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Meet the Team

The staff at Yates Insurance & Real Estate has more than 100 years of cumulative experience in the insurance field. We are proven professionals with a commitment to excellence based on quality, integrity, and providing superior service to our customers.

President

N.L. Yates, Jr.

N.L. Yates started his insurance career with The Hartford in 1967. In 1969, he purchased Woods Insurance Agency which later became Yates Insurance and Real Estate, Inc. N.L. Yates graduated from the University of Georgia in 1966 with a Bachelor's in business Administration. He is licensed in property, casualty, life and health insurance. N.L. has been selling insurance for over 60 years. He is married to Gail Yates and has four children and eight grandchildren.

Mr. Yates left his legacy to his wife and daughter in 2022.

Real Estate Broker/Agent

Gail Yates

Born and raised in Dublin, Ga. Gail owns and operates Yates Realty, Inc. She handles rental and sales. Gail manages properties for other groups individuals. After graduating college, Gail went on to get her real estate and Broker license. She enjoys meeting people and showing them Dublin. N.L and Gail have four children, Lee, Todd, Allison, and Mandy. She enjoys her clubs and yard.

Senior Account Executive

Allison Yates Clark

Allison joined Yates Insurance after graduating from the University of Georgia in 1997 with a bachelor's in business administration. She is licensed in property, casualty, life, and health insurance. In 2008, she received her Accredited Advisor in Insurance designation. Allison is the proud mother of two children - Greyson and Madelyn-Gail. She enjoys spending time outdoors with her family, attending UGA football games, and giving back to her community and Pine Forest Church.

Personal Lines Account Manager

Dana Tapley

Dana joined Yates Insurance in 2010 after graduating from Heart of Georgia Technical College. She is licensed in property and casualty and is a personal lines account manager. Dana lives in Dublin with her husband and two dogs - Sheba and Max. Dana enjoys spending time with her family.

Senior Account Executive

Bobbie Williams

Bobbie joined Yates Insurance in 2011. She was born in Hawaii and moved to Georgia in 1991. She is licensed in property and casualty insurance and specializes in commercial lines. She enjoys working with clients and meeting new people!! She is married to James (Jimmy) Williams. She has three sons, Carlos, Rodney and Kyle, three grandchildren, Cameron, Kenadie, and EJ. She enjoys hunting, fishing, golfing, and spending time with family.

Personal Account Executive

Robert Sims

Robert Sims joined Yates Insurance in February of 2018 and is licensed in property and casualty insurance. He has experience with writing Home, Auto, and Life insurance. Robert has over 20 years of industry experience with majority of that time in auto claims from GEICO. Robert holds a senior claims law designation from his time with GEICO. Robert has been married for 20 years as of this December and has three children, Austin, Ashley and Blake. Robert enjoys sports, outdoors, and spending time with family.

Account Executive

Darrien Ramsey

Darrien graduated from Georgia Southern College in 1993 with a BBA in Finance-Economics and married Tash Brown in 1995. Darrien was a pioneer in the Pine Straw Business and worked with Georgia Pine Straw from 1987-2018. Thru that tenure he was an entrepreneur in multiple businesses which included Rentra LLC, Cargo Connections LLC, Creek Shoals Estate LLC, Regal Timberlands LLC, Elements Bistro & Grill LLP, Elm Properties LLC, and Terra Dolce Farms LLC.

Commercial Lines Account Manager

Chrissi Smith

Chrissi was born in Dublin, GA and attended Heart of Georgia Technical School after high school. She is married to Jeff Smith and together they share 3 children, 5 grandchildren and 3 fur babies. Chrissi is licensed in Home, Auto, Life and Health. She enjoys spending time outdoors especially at the beach, cooking, trying new cuisines and spending time with her family.

Commercial Lines Account Manager

Melissa Knight

Melissa joined Yates in March 2024. She was born in Cartersville, GA and moved to Dublin in 1996. Melissa graduated from WLHS in 2004. She has five years' experience in production management and three years' experience as an administrative assistant. Melissa received her Property & Casualty License in 2024. She is married to Jae Knight and they have two handsome boys, Jaedyn & Kallum. She loves spending time with her family, traveling to new places, fishing, fall weather, seafood, and riding on her husband's motorcycle.

Commercial Lines Producer

Jake Flanders

Jake joined Yates Insurance in 2025. He has thirteen years of diverse sales experience and a strong background in leadership. After graduating from Trinity Christian School in Dublin, Jake attended Kennesaw State University, where he studied Professional Sales and Business Management.

With over 10 years of experience as a supervisor, Jake developed a deep understanding of operations, team management, and customer relations. His expertise is complemented by his Property and Casualty Insurance license, along with his Commercial Lines Coverage Specialist (CLCS) designation.

Outside of his professional pursuits, Jake is a dedicated father to his son, Abe, and enjoys spending time with his dog, Zepp. In his free time, Jake can often be found tending to his garden, fishing, traveling, or playing guitar.

Personal and Commercial Lines Producer

Shianne Waters

Shianne joined Yates Insurance in 2024. She was born in Dublin, GA in 2003 and graduated from Tazewell High School, Virginia in 2021. Shianne is very dedicated, passionate, energetic, and brings a strong sense of purpose in everything she does. Shianne earned her insurance license in March of 2025 and is a licensed insurance producer.

Outside of her professional life, Shianne is passionate about staying active - especially through running. She proudly shares her life with her two pups, Zoro and Luffy, and deeply appreciates the support and inspiration she gets from the two closest people in her life, her brother Elec and sister Ava. Her commitment to both personal and professional growth drives her to deliver exceptional service and build lasting connections.

Operations Manager

Alexa Blackburn

Alexa joined Yates Insurance in 2022 as Operations Manager. Alexa graduated with honors from Oconee Fall Line with her associate's degree in accounting.

On her down time, Alexa enjoys fishing, going to the beach, and hiking. She has three wonderful children whom she adores, and she loves spending time with her family, friends, and her dog Penny.