Redefining What It Means to Be an IMO

In 2011, Impact Partnership opened its doors with one goal in mind: to help insurance agents and financial advisors drastically grow their practices. Our founders wanted to provide financial professionals with a strategic partner to help them become household names in their communities.

Our focus lies in transforming our clients’ lives and the lives of those they serve.

Impact Partnership’s Mission & Values

We aim to change the lives of financial advisors and their clients through integrity, excellence, and growth.

Our Mission

At Impact Partnership, our mission is to revolutionize the financial services industry. We do this by:

Transforming independent financial advisors into successful, self-sufficient entrepreneurs with practices that can compete against the world’s largest corporations.
Helping Americans retire successfully by empowering independent financial advisors and working with insurance companies to design and distribute innovative products.

Values

Integrity
We strive for honesty and authenticity in all interactions with clients, partners, and each other.
Positivity
We see the best in situations, opportunities, and especially each other.
Excellence
We aim to be the best at what we do.
Growth
We aspire to grow as a company and as individuals through healthy habits, because healthy things grow.
Fun
We celebrate our successes, our clients’ successes, and the successes of their clients.
Humility
Above all else, we are thankful for our expanding opportunity to serve.

Leadership Team

Our seasoned leaders are committed to turning you into your area’s leading financial services authority. Impact’s practice development process is simple: You set your goals, we help you get there, then we’ll help you reach higher. Meet some of the people who will help you make that happen.

With over 15 years of industry experience, Impact CEO Stephen Odom has generated over $12.5 billion in annuity premium. Stephen enjoys spending time with his wife and three kids and can often be found on the sidelines coaching his children in basketball and baseball and cheering them on in rugby.

Stephen Odom

Chief Executive Officer

Thomas is responsible for the overall annuity sales and marketing as Impact’s President. Prior to Impact, he was involved in several technology startups and currently sits on the board of CyberLaunch and WMILT. Thomas is an avid pilot and cook.

Thomas Zebley

President

Ed Williams, Impact’s Chief Financial Officer, has over 23 years of financial experience in public companies and is a Certified Public Accountant and Chartered Global Management Accountant. When not at Impact, Ed enjoys golfing, hunting, and working in his 22.5-acre “yard.” He also received his black belt in Taekwondo at age 54.

Ed Williams

Chief Financial Officer

Kim Skouras is the COO at Impact, managing all of our business service teams to ensure we are processing advisors’ licensing and new business faster than the industry average. Prior to Impact, she worked in the banking industry for 15 years, leading various operations within fraud management departments. She enjoys time with her family and exploring state parks and hiking destinations around Atlanta.

Kim Skouras

Chief Operations Officer

Derrick Vermillion has over 20 years of experience in the financial industry, leading the compliance departments of many top firms. He is a former state securities regulator and an NASD & FINRA alumnus, as well as a member of the Association of Insurance Compliance Professionals and other industry trade organizations. Derrick is passionate about aviation and loves flying as pilot-in-command.

Derrick Vermillion

Chief Compliance Officer

Mark Richards manages our radio and TV department to deliver high-quality media opportunities for advisors to help build their credibility and drive leads. He has worked in the media industry for over 25 years at such companies as ABC Radio and Television, CBS Radio and Viacom, Cox Media, Cumulus Media, and The Walt Disney Company. Mark and his wife are longtime supporters of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee.

Mark Richards

Chief Media Officer

As Impact’s CMO, Alex oversees all of marketing, helping the team bring new solutions to advisors’ practices through referral development, digital advertising, branding, and direct mail. Before joining the Impact team, Alex specialized in high-end magazines at a national publishing firm. Originally from North Carolina, Alex enjoys cheering on the Tar Heels with her husband.

Alex House

Chief Marketing Officer

With over 20 years of experience working with technology for national and international companies, Impact’s Vice President of Technology, Kevin Sims, is responsible for overseeing the alignment of Impact Partnership’s information technology strategy, services, and operations. When he’s not working, Kevin enjoys spending as much time as he can with his wife, son, friends, and family.

Kevin Sims

SVP of Technology

Lori manages every aspect of event planning, including all advisor events and anything involving a great time. She provides advisors with exceptional experiences, whether it’s a training event or an overseas trip. Before joining Impact, Lori spent eight years as an events and promotions manager, curating specialty advisor trips. Lori is an avid traveler and enjoys exploring new places around the world.

Lori Burton

Principal Planner

Impacting Lives Logo

Impacting Lives: Making an Impact in our Community

We maximize our positive influence by partnering with charity initiatives and programs. In 2018, we officially launched our charitable initiative, Impacting Lives, to help make a difference in our community. Giving back has always been at the core of what we do, both as a company and as individuals.

Past Projects

In October 2018, we partnered with the CAYA Food Pantry in Dallas, Georgia to donate food and Thanksgiving meal kits to kick off the holiday season. Our company-wide goal was to donate 10,000 pieces of food, including 100 meal kits (which included vegetables, stuffing, gravy, and other Thanksgiving Day essentials). In just under four weeks, we shattered that goal by donating over 19,000 items to the Pantry.

Night to Shine

The Future of Impacting Lives

In 2020, Impact is proud to partner with the Tim Tebow Foundation in support of their Night to Shine program, which hosts prom events for individuals with special needs.

Past Projects

For Christmas, the Impact team worked with the Cherokee Family Violence Center to furnish apartments for women and children in need. We donated a wide range of items, from paper towels and aluminum foil to bedding and small appliances like microwaves and coffee makers. Together we were able to furnish 13 apartments with living essentials.

The Impact Story

Since the beginning, our team has been breaking barriers and revolutionizing the financial services industry. Take a look at some of our more notable achievements.

July 2011

Opened for business

October 2011

Established partnership with Fox Business

April 2012

First in-house radio studio constructed

October 2013

Established partnership with Fortune

January 2013

Unveiled in-house direct mail program

January 2014

Established partnership with Money.com

November 2014

Tenth in-house radio studio constructed

2014

Recipient of American Graphic Design Award

2015

Passed $1 billion in annuity premium in a calendar year

2015

Chosen as one of Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Companies

August 2015

Debuted in-house TV team

November 2015

Opened our $1 million state-of-the-art television studio

January 2016

Established partnership with Lincoln

November 2016

Launched digital marketing program

April 2016

Established partnership with CNN Money

December 2017

Received 4 Marcom Awards

January 2018

Established partnership with Forbes

May 2018

Debuted Lincoln-Impact Advantage

December 2018

Received 3 Marcom Awards

January 2019

Launched retirement education course program

March 2019

Awarded Top 100 Workplaces by Atlanta Journal-Constitution

October 2019

Received 4 Marcom Awards