About Us
Founded in 1914, HMK Insurance offers Commercial Insurance, Employee Benefits and Personal Insurance solutions to our valued clients. Operating a successful agency for over 100 years has given us an unprecedented wealth of practical experience that we pass onto our clients. We work to solve clients problems intelligently, quickly and cost-effectively. Our commitment is to anticipate your needs and tailor solutions to protect your financial future. Through building a team of only the most knowledgeable advisors we focus on our goal of guiding our clients through the confusing maze of insurance options and requirements. HMK has always operated on the core values of building trusted relationships and that every client matters.
HMK is a founding member of Alera Group. Alera Group is the nation’s 15th largest independent insurance agency and provides us access to resources, technical expertise and best practices of a larger national firm, while maintaining local personal care and thoughtful customer service. HMK is also a founding member of the Insurance Alliance Network- a collection of premiere independent agencies working together to leverage our relationships with insurance companies to bring clients the best insurance products and services available. We position ourselves as leaders in the insurance world to ensure a high level of confidence in our expertise which sets us apart.
Meet Our Team
Kellie Eschbach
Personal Lines Manager
Kellie joined HMK in 2005 as a Personal Lines Account Executive and brought 17 years of insurance experience to her position. She was promoted to the Manager of Personal Lines in 2009 and now oversees the department and the handling of over 2,900 personal lines accounts for the agency. Kellie is definitely a “people person” and enjoys working one on one with her clients to determine the right personal insurance solutions for their needs.
Kellie is an active volunteer at HMK as well as with-in our local community. She sits on two committees with the Volunteer Center of the Lehigh Valley. Since 2006, she has coordinated an annual Halloween Party for special needs children with over 50 volunteers and 160 + children from our local community.
Todd Fox, CSP
Director of Risk Management
Todd Fox serves as the Director of Risk Management at HMK Insurance, an Alera Group Company, providing hands-on safety consulting services to our clientele. With over 17 years of experience in safety and risk management, Todd has held key roles including Senior Safety and Health Consultant at a leading workers’ compensation insurance carrier. He holds the Certified Safety Professional designation from the Board of Certified Safety Professionals and obtained his bachelor's degree in safety and environmental management from Slippery Rock University. Todd's personable nature drives his passion for assisting clients in effectively navigating risk management strategies for their organizations.
Outside of his professional life, Todd enjoys spending time with his wife and two daughters. He loves doing anything outdoors- camping, hiking, biking, skiing, ATV riding, fishing, and hunting! Todd is also active in community sports and serves as chairperson for the Penn Forest Township Recreational Park. He also coaches youth soccer for an Eastern PA Youth Soccer League.
Alan Goodrich
Commercial Insurance Consultant/ Shareholder
Alan joined HMK in 2012 when Reinhard Insurance partnered with HMK Insurance. Involved in Commercial Insurance since 1985, Alan continues to build his book of commercial clients by utilizing his extensive risk management experience and knowledge. Over the years, Alan has developed a significant emphasis with manufacturers, including plastics, metal workers, electronics and foods. Other industries served include wholesalers, veterinarians and medical/dental organizations. A graduate of Salem (WV) University, Alan has successfully earned the Chartered Property Casualty Underwriters (CPCU) and Accredited Advisor in Insurance (AAI) series industry designations. When not providing risk management programs and services, Alan enjoys traveling with his wife Maggie, playing golf and fishing with their two sons and raising their two Golden Retrievers. Alan is an avid Philly sports fan.
Susan Hartranft-Bittinger
Senior Claims Administrator
Susan started her insurance claims career in 1987 and has been with HMK since 2003 where she utilizes her 30 plus years’ experience as our Claims Manager. Susan dedicates her time to being the liaison between clients, claimants and the insurance companies we represent. She diligently works directly with adjusters to expedite and resolve both large and small claims. Susan’s strong customer service skills and understanding of the claims process allow her to excel in her position. Susan has her Certified Insurance Service Representative (CISR) designation. Susan is also the Director for the Easton Area School Board.
Resources
Risk Management Resources
- OSHA Website: https://www.osha.gov/
- OSHA Established Search: https://www.osha.gov/pls/imis/establishment.html
- OSHA eTools: https://www.osha.gov/dts/osta/oshasoft/
- Injury Tracking Application: https://www.osha.gov/injuryreporting/
- Pa Workers’ Compensation Act- https://www.dli.pa.gov/Individuals/Workers-Compensation/publications/Pages/WC%20Act/WC-Act-Landing-Page.aspx
- Initial HandS Application- https://www.hands.state.pa.us/HandS.Web/OrganizationRegistration.aspx
- HandS Re-register- https://www.hands.state.pa.us/HandS.Web/Login.aspx
Other Resources
Enroll in AblePay
Comprehensive list of carriers and links to claims sites
Mercy School for Special Learning: Outdoor Area Project
Each Spring, HMK Insurance, an Alera Group Company participates in the Volunteer Center of the Lehigh Valley’s Volunteer Challenge Project. In 2022, HMK had the honor of partnering with Mercy School for Special Learning. Mercy School provides children and young adults with special needs the best opportunity to reach their utmost potential by providing academic, art, and life skill services and support. The school needed some assistance in updating its outdoor space. HMK removed the older wooden fence around the vegetable garden and replaced it with a vinyl fence, refinished the wooden playground train, and weather-proofed the benches in the playground area. The HMK team also held fundraisers in our office with the company matching all funds raised to make sure Mercy School did not have to take on any of the costs. The entire project was a fulfilling experience for all of us at HMK. One of the most touching experiences was being invited to lunch each day by the staff and students at Mercy School and sharing meals and laughter with them.
