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Meet Our Professional Staff 
Bart Hartauer - Owner
Bart Hartauer of LaSalle has been a licensed insurance provider since 1985 after graduating from Illinois State University. After graduation, Bart started working at Hartauer Insurance with his father Jack Hartauer. Over the years, Jack mentored Bart on the importance of trust when selling products and building relationships. Bart purchased the business in 1989 and became the sole owner. Since becoming owner, Bart has run the company with the mindset of doing business the right way and has continued to grow the business. Bart is currently serving as president of the LaSalle Business Association and regional director of the Independent Insurance Agents of Illinois (IIAI). He has served as past president of the Sunrise Rotary Club, Treasurer of LaSalle Little League, and serves on several insurance agency councils. Bart enjoys supporting his Alma Mater, Illinois State University, along with the Chicago Bears, the Blackhawks, the Bulls, and foremost, the St. Louis Cardinals. Bart has been married to his wife Katie for 30 years. They have two children Catherine and Luke. Catherine is studying at the University of Southern Florida in Tampa, while Luke recently completed service in the Peace Corps in Guinea, West Africa. Email: [email protected]
Gretchen Robertson, Office Manager/Producer
Gretchen began her career in the insurance industry with her father, John A. Hartauer, founder of Hartauer Insurance Agency. In 1973, fourteen years later, her brother Bart joined the agency following his graduation from college. Gretchen has been licensed in Property and Casualty and Life and Health since 1984. Gretchen’s goal has always been to create a positive working relationship between clients and the agency. Gretchen resides in LaSalle with her husband Gary. She is the mother of two children and a grandmother to five grandchildren. Gretchen enjoys spending time with her family and friends. Email: [email protected]
Kendra Stiel - Commercial & Personal Lines CSR, Producer, Sales
Kendra has lived and worked in the Illinois Valley for most of her life. After graduating from Western Illinois University, she came back home and sold radio advertising for three years. When her father bought Hummer Insurance Agency in 1988, she joined him and her sister and started her career in insurance. In 2012, they sold their agency and joined Hartauer Insurance where she works with both commercial and personal lines clients, as well as specializing in life insurance sales. She's a proud resident of LaSalle and stays active in the community as a member of LaSalle Rotary Club and is a past President and Board Member of United Way of Illinois Valley. She also volunteers for the Horizon House Road to Independence Campaign. Kendra and her husband Jeff are the proud parents of two children, Jacob and Brandon. They look forward each year to their vacation up North to fish, relax, and enjoy a good book. Email: [email protected]
Beckey Oscepinski - Personal Lines CSR, Producer
Beckey has been in the insurance industry since 1990. She is licensed in Property and Casualty and Life and Health. She is a proud mother of three children - Jessica, Mason, and Austin. She enjoys spending time with family and friends. Email: [email protected]
Laura Munson - Personal & Commercial Lines Claims
Laura joined Hartauer Insurance in 2000. She has worked in the insurance industry since 1991 as a claims adjuster after earning her bachelor’s degree in Marketing from Illinois State University. Since earning her Property and Casualty license in 1999, she has been assisting customers in reporting claims for homeowner and automobile losses. Laura enjoys hiking, reading, listening to live music and spending time with family and friends. Email: [email protected]
Karen Grotti - Personal Lines CSR, Producer
Karen Grotti is a CSR/Producer at Hartauer Insurance Agency. Karen began her insurance career in 1987 when she joined her father Paul Kmitta at the Hummer Insurance Agency in LaSalle. Karen and her sister Kendra Stiel took over for their father in 1995 and ran the agency until they sold it to Hartauer Insurance in 2012. Karen graduated from LaSalle-Peru High School and Illinois Valley Community College. She earned a nursing degree from IVCC and worked as an RN at IVCH for ten years before changing careers for the insurance industry. Karen has three grown children, two local and one in Colorado, and three grandchildren. She loves to travel, especially to Colorado, and enjoys reading and spending time with family. Karen is licensed in both property and casualty and life and health for sales and service to clients. Email: [email protected]
Neal Hodges - Agent, Sales
Neal joined Hartauer Insurance in 2015 as an agent after earning his bachelor’s degree from Saint Ambrose University. Neal believes in building strong relationships and long-term partnerships with all his clients. Since joining the agency, Neal has been dedicated and focused on providing families and businesses the correct insurance program at the most competitive premium available. Also specializing in Life Insurance, Neal is a Pekin Life Insurance Inner Circle Lifetime member. Born and raised in the Illinois Valley, Neal is a graduate of Saint Bede Academy. Outside of the office, he is a member and Ambassador for the Illinois Valley Chamber of Commerce and is a board member for the Horizon House and IV LEADS. Neal enjoys spending his free time with his wife Kendall and two sons Harlen and Greyson. Email: [email protected]
