April 12, 2018

This piece is presented by Howalt+McDowell Insurance, a Marsh & McLennan Agency LLC company.

Meet Sean Mayer, the newest risk management consultant to join the team at Howalt+McDowell Insurance, a Marsh & McLennan Agency LLC company. He has 12 years of experience in the insurance industry. To learn more, connect with him on LinkedIn or email Sean at [email protected] with your specific questions about managing your company’s risk.

Hometown: Harrisburg

Education: University of South Dakota, degree in finance and economics

What attracted to you to Howalt+McDowell?

The leadership, culture and team atmosphere. A good team produces synergy and energy, which allows each person to focus on their role. This helps everyone be better off than they otherwise would be alone.

Describe your approach to working with clients.

My favorite thing about working in insurance is managing and advising clients on financial risks that affect their company. I tend to be a big-picture thinker, and I like to guide my clients to take calculated risks but to protect or avoid the catastrophic exposures.

How did you come to specialize in construction coverages?

I have always been intrigued by the phenomenon that several parties can work together in an otherwise fluid and dangerous industry and still manage to construct a tangible product that lasts for years.

What are the major issues you see affecting businesses in the next few years?

I think information and cyber risk will continue to fester and force business owners to protect themselves with cyber liability insurance and by strengthening their policies, procedures and internal practices.

I also think that automobile/transportation risk will continue to be a growing exposure due mainly to distracted-driving issues. Until we, as a society, can change the root causes of distracted driving, this will continue to raise insurance costs.

What advice can you offer business owners when it comes to selecting insurance coverage?

Carefully select the right team of insurance professionals that truly understands your business and exposures. The team will then guide and advise you on the coverages. As a business owner, it’s all about having trust in your partners and vendors.