Stronger Together Initiative
Challenging times across our country call for individuals, companies and the community to come together even while physically staying apart. To do so, HMK Insurance and The Insurance Alliance Network have joined forces with our insurance company partners to develop the Stronger Together Initiative.
As an offering of support to both our clients and our community, our agency will patronize a local eatery/restaurant by ordering meals to be delivered to our frontline healthcare and essential workers. Now more than ever, our community restaurants need our support and what better way than to supply our essential frontline heroes with a meal from one of our own partners.
By providing nourishment and business support; we hope to uplift those who need it the most. We will make it through this because we are Stronger Together.
To learn more about this important initiative and all of it’s supporters visit The Insurance Alliance Network Stronger Together webpage
2019 HMK Volunteer Challenge: Easton Neighborhood Center
HMK once again participated in the Volunteer Center of the Lehigh Valley’s annual Volunteer Challenge! This year HMK partnered with The Easton Neighborhood Center which is a local non-profit that supports the community of Easton providing community outreach, food pantry services (including an urban farm which produces 6,000 pounds of fresh produce for the pantry and beyond), and a shelter for families experiencing homelessness. HMK took on a three-part project consisting of updating the kitchen at the community center, building a level path on their urban farm and a home goods drive to provide bedding, kitchen items, bath essentials, cleaning products and window dressings for families at or entering the shelter. HMK would like to thank The Easton Neighborhood Center for all they do for the community and for partnering with us for this incredible rewarding project!
HMK Clothing Drive for The Perfect Fit
HMK partnered with The Perfect Fit For Working Women by conducting a business clothing drive in our office. One of our HMK clients volunteers at the non-profit and contacted our very own Michael Stocker letting him know of their need for women’s clothing. Michael set up the office clothing drive and delivered ten bags of clothes in support of their cause. The Perfect Fit For Working Women in run through the YWCA of Allentown and provides professional work clothes to women without the financial means to afford a suitable wardrobe.
Holiday Hope Chest Drive
HMK has been participating in the Volunteer Center of the Lehigh Valley’s Holiday Hope Chest drive for the past 9 years. Each holiday season, HMK staff members stuff wrapped shoe boxes with presents and essentials for children in need of the Lehigh Valley. Each staff volunteer is given a specific age range of child to focus on along with a suggested gift list from the Volunteer Center. Many of us look forward to this tradition each year because of the joy and impact it brings.
100th Anniversary Habitat Home Build
In celebration of HMK’s 100th Anniversary our team decided to build a home with Habitat for Humanity! Every single staff member worked 2-4 weekly shifts over 3 week period to contribute to the construction of the home in Bethlehem, Pa. Total number of hours volunteered were 504! In the end the home was occupied by a deserving Habitat-Partner Family.
EXPERT EDUCATION
Events and Webinars
Employee Benefits
Collaborative Conversations: 2025 - What to Expect and What You Need to Know
Save the date for a conversation in September where we will discuss the impending PLO changes by BOLI and the Employment Department, their impacts, and other critical considerations.
September 12, 2024 at 08:30 am PT | Virtual
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Employee Benefits
Is Tech-Enabled Brokerage Right for You?
Our experts will lay out what tech-enabled brokerage is, how it works and why it makes sense for the right organizations.
September 19, 2024 at 01:00 pm CT | Virtual
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Employee Benefits
Meeting the Needs of an Aging Workforce
Our experts will provide tips and insights about how to incorporate Medicare, menopause benefits, retirement, communications best practices and other hot topics for older workers into your program successfully and without breaking the bank.
October 17, 2024 at 01:00 pm CT | Virtual
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THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
Insights
Employee Benefits
Preparing for 2025: Creditable Coverage, Enrolling in Medicare and HSA Contributions
With significant changes coming in 2025 to creditable coverage determinations, employers and employees may have questions on what that means for them, whether they make the decision to enroll in Medicare Part D or continue to have coverage under their group health plan.
September 5, 2024
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Employee Benefits
Webinar: Better Benefits Administration and Lower Costs
If you don’t have expert assistance to guide you and your organization in the in using a sophisticated benefits portal, you’re wasting a lot of the money your business has invested — and probably frustrating the employees you mean to serve. Working with a brokerage that offers not only a leading-edge benefits portal but also year-round support and services enables your employees to seamlessly access, understand and navigate the portal, creating a positive benefits experience.
September 5, 2024
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Medicare Part D Credibility Determinations for Non-Calendar Year Plans
In 2003, the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act (MMA) added a voluntary prescription drug benefit to the Medicare program. The benefit, known as Medicare Part D or “Part D,” is an optional program for Medicare beneficiaries to access covered prescription drugs at a lower cost. In 2022, the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) was signed and set into motion changes to Part D benefits, with additional impact on employers in 2024 and 2025.
September 5, 2024
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Workers’ Compensation: Stable market with emerging challenges from mental health claims
Despite pressure from medical inflation, increases in fee schedules on medical procedures and wage inflation affecting premiums and benefits, Workers’ Compensation remains a stable and profitable line for insurers. This stability allows buyers favorable conditions, such as ample capacity and stable rates. However, a new trend is emerging: the inclusion of mental health claims as compensable workers’ compensation.
August 28, 2024
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