Archives: Meet the Team

Marilyn Gray started GMM insurance in 2005 and is the President/CEO and owner of the business.

Marilyn was born and raised in the West Columbia/Midlands area and went to school at Airport High School and the University of South Carolina. She received her bachelor’s degrees in music education and elementary education and her Master’s degree in elementary school administration

Marilyn works every day to help people protect their assets in their business. She works alongside clients to help them discover their “pains” and exposures and works with them to handle their insurance risks so that they are free to run their business. She loves to work with all types of businesses, whether big or small, young or old. Learning about other businesses and helping people is what gets her going. Knowing that she can help someone succeed in their business is what gets her out of bed in the morning.

Before GMM, Marilyn wore many different hats. She taught elementary school, was a piano teacher, a stay at home mommy, and an elementary school principal.

When she thinks about moments that shaped her life, she thinks back to when her parents sent her to school when she was 10 years old to learn how to type. After learning how to type, they put her to work in their insurance agency, typing policies and putting policies together. She caught the city bus from elementary school and went to work every day and has worked in insurance since then at some level or another.

She loves pasta and her favorite colors are pink, purple, and green. She is really a country girl who likes to walk in the country, no makeup, dressed casually. If she were to write her autobiography, it would be called “Mother’s Love.” She believes the world needs more caring about each other and doing what is right for others.

In her free time, Marilyn likes to read, go to church, volunteer with local charities, and spend time with her husband and their dogs, Dutchie, Patty Lele, and Sam.

She says she is most thankful for God’s love and guidance, her husband, her family at GMM Insurance, and music.

Steve Highberger is the Executive VP/CFO and owner of GMM insurance.

Steve is originally from Aiken, SC. Steve is a commercial insurance agent who helps business owners find solutions for their business insurance needs. He is also an equity partner and CFO of GMM Insurance. While working for GMM, he has learned that he is a very patient person who can overcome adversity and be flexible when it comes to finding insurance solutions for clients. He has also learned that he is good at setting and meeting goals, running day to day operations and keeping everything on track.

Before working at GMM Insurance, Steve was an Insurance Instructor at the Mary Brewer Insurance School in Columbia for 6 years.

Steve loves his job and looks forward to meeting the tasks at hand each day.

Steve believes that what the world needs more of is love. The biggest moment that shaped him was giving his life to Jesus Christ when he was in college.

His favorite food is seafood, he likes everything on his pizza, and his favorite color is orange. If he were to write an autobiography, it would be titled “Keep Grinding.” In his free time, Steve likes to travel and watch his kids do whatever they are into. He likes to learn about what makes people tick and his own self-awareness. He is most thankful for his wife, and when he grows up, he wants to be a zookeeper.

Ashley McCartha is a native of Lexington, SC. She is a personal lines account manager, which means that she quotes, issues, and services all personal policies for home, auto, recreation, and more. While working at GMM, she has learned how to be more confident in herself and to not question her abilities.

Before working for GMM, Ashley worked in banking and was a motorcoach travel consultant. She feels blessed to have a job that she loves and to work with people that she loves and considers part of her family.

Ashley loves chicken wings, mushrooms, onions, and tomato pizza, spending time with her husband, children, and dogs, and volunteering in the children’s ministry at her church. Her favorite color is pink. She likes to learn about Biblical histories and if she were to write an autobiography, it would be titled “The Lady Who Does it All.”

When she grows up, Ashley would like to work at Disney World!

Chantal Wilson is originally from Long Island, New York. She moved to Lexington 5 years ago from Vermont. She is the first person you see when you walk through the door at GMM, and she does all of the administrative duties to support the agents. While working at GMM, she has learned that she can accomplish challenging things.

Before working at GMM, Chantal did administrative work in the medical and human services fields.

Chantal’s favorite food is pizza, her favorite color is purple, and she was born in Paris, France. If she were to write an autobiography, it would be called “Never a Dull Moment” or “One Cat Short of Crazy.” She believes the world needs more patience and deep breaths. In her free time, Chantal likes to spend time with her family and her furry loves. She is most thankful for the opportunities and blessings she has been given in her life.