Doug Amis has been with Cardinal since the beginning. Doug’s financial career started as a Financial Advisor. He attained his Series 7 and 66 licenses and began work for a nationally-recognized broker dealer and investment adviser in 2012. Doug holds Economics and English degrees from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He earned the Kenan-Flagler Business Certificate from the University of North Carolina and a Certificate of Business Excellence from the University of Nebraska at Omaha’s College of Business program. Doug is actively studying to attain his CFP® designation. Doug resides in Chapel Hill and enjoys sports, hunting, fishing and volunteering.

Tom Griffith started at Cardinal in 2013. He has since attained his Series 65 license and has aspirations to attain his CFP® designation. He grew up in Charlotte, NC, and first became interested in a Financial Career during his time in Boy Scouts, where he earned the rank of Eagle Scout. Tom holds an Economics degree and a minor in History from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He currently resides in Raleigh and enjoys watching sports, volunteering and cooking.

James Mwombela worked for a large insurance company in Chicago, IL, after earning his Economics and Political Science degree at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. It wasn’t long before James discovered his passion for helping middle class families reach their retirement goals. He then moved back to Chapel Hill, attained his insurance licenses and his Series 65, and joined the team at Cardinal. He also plans on attainting his CFP® designation as he continues his Cardinal career. James enjoys working out, playing basketball, reading, and watching football.

Katrina Lyons started at Cardinal in September of 2012. She was born and raised in Raleigh, NC, and has her Associate’s degree in Business Administration. Katrina attained her Medicare Supplement, Life, and Health insurance licenses in March of 2014. She enjoys helping people and spending time with family and friends.

Barbara Scheil spent 20 years in the healthcare industry before beginning her insurance career 8 years ago in New York. During her time in healthcare she continued to enhance her skills and completed her MBA in 2005 at Nyack College. She landed in Cary, NC, by way of Illinois, joined Cardinal in 2014 and now considers it home. She also found her husband here, James Scheil; they married in 2015. Barbara enjoys the beach and playing golf, but she is much better at the beach!

Lavanda Michelle Williams started at Cardinal in May of 2015. She earned a Business degree and a minor in Communication from Northern Illinois University and a Master’s degree from Rockford University. Michelle holds her Life, Health, Medicare, and Long Term Care insurance licenses; she is actively studying to attain her Series 65 license and has aspirations to attain her CFP® designation. As a resident of Cary, NC, Michelle enjoys spending quality time with her husband and 3 daughters. When Michelle isn't busy helping others with their insurance needs she enjoys spending time volunteering, doing crafts, and decorating.

Sharon Ballard-Staton came to Cardinal in October of 2013 and holds a Business degree from Norfolk State University. She is licensed in Life, Health and Accident and Medicare Supplements. A resident of Raleigh, NC, Sharon is a busy mother of five. Sharon enjoys activities with her children, football, reading, socializing with friends and helping others.

Margaret “Meg” Madison is a native of California. After earning a BA degree in Theater Arts from ANTA and a Business Management certificate from UCLA, she spent most of her working life in middle and upper management in the Contract Technical Services industry, where she was responsible for sales and operations in a four-state region. Meg retired early to spend as much time as possible with her six grandchildren, and eventually followed family to North Carolina. She is active in fundraising and advocacy work such as the Augustine Project, and is a prolific writer, recently ending a 5-year bi-weekly column on women’s health and charity for an online publication. Part of the Cardinal family for over a year, Meg holds Life, Health, and Medicare Supplement licenses and is AHIP certified. In her spare time, she is a producing partner for an independent documentary film which is currently in development, as well as participating in local and regional commercials.

William Eddie Creech was born and raised in Benson, NC, and studied at Johnston Community College with an emphasis in Business Administration. His work experience has been upward moving and diverse, with positions in retail sales and management, product development, and manufacturing. Eddie joined the Cardinal family four years ago and rapidly advanced to the position of Senior Advisor and Sales Manager. Eddie holds Life, Health, and Medicare Supplement licenses, as well as Long-Term Care and AHIP certifications. He is a dedicated family man, raising two children and three step children with his wife, Angie, and is the Choir Director at Elevation United Methodist Church. His greatest pleasure is spending time with his family at White Lake boating, fishing and rooting for his favorite college basketball teams.

Marilyn Coats has been a part of the Cardinal family since May of 2015. Marilyn has a background in accounting and sociology from Kennedy-King College in Illinois. Relocating to North Carolina to be closer to family, she began her career in insurance. She holds licenses in Health and Life, Medicare, and Long-Term Care. Marilyn is very family-oriented, and an avid reader. She enjoys art and architecture, and her life-long dream is to travel and explore.

Diane Byrd graduated from Massey Junior College (now Fashion Institute of Atlanta) with an Associate’s degree in Fashion Design. Although a talented designer, her career path took her into the legal profession where she spent much of her working life in both administration and as an independent court reporter. Over the years, events in her own life made her come to the realization that everyone needs a complete insurance portfolio. To do her part, Diane obtained her Life, Health, Long-Term Care, and Medicare supplement licenses and came to Cardinal in 2015. Diane’s passion is spending time with her grandchildren; from crafts projects to sporting events to dance recitals and chorales, you will always find her right in the middle of all the fun. She has a marvelous singing voice and appeared as a member of The New Nostalgic, a singing group that performed at supper clubs on a regular basis.

Erica Patella started at Cardinal in the beginning of 2016 after earning her degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a double major in Peace, War, and Defense and Political Science. She started out as an intern while she worked on obtaining her insurance licenses and paralegal certificate and then joined the team full time in the summer. In her free time she enjoys rowing, reading, and volunteering.

Max Embury joined the Cardinal family in February of 2016. He is very excited to begin his career helping people transition into Medicare and retirement. He studied at Ouachita Baptist University with an emphasis on business and biology. He is licensed in Life, Health, and Medicare Supplements. Max’s hobbies include backpacking, swimming, socializing with friends and playing strategy games. As a somewhat new Raleigh resident, whenever he has a free moment to spare, he enjoys learning about the local area and finding new places to explore.