10/07/2026
Women in Business: Amy Crowley & Leslie Blakely
For Amy Crowley, insurance is personal. During her seven years working in insurance, the last year and a half spent as an Associate Agent with Alfa Insurance, Jason Bailey Agency, she has built her work around understanding what matters to the people she serves and helping them protect what they have worked hard to build.
Amy enjoys that no two clients, or their needs, are exactly alike. She takes pride in making insurance feel less complicated, taking time to listen, explain options, and help individuals, families, and businesses find coverage that fits their circumstances.
More than simply providing a policy, Amy wants to become someone her clients know they can turn to for guidance. Her goal is for each person to leave a conversation feeling heard, valued and confident they have someone in their corner.
That people-first philosophy is reflected in advice that has stayed with her throughout her career: “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” For Amy, success is measured not only in business, but in the relationships she develops along the way.
Outside the office, Amy enjoys time with family and friends and supporting the local businesses and people who make Starkville home. She especially appreciates watching families put down roots and seeing a community continually show up for one another.
After 28 years in the insurance industry, Leslie Blakely still enjoys talking about insurance and, even more, helping people understand it.
For the past 11 years, Leslie has served as an agent with Alfa Insurance, Jason Bailey Agency, assisting clients with home, auto, life and business coverage. Her years of experience allow her to help both new and longtime customers navigate everything from comparing coverage and rates to new purchases, policy changes and claims.
Some of Leslie’s favorite conversations happen during life’s “firsts.” She particularly enjoys working with young couples purchasing their first home or vehicle and having the opportunity to explain their coverage rather than simply handing them a policy. Helping someone secure life insurance while they are young and healthy is another part of the job she finds especially rewarding.
Above all, Leslie wants clients to know she cares about them and will be there to help whenever she can. It is a straightforward approach that reflects the advice she tries to live by: “Always stay humble and kind.”
Away from work, Leslie loves spending time with her family and cooking. And when it comes to Starkville, one quality stands out: “I love the way Starkville celebrates!” Whether the occasion is big or small, she appreciates living in a town where people show up.
