William M. Thomas | Corporate President
Our Corporate President is William M. (“Bill”) Thomas who began his career at TIS following his graduation from the University of Tennessee in 1964 with a degree in Banking and Insurance. When Bill joined TIS, the Company was made up of just 3 employees. Since that time, Bill has provided the leadership, both in business strategy and unrivaled work ethic, to build the modern day TIS. Throughout his career, Bill has served as a multi-line agent who works with businesses and individuals to provide all lines of insurance and risk management services.
Raymond L. Oakes, III | President, Construction Division
Our Construction Division President is Raymond L. (“Bunny”) Oakes, III. Following his graduation from the University of Tennessee with a degree in Business in 1976, Bunny went to work for First American National Bank as a loan officer. He left First American in 1980 to begin his insurance career with Corroon & Black, and in 1983, Bunny was hired by Sedgwick James to begin working exclusively within the construction industry. Bunny joined TIS in 1991 and established our Construction Division at that time. He is very active in various construction trade associations, has served as the President of the Insurors of Tennessee, and has held leadership positions with many community organizations including the Boys & Girls Club and the Civitan Club.
Edward B. Sims |President, Healthcare Services
Ed Sims has been in the insurance business for more than 30 years and was one of the first insurance brokers nation-wide to recognize the importance of focusing exclusively on the healthcare industry. In 1987, Ed acquired the Robert M. Sims Insurance Agency from his father. It was under his supervision that the business doubled in size and merged with the Tennesssee Insurance Services in 1994, forming a new company called TIS Insurance Services which now serves 6,000 individuals and businesses in 45 states. As a president and stockholder of TIS, Ed heads HealthCare Services, the agency's largest division and the one that he started. He holds the Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC) designation and is a graduate of the University of Tennessee.
Taylor Preston |Vice President, Healthcare Services
Taylor Preston serves as our Vice President of the HealthCare Services Division of TIS. Following his graduation from the University of Georgia with a degree in Risk Management & Insurance, Taylor started his career with the Travelers Insurance Company in 1991. After a very brief stint with Travelers, Taylor joined TIS in 1994 to head up the burgeoning Atlanta Office, where he rigorously expanded the health care book of business. After two to three years of great success in the healthcare industry, Taylor and Ed Sims officially formed “HealthCare Services” as a division of TIS. Taylor became a Board Member and Stockholder of TIS in 2004.
W. Morgan Thomas, Jr.| President, Commercial Insurance
W. “Morgan” Thomas, Jr. serves as an agent in our Custom Commercial Division. Morgan joined TIS in 1990 following his graduation from the University of Tennessee and has since provided a wide range of services to a diverse client base. His experience includes designing customized personal insurance plans for high net worth individuals, implementing cost-effective group benefit plans for employers of all sizes, and delivering risk management solutions for a variety of industries. He has also served on the Board of the Episcopal School and worked closely with other non-profit entities to ensure their insurance programs include the key coverages which are often overlooked..
Benjamin Kelly | President, Employee Benefits
Benjamin (Ben) Kelly received a degree in Business Administration from the University of Tennessee in 1990 and immediately began his career as a broker in our Employee Benefits Division. Ben has been recognized by several insurance carriers for high performance and is endorsed by the local business coalition for his commitment to creating value for his clients.
Kimberly M. Wilson | Chief Financial Officer
Our Chief Financial Officer is Kimberly M. Wilson. Kim received a degree in Accounting from the University of Tennessee in 1984 and thereafter practiced accounting with a public accounting firm located in Knoxville. Kim joined TIS in 1987 as our controller and received her CPA in 1990. She was promoted to C.F.O. in 1996. In addition, Kim has earned the Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (“CPCU”) designation
Marsha S. Peters | Chief Operating Officer
Our Chief Operating Officer is Marsha S. Peters. Marsha joined Robert M. Sims Company in 1985 as a customer service representative later acting as office manager. She worked for TIS from 1994 when Robert M. Sims Company merged with TIS until 1996. In 1996 she received a degree from the University of Tennessee in Computer Science and left TIS to pursue a position in information technology. She returned in 2000 as Director of Workflows, utilizing her knowledge of commercial insurance plus her experience in technology. She was promoted to Chief Operating Officer in 2001.
Robert C. Eldridge, Jr. | retired President, Commercial Insurance
Robert C. (“Bob”) Eldridge, Jr. began his career at TIS in 1968 and retired as the President of the Commercial Insurance Division in 2009. Following his graduation from the University of Tennessee in 1964 with a degree in Business, Bob entered the Air Force where he served as a Captain until 1968 at which time he joined TIS. As an employee, he served on numerous carrier advisory boards and played an active role in the community, serving on the boards of several non-profit organizations and as the Co-Chairman of the Dogwood Arts Festival.
