Our Staff
Dick Bernard
E-mail: dbernard@wria.com
Dick Bernard is the President and Co-owner of White River Insurance. 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 and also serves on the Lyon College President’s Council. 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.
John Cooke
E-mail: johnc@wria.com
John Cooke is Co-owner of White River Insurance. 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. John is a life-long resident of Batesville. He graduated from the Texas Christian University Ranch Management Program and Lyon College. He has served on various volunteer organizations including the Independent Insurance Agents of Arkansas Board of Directors, the Batesville City Council, and the Lyon College Alumni Council and President’s Council. He and his wife, Cindy, have four children, ages 9, 13, 19 and 21. They enjoy weekend escapes in their camper to trout fish or hunt.
Amanda Dickey
E-mail: adickey@wria.com
Amanda Dickey is a Commercial Lines Customer Service Representative. She has been with the agency since May 2002. She is the daughter of Jeff and Angela Zelasko of Batesville. She graduated from Batesville High School and attended UACCB for two years. Amanda obtained her CISR designation, Certified Insurance Service Representative, in September 2006. She and her husband Bryan reside in Batesville. She enjoys cooking, baking, sewing, joking and spending time with her family and friends.
Rhonda Barber
E-mail: rbarber@wria.com
Rhonda Barber is a Personal Lines Service Representative. She has been with the agency since August 2005. She has been a licensed agent in Property and Casualty since March 2003 and Life and Health since January 2004. Rhonda graduated from Cave City High School. She is currently working on her Certified Insurance Service Representative designation. She and her husband Richard reside in Cave City. She enjoys watching television and going to Case Knife Shows.
Becky Allen
E-mail: ballen@wria.com
Becky Allen is a Personal Lines Customer Service Representative. 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.
Buddy Vinson
E-mail: bvinson@wria.com
Buddy Vinson is an Agency Producer. 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
E-mail: 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.
Jim Eagan
E-mail: jeagan@wria.com
Jim Eaganis an agency producer specializing in senior products. He joined the agency in 2008 upon returning to Arkansas after several years in Texas; having been raised in Trumann. Jim has twelve years of insurance experience, managing his own agency in Texas and has held management positions in banking and private industry. He is a graduate of Texas A&M-Commerce. Jim has also been active with Boy Scouts of America and other civic and trade organizations, including serving as President of the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce and a member of the Texas Bankers Association compliance board.
Sherry Birmingham
E-mail: sbirmingham@wria.com
Sherry Birmingham is the Accountant for our agency. She has been with the agency since February 1990. She is the daughter of Gerald and Betty Gaither of Batesville. She graduated from Batesville High School and continued her education at Lyon College where she obtained her Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting and Business Administration. She and her husband David have three children, Morgan, Josh and Lindsey. Sherry enjoys spending time with her family, going to the lake, working in her flower beds or just being outdoors.
Lisha Foust
E-mail: lfoust@wria.com
Lisha Foust is a Personal Lines Customer Service Representative as well as the Bookkeeper. She has been with the agency since June 2001. She is the daughter of Rita Drake of Saffell and Dickey and Shelia Drake of Newark. She graduated from River Valley High School in 1996 and continued her education at UACCB where she obtained an Associates Degree in Accounting. She and her husband, Shane Foust, reside in Cave City with their two children, Tyler and Heaven. Lisha enjoys watching her children in school activities and sports. Most of all, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends.
Veheda Griffin
E-mail: 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.
Nikki Barnes
Email: nbarnes@wria.com
Nikki Barnes is a Commercial Lines Customer Service Representative. Nikki joined the agency in 2008. She is the daughter of Michael and Peggy Barnes. She also has two brothers, Miki and Lynn. Nikki graduated from Batesville High School 2002. She enjoys spending time with family and close friends, shopping, hunting, fishing, wakeboarding and camping.
Jordan Burghart
Email: jburghart@wria.com
Jordan Burghart bio coming soon.
Holly Duncan
Email: hduncan@wria.com
Holly Duncan bio coming soon.
Micaela Rayford
Email: mrayford@wria.com
Micaela Rayford bio coming soon.
Doyan Huckabee
E-mail: dhuckabee@wria.com
Doyan Huckabeeis an Agency Producer. He is licensed to sell Personal, Commercial, Life and Health insurance. He has been with the agency since March 2008, but has been a licensed agent since 1999. He graduated from Kokomo High School in Kokomo, Indiana. He and his wife Samantha have six children, Cassie, Sterling, Spenser, Samuel, Zac and Nathan. Doyan enjoys boating, hunting and coaching sports teams for his children. Doyan and his wife, Samantha manages our Cave City office.
Samantha Huckabee
E-mail: shuckabee@wria.com
Samantha Huckabeeis a licensed agent. She is licensed to sell Personal, Commercial, Life and Health insurance. She has been licensed since 1993. She graduated from Evening Shade High School and is the daughter of John D. and Ruth Story of Evening Shade. She and her husband Doyan have six children. Samantha enjoys spending time with her family, reading and watching their children in sporting events. Samantha and her husband, Doyan manages our Cave City office.
We are licensed in the following States/Provinces: Arkansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Texas.