Jerry Yaekel
Principal/President
Jerry began his insurance career in 1987 with United Life Insurance Company of America, quickly transitioning from sales to management. In 1991, Jerry joined Yaekel & Associates as a producer…..
Principal/Vice President
Jill has been in the insurance industry since joining Yaekel & Associates in January, 1994, where she manages the daily operations, oversees large Commercial Accounts and handles all accounting functions. Jill earned a B.S.
Producer, Trucking
Jeff Biermann has been with Yaekel & Associates since 2004, when he started their Truck/Transportation department. He has worked in the commercial insurance industry for nearly the past twenty years.
Brent Pieper
Producer, Employee Benefits, Health
A graduate of Truman State University, Brent’s career began with General American Life, handling special employer risks such as Phillips Petroleum, Anhueser-Busch and McDonnell Douglas.
Kaye Tuttle
Account Manager, Personal Lines
Kaye has been in the insurance industry since 1997 in Fargo, ND. She joined Yaekel & Associates in 2005, specializing in personal insurance. Kaye has an Associates degree in Sales, Marketing and Management.
Peggy Strong
Small Account Manager, Commercial Lines
Peggy has been in the insurance business since 1982, both in the brokerage and agency side, with emphasis on commercial. She came to Yaekel & Associates in 2006 as a Commercial CSR.
Kevin Benson
Producer, Commercial Lines
Kevin began his insurance career when joining Yaekel & Associates in 2007. He works with clients both personally and professionally on asset protection. Kevin is very active in Business Network International…..
Lori Pirson
Account Manager, Personal Lines
Lori has worked in Personal insurance since 1991, joining Yaekel & Associates in 2007. Lori is a Belleville native, spending 6 years in Arizona before moving back to Belleville in 1997.
Producer, Commercial Lines
After graduating from Western Illinois University, Bryan taught school for 2 years. He left teaching to enter the sales field, working for a debit insurance company, Rockford Life, for almost 3 years.
Sharon Castillo, CISR, CIC
Mid Size Account Manager, Commercial Lines
Sharon began her insurance career in 2000. She has been with Yaekel & Associates since 2013. She earned her Certified Insurance Counselor designation, CIC, in 2009.
Jim Lynch
Producer, Commercial Lines
Jim earned a B.S. in Business from Eastern Illinois University in 1979 and began his insurance career in March, 1983, with Federated Mutual Insurance. He retired from Federated in November, 2013 after 30 years of service…
Diane Betz, CISR
Large Account Manager, Commercial Lines
Diane joined the commercial team at Yaekel & Associates in 2015 with 18 years experience in the commercial insurance industry. In 2005 she earned the Certified Insurance Services Representative designation.
Sharon Ellsworth – Customer Service Representative, Employee Benefits/Life
Sharon joined Yaekel & Associates in September 2016. Sharon began her insurance career in 1999 and earned her CISR and CIC designations while gaining experience through various positions in both agencies and companies. She transitioned to the banking industry in 2012 where she continued to enhance her life insurance knowledge. She recently moved to Mascoutah, IL from the Peoria area with her husband Keith.
Licensed in Life/Health