In our mission to serve people well in all that we do, our daily vision is to be the best partner to our clients and team members. We do this by fostering selflessness, teamwork, accountability, resilience, and strategy.
Our Company
Sterling Seacrest Pritchard is the collaboration of the elite, most trusted names in the Southeast to create the largest privately held risk management company in the region. With a team of over 300 experienced professionals across the seven locations, we service all your insurance, surety and risk management needs.
Who
We Are
Join Our Team
We’re not just in the insurance business. We’re in the relationship building business. That distinction makes us unique in our space. We’ve devoted our practice to pulling risk management and insurance out of the darkness for an unexpectedly pleasant experience.
Our
Story
Sterling Seacrest Pritchard is the result of the 2021 merger of the two premier specialty insurance brokerage and risk management firms based in Georgia – Sterling Seacrest Partners and Pritchard & Jerden. The combination of these two legacy firms whose origins date back to 1960 has created the largest privately-held independent insurance brokerage firm in Georgia and one of the fastest growing privately held insurance brokerage firms in the Southeast.
We are proud to honor the memory of our multiple founders and those that laid the path ahead of us to ensure the success of our industry, brokers, and clients. The dedication of individuals such as John Bartley Miller, Bill Pritchard, and Lew Odem are constant reminders of the opportunity we have been given to serve as your trusted risk advisors.
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Our Leadership & Sales
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James C. Congelio
Partner | Tampa
James “Jim” C. Congelio brings more than 30 years of experience in sales and underwriting roles to Sterling Seacrest Pritchard. Jim’s primary focus is Property & Casualty and Surety clients in the Construction industry throughout Florida.
He earned his Bachelors of Arts in Accounting from the University of South Florida.
A native of Florida, he lives in Tampa with his wife. He has two children and two grandchildren in the Tampa area.
James N. Congelio
Partner
Tampa
James N. Congelio
Partner | Tampa
James “Jim” N. Congelio has more than 10 years of experience in the insurance and surety field providing risk management solutions for clients.
James works with clients in a variety of industries including construction, surety/bonding, and property management accounts.
He graduated from the University of Georgia with degrees in Finance and Risk Management & Insurance.
Laura Delavan
Partner
Tampa
Laura Delavan
Partner | Tampa
Laura Delavan has more than 15 years of expertise in employee benefits and human resources consulting and is a leader in the employee benefits team at Sterling Seacrest Pritchard.
Laura received a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Studies in 2002 from Michigan State University, where she was a member of the International Honor Society, Phi Beta Delta.
She currently resides in Midtown Atlanta and is president of her home owners association. An active volunteer and an avid runner, Laura has completed six half-marathons. She is passionate about travel and learning about different cultures, from the lakes of northern Michigan to international destinations such as Italy or Brazil.
Hunter DeWitt
Client Advisor
Tampa
Hunter DeWitt
Client Advisor | Tampa
Client Advisor Hunter DeWitt, CLCS, joined Sterling Seacrest Pritchard’s Tampa office in January 2022.
Specializing in P&C and Employee Benefits, Hunter excels in providing solutions inside the Construction, Manufacturing, Real Estate, and Professional Services industries.
Hunter began his insurance journey as an agency intern after receiving advice from several business mentors at Florida State University. Hunter went on to earn Risk Management and Insurance and Real Estate degrees from FSU.
Hunter’s other most noted accolade from his experience at FSU was as a quarterback during the 2013-2014 football season, where the Seminoles clinched the 2014 BCS National Championship.
Active in his community, Hunter is a member of Associated Builders and Contractors and the Suncoast Utility Contractors Association. He is also involved in several non-profit organizations, including Feeding Tampa Bay and Hillsborough Education Foundation.
When asked what drew him to insurance, Hunter said he observed producers with similar skill sets, personalities, and a sense of purpose. “I remember thinking that many of the producers I met aligned with my purpose…I truly enjoy advocating for clients and learning about their business,” Hunter said.
Gregory Palmer
Client Advisor
Tampa
Gregory Palmer
Client Advisor | Tampa
Gregory J. Palmer is a Sterling Seacrest Pritchard Client Advisor based in Tampa. Gregory has over seven years of insurance experience and three years of accounting experience, giving him a diverse knowledge of insurance procurement.
Gregory specializes in various commercial insurance disciplines, including Construction, Private Equity, MOD Improvement, Mergers & Acquisitions, Alternative Program Designs, Captives, and Cost Reduction Strategies. This varied expertise makes Gregory the ideal business partner for executives in multiple industries.
A Presbyterian College graduate with a B.S. in Business Administration-Accounting, Gregory has made great strides in his professional and personal development. He’s received his CRIS certification and is a CFMA, ABC Gulf Coast, and ACG Tampa Bay member. He’s also a two-time recipient of the Top Producer Award for Stahl & Associates Insurance.
These professional development efforts are a part of Gregory’s mission to provide unmatched value to his clients. Gregory says, “A valued insurance agent should be viewed in the same light as a CPA, banker, and corporate lawyer.”
Gregory volunteers with the Florida Aquarium, Zoo Tampa, the Humane Society of Tampa, and Feeding Tampa Bay.
Melissa Shine
Client Advisor
Tampa
Melissa Shine
Client Advisor | Tampa
Melissa Shine joined Sterling Seacrest Pritchard in 2023 after 21 years in the insurance industry, focusing on building a book of high-net-worth private clients.
A Client Advisor based in Vero Beach, Florida, Melissa specializes in unique, luxury property and assets. Her Risk Management expertise is in Florida and Coastal market insuring multi-million dollar homes. This also includes protection in specialized liability programs, yachts, collectibles and vehicles. Melissa is currently a member of the Florida Association of Insurance Agents, the Private Risk Management Association, and Healthy Start Coalition.
Melissa earned a BBA in Business Administration from the University of Georgia and is a Certified Insurance Counselor.
An active supporter of her community, Melissa has volunteered her time and talent to several organizations, including the Gifford Youth Achievement Center, Children’s Home Society, First Presbyterian Church of Vero Beach, and Dancing with Vero’s Stars.
Connect With Us
If you have questions or want to learn more about our innovative risk solutions, let’s chat!