Who are the people that our clients talk to, trust, and work with year after year? Get to know more about our agency by getting to know the people through our Employee Spotlight Series.
What do you do here at Wells,
I am in the Employee Benefits Department. My main focus is group health insurance. We work with employers who cover their employees for health, life, dental, and disability.
What's your background, and how long have you been here?
I've been here 28 years, but I've always been in the insurance business. I graduated from UNC Wilmington, and two weeks later, went to work for a little company called Pilot Life in Greensboro, North Carolina. Did employee benefits for them. I was actually living in Richmond, Virginia, and missed sweet tea, barbecue, and slaw on a hot dog. So I moved back to North Carolina. If you're Southern, you put slaw on a hot dog. Up in Richmond, you couldn't find anybody that serves sweet tea in a regular sit-down restaurant. They have barbecue up there, but it's terrible. So I had to move back South.
Why Wells? What brought you here?
So I moved back to North Carolina, also got married, and went to work for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina. We used to have regional offices, and we had six of them in the state at the time. There was a Wilmington office, but never ever did it have turnover. Fortunately we had somebody retire, and Blue Cross moved me down here. I'd been here about six months and I went to lunch with Harold the third. He said, "Hey, we're looking to start an employee benefits department. You know anybody interested?" And I'm like, "Me!" Because I knew that's where I wanted to be, was on the agency side. I just, you know, hadn't found the right fit. Plus I've been trying for 10 years to get back to Wilmington.
What do you like most about it?
I like the agency, it's family owned, been around a long time, so they were well established, and had a really good name in town, a good reputation.
What's the best lesson you've learned throughout your career?
Do what you say you're gonna do.
What's the biggest challenge you've had in your career?
We had a carrier one year that filed for bankruptcy. It was during like, 07, they had had a lot of their reserves invested in real estate, they got shut down, and so we had to find a home for a huge chunk of our block in a very short period of time. Then when the Affordable Care Act was passed in 2010, that was a very challenging time as well.
What's the first job you ever had?
I was a lifeguard at the Greensboro Moose Lodge. I was 15 and was lifeguard for seven summers, the last two here at Wrightsville Beach when I was at school in UNCW.
What's the weirdest job you ever had?
I shucked the oysters for a restaurant here in town for two nights. LOL Then I got the lifeguard job at Wrightsville Beach, and I couldn't do that anymore.
If you could do anything for a living, what would it be?
AVP beach volleyball player...professional beach volleyball player, that would be my dream job.
What do you like to do when you're not working?
I play a lot of beach volleyball at our local establishment here in Wilmington, Captain Bill's. I'm the old guy out there.
What’s volunteer activity/non-profit do you like to work with/support and why?
I'm real involved in my church in Hampstead where we live, we do a lot of community outreach stuff through our church, warm, done some work there, Wilmington area, revitalization, Habitat for Humanity. When I was younger and didn't have children, I worked with the big buddy program that was here in Wilmington.
What's on your bucket list?
I would like to go to the final for NCAA basketball, final four, that would be fun, and have my team, our teams there. If I had UNCW and Duke in the final four, and I was at those games for that weekend, that would be pretty fun.
What's your biggest weakness?
French fries, I can't not eat them.
What accomplishment are you most proud of?
Well, I'm kinda proud I've been here 28 years. I don't usually see people stay in one spot that long. Also I've been married for 35 years. That's a pretty good accomplishment as well in today's times, and I have two awesome kids.
Favorite Book/TV Show?
So I used to have a bumper sticker that said, "TV's gooder than reading." I can read, I just don't really read books, but my favorite TV Show is Vice Principals with Danny McBride and Walton Coggins. I like Walton Coggins. He's from Alabama, he's real country. That's a really good show.
Favorite Movie?
Tombstone is probably tops. Ever seen The Green Book? As far as newer movies, that's one of my favorites. It's based on a true story, it's really good.
Favorite Podcast?
I like the Kelsey brothers, Jason and Travis Kelsey. NFL players, they have a podcast called New Heights. It's pretty entertaining.
Favorite Band?
George Jones. I like country music especially traditional country music.
How do you define success?
If you're happy at whatever you're doing and you're making other people happy, then you're successful.
What's the best advice you've been given?
Don't be bitter, be better. Basketball coach friend of mine told me that one one day. I always liked that one.
Greg is one of our original Employee Benefits Senior Account Executives. If you have questions or need advice, please reach out to Greg. Call him at 910-251-5467. Or Email at ggibson@wellsins.com
