LASSITERWARE - Key Persons
Carri is originally from Oregon and officially became a Floridian in 2009! She began her career in the insurance industry in 2011, accepting an offer to work as a receptionist with The Villages Insurance agency. Carri soon realized that she found her niche and by 2012, she had gained a 220 license. In 2014, she was managing an office for The Villages Insurance agency with a staff of 5 sales advisors and 2 administrative personnel. Carri joined LassiterWare in February 2020 and moved into the role of Personal Lines Manager in September of the same year.
Since joining the insurance industry, Carri has spent her career educating clients and assisting them in making sure they have all their assets covered. She has built strong and solid relationships with staff and spends most of her time educating her team at five locations throughout the state. Carri has developed ongoing communication with carriers to establish successful long-term business relationships.
Carri has 4 sons, 3 grandchildren and both her husband and father served in the United States military. Her husband retired from the Navy and her father was a Marine and is a Vietnam veteran. In Carri's spare time, she manages a small farm with her family in Ocklawaha where they are currently raising 7 dogs they have rescued.
Denise joined the LassiterWare team in 1997 in a financial services role and then moved into Executive Assistant for the Chief Executive Officer for several years. She has played an intricate part in the operations management side within the agency and in 2017 Denise was promoted to Human Resources Manager.
With 30 years of experience within the insurance industry, Denise's responsibilities include human resources, payroll, and agency licensing. Her versatile background and degree in Organization Management from Warner University, brings numerous advantages to the agency's proficiencies and processes. Denise received the Chairman's award in 2013, previously LassiterWare's highest honor bestowed upon its' employees.
Denise holds a 2-20 (General Lines), and 2-18 (Life and Health) licenses and in 2021 earned the SHRM Certified Professional designation.
Outside of LassiterWare, Denise enjoys volunteering and supporting local nonprofits such as the LassiterWare Cares foundation.
Job Titles:
- Director of Internet Technology
As the Director of Internet Technology, Don brings over 30 years of computer technology experience and has spent 21 of those years with LassiterWare. Don provides leadership for the continued development of a robust and secure information technology environment throughout the agency. His primary responsibilities focus on setting IT direction and coordinating infrastructure and service delivery across all six of LassiterWare's offices.
Don has certifications from Microsoft, Cisco, HP and A+. He is also a nationally recognized speaker on the use of technology in insurance.
Outside of LassiterWare, Don spends a great deal of time working with historic organizations teaching history to school groups and serving as a staff member for the Lake County Historical Museum.
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive Officer
- President
As President and Chief Executive Officer of LassiterWare, Doug Childers Jr. is leading the agency to new heights. His passion for excellence has been a part of his character since joining LassiterWare in 2005. Doug was consecutively recognized and awarded as a top producer in his first eight years with the agency. During this time, he proved his leadership in a variety of ways including building a non-profit specialty from the ground up for the agency. His skill set in management, forecasting, strategy, and pure knowledge of the insurance business propelled him to President & CEO in 2013. LassiterWare partnered with Acrisure in 2017 and he rapidly grew the agency with multiple acquisitions while serving as a Florida platform. LassiterWare now stands as one of the largest agencies in the entire Acrisure network.
In his current role, Doug oversees the management of the four profit centers throughout LassiterWare's six geographical locations within Florida. Doug's desire for creating and maintaining an inspiring and successful business starts with the LassiterWare employees in ensuring support and resources needed in exceeding their clients' expectations. LassiterWare has been named a "Golden 100" company throughout the years by the Orlando Business Journal since 2015. LassiterWare was also recognized as the Insurance Journal's 2017 "Best Agency to Work for Gold Winner" in the Southeast, a step up from its Silver honor in 2016. LassiterWare has been named a "Top Workplace" multiple times by the Orlando sentinel including in 2022.
