Meet the Pros
Darren Vermost
President, MBA, CSWC, PWCA, CISR
Darren Vermost, better known in the industry as “The Bond Guy,” has specialized in probate and guardianship bonds for more than 30 years. As the founder and driving force behind Probate Bond Pros powered by DARREN™, Darren has built a platform that combines unmatched industry expertise with groundbreaking technology to simplify and speed up the bond process for attorneys, paralegals, and fiduciaries across Florida.
Darren is the creator of DARREN™ (Digital Automated Robotic Remote Electronic Network), a proprietary bond request system that offers convenience, security, and a two-hour turnaround guarantee on most bond requests. This innovation has set a new standard for efficiency in the probate and guardianship space.
He is also a published author with two handbooks available on Amazon:
- The Personal Representative’s Handbook: A Practical Guide to Handling an Estate from Start to Finish
- The Guardianship Handbook: A Step-by-Step Guide to Court Reporting, Bonds and Beyond
Darren is currently working on his third book, focused on probate and guardianship issues for attorney’s and paralegals.
Darren’s leadership has earned national recognition. In 2025, Vermost Insurance Agency was featured as Agency of the Month on the cover of Rough Notes magazine, spotlighting the team’s commitment to innovation and client service. He also serves the community as Treasurer of the Guardian Association of Pinellas County and is a sponsor of key industry events, including the Clearwater & St. Pete Bar Probate Update Conference and the Professional Fiduciary Council of Florida.
Beyond his professional achievements, Darren is a proud graduate of the FBI Tampa Citizens Academy, an active church volunteer, and a dedicated community leader. A lifelong learner and avid reader, he is also looking forward to becoming a first-time grandfather.
Darren holds a BBA from the University of Iowa and an MBA from the University of South Florida.
Lesley Brown
Business Relationship Manager
Lesley Brown serves as the Business Relationship Manager for Probate Bond Pros at Vermost Insurance, where she supports current clients with their bonding needs and actively builds relationships with new law firms and guardians. Her journey with Vermost began as the Director of First Impressions—a role where she greeted clients, answered phones, and tried to keep the office organized.
In October 2024, Lesley transitioned into the Probate Bond Pros division, bringing her exceptional people skills and dedication to client service.
Outside of work, Lesley enjoys spending time with her family and two dogs, diving into true crime documentaries, getting lost in a good book, and traveling. With loved ones in Long Island and Iowa, she’s always on the lookout for her next flight to visit them.
Ronnie Sparkman
Bond Processing Specialist
Ronnie is born and raised right here in sunny Largo, Florida! After spending more than 5 years in customer service, he transitioned into the insurance industry with Probate Bond Pro’s in June of 2025. With Probate Bond Pros, Ronnie focuses on issuing and managing bonds while communicating and assisting others with their Probate/Guardianship bond needs.
Outside of Probate Bond Pros, you can find Ronnie spending time with family, playing Magic: The Gathering at his local game shop, or listening to some music at his favorite venues. If the Florida conditions are just right, you can also find him fishing the Skyway, taking a walk through a local park, or taking in that Florida sunshine somewhere!