Established in 1932

GALIS/STEWART has roots that were sown in the early 1930's in Glynn County, Georgia. In 1932, Parker, Burroughs and Way was formed to handle insurance and real estate in Southeast Georgia. By the mid 1950's, this insurance firm was separated into two different agencies when Mr. Way founded First Federal Savings and Loan - his agency was named Way, Peters and Harris Insurance. This agency was located inside the Savings and Loan building until it was moved to Reynolds Street years later. By the early 1960's, after several name changes, the agency became known as the Insurance Agency of Glynn, Inc. and was run by Mike Way, Ferman Ricks and Buck Bennor. The business acquired the building located at 1401 Union Street in Brunswick, where it remains today.

In 1938, not long after the formation of Parker, Burroughs and Way, Carley Zell, a local businessman, opened up his own insurance agency in Brunswick. He would later join another local, Jimmy Hancock to form Zell-Hancock in 1972.

Upon the death of Mike Way in 1998, Barrett and Scott Slade, nephews of Mr. Way, acquired Insurance Agency of Glynn. They then merged with Zell-Hancock to form Slade Hancock Insurance, located at 1401 Union Street in Brunswick.

In 2002, Bill Phillips joined Slade Hancock. He would remain the business owner of Slade Hancock & Phillips, Inc. for the next 15 years.

Heard Galis joined the agency in 2012 and it was renamed Phillips-Galis Insurance, Inc. Hank Stewart joined the agency in 2016. Heard and Hank purchased the agency in April 2017 and officially named the brand Galis Stewart Insurance, Inc.

Timeline

Heard Galis joined the agency in 2012 after a 10-year banking career with Synovus, where he was a Vice President / Commercial Lender.  Originally from Athens, Ga., Heard moved to the Golden Isles after graduating from Ole Miss in 1998 with a business degree.

 Since 2012, Heard has helped his clients protect their assets through various risk management tools. Receiving his Commercial Lines Coverage Specialist (CLCS) designation in 2014 and his Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC) designation in 2019, he can use his knowledge and experience in personal and commercial insurance to serve as a trusted advisor in the area of property and casualty insurance. While concentrated in the Golden Isles of Georgia, Heard writes business all over the Southeastern US and beyond.

Hank Stewart joined the agency in 2016 after having been in the industry for eight years.  His working experience includes third-party administrators and captive and independent agencies.  Hank is originally from Vidalia, GA, and graduated from Georgia Southern University in 2006 with a business degree. 

Nicole Bennett joined the agency in 2014 as a personal lines Account Manager and is now acting as Office Manager.