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Team

About the NC Health Plans Team

“First and foremost, our main focus is to identify the true needs of our clients and fill those needs with the best North Carolina health insurance products on the market and the best customer service in the industry.” Founder- Jerry Ballard

We are an Authorized Agency for Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina and the agency was started by Jerry Ballard in 1974. Over the years, the agency and its agents have been recognized with numerous awards, some of which include Top Producing Health Insurance Agency, Top Producing Medicare Agency, and Blue Cross NC Hall of Fame. Despite this recognition, our collective goal has remained the same. We are devoted to providing straightforward, trustworthy advice in a manner that our customers can easily understand. The outcome is a consumer with confidence in the decisions they make about healthcare coverage.

Jerry and Cathy Ballard

Founders

The founders and mentors to much of the team you see today. Jerry and Cathy Ballard were the team that started it all. While Jerry opened the Agency in 1974, the introduction of the internet created an opportunity for the Agency to connect with customers across the state of North Carolina. With the help of his wife Cathy, the two grew the agency to become a consistently leading organization for Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina. The Ballards perfected the art of guiding and servicing customers like a small town agency while using the internet and technology to improve the experience for clients. Jerry and Cathy Ballard are individuals that left a meaningful stamp on the Agency, the customers, and the North Carolina Health Insurance market. Much of the agency’s culture and values are based on the path that was established by this incredible team.
Kennon Wainwright

Kennon Wainwright

Managing Principal

Kennon Wainwright joined the agency in 2012. Kennon currently holds both Health Insurance and Medicare licenses with the state of North Carolina. After years spent focusing on insurance sales and service, Kennon took over as the Agency Manager of NC Health Plans in 2014. In this role, he oversaw the daily operations of the agency while reporting to the agency principals at the time- Jerry and Cathy Ballard. In 2021, Kennon took over as the Managing Principal of the Agency and continues to oversee the operations. Kennon is committed to serving the needs of the North Carolina Medicare and Health Insurance consumer. He believes in providing guidance to consumers by education and empowering individuals to make the best decisions for themselves. His goal is to allow technology to enhance this process without losing the element of personalized advice and service.

Kennon currently resides in Morehead City, NC with his wife and three daughters. In his spare time, he can often be found boating with the family or just enjoying the outdoors. He is a graduate of University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Kristen Baily

Kristen Baily

Senior Insurance Advisor and Customer Service Manager

Kristen joined the agency in 2014. She currently holds both Health Insurance and Medicare licenses with the state of North Carolina. She is certified through the Federal Government CMS to assist customers through the Health Insurance Marketplace. Kristen has operated in this space since the introduction of the Affordable Care Act in 2014. In addition to being an insurance advisor, Kristen also oversees all customer service for the Agency. The changing healthcare landscape and Kristen’s unmatched attention to detail have made her a veteran of the North Carolina Health and Medicare Insurance industry. Her experience, work ethic, and passion for providing trustworthy advice make her both an asset to the agency and to the customers that rely on her service. It only takes a few minutes of conversation with Kristen to quickly realize, she knows her stuff!

Kristen currently resides in Morehead City, NC with her husband and two daughters. Outside the office, her two young children keep her busy with various activities. Kristen is a graduate of North Carolina State University.
Savannah Bailey

Savannah Bailey

Insurance Advisor- Health and Medicare

Savannah joined our team in 2018. She currently holds both Health Insurance and Medicare licenses with the state of North Carolina. She is certified through the Federal Government CMS to assist customers through the Health Insurance Marketplace. Since Savannah’s entry into the Health Insurance business, she has quickly become a veteran of the industry. She has a special ability to blend patience with a deep fundamental understanding of the Health and Medicare markets in North Carolina. This expertise is extremely valuable to the customers she helps. One of Savannah’s primary roles is working with seniors as they transition to an often unfamiliar and intimidating Medicare market. She has the ability to take an extremely complicated system and break it down in a way that empowers the Medicare beneficiaries to have great confidence in the decisions they make.

Savannah currently lives in Morehead City, NC with her husband and golden retriever, Van. She’s a graduate of University of North Carolina Wilmington and enjoys spending time with friends and family at the beach in her spare time.
Sharie Wetzel

Sharie Wetzel

Insurance Advisor/Service Specialist- Medicare

Sharie joined our team in 2022. She currently holds a Medicare license with the state of North Carolina. Sharie has been in the Medicare Insurance business for over 20 years. Having experienced many twists and turns in Medicare over the years, it’s safe to say she has almost seen it all in this industry. Sharie not only brings years of experience to the role, but she also has a deep dedication to serving the senior market. It does not take long to recognize, her heart is truly committed to helping this group make the best decisions for themselves. When this experience and passion is combined with her professionalism and patience, it ensures the customer an experience that is second to none.

Sharie currently lives in Swansboro, NC with her husband and their dog, Nikki. She has a large family with children and grandchildren across the country. In her spare time, Sharie loves spending time at the beach. Sharie is a graduate of Saint Leo University.
Sharon Pentz

Sharon Pentz

Customer Service Specialist- Health Insurance

Sharon joined our team in 2023. She currently holds a Health Insurance license with the state of North Carolina. She is also certified through the Federal Government CMS to assist customers through the Health Insurance Marketplace. Sharon brings many years of experience in Accounting and HR. This background has provided her experience working administratively with employer sponsored group health insurance plans and having to make decisions on the consumer side. She is quickly learning the Individual Health Insurance market and has a passion for helping consumers make smart decisions about their insurance needs. Her commitment to helping consumers with a smooth enrollment process ensures a positive experience.

Sharon currently lives in Morehead City, NC with her husband and their dog, Jack. In her spare time, she can often be found walking her dog or trying a new recipe. Sharon is a graduate of James Madison University.