SHAFER INSURANCE AGENCY - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Director - Tri - Cities Region
Aaron Jensen is a graduate of Columbia International University where he earned a Bachelor's Degree in Biblical Studies and a Bachelor's Degree in General Studies. Aaron has been with Shafer Insurance Agency since September 2008. He is licensed in TN, VA, and NC and specializes in Commercial Property and Casualty, as well as Surety Bonds, with a focus on contractors and construction-related businesses. Aaron is an active member in the Johnson City Rotary Club, Tri-Cities AGC, and involved with other local non-profit organizations.
Bo was born in Knoxville to Alex A. & Evelyn Shafer in 1937. Bo attended The University of Tennessee from 1955 to 1960 where he played football for the Volunteers. He graduated in 1960 with a degree in Business Administration.
As the second generation, Bo became President / Owner of Shafer Insurance Agency in 1960. Bo is the Chairman of the Board for Shafer Insurance® and works with many of the non-profit organizations in the community including The Salvation Army and The United Way of Greater Knoxville.
Andy was born and raised in Knoxville, TN. He is an alumni of Bearden High School, class of 1991. He attended The University of Tennessee and graduated in the spring of 1995 with a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration. Following his father and grandfather's footsteps, he joined Shafer Insurance Agency in the summer of 1995. In the spring of 2000, he was appointed President of Shafer Insurance Agency making him the third generation to lead the Agency.
Job Titles:
- Employee Benefits Client Executive
Andrew was born and raised in Louisville, KY before moving to East Tennessee where he graduated from Morristown West High School in 2012. He attended the University of Tennessee where he studied Kinesiology and played baseball, manning first base and pitching for the Volunteers. After 3 years with UT, Andrew was drafted by the Washington Nationals and played professionally for 8 seasons, during which he also earned his degree from the University of Tennessee with a B.S. in Health and Human Sciences.
Andrew is a Client Executive with the Health Benefits team.
Job Titles:
- Account Executive - Commercial Lines
Elizabeth Whelpley graduated from Austin Peay State University in 2006 with a bachelor's degree in marketing, attending APSU on a tennis scholarship. She is originally from Michigan, and after college moved back to Michigan to work at Frankenmuth Insurance Company. Elizabeth worked as a Michigan commercial lines underwriter for 4 years. In 2010 she moved back to Tennessee in order to take over the East Tennessee territory for Frankenmuth, and continued to work as a field commercial lines underwriter for the next 12 years. In May of 2022, she joined Shafer Insurance Agency as a commercial lines account executive. In her free time Elizabeth still plays tennis, is an avid runner, and volunteers with Girls On The Run.
Job Titles:
- Insurance Agent
- Account Executive - Employee Benefits
Erin Brood is a trusted insurance agent with over 10+ years of experience in employee benefits and human resources. She educates her clients on all lines of health insurance coverage, including medical, dental, vision, life, disability, and voluntary insurance.
As an experienced insurance professional, Erin is committed to offering exceptional client service. She works with each of her clients to help their business grow, to make sure their families are cared for, and to exceed their expectations. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Elon University and a Tennessee Life and Health License.
Job Titles:
- Account Executive - Personal Lines
Holly joined Shafer Insurance Agency in 2018, and is an Account Executive in our Personal Lines Department. She earned her bachelor's degree from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and has eight years of experience dedicated in Personal Lines insurance. As an Account Executive, Holly leads the marketing efforts for the Personal Lines department and is deeply involved with our new clients. One of her passions in this industry is assisting clients in protecting the assets they have worked to build, and Holly helps our clients by ensuring the right coverages are in place.
Job Titles:
- Vice President of Construction Services
Jason Tallent graduated from The University of Tennessee with a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration. He has worked in insurance for 17+ years and currently holds the position of Vice President of Construction Practice at Shafer Insurance Agency. Jason specializes in Surety Bonds and Commercial Property and Casualty, and he is licensed in TN, KY, GA, NC, SC, OK, LA, FL, AL, MS, OH, VA, and WV. Jason has also received the Commercial Lines Coverage Specialist designation.
Job Titles:
- Vice President of Employee Benefits
An East Tennessee native and an active community member, Lisa is diligent in her efforts to build successful relationships with her clients by focusing on service and building cost effective benefits programs for clients. Her career began with a focus in Human Resources as an HR Director before specializing in benefits by accepting a position with BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee. Lisa moved into insurance sales and worked ten (10) years before joining Shafer Insurance Agency in 2008 to advance the Benefits division. Her experience as an advisor spans all industry types including government and utilities. Lisa's lines of coverage include Health (fully insured, self-insured, level funded), Life, Dental, Vision, Disability, Accident, Critical Illness/Cancer, Long Term Care, Prepaid Legal/ ID Theft Protection, Business Owner /Executive Coverage, HSA/FSA/HRA.
Her designations include the PHR, certification as a Professional in Human Resources through the Society for Human Resources, and she is a certified PPACA specialist. Lisa served on the board of directors for the local chapter of the National Association of Health Underwriters and held the position of Legislative Chairperson. She is a past committee member for the Tennessee Association of Health Underwriters' Annual Conference and is a member of the local downtown Rotary Club.
Job Titles:
- Vice President of Marketing
Mike Compton graduated from The George Washington University with a Bachelor's Degree in 1986 and is a veteran of the United States Navy. Upon his discharge from the naval service in 1994, he began his insurance career. Mike currently serves as our Vice President of Marketing focusing on the Commercial Lines Department at Shafer Insurance Agency and specializes in commercial insurance and risk management for the needs for all sized businesses. Mike stays active by hiking and kayaking, and also by volunteering with Great Smoky Mountains Association, Knox Area Rescue Ministries, Meals on Wheels, as well as various local organizations in Sevier County where he resides.
Job Titles:
- Vice President of Risk Management
Russell "Russ" Thomas graduated from Maryville College with a Bachelor's Degree in Marketing and Finance. He has been in the Risk Management Field for twenty-seven (27) years and currently works in marketing and claims with a focus on large national accounts. He specializes in Commercial Property and Casualty, loss-sensitive risk financing programs, alternative risk financing programs, and group captive programs. He is licensed in TN.
Shane Hodge graduated from East Tennessee State University with a Bachelor's Degree in 2007. He has been in the insurance field since 2011, working in many different roles. Shane currently works as a Sales Executive at Shafer Insurance Agency in both personal and commercial lines. He is active in his local community of Morristown, TN, and volunteers with outreach programs at his church with his wife and two daughters.
Stanton Oster is a Producer in our Personal Lines department, and specializes in home, auto, life and other personal insurance needs. He earned his bachelor's degree in kinesiology from The University of Tennessee, and is licensed in Property, Casualty, Life and Health Insurance. Stanton is active in his church and the community, and his passion for serving is what led him to become an insurance professional. He enjoys assisting people in protecting their assets, while making insurance needs and choices more understandable.
Traci graduated from The University of Tennessee with a Bachelor's Degree in Finance and later obtained a Master's in Business Administration. She is also certified in Lean/Six Sigma with a concentration on process improvement in service industries.
Traci has more than 20 years of experience in the insurance industry with a focus on Finance and Operations and has led large teams across the U.S. in both. She currently serves on the board of The United Way of Greater Knoxville, and is very involved in other non-profits in the community through her work with the Akima Club of Knoxville.