Bill Sharer, AV industry consultant and co-founder of Navigate Management Consulting, died on August 19, 2019 after a battle with cancer.
The AV industry lost one of its veterans, when Bill Sharer, partner and co-founder of Navigate Management Consulting, died on August 19, 2019, after a 2-year fight with cancer.
He was a self-employed marketing consultant for over forty years with Exxel Management and later with Navigate Management Consulting. He held sales executive positions in addition to owning and managing his own firms which trained more than 15,000 people on four continents. He served on the Professional Education and Training Committee (PETC) for InfoComm where he was a Senior Faculty Member and was named Educator of the Year in 2003. Bill’s contributions to Exxel, Navigate and the industry were substantial.
Brad Malone first met Bill at InfoComm11 where they learned they shared a passion for teaching, consulting, and improving organizations. They had both served in the U.S. Air Force and relied upon that experience when consulting – a high sense of morality and integrity – which showed up throughout their training and consulting philosophy. At InfoComm13 they both met David McNutt and formed Navigate Management Consulting.
“Bill was always a gentleman and taught me the meaning of being a ‘class-act’ – following through with your commitments, always being aware of the impact of my actions on other people and trying to see the best in them. He helped me mature as a consultant – and as a person. I will miss his sage advice.” – Brad Malone
“Bill brought so much to our firm; history, experience, stable thinking, and humor. I will always appreciate his calm and often funny demeanor in dealing with complex issues. He always showed kind, professional courtesy to everyone he met. He was a good partner, a good person, and a good friend.” – David McNutt
Bill Sharer is survived by his wife of 43 years, Lorraine Bourgeois Sharer; a step-daughter and son-in-law, Robin Yerich and John F. Deardorff, of Flemington, NJ; a step-son, Alan Scott Yerich, of Centennial, CO; his three grandchildren, Ashley Yerich and her spouse, Heather Downey, Benjamin Yerich, and Lucas Yerich; his great-grandson, Wyatt Downey; and his sister, Joyce Sharer.
A Memorial Service, with full military honors, will be held on Saturday, September 7, 2019 at 2:00pm in the Holcombe-Fisher Funeral Home, 147 Main Street, Flemington, NJ. Calling hours will be held on Saturday from 1:00-2:00pm in the funeral home prior to the service. Interment will be private.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22478, Oklahoma City, OK 73123
Related: What I Learned from Bill Sharer
