Agents
Michael E. Smith
President
Mike Smith attended the University of Mississippi where he earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in 1971. Five years later he bought his first insurance agency and merged the agency with Smith Insurance Agency, later forming a cluster of agencies known as Insurance & Risk Managers. Focusing on customer service, Mike has built IRM in to one of the largest agencies in south central Mississippi.
msmith@irm-ms.com
Cell 601.835.7648
Josh Smith
Vice President
Josh Smith attended the University of Mississippi where he received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Insurance and Risk Management. He strategically planned his career to prepare himself in all facets of the insurance business with a focus on corporate insurance. As an associate with Chubb Group Insurance Companies and as a marketing agent for McGriff,Seibels and Williams, the sixth largest public insurance firm in the country, Josh gained invaluable experience mapping out insurance strategies for large corporations. At IRM, he offers smaller niche companies the tools to successfully navigate them through the complex world of insurance and risk management.
jsmith@irm-ms.com
Cell 601.757.5534
Dennis Valentine, Agent
Dennis Valentine, a native of Meridian, Mississippi, earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Mississippi and an MBA from Millsaps. Dennis focuses on life, health and employee benefits at IRM. Dennis served as Past President of the Kiwanis Club, St. Francis Parish Council, Lincoln County Ole Miss Alumnae Association, Southwest Chapter of NAIFA, Krewe of Ceres, and Brookhaven Country Club. Dennis, his wife, Amy, have three children and one grandchild and are active members of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church.
dvalentine@irm-ms.com
Cell 601.757.1885
Roger Elfert, Agent
Roger Elfert graduated from the University of Mississippi in 2003 with a BA in Insurance & Risk Management. At Ole Miss, Elfert was a member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity. He planned his career carefully to prepare him for the position he now holds at IRM. Working on the company side of the business, Roger has extensive experience as a claims adjuster for workers’ compensation and liability claims for F.A. Richards & Associates and as the Business Development Manager for Brierfield Insurance Company in Jackson, Mississippi. He works with all types of corporate and industrial accounts as their personal insurance buyer providing solutions for their insurance needs. Roger lives in Madison with his wife, Kelly Erickson Elfert who is originally from Yazoo City, and their daughter, Kate.
relfert@irm-ms.com
Cell 601.954.1695
Vonda Laird, Agent
Vonda Laird has been an insurance agent with Insurance & Risk Managers since 1996. She specializes in general liability, property, casualty, workers’ compensation and commercial auto for small and large corporations. Years of experience in analyzing logging or construction companies’ insurance plans have given her an edge in providing them with the best coverage for their specific needs. Clear communication and having clients understand their options is key to Vonda, as she educates her clients on short and long term planning. This is why most of her commercial clients also want Vonda to handle their personal insurance needs as well. Like all agents at IRM, she reviews her customers’ policies during the course of their term to make sure their coverage stays current with their needs. Vonda and her husband, Scotty, have three children, Nicole, Laina and Jeremy.
vlaird@irm-ms.com
Cell 601.757.9925
Shawn Munson, Agent
Shawn Munson grew up in Illinois and came to Mississippi on a golf scholarship at University of Southern Mississippi. He started his career as a gold pro at Fernwood Country Club and later in sales at Croft Metals in McComb. Munson recently began his career in insurance and is focusing on corporate and industrial accounts as well as personal lines to complete all of his clients’ needs. His region is south Mississippi and Louisiana. Shawn and his wife, Conya, live in Summit with their daughter, Madison.
smunson@irm-ms.com
Cell 601.248.2738
Jimmy Cummins, Agent
Jimmy Cummins has been in the insurance industry for over thirty-five years. He earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Mississippi State University in 1969 where he was a member of the Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity. In 1971, Jimmy became a partner and later owner of Underwriters Insurance Agency which was established in 1902 by Ferdinand V. Becker. In 1993, Underwriters Insurance Agency merged with Smith Insurance Agency becoming Insurance & Risk Managers. The longevity of relationships built over a century with insurance companies has positioned Jimmy and the team at IRM with solid loyalties from the most respected insurance companies in the industry. Jimmy’s in-depth experience on the client and company side makes him an invaluable member of the corporate strategy team at IRM. Jimmy and his wife, Pam, raised two children and have six grandchildren.
jcummins@irm-ms.com
Cell 601.757.6225
Ben Burns, Agent
Ben Burns has lived in the Brookhaven area his entire life. He earned a BS in History and Sports Administration and Coaching in 1993 from the University of Southern Mississippi. His diverse work experience brings a unique position to the IRM team as Ben can relate to many different types of industry and business. Ben considers his clients as friends as well as business associates and treats their personal insurance portfolios as if they were his own. He and his wife, Kala, have one son, Nickolas.
bburns@irm-ms.com
Cell 601.757.2250
Alvin Smith, Agent
Alvin Smith has been in the insurance business for 40 years. In 1961, he earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the University of Mississippi. While at Ole Miss, Alvin served as Vice President of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity and as business manager of the OleMiss annual. He became a partner in Smith Insurance Agency in 1969, later buying out the founder of the agency, Mr. Andrew Smith. He sold Smith Insurance Agency which is now IRM to Mike Smith. He has served on the Board of Directors of State Bank & Trust Co. since 1974. Alvin chaired Thad Cochran’s campaign for the US Senate in 1978, helping elect one of Mississippi’s most outstanding US Senators. Alvin has served the community in many capacities including past positions as the President of the IDF, President of the Jaycees, President of Kiwanis, President of the Ole Miss Alumnae Association, Chairman of the Lincoln County Republican Party, Executive Committee of the Mississippi Republican Party and is currently serving as Chair-Elect of the Mississippi School of the Arts Foundation Board.
asmith@irm-ms.com
Cell 601.695.1828