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
Sherry Schaffer
Director of Finance / Management Team Member
Sherry took on the role of Director of Finance in 2020 after serving as Accounting and Licensing Coordinator for 18 years at HMK. Sherry leads the agency's financing and accounting department and is a member of the HMK management team. At HMK, she handles just about every accounting function there is from accounts payable, accounts receivable, licensing, and customer service. She is also a valuable member of our leadership team helping to shape how the agency succeeds into the future.
Sherry has a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting with a minor in economics from Cedar Crest College and a Human Resource Certificate. In her spare time, you can find Sherry in a corner reading a James Patterson book. She also enjoys helping the community by donating her time to March of Dimes. She was a Big Sister in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program for 7 years.
Tara Silfies
Chief Operating Officer/ Management Team Member/ Shareholder
Tara Silfies began her career in the insurance industry when she joined HMK Insurance in 1992. Most of her time at HMK was in the role of a Commercial Lines Account Executive, and she continues to service several long-term clients. She managed the Small Business Department for several years, and then in 2013 assumed her current role as Chief Operating Officer. Her functions include managing the internal service staff and the hiring and training of new employees. She also manages and coordinates all commercial lines carrier relationships. She obtained her Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) designation in 1998. She is also currently a Board member at Insurance Agents & Brokers (IAB). She has been a long-time committee member, and currently serves as the Vice President of Administration for Celtic Cultural Alliance.
Julie Stocker
Marketing & Communications Coordinator
Julie has been with HMK since 2009 when her career in the insurance industry began. Over the years, she held several positions in Commercial Lines before taking on the role of Marketing & Communications Coordinator in 2018. Julie develops and executes targeted marketing campaigns, developes branded materials and manages the agency’s social media and website. She also oversees the marketing committee with the goal of increasing brand awareness while supporting the sales professionals in building revenue. Julie manages both internal and external communications for HMK including partnering with our parent company, Alera Group, to meet objectives. Julie has a passion for all things creative with an eye for design and a natural talent in communicating to build strong professional relationships.
Julie graduated from DeSales University with a B.A. in Communication and Public Relations. She resides in the Lehigh Valley with her husband and three crazy kids. Outside of work the thing Julie loves most is spending time with her family. She also enjoys volunteering, running, interior design, reading and the guilty pleasure of Bravo reality shows.
Ken Wycherley
Commercial Insurance Consultant
Ken Wycherley is a valuable addition to the HMK Insurance team, serving as a licensed Commercial Insurance Consultant. Ken collaborates closely with his clients to identify optimal insurance coverage solutions tailored to their unique business operations and risks. Ken brings a multifaceted background to his role, drawing from his extensive involvement in healthcare administration, human resources management, and a remarkable 20-year sales career. His sales journey has been marked by assisting companies across healthcare, education, and corporate sectors in designing and optimizing their spaces. This diverse background provides Ken with a distinctive perspective on the intricacies of business startups and day-to-day operations across various industries.
Transitioning into the insurance industry in 2020, Ken's commitment to excellence remains unwavering. He excels in providing our customers with the unwavering support and resources that define HMK Insurance. Building and nurturing strong relationships with his clients has always been a cornerstone of Ken's approach, reflecting his genuine dedication to their success.
Beyond the world of insurance, Ken enjoys spending time with his wife and 3 children and has enjoyed cheering them on, whether it is sports, theatre, band, choir, or other activities. Ken has served as an elder at his church, Sunday School teacher, small group leader, and has been involved in coaching with the Bethlehem Soccer Club.
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
2025 Healthcare and Employee Benefits Benchmarking Report: How Does Your Benefits Program Stack Up?
In this session, our experts will dive into the results of our annual, market-leading benchmarking survey.
June 26, 2025 at 01:00 pm CT | Virtual
Sign Up
Employee Benefits
Dynamic Data: Strategies for Success
Join us for this session, as our experts will share how to utilize your organization’s data to create advanced and innovative strategies for success.
July 17, 2025 at 01:00 pm CT | Virtual
Sign Up
Employee Benefits
Preparing for Open Enrollment: How to Engage and Educate Your Employees on Their Total Benefits Package
In this session, our experts will share guidance on setting yourself up for success during Open Enrollment.
August 21, 2025 at 01:00 pm CT | Virtual
Sign Up
THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
Insights
Employee Benefits
Benefits Captives: Your Business and What Your Competitors Are Doing
In one form or another, Captive Insurance has existed as a risk management solution for many decades — originally for property and casualty coverage and primarily for large employers. But its viability as a solution for employee benefits and for midsized businesses has increased dramatically in recent years, fueled by volatility in the insurance market in general and by the skyrocketing cost of health insurance in particular.
May 29, 2025
Find out more
Employee Benefits
Agencies Push Pause Button on Enforcement of MHPAEA 2024 Final Rule
On May 15, 2025, the Department of Labor, Department of Health and Human Services, and the Treasury Department (collectively, the “Agencies”) released a statement regarding the Agencies’ recent request for abeyance of a lawsuit filed by the ERISA Industry Committee (“ERIC”) in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia that challenged certain aspects of Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) Final Rule (“2024 Final Rule”) relating to nonquantitative treatment limitation comparative analyses (“NQTL analyses”).
May 16, 2025
Find out more Employee Benefits
IRS Releases 2026 HSA Contribution Limits and HDHP Deductible and Out-of-Pocket Limits
In Rev. Proc. 2025-19, the IRS released the inflation adjusted amounts for 2026 relevant to Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and high-deductible health plans (HDHPs). The table below summarizes those adjustments and other applicable limits.
May 5, 2025
Find out more Property and Casualty
Severe Weather Is Getting Worse. Is Your Business Interruption Insurance Keeping Up?
The increasing frequency and severity of weather- and climate-related events such as catastrophic storms, floods and wildfires make business continuity planning more important than ever. Part of your plan should include reviewing your organization's Business Interruption Insurance coverage.
May 5, 2025
Find out more