Wayne L. Sumner is the founder and Chairman of the Board of Jackson Sumner & Associates. He entered the insurance industry in 1975 after graduating from Appalachian State University with a BSBA degree.

Not only has Wayne served as a past president of the NC Surplus Lines Association, but he has also served on a committee for rewriting the surplus lines license test – in 2015, Wayne was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award from the NC Surplus Lines Association. In 1997 and again in 2011 Wayne was recognized by the Independent Insurance Agents of NC (IIANC) as Company Professional of the Year and played an instrumental part in the electronic filing of Form F’s in NC.

In 2012, Wayne was awarded the Outstanding Service Award from Appalachian State University for his service and support of App State. In 2013, Wayne was honored by App State with the opening of the Wayne L. Sumner Broadcast Studio for the new home of WASU Radio.

In 2017 Wayne was recognized by the Independent Insurance Agents of South Carolina (IIABSC) as Industry Person of the Year. In 2017, Governor Roy Cooper of North Carolina honored Wayne with The Order of the Long Leaf Pine. In 2018 Wayne was awarded the Company Professional of the Year from the Independent Insurance Agents of Virginia (IIAV).

In 2023, The North Carolina Surplus Lines Association (NCSLA) and the Independent Insurance Agents of North Carolina (IIANC) and others established the Sumner Professorship in the Brantley Risk and Insurance Center at App State.

In 2025, the UNC System Board of Governors appointed Wayne to the Board of Trustees for Appalachian State University.