Meet the Team
Myra Palmer
President
Myra Palmer, president of the Palmer Agency, is an advocate of the life insurance industry. With more than thirty years in the agency she brings knowledge, passion, and experience; carrying on a family legacy that began when her father, Howard H. Palmer founded the Palmer Agency in 1961. Myra has deep respect for the advisors that choose to work with our firm and an ongoing commitment to the growth of their personal business. Leveraging the past she is able to energize the future as a true leader.
Myra is a student of the industry and is actively involved. She has been a speaker at industry events, is a former Chairman of National Association of Independent Life Brokerage Agencies (NAILBA) and has served on several carrier advisory boards. She has served on NAIFA’s Independent Advisors Task Force, is Past President of The Charitable Foundation of the National Association of Independent Life Brokerage Agencies (NAILBA), Insurance and Financial Leaders of the Southeast. Myra is an active member of NAIFA, SubCenters, The Marketing Alliance, and SAGE (a second generation study group).
With a compelling story of love, loss and lessons learned, Myra understands the value of life insurance products from a professional and personal perspective. This story is featured in an article written by Myra and published in Broker World Magazine October 2015. This experience, along with her compassion, allows her to more effectively help others – she understands the challenges a small business faces, including the loss of two key men (her own brother, past president Alan Palmer and 32 year business partner, Exec VP, Jimmy Harrington), she has navigated the challenges of Long Term Care, and she has personally benefited from the value of life insurance (she lost her husband Dave in 2012).
Myra enjoys time with family and friends. She plays golf, runs, reads, travels and is a wine enthusiast. Myra has three sons, 2 daughter-in-laws, two beautiful grand-daughter’s and a great companion in Blenner, her Golden Doodle.
Ron L. Holmes, Jr.
Vice President
Ron graduated from Georgia State University in 1991 with a degree in Risk Management & Insurance. After graduation, Ron earned his Series 6, Series 63, Variable Life and Variable Annuity licenses and joined a local Career Agency in Atlanta where he worked closely with families and business owners to protect their financial security. While working in a career agency, he brokered his “tough to place cases” through The Palmer Agency for the next four years until he was asked by Howard Palmer to join the agency in 1995 as a Brokerage Sales Manager. Ron was promoted to Vice President of The Palmer Agency in 2003 and became a principal of the agency in 2013. Ron is always available to assist advisors to find the right solutions for their clients and help them grow their business.
Ron is involved in many charities including Wheelchair Foundation, Frontline Faith, Winship Cancer Institute, Navigate Recovery, and Special Olympics. Ron comes from a family of insurance professionals including his wife Betsy. They enjoy spending their spare time at the lake and traveling to the beach.
Philip Verlander
Marketing Director
Philip is an Atlanta native with over twenty five years of experience in the insurance industry. He graduated from Berry College in 1992 with a dual degree in Business Administration and Marketing. Upon graduation, he entered the insurance world as a financial representative with Northwestern Mutual Life. During his tenure there, he was a Million Dollar Roundtable producer who specialized in small business succession planning and estate planning. In the fall of 2007, Philip joined The Palmer Agency as their Marketing Director. In this capacity, he focuses on advisor relations, consulting and support. He assists advisors in case design, product solutions, underwriting assessments and client support.
Philip and his wife, reside in Decatur with their son and their daughter. As a scratch golfer, Philip competes in numerous regional and national tournaments, but more importantly enjoys entertaining advisors on the links.
Amanda Turner
Case Manager
Amanda is a graduate of GA State University with a BBA in Marketing. Prior to joining The Palmer Agency, Amanda worked in the Banking industry for five years as a loan processor. She joined The Palmer Agency in 2008 as a Life Case Manager and is a Licensed Life Insurance Representative as well. She maintains life case status and works as a liaison between the advisors and the carriers. She has experience with Life Insurance, Long Term Care and Disability.
Outside the office, she enjoys Pure Barre, traveling, spending time with family and friends, attending concerts, playing kickball and bocce, and running in half marathons across the United States.
Kathy Nichols
Contracting & Commissions Manager
Kathy joined the agency on August 21, 2006 and brought with her nine years of insurance industry experience. She currently serves as contracting & commissions manager and is a Licensed Life Insurance Representative. She supports our marketers, case managers, IT and manages our agency management systems.
Kathy is a native of Atlanta, married with four children, five grandchildren and her dog Layla. She enjoys spending time with family. She loves photography, RV camping, lake life, and watching her children and grandchildren in sports. She loves watching all sports but is an avid Baseball and NASCAR fan.
Sandi Karl
Executive Assistant
Sandi joined The Palmer Agency in 2004 as an Executive Assistant. She is the first voice you hear when you call our agency. She maintains the workflow within our agency and assists each department as needed. She assists advisors with policy service changes and claims.
Sandi is married with 3 children and 4 grandchildren and a dog named Cooper. Sandi enjoys the outdoors, riding bikes, run/walking in half marathons, watching her grandchildren in sports and a passion for Pure Barre.
