Business partners and now Brightway agency owners Gilles Gillesen and Bill Thomas recently opened Brightway, the Gillesen and Thomas Agency, in Wellington.
“Opening a Brightway Insurance agency in our community gives us a meaningful way to help our friends and neighbors protect their financial futures, and Brightway provides a model and suite of support that help us do that with an unparalleled level of customer focus,” Thomas said. “It’s a real win for local consumers because they now have access to more choices of insurance brands and expert counsel.”
An attorney in Florida and New York, Thomas has been practicing real estate law and advising clients on obtaining necessary insurance coverage for their business and personal needs for 18 years. He is also the owner of a real estate brokerage that sells businesses and recently published a book that is a how-to guide for training new business brokers titled The Six Figure Business Broker.
Born and raised in New York, Thomas went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in political science from Queens College and a law degree from St. John’s University. Thomas and wife Aleyka have one daughter. They have lived in Wellington for 13 years and enjoy playing golf and watching horse shows and polo matches together. Thomas is also an airplane pilot and instructor.
A native of Norway, Gillesen brings 20 years of business ownership and commerce experience to Brightway. He moved to South Florida three years ago. Gillesen studied at Aalesund University College. He speaks English and Norwegian, and in 2010, Ernst & Young named him the Mid-Norway Entrepreneur of the Year.
Gillesen and Thomas look forward to building a business enterprise through Brightway. Brightway, the Gillesen and Thomas Agency, is located at 3380 Fairlane Farms Road, Suite 1, in Wellington. The agency offers customized home, condo, renters, auto, flood, RV, motorcycle, boat, life and umbrella insurance policies from numerous insurance brands. Hours of operation are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Learn more at www.brightwaygillesenthomas.com or call (561) 331-6652.
