The Crew
Small team. Big personalities. We know our clients by name, we answer the phone, and we actually like what we do.
Mc-Wright Insurance Group
These are the folks who answer the phone, write the policies, handle the claims, and know your name when you walk in. Insurance first — always.
Tamara Pharr
Agency Owner & Commercial Insurance Agent
Tamara runs the show. She and her husband Brandon — the current Mayor of Belmont — are the fourth owners of Mc-Wright Insurance Group, a legacy they chose to carry forward after purchasing the agency from First American National Bank. Her main focus is commercial insurance — helping business owners figure out what they actually need and making sure nothing falls through the cracks. She also co-founded EffiZoom, an insurtech company born right here in the agency, because she got tired of automation tools that sounded nothing like real people. Outside the office, Tamara is deeply invested in both the industry and her community. She currently serves on the Mississippi Insurance Department Board (entering her third year), the Safeco Regional Advisory Council, and is President of the Belmont Promotional Association. She serves as Communications Director for both the Koinonia Emmaus and Fellowship Christian Retreat nonprofits. She was a 2017–2018 Pacesetter in the State Auto sales program — ranking in the top percent of her class — and was invited back multiple times to speak as a Super Producer to new classes. In 2021, she was named a finalist for Mud & Magnolias Most Influential, and in 2018, her Belmont Promotional Association won Volunteer of the Year. She holds her PLCS designation and is currently working toward her CIC. Fair warning: she will remember your name, your dog's name, and probably your last claim.
Justin Timbs
Personal & Commercial Insurance Agent
Justin is Tamara's right hand — if something's happening at Mc-Wright, he's probably involved. He writes and services both personal and commercial insurance, handles the renewals that need a closer eye, and keeps the agency's tech running behind the scenes. He also co-founded EffiZoom, which means every tool the platform builds gets road-tested on his real clients and real workflows first. If it doesn't hold up under pressure, it doesn't ship. Outside the office, Justin is a solid cook, a dedicated gamer, and the kind of person who volunteers without being asked.
Stefany Gilleland
Front Line Support — Personal Lines
Stefany is the first person most clients talk to — and honestly, she sets the tone for the whole experience. She handles payments, policy changes, phone calls, and about a hundred other things that keep the office running. She's also bilingual, which means she can help our Spanish-speaking clients feel just as taken care of. On top of all that, she designs our stickers and social media content — so if you've seen something fun from us online, Stefany probably made it. When she's not at the office, she's traveling, hanging out with animals, or at Comic Con. Yes, Comic Con. We love that about her.
Mae Tamayo
Virtual Assistant — Commercial Lines Support
Mae works from the Philippines, but you'd never know she's not sitting in the Belmont office with us. She's been on the team for nearly two years, primarily supporting our commercial lines — handling client communications, processing changes, and keeping the whole workflow moving. She also pitches in on personal lines when things get busy. Mae is sharp, detail-oriented, and has a knack for solving the kind of problems that take real patience. She also keeps the team group chat alive with perfectly timed GIFs. Morale booster? Absolutely.
Savannah Arnold
Personal Lines Insurance Producer
Savannah came to insurance after running her own jewelry company for over ten years — so yeah, she knows a thing or two about building something from the ground up and taking care of customers. She brings that same hustle and attention to every client she works with. She and her husband also own a local gym, which tells you pretty much everything you need to know about her energy level. If she's not helping someone find the right coverage, she's probably working out, creating something, or dreaming up her next big idea.
Calvin
Office Dog & Head of Morale
Calvin is a 13-year-old Malti-Pom who comes to the office every single day. He's a great judge of character and welcomes clients with a wag of his tail. If Calvin likes you, you're in good hands — and he likes almost everyone.
EffiZoom — Our Sister Company
Born from within Mc-Wright Insurance Group, EffiZoom builds AI-powered automation tools for independent insurance agencies. We're equally committed to serving our clients and strengthening the independent agent channel — they go hand in hand.
Matthew Henry
Co-Founder & Director of Operations — EffiZoom
Matthew keeps EffiZoom running — the day-to-day operations, the product decisions, the 'how do we actually make this work' conversations. He's the kind of person who can take something messy and make it make sense, which is basically the job description when you're building software for insurance agencies. When he's not working, you'll find him on the water. He's a competitive bass fisherman, which also means he's patient, strategic, and probably more focused than the rest of us.
Selena Rodriguez
Bilingual Support — Mc-Wright & EffiZoom
Selena started with us when she was 16 — coming in after school and during summers to help translate for our Spanish-speaking clients. She filled a real gap in the community, and honestly, we don't know what we did before her. Now she's a freshman at Mississippi State, balancing school with work for both Mc-Wright and EffiZoom. The fact that she's been this dedicated since day one tells you everything you need to know. We're pretty sure she's going to run something big someday — we're just glad she's on our team right now.
Tamara Pharr, Justin Timbs, and Matthew Henry co-founded EffiZoom together. Tamara and Justin remain fully dedicated to their insurance clients at Mc-Wright while also driving EffiZoom's mission to help every independent agency work smarter. Read the full story →
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Whether you have questions about coverage, need a quote, or want to review your current policies — we're here for you.