Sharla Gillespie

Having begun her professional career as a Small Arms Repair Technician (Weapons Repairer) in the Marine Corps, Sharla has worked in varying industries in both the public and private sectors and gained a wealth of knowledge and experience in a multitude of fascinating roles which have ranged from being a federal contractor with multiple federal agencies, personal assistant to a Jazz musician to the Editor of a magazine. She brings over nine years of insurance experience with her to her role here most recently working in employee enrollments and insurance carrier relationships. Sharla is a proud product of the City University of New York system, having graduated from Brooklyn College with Bachelor of Science degrees in Psychology and Exercise Science.

Sharla is an avid lover of plants with quite the green thumb and has over 40 indoor plants in her care; a hobby which carried over from her late grandmother. Sharla’s favorite flower is the Stargazer lily, and favorite plant is the Monstera; both of which are permanently engraved in tattoo form.

Originally from the island of Barbados, Sharla and her family moved from Brooklyn, NY to North Carolina in 2019, where she now lives in Fuquay-Varina with her husband Jermaul and three daughters, and enjoys spending time with their blended family.

Fun facts about Sharla:

• As a former powerlifter, Sharla still has two Maryland State Records that have yet to be broken.
• She once entered a racquetball tournament, only because the Marine Corps needed a female to compete against the Army and Navy. Though never having played racquetball before, she won!
  • Though she is VERY competitive, Sharla believes the answer to all things are kindness, accountability, and empathy.