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
Thomas Hartzell
Vice President/ ShareholderTom Hartzell joined HMK in 1979 following his graduation from Lehigh University. Tom received his CPCU (Chartered Property & Casualty Underwriter) designation in 1990, and his CIC (Certified Insurance Counselor) designation in 2013. He serves as a member of the management team at our firm and works with several producers in managing and servicing the insurance programs for many of our largest and key accounts. Tom combines decades of experience, a service focused attitude and a detail oriented personality in order to provide exceptional results for our clients.
Tom is an active member and Past President of the Bethlehem Morning Star Rotary, Treasurer & Finance Chairperson for St. Stephen’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Bethlehem, a chairperson for Habitat for Humanity, and an Executive Committee Member for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Tom is an avid professional sports fan (especially Philadelphia teams!).
Holly Hutterer
Commercial Insurance ConsultantHolly is a Commercial Insurance Advisor with 6 years’ experience in insurance industry. Her background includes 15 years in the hospitality industry and 6 years working in mailing and logistics. Holly has her Certified Insurance Service Representative (CISR) designation. She is dedicated in her commitment to do right by her clients. Holly excels as an advisor because of her excellent listening skills and her compassion for clients. She truly cares about finding the right coverage for those who have trusted her with their business.
Holly grew up in the Lehigh Valley and currently resides with her husband in Catasauqua. She has two daughters and two step-daughters. Outside of her professional life, Holly has a passion for golfing, physical fitness and baking.
Kara Kochenash
Senior Account ManagerIn 2018, Kara Kochenash became a valued member of the HMK Insurance team, leveraging her comprehensive three-year background within the insurance sector. Serving as a dedicated Commercial Insurance Account Manager, Kara's focus revolves around prominent construction clientele. Here, she adeptly tends to clients' coverage requisites and skillfully negotiates competitive terms, ensuring the optimal configuration of individual insurance programs.
Kara holds a license as a Property & Casualty insurance agent and her academic foundation is rooted in Risk Management & Insurance, a discipline she pursued at Temple University's Fox School of Business.
Outside of her professional pursuits, Kara is a Lehigh Valley resident, finding joy in traveling with her cherished family and friends. She spends her summers soaking in the New Jersey shore in Avalon, NJ.
Timothy Kurtz
Senior PartnerTim has been with HMK Insurance since 1996 and became a Principal Owner of the agency in 1998. In 2001 he was named Vice President, became President/Managing Partner in July 2018, and Senior Partner in July 2023. His responsibilities include sales and service of larger commercial accounts in the construction, manufacturing, and technology industries along with helping to maintain agency-carrier relations and mentoring younger sales producers and agency staff. Prior to joining HMK, Tim worked as a Specialist in the Financial Services Division of St. Paul Fire & Marine Insurance Co. for five years underwriting financial institutions’ bonds, D&O, and property/casualty coverages. He started his insurance career in 1988 as a Senior Underwriter with Liberty Mutual. Tim is a graduate of Bloomsburg University and Parkland High School.
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
EXPERT EDUCATION
Events and Webinars
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
Sign UpEmployee 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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When Captive Insurance Makes Sense
In this session, our experts will talk about how captives work, the advantages and disadvantages and what you need to know to determine whether they make sense for your organization.
November 21, 2024 at 01:00 pm CT | Virtual
Sign UpTHOUGHT LEADERSHIP
Insights
Property and Casualty
General Liability Insurance in 2024: Navigating a Complex Landscape
While some aspects of General Liability Insurance have largely turned a corner from a prolonged hard market, the outlook in other areas looks much less cheery. Overall, the market has finally improved after several challenging years, offering signs of stabilization.
September 12, 2024
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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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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 Creditability 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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