INSURANCE CENTER OF DURHAM - Key Persons
Brett Roberts is a born and raised Durhamite, where he is now raising his two daughters, Ruthie and Stela. Throughout his time in Durham, he has been involved in numerous groups and organizations such as the Jim Valvano Kids Klassic and Durham Rotary Club. Brett attended Northern Durham High School and spent much of his time at Hillandale Golf Course while growing up. He then went to the University of North Carolina - Greensboro and graduated with a BS in Finance. His career in the insurance business began in April of 1988 and he has never looked back since. Brett and Codruta bought The Insurance Center of Durham in January of 2014. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with family and friends, playing golf, and admiring classic cars.
Camelia Pop was born in Romania, and now lives here in Durham with her husband and two children. She has over 20 years of experience in client relations and sales. Camelia joined The Insurance Center of Durham in 2013 and now oversees our accounting department. She has a case of wanderlust and loves traveling to amazing places and meeting wonderful people. Camelia is a wonderful part of our team and we would not be complete without her.
Claudia Chicinas is a native of Romania, like Camelia and Codruta. She joined our company in 2014 as administrative support. She's perfect for her role, because she is a very upbeat person, who will always welcome you with a smiling face. Claudia is always in a good mood. She bakes goodies for the staff and occasionally works as a volunteer at Durham Technical Community College. Claudia is in love with flowers and cooking, which she says is a great combination. You can find her tending to all of the plants in our office. She also loves to travel whenever she gets the chance.
Job Titles:
- Customer Service Representative
Darnelle Averre has been in the insurance industry since 1973 and joined The Insurance Center of Durham in March of 1998. She is married with 2 children and 3 grandchildren. She serves as the Chairperson for the Pastor Parish Relations Committee at Banks United Methodist Church, and is a member of the Church Council, and is President of the United Methodist Women. She loves spending time with her family and helping those around her. Darnelle has enjoyed the opportunity to help our customers with their insurance needs, and she looks forward to continuing to do so.
Lynn Crayton is the former owner and President of The Insurance Center of Durham, and he is one of the founders of the company. He gave the reigns of the business to Brett and Codruta in 2014, and enjoys being at client's service, without the hustle of running the company. He is vey much involved in everyday responsibilities, and a very valuable member for our team. He is a world traveler and a great father to his three children, but even more an excellent grandfather. Lynn is everyone's friend, with his upbeat attitude and always helping demeanor.
Job Titles:
- Customer Service Representative
Heather Salas is a Hillsborough native and a Cedar Ridge High Hillsborough graduate. Her experience with commercial insurance clients makes her a perfect fit for our team, as she enjoys direct interaction with clients and has a happy and professional demeanor. She lives in Hillsborough with her son Jaxen, her Dachshund Ollie, and her two cats Jasper and Jynx. Her free time is spent in the company of family and friends, and taking trips to the beach when possible.
Jenny Brann was born and raised in Roxboro, NC, where she currently lives. Her mild and pleasing demeanor and her signature smile would not let you know that she is tough; after all, she has three older brothers. Jenny enjoys spending time with her family, and she is the youngest and newest member of The Insurance Center of Durham. She joined our team in 2021 and she is already part of the work-family.
Manny Vejar joined our team as the Account Manager in Personal Lines, after acquiring experience in a couple of agencies and states. He is bilingual, passionate about skateboarding, and enjoys virtual reality, photography, editing, and NFTs. As an "only male" in the family, he enjoys that attention- he has four sisters and seven female cousins. His happy demeanor makes him a great addition to our agency.
Job Titles:
- Customer Service Representative
Melissa Parker was born and raised in Hurdle Mills, NC. She graduated from Orange High School in 2007. In 2018 she moved to Lexington, where she is now living with her fiancé, her son, his daughter, and their 3 fur babies, Mason, Loki & Gracie. She loves spending time in the mountains and enjoys quality time with her family. Melissa has been working in the insurance industry since 2013. She joined The Insurance Center of Durham in September 2016 and we are so glad to have her expertise on our side.
Phil Wolf attended North Central Michigan College and served in the Michigan National Guard. He has over twenty years of experience in the insurance industry. Phil joined the Insurance Center of Durham in 2006 and is a vital member of our team. His specialty is protecting the assets of seniors who want to live a longer, healthier life. Phil is the past president of the Board of Directors for Triangle Day School. He is currently a member of the Judea Reform Congregation and the Durham Community Land Trust. Phil is married and has three wonderful children.
Ruthie Roberts is a North Carolina native, born in Greensboro, and has spent most of her life in Durham. She graduated from Voyager Academy and now attends Appalachian State University where she is majoring in Child Development. Due to the unexpected COVID-19 pandemic Ruthie has been able to attend classes virtually and live at home. She assists us in the office wherever is needed. Ruthie enjoys the opportunity to work alongside her dad, Brett.