Our Team

Maxwell Merhar (Max)

Max is the Vice President of The Merhar Agency and is third a generation agent. He continues the Merhar family tradition of protecting the financial well being of the agency’s clients.

Max was born and raised in Willoughby, graduating from Willoughby South in 2006. After high school he continued on to Kent State University, where he earned his Bachelor Degree. During his time at Kent, Max became a member of the Zeta Lambda Chapter of the Sigma Chi Fraternity, where he preformed his duties a Risk Manager. While in college Max obtained his Property and Casualty and his Life and Health insurance licenses.

A few years after graduating college Max married his college sweetheart Leah Campbell, and they now have two beautiful children. During his free time Max, enjoys spending time outdoors with his family hiking, fishing, golfing and riding ATV’s.

Mike Merhar

Mike took over as the Agency Principal of the Merhar Agency from his father Jerry in 2013, continuing the family tradition of providing trusted insurance and financial advice to our clients throughout Ohio and Pennsylvania. With his younger brother Max as a partner they look to continue to grow and expand the Agency and provide needed advice and protection well into the future.

Mike has spent the majority of his life in Willoughby. After graduating from Willoughby South in 2002 Mike went on to attend Kent State University. Knowing early on that he wanted to follow in his fathers footsteps Mike obtained his Property and Casualty and Life and Health Insurance Licenses after during a summer break from college and began to work in the agency on weekends and summer breaks. While at Kent State Mike became a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity and graduated Magna cum Laude with degrees in Marketing and Business Management.

Mike still lives in Willoughby and tries to remain active in the community and loves to give back whenever possible. Mike gives his time a number of local boards and committees. Notably he is on the Willoughby Board of Zoning Appeals, Willoughby-Eastlake School Board, and the Lake County Republican Central Committee.

Mike enjoys spending time with his family, and absolutely LOVES being an Uncle to Max’s children. He is an avid yet poor golfer and a diehard Cleveland Sports fan and still looking for that special woman to settle down with.

Darlene (Noda) Phillips (Dar)

Although you can’t tell by her picture, Darlene has the most insurance experience in the Merhar Agency. She started in 1972, working after school, at her father, Jerry Noda’s Nationwide Agency, in Eastlake, Ohio. When her father retired to Florida in 2000, Darlene brought her insurance skills and customer care to the Merhar Agency, as Office Manager.

Darlene loves our customers like family and spends much of her day looking for ways to save this family on their insurance cost. When you speak with Dar, you realize that you are part of her family.

Darlene is married to her husband Ernie, has two grown sons and four grandchildren, all still living in the Lake County area. Darlene’s life, outside the office, centers around her family and her church

Betty Denholm

Betty arrived at the Merhar Agency with her best friend Darlene. Betty had worked for many years, with Darlene, at the Gerald Noda Agency. Betty continued her position with the Merhar Agency, as a customer service representative and Darlene’s right hand and assistant.

Betty lives in Highland Heights with her retire insurance agent husband, John. Betty and John have three grown children and eight grandchildren.

Brittany Thomas

Brittany is the Administrative Assistant at The Merhar Agency. As most of you may already know, she is the first voice you hear when you enter or contact the office. She strives, with every call and contact, to help our clients receive the best possible care from start to finish.. Recently, in 2019, she started her career in insurance with the Merhar Agency. In the last year, she has been introduced to the ins and outs of the insurance business.

Before she started at the Merhar Agency, she had been given a basic understanding of the insurance business from her grandmother. Brittany’s grandmother worked many years for a local agent, and Brittany would spend most of her summer days along side her grandmother, in the office. She taught her the importance of treating the customers as family and friends. Brittany is a long time resident of Willowick and enjoys helping her local neighbors!”

Bryan Noda

Bryan Noda is a fully licensed career agent. He developed his own book of business starting in 1975. Bryan enjoys helping clients and families navigate their insurance and financial needs. This industry has allowed Bryan to grow both professional relationships and personal friendships.

The Bryan Noda Agency joined forces with the Merhar Agency in 2018. Bryan is pleased to be part of a team that brings confidence to clients and the consumer buying public.

Bryan has multiple interests that include music, directing a Barbershop Chorus, fishing, tennis and golf.

Marykay Magri

Marykay Magri is a 32 year veteran in the insurance industry. Marykay was licensed in 1993 and she served as Office Manager for the Bryan Noda Agency from 1996 to the present. In June of 2018 the Noda Agency merged with and is now a satellite office of the Merhar Agency.

The best part of Marykay’s job is working with so many wonderful people, both staff and clients. Making the insurance buying experience easier and friendlier is a daily goal, along with providing outstanding customer service.

When Marykay is not being an insurance agent she loves spending time with family and friends, and “glamping” in her RV. She is looking forward to being a first time Grandma later this year.

Nancy Bain

Nancy Bain is a licensed insurance associate agent and began her career in 1996 with The Bryan Noda Agency. Nancy fulfills a vital role in consultative sales and service for the agency. She is honored and enthused to be a team member for The Merhar Agency.in Willoughby, Ohio.

Nancy's professional goal is to bring a clear understanding of policy coverages and benefits to her clients while helping them in electing their best insurance options. Her priority is in building lasting relationships both professionally and personally.

Above all, Nancy likes to keep things simple. Faith, family, and friends keep her grounded. Her role as a spouse, mother to5 children and grandmother of 9 grandchildren, have given her "lots" of opportunities to discover life's challenges but really speak to finding life's joys.