Jim Ricker

Founder - JT Bates Group and Ricker & Associates

With over thirty years of experience in the equipment industry, Jim founded JT Bates Group and developed Rental Equipment Protection^TM after recognizing a need for better coverage at competitive rates. Prior to this, Jim worked with John Deere, now Sentry, before moving to a career in insurance consulting. He now consults as a Program Development and Procurement Specialist for national accounts.
jgripro@gmail.com

Jayme Bates

Chief Executive Officer

Jayme has over 13 years of experience as an insurance producer and an extensive background in accounting and contracts. In her new role as the Chief Executive Officer for JT Bates Group, she is honored to be a part of the family legacy. Her dedication to the dealers she works with truly sets Jayme apart from other entrepreneurs in this industry.
jbates@jtbatesgroup.com

Brad Bates

Chief Information Officer

After helping Reagan defeat the commies in the 80s, Brad started his journey into technology.

He loves: Jesus and his Family
brad@jtbatesgroup.com

Miriah Smith

Director of Operations

Miriah came on board with JT Bates Group with over twenty years of management experience. She has definitely put that experience to good use at JT Bates Group, overseeing Operations, and the Compliance Services Team.
Miriah keeps her hands full while not working as well, juggling four children and their new puppy, Marlie, with her husband.
miriah@jtbatesgroup.com

Seth Hird

Director of Sales and Marketing

In the fall of 2019, Seth joined our team as a marketing intern. In 2022, he was promoted to Marketing Manager and is loving his job. When not at work, he can be found with his wife and daughter!

Chad Warren

Corporate Chaplain

Chad was appointed the JT Bates Group Corporate Chaplain in January of 2020. Since graduating from Oregon State in 2004, he has operated in many different ministerial and educational roles across the United States. Chad lives with his wife and three children in Montana.
chad@jtbatesgroup.com

Allison Dorco

Claims Manager

Allison began her career with JT Bates Group in 2018. She is a licensed property and casualty insurance agent. When she isn’t working, Allison enjoys spending time with her husband, two daughters, and Luna the yellow lab.
allison@jtbatesgroup.com

Jessica Heinrichs

Operations Manager

Jessica joined JT Bates Group with over a decade of critical incident, management, and law enforcement experience. Her attention to detail is vital to our company and our customers. Jessica keeps her hands full while not working as well with her husband, 5yr old twins, 2 cats, 1 dogs, and a partridge in a pear tree.
jheinrichs@jtbatesgroup.com

Polly Marmon

Senior Compliance Service Administrator

In 2014, Polly joined the JT Bates Group team as a certificate administrator. In 2020, she was promoted to Compliance Services Team Lead. When she's not working, she spends as much time as possible with her three wonderful grandkids!
polly@jtbatesgroup.com

Nick Latta

National Sales Executive

Nick joined the JT Bates Group team in August of 2020. He first learned about REP while working as a rental coordinator for a large equipment dealership. Since joining JT Bates has become an expert in helping dealerships solve their coverage problems. Nick lives in Missouri with his wife Mallory and their two daughters.
nick@jtbatesgroup.com

Caden Ueckert

National Sales Executive

Caden joined the JT Bates Group team in October of 2021. He attended Texas A&M and received his degree from Mays Business School in Professional Sales. Caden enjoys hunting and fly fishing in his free time, as well as Aggie football. Caden is married to his wife, Kylie, and lives in College station, Texas.
caden@jtbatesgroup.com

Ryan Allison

Senior Developer

Ryan joined the JT Bates Group team in 2018. He's been working in web development since graduating from Baylor University in 2011. As their Senior Software Engineer, he enjoys building systems that makes the lives of their customers easier. You can usually find Ryan supporting the Baylor Bears football team with his wife, Ashton, and 2 kids.
ryan@jtbatesgroup.com

Audrey Templeton

Business Analyst / IT Project Manager

Audrey joined JT Bates in 2021 after more than 20 years as a software developer with The University of Texas at Austin. As the Business Analyst/Project Manager for IT, she is working to streamline our processes and increase our productivity. When she is not working, Audrey enjoys serving in the Music Ministry at her church and spending time with her 3 daughters and 3 grandchildren.
atempleton@jtbatesgroup.com

Beth Staines

Administrator

Beth joined JT Bates in 2022. She is a wife and mom of 3 boys. When not at work, Beth loves having coffee dates with her husband, cuddling her miniature dachshund Benny, and watching her boys play all the sports.
bstaines@jtbatesgroup.com

Debbie Grey

Administrator

Debbie joined the JT Bates Group team in 2014. Her background is in customer service, data entry and office management. Debbie loves spending time with her family and friends and enjoys the beach, watching her sports teams, listening to music and talk radio.
debbie@jtbatesgroup.com

Jessica Wright

Administrator

Jessica joined the JT Bates Group in April of 2023. When not working, Jessica loves spending quality time with family and friends, catching up on NBA games, serving in the Music Ministry, and playing bass guitar for a local Gospel band.