Doug is extremely active in the community through several organizations including the agency's own nonprofit, LassiterWare Cares. Under his direction, LassiterWare was awarded the "2015 Humanitarian Award" by the Leesburg Area Chamber of Commerce and the Orlando Sentinel's 2015 "Top 100 Companies for Working Families," the 2016 "Make More Happen Award" by Safeco Insurance, and 2017 brought a year of record-breaking accomplishes in initiatives by the LassiterWare Cares foundation and the LassiterWare employees. Doug serves on multiple boards in the Lake/Sumter community including Lifestream Behavioral, Lake 100, Lake Economic Development and beginning January of 2023 will serve on the Lake Sumter Community College Foundation Board. Doug is an active member and group leader at Family Church and he graduated from Florida State University with a Bachelor of Science in Risk Management. Doug and his wife Heather have been married for 21 years and have three daughters.
Doug Childers became president and chief executive officer; he carries the mindset as well as tradition of past leaders, and leads the company through economic changes, innovation and growth.
G.G. Ware was a pioneer insurance agent in Leesburg, having handled insurance along with his bank duties as President of the First National Bank in 1909.
John brings over 30 years of industry experience to the agency that includes commercial lines underwriting. In addition, John is a licensed Florida attorney, a Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC), and a Certified Workers Compensation Advisor (CWCA). After initially joining the agency in 2013 as Vice President of Property & Casualty, John was made Executive Vice President in 2016. In this role, John is responsible for overseeing the Commercial Lines and Claims Divisions, the agency's resource platform, and managing the agency's carrier relationships.
John's legal & underwriting experience brings a unique perspective to the agency's advisors and their clients. As a licensed Florida attorney, John consults with clients on contractual matters including sub-contractor agreements, releases from liability, indemnification agreements, and other related legal matters that have risk management implications. He also draws upon his underwriting and certified advisor expertise to analyze clients' exposure to risk, and to implement corresponding strategies and solutions that reduce the identified exposures and overall insurance costs.
John holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from Providence College and a Juris Doctor degree from Florida State University. In his time away from work, John enjoys life with his wife Sharon and two miniature dachshunds (Enzo and Armando), traveling, playing tennis and golf, and volunteering in non-profit organizations, including LassiterWare Cares.
Sandy joined the LassiterWare agency in 2017 as a Senior Accounting Assistant and was promoted to Controller in 2019.
Sandy holds a bachelor's degree in Accounting from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. She has been in the accounting field for over 10 years.
For fourteen years, Sandy had the opportunity to be a stay-at-home mom and supported her husband in his 28 years in the Air Force. Sandy enjoys spending time with her husband and family and everything Disney.
Job Titles:
- Community Business Unit Division Leader
Susan started with LassiterWare as VP of Communications and Branding. She now leads the Community Business Unit. She has over 30 years of insurance industry experience including spending 13 years building Thomas Insurance Services into a successful independent agency. During that time, she developed producer and carrier relations, while establishing a reputation for helping her clients, staff, and community. Susan volunteers for a variety of local charities and chambers and currently holds a 2-20 (General Lines) and 2-15 (Life, Health & Variable Annuities) license.
When Susan's not at work she loves life, and her weekends include camping and boating with her Husband Jim and German Shepherd Maggie Mae.
Job Titles:
- Executive VP of Employee Benefits
Tera is a Florida native and was born in Tampa. A graduate of St. Leo University, she spent numerous years managing the Risk Management department for Sumter County Board of County Commissions. She joined LassiterWare in 2008 as an Account Executive and her years of managing a large self-funded health plan was a perfect fit for her start at LassiterWare. She quickly progressed throughout the agency as a valued asset to the Employee Benefits Department transitioning to consultant and building her own large book of business prior to her promotion to manage the division.
Tera's background in Human Resources and Risk Management brings a unique perspective to the needs of our Employee Benefits clients. This, coupled with her unique understanding of the complex requirements for plan administrators, Tera plays an intricate role in helping develop an efficient and effective process for LassiterWare's clients.
She currently holds a 2-15 (Life, Health & Variable Annuities) license and her ARM-P designation.
Tera enjoys spending time with her family and her dog Maya. She also has a passion for travel, hiking and saltwater fishing.