community. She spends her time with her 3 daughters and 2 grandchildren at her ranch when she’s outside the office.  She is an avid horse lover and commits her time to excelling at the sport of dressage.

Partner

Stephen Strong

Steve Strong is a partner and became a Licensed Insurance Agent 1994. He earned his Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC) 2010 and obtained his Property and Casualty Consultant License in 2017. He has been the endorsed insurance agent for the KY Association of Master Contractors (KAMC) since 2009. He has also served on the Executive Board of Directors for the KY Association of Master Contractors for the last 8 years.

His interests include his faith in God, his wife Angela, and their four-legged children. Stephen also enjoys sports particularly, golf and football. He is grateful and blessed to serve the needs of his clients. His mission as a Partner of Shepherd is to provide a greater and measurable value to clients he serves. He does this by always being accessible to his clients, providing qualified information to help them make the correct decisions and being ready to hold their hands through the claims process. 

Partner

Kyle Turner

Kyle is a 2^nd generation agent specializing in property & casualty insurance. He started a scratch agency in his hometown of Centerville, Indiana, Turner Insurance, in 2004 and partnered his agency with Shepherd in 2020. 

Kyle graduated from Ball State University with a degree in Marketing and began his career in insurance sales shortly thereafter in 1994.  Kyle obtained his Certified Insurance Counselor accreditation in 2006 and has served on the board and as President of the Professional Insurance Agents (PIA) of Indiana. Kyle currently serves his community as board President of the Centerville Abington Dollars for Scholars, as secretary for the Economic Development Corporation of Wayne County (EDC), and board member and immediate past president of Main Street Centerville, Inc.

Kyle & his high school sweetheart wife Mynde live just outside of Centerville and enjoy traveling, visiting new breweries, the Colts, poker, and live music.

Partner

Andy Warren

Andy is Partner and Senior Sales Executive at Shepherd Insurance.  He has developed risk management strategies serving all lines of business including commercial property & casualty, employee benefits, and personal insurance programs.  Andy also engages his clients on the benefits of life insurance, buy-sell agreements, key-man life insurance, and financial services.  As a sales executive at Shepherd Insurance since 2006, licensed in both property & casualty and life & health, Andy has over a decade of success in organic sales and retention.  His overreaching goal is to bring the greatest value to his clients, and to help his clients reach their long-term goals and objectives.  In addition to his time at Shepherd Insurance, Andy serves on the not-for-profit boards of the Carmel Dad’s Club and Cherish.  Andy is a graduate and former basketball player at Carmel High School and Anderson University.  He was later a successful assistant basketball coach at Guerin Catholic High School in Noblesville where the Golden Eagles won two state championships.  Andy now lives in Carmel with his wife Jessica and their three children Mason, Roman and Gemma