We at Cornerstone Insurance Group strive to help you understand your choices. We care about our customers and recognize the value of a long term relationship. We believe that it is more important to keep an existing customer than to pursue a new one.
As independent agents, we have myriad resources to help you save money and manage your risks. We represent a carefully selected group of financially sound, reputable insurance companies.
It remains our firm commitment to provide the best possible solution for each client and each individual need.
Our Owner
Chris Scoggins
Owner of Cornerstone Insurance Group
Chris is a Chattanooga native and an alumni of The University of Tennessee. He resides in East Brainerd with his wife, Heather, and two children. Chris began his insurance career representing Liberty Mutual Insurance Company, and in 1994 joined Highway 58 Insurance as an independent agent. Two years later he bought the Chattanooga agency and continued to build the business through “old-fashioned” determination and hard work. Proceeding on the basic notion that his customers deserve the very best protection and service that their dollars can buy, Chris expanded the reach of the agency by opening an additional office in Dayton, TN and one in Cleveland, TN. He and his father, Mitchell Scoggins (Dayton office), have teamed up to build one of the most well respected church insurance programs in the state, Church Insurance Specialists, a division of Cornerstone Insurance Group.
Cornerstone Insurance Group is one of the largest agencies in Chattanooga and provides a full range of insurance personal and business insurance products. Because of the positive growth of the company, he has been able to create and maintain relationships with a wide variety of strong carriers in order to offer clients the very best options for their insurance needs and offer specialized programs concentrating in Churches, the Hospitality Industry, and Used Auto Dealerships and Brokerages.
Our Agents
Scott Stroud
Scott specialized in managing individual and Long Term Disability claims before he joined Cornerstone in 2015, and now has added property and casualty to his resume. He works with a variety of clients to help find coverage that is custom fit to each client’s needs. Scott has been in church leadership for 18 years and served four years as his congregational president. During that time Scott participated in the functions of the Belvoir Christian Academy School Board. Scott is a graduate of Lutheran School (Belvoir Christian Academy), East Ridge High School and UTC.
Cricket Nelson
Cricket Nelson is a Chattanooga native who has been working in insurance for over 17 years. As an agent, and also a small business owner herself, she understands her client’s needs from a unique perspective. Cricket’s belief that your insurance agent should be just as important as your attorney or accountant shows her dedication to her clients and their needs.
Steve Wimberley
Steve Wimberley joined Cornerstone at the Dayton Branch in 2006. Prior to that, he was in production management for 30+ years. Being new to the insurance field, he quickly used his Christian background to help Mitchell with the church program. Along with his work in the Church program, he also writes supplemental health, personal, commercial and life insurance policies. A graduate of Pembroke State University, Steve is a Dayton Rotary club member, a Board member of Dayton Chamber of Commerce, and Vice President of the We Care Organization. He has been a member of Walden’s Ridge Baptist Church for 29 years where he serves as Trustee, Sunday School Director, Treasurer and Finance Director.
Lou Patten
Lou Patten is a Cleveland native and an independent insurance agent with over 40 years experience in the insurance industry. He joined Cornerstone Insurance Group in 2007 as an Associate Partner. Lou specializes in all types of commercial and personal insurance. A graduate of the Baylor School, he attended the University of Virginia and graduated from the University of Tennessee with a degree in Business Administration. He received his Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter certification in 1983.
Lou has been involved in many civic and business associations in our area and around the state. He is currently Chairman of the Cleveland Municipal Airport Authority, and has been a member since it was established in 2004. He has served as President of the Insurors of Tennessee, President of the United Way of Bradley County, President of the Cleveland Kiwanis Club, Chairman of the Cleveland/Bradley Chamber of Commerce, and has served on the boards of Bradley Memorial Hospital, Tennessee Ocoee Development Agency, and the Cleveland State Community College Foundation. Lou also served two terms in the Tennessee General Assembly, where as State Senator for the 9th Senatorial District, he was in the Senate Leadership and served on many Senate and Legislative Committees.
Lou and his wife Debbie have five children and one grandchild, and are active members of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Cleveland.
Wayne Layton
Wayne came to Cornerstone in 2010 after running his own agency for 22 years, regional agency Allstar Insurance Group. He merged Allstar with Cornerstone Insurance Group to provide his clients improved customer service and increase his ability to negotiate the best rates and policies for his clients. Wayne holds advanced degrees from Tennessee Temple University as well as a Doctorate in Theology from Temple Baptist Seminary.
Wayne’s current role as the Vice President of Marketing has allowed him to develop one of the company’s most successful specialty divisions, focusing on Garage Liability. The automotive industry has many unique exposures, and Wayne’s in depth understanding of these risks provides the customer with the maximum protection.
In Wayne’s spare time he serves as full time pastor for Grace Reformed Baptist Church, teaches college courses, and is a dedicated husband, father and grandfather. He is also an avid cyclist.
Blake Fleet
Blake served in the U.S. Navy and worked in the data processing/storage media industry before starting in the insurance business. He sells and services property and casualty policies both personal lines and commercial. Blake has been with Cornerstone Insurance Group his entire insurance career, over 12 and a half years.
Robert (Bob) Whittle, CIC, LUTCF
Bob began his insurance career in 1978 with Interstate Life Insurance Company after attending UTC (Chattanooga). He ranked as the top sales agent for 10 consecutive years with Interstate Life (to become Gulf Life, American General Life &, AIG) before moving into management in 1987. He earned Agent of the Year nationally in 1984. Sales Manager of the Year nationally in 1988 and continued as District Manager in Athens, GA. Bob started his own agency in 1990. In 1993, he joined with Gloria Sutton Insurance to form Agency Insurance Group of Chattanooga where a successful agency thrived through the next 20 years. In 2012, Bob chose to merge his successful agency with the equally successful agency known as Cornerstone Insurance Group where he still hangs his hat today. Bob invites anyone seeking any insurance products, to contact him and be assured of quality products and professional expertise. Bob’s hobbies include boating, golf, gardening, aviation & family.
Bob Spangler
Over 40 years of insurance experience! Auto – Home – Business – Life
Stephen F. Holmes
Born in St Petersburg Florida. Grew up in the British West Indies, on the island of St. Vincent as a missionary kid.
Education:
- High School: Morehead High School (Eden, NC)
- College Graduate: Tennessee Temple University
Career:
- Insurance business since the 1970s
- Life insurance: Agent, then Home Office recruiter in Louisville, KY (7 years)
- Personal insurance: General Manager, American National Insurance Co (3 yrs)
Commercial Insurance:
- Principal, partner Independent insurance agency 18 yrs
- Merged with Cornerstone Insurance Group, 2010
- Heading up the Hospitality Division of Cornerstone
Organizations:
- Greater Chattanooga Hospitality Association – 25 yr board member
- Tennessee Hospitality & Tourism Association – 16 yr board member
- Member of the Chattanooga Better Housing Commission – 0 years
- President of Insurors of Chattanooga – 1 year Board member, 10 years
- Advisory Board of the Chattanooga Rescue Mission
Family: Three children, eight grandchildren…All healthy and wonderful
Personal Goal: To develop a venue for children…to entertain, educate and inspire them…to NOT leave God out of their lives.
Hospitality website: eHOSPITALITYinsurance.com