Kali Akau-Jones

Administrator

Kali joined JT Bates Group in 2024. She is a mom to a full-spirited and beautiful daughter, and happily married to her husband from Hawaii. They love to fill their days with adventure. In Kali's free time, she enjoys reading and going to the gym. She also does photography on the side, her favorite model being her daughter. The most important things to her are her beliefs in God, her family, and trying to make sure her home is filled with love and laughter.

Kim Bretches

Administrator

Kim joined the JT Bates team in 2022. She is a wife and a mother of 3. When not at work, Kim enjoys spending time with family, watching her children play sports and is a youth leader at her church.
kbretches@jtbatesgroup.com

Kristin Herrin

Administrator

Kristin began her career with JT Bates group in December of 2020. She spent numerous years working for local schools and non-profits in Central Texas. When she isn't working, Kristin spends her time with her husband and four children, usually at a ball field catching a game, listening to live music or in the kitchen baking with her kids.
kherrin@jtbatesgroup.com

Shauna Fedj

Administrator

Shauna joined the JT Bates Group team in 2021 as an executive assistant. When she isn't working she loves to spend time with her Husband and two children. GO BUCKS!

shauna@jtbatesgroup.com

Shirley Miller

Administrator

Shirley, started working with JT Bates three years ago as a contractor certificate administrator. Her background is in office management, legal secretary, real estate and property manager. She's made customer service the theme of her work history! She has two children and two grandchildren. She loves traveling, gardening, and reading.
smiller@jtbatesgroup.com

Jasmine Cruz

Administrator

Jasmine joined our team in the fall of 2023. When not working, she can be found with her Fiance and son. She enjoys her Sunday dinners and game nights with friends and family.
jasmine@jtbatesgroup.com

Sarah Tucker

Administrator

Sarah began her career with the JT Bates team in 2023. She is a wife and mother to 4 kids. In her free time, she likes to spend her time with family, and in the kitchen baking.
sarah@jtbatesgroup.com

Mary Gaxiola

Administrator

Mary joined the JT Bates team in 2024 as an administrator with an extensive background in Education. While she isn’t working, Mary enjoys spending time with her husband and two children. Some of her hobbies include reading, camping, and supporting her children on the ball field and at band concerts.
mary@jtbatesgroup.com

Hailey Folsom

Claims Advocate

Hailey joined the JT Bates Group team in 2022. She graduated from Texas A&M University in 2021 with a degree in Marketing. After graduating she spent time in Louisville, Kentucky studying theology at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. She plans to finish her masters online and hopes it will equip her to serve the local church in a greater capacity. Hailey enjoys baking, designing, spending time with her family and friends, and hiking in the great outdoors with her husband, Bennett.
hfolsom@jtbatesgroup.com

Julie Scott

Rental Shield Specialist

Julie is happily married to her husband, and they have two boys, two dogs. She spend a lot of time with family and enjoys traveling for her oldest child's baseball adventures!
jscott@jtbatesgroup.com

Lauren Laing

Executive Assistant

Haiden Ueckert

Controller

Haiden joined the JT Bates Group team in September 2023. She graduated from Texas A&M University in 2018 with a Bachelors in Accounting and Masters in Marketing. Haiden enjoys baking all things sourdough and being outdoors with her husband, Weston, and two children. During the fall, you can find Haiden at Kyle field cheering on the Aggies
Haiden@JTBatesGroup.com

Trisha Jones

Executive Assistant

Trisha joined JT Bates Group earlier this year in February 2023. She is a new mom to her spirited and fun-loving baby boy and 2 fur babies. When she is not working, she loves spending time with her family and friends cooking, relaxing and watching her favorite team the TCU horned Frogs which also happens to be her Alma Mater. She also loves traveling and experiencing new places, cultures and cuisines.
trisha@jtbatesgroup.com