Benefitting Others
By Jake Herr

Tell us a little bit about yourself. Where are you from, and what is your background?
Born and raised in Lancaster County, PA, I am a Penn Manor graduate and York College of Pennsylvania alum where I earned my Bachelor of Business Administration in Entrepreneurship & Innovation with a minor in Marketing. As a south-central PA native, you best believe that I am a huge Eagles and Phillies fan.

What is your current role, and what does your work involve on a day-to-day basis?
My role at Harding-Yost Insurance (HYI) is focused on partnering with businesses across industries to develop customized benefits solutions that support both employers and their employees. As an Employee Benefits Strategic Advisor, I work closely with clients to understand their goals, identify coverage needs, and create strategic benefits programs that help businesses attract, retain, and care for their workforce.

The role provides a lot of flexibility, as I frequently travel to meet with clients and prospects. One of the best parts of my job is touring client operations, like manufacturing facilities, which are especially interesting to walk through.

Can you walk us through your career journey and what led you to where you are today?
During a career fair at York College in my junior year, I connected with Aflac and accepted a role focused on helping employers implement worksite insurance programs. I became licensed and entered the industry as a 1099 sales representative, earning the “Rising Star” award within my first year.

My journey took an interesting turn because my senior year of college was 2020 — the year COVID changed everything. At the time, I was pitching for the Spartans baseball team and theseason ended abruptly, only about a quarter of the way through,while we were on the road in Virginia playing Randolph-Macon College.

I wanted to keep my foot in the insurance industry, but financially it was challenging as a 1099 sales representativeduring COVID. During that time, I worked at Plough in Lancaster City for nearly two years. I loved the experience and enjoyed learning from Chef Ryan McQuillan, who taught me a lot about cooking and hospitality that still helps me in my role today with client relations.

Knowing that chapter was temporary, I pursued more stability and accepted an opportunity with Colonial Life in a newly created broker-focused role tailored to me. It gave me the opportunity to learn the broker side of the industry early in my career while working alongside top professionals within the company and landed in the top-3 representatives of the entire tri-state region for production.

Over time, I realized the product lines I worked in were often lower on brokers’ priority lists compared to medical benefits. Through conversations and guidance from local recruiter, Nikki Brandt, I found my opportunity at HYI. Moving from the carrier side to the broker side allowed me to build a book of business, join a growing team, and remain part of a privately-owned organization.

What drew you to the work you are doing now?
I always wanted to work in consulting and collaborate directly with people, but as a recent graduate I did not have senior-level experience. Having the opportunity today to help organizations manage one of their top expenses, often among the top two or three items on their financial statements, has been a full-circle experience. I think my college senior-year self would be proud.

What do you enjoy most about serving the Lancaster community through your role?
I enjoy hearing people’s stories and seeing life through their perspective as much as possible. Lancaster has built a community that is vibrant, clean, safe, and growing, and it is something we should all be proud of.

Through HYI, we sponsor and participate in many local events, and I appreciate working for an employer that gives its team the flexibility to stay involved and make a difference. These opportunities provide me with the chance to stay connected to the community that I love to serve.

What is one lesson you have learned in your career so far that has helped shape the way you lead or work with others?
A lesson that I’ve learned in my career is that your path should not be defined by others. People often tend to give advice or opinions based on their own experiences, fears, ambitions, or what benefits them personally, but not necessarily what is best for you. While change is not a bad thing, major decisions should be thought through, pressure-tested, and evaluated for their long-term ripple effects.

Who has been a mentor or major influence in your life or career?
I have two great mentors that have influenced my career greatly. The first is Matt Kuntz, who was my direct manager at Colonial Life and helped build out the exploratory role I entered. He always listened, never allowed me to settle, and consistently held me to a high standard. He taught me the importance of work-life balance early in my career, along with the value of relationships and being prepared enough to be dangerous.

My current mentor is Jim Diller, who I have worked directly with for years at Harding-Yost Insurance. Through his experience advising clients, he has instilled the mindset of asking, “What else can I do to help this client?” He encourages creative thinking and finding solutions where others may stop. He has always made himself available as a resource, which I greatly respect.

What advice would you give to young professionals looking to grow their career and get more involved in the community?
Relationships matter, but so does your drive to create opportunities from them. Many people genuinely want to help, but not everyone is going to do the work for you. The more you can connect the dots and make it easier for others to help, the stronger your network becomes.
When attending community events, make it a point to intentionally meet people you do not know and sit with people outside of your normal circle. This will allow you to continually build your network and make those events worth your time.
One of the best ways to find quality organizations and events is by simply asking others what groups they belong to and why.

What does the phrase “Next Generation” mean to you?
The Next Generation is powerful, but its impact is influenced by the current generation’s willingness to embrace change and listen to new ideas.
The Next Generation is filled with trailblazers — people eager to learn and those who see the world differently. Obstacles will always exist, but the right mentors and environment can reduce those barriers. Those lessons are then passed forward, continuing the effort to make the community better one day at a time.

This conversation highlights the value of perseverance, meaningful relationships, and a willingness to embrace new opportunities. His journey reflects how mentorship, community engagement, and a servant-minded approach can create lasting impact both professionally and personally. Through his work and involvement throughout Lancaster County, he continues to help businesses thrive while investing in the people and relationships that make the community strong.