Debbie Quesse - Commercial Lines CSR, Producer
Deb started her insurance career at Duncan Insurance in 1979. She is licensed in both Property and Casualty Insurance and specializes in commercial lines. After many years in the business, she enjoys helping current clients and strives to maintain their level of trust with the agency. Deb lives in LaSalle with her husband Gary. Email: [email protected]
Judy Green - Commercial Lines CSR, Producer
Judy joined the Hartauer Insurance Agency in February of 1999. She has worked in the insurance industry since 1974 and became a licensed in Property and Casualty in 1982. She specializes in all aspects of commercial insurance. She also endeavors to bring quality service to each of her clients by putting the needs of the clients first and providing good customer service. Email: [email protected]
Lisa DiCarlo - Secretary
Lisa started her career at age 17 as a secretary in the Area Vocational Center (now Area Career Center) at LaSalle-Peru High School. She has worked various jobs from then until now, including working for two different newspapers in the area. She joined Hartauer Insurance in 2003. She was born and raised in Peru, IL. She has lived in Spring Valley and Cherry but has come home to Peru to stay. She attended Roosevelt Grade School, Washington Jr. High and LP High School, graduating in 1988. She then attended IVCC for two years where she majored in English. Her lifelong dream of becoming an author came true when her book The Decoy was published. Lisa loves the Chicago Cubs, the LP Cavaliers, Barry Manilow, reading, going to thrift stores, and spoiling her special needs rescue cats. Email: [email protected]
Mike Gonet - Agent, Sales
Mike has been working as an independent insurance agent since 1979. He began his career in a family insurance business handling multiple lines for individuals and businesses. They recently combined their agency with Hartauer Insurance Agency and continue to represent clients and their insurance needs. He has lived and worked in the Illinois Valley area for over 60 years. Mike and his wife have four children and eight grandchildren that keep them busy in their spare time. Mike has held past and present memberships in many community organizations including youth sports, church, and was a past director of Illinois Independent Agents Association. Mike has an Associates Degree from Illinois Valley Community College, a bachelor’s degree in Finance from Western Illinois University, and a Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) designation. Email: [email protected]
Carly Gonet - Commercial Lines CSR, Producer
Carly joined Hartauer Insurance Agency in 2018 after graduating from Monmouth College with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. She is licensed in both Property and Casualty and is a commercial lines CSR. She comes from a family with multiple generations that have worked in the insurance industry and takes pride in carrying on the family tradition. Carly enjoys playing golf and spending time with her family, friends and 3 dogs. Email: [email protected]
Zack Giovanine - Agent, Sales
Zack joined Hartauer Insurance Agency in 2018 as an agent after earning bachelor’s degrees in Finance and Insurance from Illinois State University. Before joining the Hartauer Insurance team, Zack worked multiple internships in the insurance industry, which allowed him to learn the insurance business from all sides. Zack prides himself on building strong relationships with his clients and making sure he is always available if his clients need him. Outside of the office, Zack is an active member of the community as a member of Peru Rotary Club and IV LEADS. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with family and friends and is an avid fan of the Chicago Cubs and Las Vegas Raiders. Email: [email protected]
Janette Marie - Personal Lines CSR, Producer, Sales
Janette began her career selling cars and working as a personal banker. She believes that both industries have helped her transition into the insurance world. Before moving to Hartauer in February of 2020, she worked for State Farm in personal and commercial lines. She feels that it has been rewarding to work with a seasoned team with so much insight in this complex industry. She was raised in Ottawa and was heavily involved with the arts and percussion performance while attending Ottawa High School and IVCC. After graduating from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, Janette lived in California for six years before moving back to plant roots in Oglesby. Janette received her BA in Cinema and Photography from SIUC and is a licensed insurance producer. She aspires to help people understand their policies and feel confident in their decisions. Janette enjoys practicing yoga and attending live music concerts. She values helping others by being an American Red Cross blood donor. Email: [email protected]
Anna Derango - Clerical
Anna is the youngest of three children. She graduated from LaSalle-Peru High School with the class of 2020, and is attending the University of Illinois to study finance. She has lived in Peru since 2004 and has grown up rooting for the Chicago White Sox and Blackhawks. She loves spending time with family and friends and playing with her dogs. Email: [email protected] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
