November 2022 - Melissa Elmore
I was born and raised in Bainbridge, GA where I attended Bainbridge city schools from Kindergarten through graduation at Bainbridge High School. Go Bearcats!!! and yes Kirby did graduate from there J During my junior year of High School I was awarded the Prudential Spirit of Community Award for my work in consolidating clean-up efforts in the aftermath of devastating tornados around the Mitchell County, GA area. After graduation, I studied Business Administration and Foreign Language at Bainbridge College and represented the study body as an elected student government representative each year I attended. I finished school as President of the Sigma Kappa Delta Honor Society. At a young age, I began working in my mother’s interior design company and witnessed the ins and outs of owning and operating a small business. Those experiences are some of the reasons I applaud people willing to put it all on the line to create a business they dream about. In 2010 the opportunity arose for me to try something new, to work as a Team Member in a newly opening State Farm Agency in Camilla, Georgia. Within 1 year my younger brother passed in a single-car accident and I had my first close-up view of what it looked like to not have enough life insurance. My mother nearly lost the company she had spent 35 years building because she could hardly work through her grief but had an occupation that depended on HER work. After that, I knew I wanted to be in insurance for good and never wanted to see other people suffer the way she did financially due to the loss of a family member. In 2013 I explored Independent Agency ownership but knew the company culture at State Farm was what I envisioned myself being a part of, so when I was recruited in February of 2017 it appeared to be the right time for me to become a State Farm Agency owner. Now, 5-almost 6 years into Agency I find myself 12 years into the insurance business and finding it so much more important for people to work with an agent that can not only help them take care of their things but can help prepare them for the future. In 2022 I acquired my mortgage license and can now help customers finance or refinance their homes as a Rocket Mortgage affiliate and we have the ability to assist with Commercial Loans and banking through US Bank.
I am not the only one that keeps the crazy train rolling down the tracks so I have to pay homage to my husband of 11 years Rick, my daughters Hayden (19) and Avery (10), and my fur children Doc, Cassie, and new puppy Izzy. And of course my mother of all of my years lol, June Faircloth.
