About Strong Tower Insurance - 50 Years Serving Florida Ministries

Founder

Earl Burkett is the President of Strong Tower Insurance. He leads the agency’s ministry-focused work across Florida and the Southeast, drawing on more than three decades in commercial insurance. After guiding the agency’s rebrand from the Harless Agency, Earl has continued to grow Strong Tower’s service to churches, nonprofits, private schools, and daycares with a steady, relationship-first approach.

Earl serves on the board of All Pro Pastors International and helped develop Strong Tower’s Volunteer Church Security Program, a multi-year effort launched in 2025 to address real-world safety and liability concerns for congregations. He works closely with church boards, trustees, and administrators to align coverage with how ministries actually operate—from worship services and counseling to campuses, vehicles, and outreach.

Married to Carolyn for 44 years, Earl is a proud father to Kady Barghausen and Jake Burkett and “Papa” to twins Arianna and Braeden. Away from the office, he enjoys time with family, mentoring ministry leaders, and quiet mornings around Plant City. His favorite part of the job is hearing how a church or nonprofit can keep serving after a storm, a claim, or a tight budget season—because good insurance planning made the difference.

Finance Administrator

Carolyn is the Finance Administrator at Strong Tower Insurance. Carolyn joined the agency in 2007, right after its acquisition. Carolyn has been instrumental in driving growth with her 18 years of experience in the field. She graduated from Lee College in 1981 with a BA degree in Psychology. She also has an AA degree in computer programing from Cleveland State Community College.  

Married to Earl for 44 years, she is a proud mother of two children, Kady Barghausen and Jake Burkett. Her twin grandbabies, Arianna and Braeden, are the joys of her life. Outside of work, Carolyn cherishes family time, enjoys reading, and delights in the tranquility of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

VP of Sales

Jake grew up in the insurance industry, starting in his family’s agency at age 12. Today, he leads sales production with a focus on clarity, integrity, and service—specializing in church and nonprofit coverages. Known for making complex protection simple, Jake serves ministries with genuine care and builds lasting relationships rooted in trust.

He holds a Bachelor of Science in Professional Pilot Science and a commercial instrument-rated license with over 1,500 flight hours, plus endorsements across 46+ aircraft types and a Part 107 UAS license.

Outside the office, Jake’s home build is a full-blown family adventure. His twin toddlers run the site with sandbox summits and stealthy tool relocations, while he navigates design debates with his wife that rival any client negotiation. He still finds time to fly RC planes, fish, and play electric guitar in his church band.

For Jake, insurance is about protecting what matters—and building relationships that last.

Media Admin

Since 2021, Regina has led our media strategy, keeping customers well-informed and engaged. Her dedication shines through in every post, reflecting a genuine care for our clients, her family, and the wider community.

Regina is the proud grandparent of ten and cherishes the memory of her late husband, Danny, with whom she shared 37 years. Her warmth and commitment make her an invaluable member of our team.

CPSR, AIAM

Adrian is a Customer Service Representative. Since joining the team in 2023, he has worked with churches, private schools, and nonprofit organizations, providing practical support and helping clients understand their coverage. Outside the office, Adrian continues serving his community through active involvement on the tech team at his church, where he helps run services behind the scenes.

In his free time, Adrian enjoys spending time with his family and watching sports. He’s an avid fan of the New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Lightning, and keeps up with trades, storylines, and game-day action throughout the season.

CISR, CIC

Mari began working in the insurance industry in 2004 and has been licensed since 2005. During her commercial insurance career, she has earned both CISR and CIC designations. These designations require 16 hours of continuing education each year. She holds a bachelor’s in human resources with a minor in prelaw.

Mari enjoys working with people, solving problems, and helping others. Outside of work, she loves fishing, reading, traveling, and spending time with family. Her dream is to retire and spend her summers gold mining and fishing in Alaska.

CPSR, AIAM

Kristen has been a part of the Strong Tower Insurance team for over 11 years. She’s moved from Marketing Director to Customer Service Representative to Commercial Accounts Manager [CPSR, AIAM] over those years and is happy to be able to help churches, private schools, and nonprofit organizations with their insurance needs. She graduated from a private Christian school (high school and college) is a former church office manager, is heavily involved in her children’s private Christian school and has also volunteered with many nonprofit organizations, all of which give her the ability to see both sides of the coin when it comes to the needs of policyholders. 

Kristen has been married to Jerrod for 14 years, and they have 9-year-old identical twin girls. In her “free time” she chases kids, reads, and likes to organize anything she can get her hands on.