Meet Our Staff
John Cooke
email: johnc@wria.com
John Cooke is the President and Co-owner of White River Insurance Agency. He has been with the agency since November 1996. Prior to coming to the Batesville location, John was a partner at the Hardy location from 1989 to 1996. He graduated from the Texas Christian University Ranch Management Program and Lyon College. He serves on various volunteer organizations including the Independent Insurance Agents of Arkansas Board of Directors and Lyon College Board of Directors. He and his wife, Cindy, have four children.
Vernon "Buddy" Vinson
email: bvinson@wria.com
Buddy Vinson is a Co-Owner of White River Insurance Agency. He is licensed to sell Personal, Commercial, Life, Health, Annuities and Disability Insurance. He has been with the agency since February 1993. He graduated from Batesville High School and Lyon College. He and his wife, Elaine, have three children, Kristie, Katie and Skipper. Buddy enjoys golfing, hunting and fishing.
Chip Rayford
email: crayford@wria.com
Chip Rayford is Co-owner and President of White River Financial Services. He specializes in Life, Health, Disability, and Annuities Insurance. He has been with the agency since February 1985. He graduated from Camden High School and from the University of Central Arkansas with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education. He earned the LUTCF (Life Underwriters Training Council Fellow) designation and was the Past President of the Arkansas Association of Life Underwriters. He and his wife, Lucy, have two children, Nicholas and Addison. He enjoys sports and movies.
Becky Allen
email: ballen@wria.com
Becky Allen is a Personal Lines Customer Service Agent. She has been with the agency since October 1984. Becky was in the insurance business several years prior to coming to White River Insurance. She graduated from Trumann High School. She is married to Ken Allen. They have three children, Kenny, Stacey and Melissa and seven grandchildren. Becky enjoys going to sporting events to watch her grandchildren.
Dick Bernard
email: dbernard@wria.com
Dick Bernard is a former partner in White River Insurance Agency. He has been with the agency since May 1974. Prior to that time he was employed with a major insurance company in Iowa, Connecticut and Little Rock, Arkansas. Dick is currently serving as President of the White River Health System Foundation. He has also served on the board for the Independent Insurance Agents of Arkansas. Dick has two sons, Doug and Tony. He and his wife Nancy enjoy golf, boating, hunting and traveling and spending time with their grandchildren.
Shellie Davis
email: sdavis@wria.com
Shellie Davis is a life and health customer service agent for White River Financial Services. She has been with the agency since October 2009 but previously worked in the insurance industry in Jonesboro. She graduated from Batesville-Southside High School and has one daughter, Emily. She enjoys watching her daughter play softball and spending time with family and friends.
Oana Ennis
email: oennis@wria.com
Oana Ennis is the Accountant. She has been with the agency since November 2008. She graduated in 2006 from the Academy of Economic Studies in Bucharest, Romania with a Bachelor’s degree in International Business. She specialized in marketing. She resides in Batesville, Arkansas with her husband, Mike, and their two young children, Mila and Eamon. She enjoys spending time with her family, playing sports and traveling.
Veheda Griffin
email: vgriffin@wria.com
Veheda Griffin is our receptionist. She is the first voice that you hear when you call our office. She attended Pleasant Plains High School and also Gateway Technical School. She and her husband Phillip reside in Pleasant Plains. They have three children, Leslie, Phyllis and Judy. They also have two grandchildren, Austin and Cameron. Veheda enjoys baking and gardening.
Tammy Paternostro
email: tammyp@wria.com
Tammy Paternostro is a Personal Lines Customer Service Agent. She has been with the agency since January 2009. She has been a licensed agent in Property & Casualty since 1994. Tammy grew up in Mountain View but moved to Indiana in 1988 when she got married. She recently moved back to Arkansas and now resides in Cave City with her husband, Ben. She is glad to be back close to family and friends.
Terri Wantulok
email: twantulok@wria.com
Terri Wantulok is a Commercial Lines Customer Service Agent. She has been with the agency since July 2009. She and her husband, Kenneth, reside in Cushman with their animals and enjoy working on their farm.
Candie Smart
email: csmart@wria.com
Candie Smart is our Bookkeeper. She has been with the agency since September 2010. She graduated from Batesville High School and attended UACCB. She and her husband Wayne reside in Batesville. Candie enjoys spending time with family and friends, cooking, camping, and watching football.