Jeffrey Newsom, ARM, CPCU, CIC, CLU, ChFC 
Jeff began his insurance career with the Travelers in 1965, joining W.J. Wheeler in 1969 and becoming President in 1982. He is a strong believer in continuing education, a professional staff, strong relationships with carriers and high level of service to customers. Jeff has served the community as president of the Oxford Hills Chamber of Commerce and president of the Child Health Center. He served as a trustee of the Norway Memorial Library during its recent $1,000,000 expansion, and is now a board member of the Mahoosuc Land Trust. He lives in Bethel with his long-time partner, Saranne Taylor, with whom he has frequent adventures in rock climbing and cross-country ski racing. In 2003, he celebrated the arrival of his first grandchild, Hannah Newsom Pierce, of Newry.
Curtis Cole, CPCU, CIC 
Curtis began his career with W.J. Wheeler in 1982. In 1991 he achieved the Certified Insurance Counselor designation and in 2000, he achieved the Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter designation. Curtis handles sales with business clients in property, casualty, and employee benefits. Curtis is past president of the Oxford Hills Rotary Club, past master of Oxford Lodge of the Freemasons, and has served on the Oxford Hills School District Board since 2000. After the last of four children left for college in 2005, he and his wife Terry, hosted an exchange student from Japan.
Kate Houston , CIC, CPIW, DAE 
Kate began her insurance career in 1987 and joined W.J. Wheeler in 1993, first working in our Bethel office before moving to our South Paris office. She currently handles the personal lines accounts in that office. Kate holds both her property/casualty and life/health licenses. Kate is an active member of NAIW (National Association of Insurance Women) on the Local and State levels.
Debra Trowbridge, ACSR 
Debra started her insurance career with W.J. Wheeler in 1995. Thanks to the help of on-the-job training with fellow employees and professional schooling, she obtained her insurance license and ACSR (Accredited Customer Service Representative) certification in her first year with the company. Since then she has had several different positions within the agency, most recently as the receptionist. “This position carries a number of different responsibilities of which I particularly enjoy the customer contact. I would like to invite you to come in and discover for yourself the professionalism, knowledge and personalities that I have come to appreciate over the years.”
Marianne Todd, AAI 
Licensed in 1995, Marianne started her career selling health insurance door to door. She then spent four years with State Farm, before seeking out a fresh challenge, joining W.J. Wheeler in 2002. “At an independent insurance agency, I can offer more companies and products to my clients.” Marianne is a commercial lines servicing agent in the South Paris office, and also handles the personal lines insurance for our business clients there. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family at home in Sumner.
Diane Merrill, ACSR 
Born and raised in the Bethel area and a graduate of Bethel schools, Diane joined our team in 2003. She passed the Maine Producer Resident licensing exam in 2004, and later that same year, earned her ACSR designation. Diane is a personal lines agent in our Bethel office, specializing in auto, motorcycle, recreational vehicle and boat insurance. She is handles the reception desk part-time and assists Marianne Todd with other personal and commercial lines business. When not in the office she enjoys flying with her husband and two step-children in their 1952 Cessna 170B.
Eileen Hill 
Eileen Hill got her first start at W.J. Wheeler in 1981. Over 14 years with our agency, she was an agent for property & casualty and life insurance and she kept the books until the end of 1995. At that time she left to open a retail greenhouse and worked part time as an office temp. After 10 years, she returned to us in 2005, handling the reception desk in Bethel part time, and processing and bookkeeping in South Paris. She and her husband own a motorhome and enjoy traveling, especially to their property in Prince Edward Island, Canada. They are involved in the White Mountain Sams Chapter of the Good Sam Club and the local Lions Club raising money for various Charities and Scholarships.
Michael Newsom, ACSR
Michael joined the family firm in 2004 after exploring careers in education and government. Michael is a 2006 graduate of the National Alliance School for Producer Development, graduating 2nd in a class of 51. Michael handles sales with a specialty in small business packages to include personal insurance, business insurance, and life, health, and disability insurance.
Since moving back to South Paris in 2004, he has joined the Oxford Hills Chamber of Commerce Board, while continuing to serve with Outward Bound in Newry, Maine. Away from the office, Michael can be sometimes be found playing guitar at an open mic with his wife of 11 years, Kathryn Gardner, at the bridge table with his mother, Nancy Farmer, or in his slowly expanding vegetable and perennial garden.
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Staff 