Michelle began her insurance career in 1998 with a Country Financial agent then moved to Compass Insurance Partners in Leroy, IL in 2010 where her focus for the next ten years was Volunteer Fire Districts and Emergency Responders. In 2021 Michelle moved to the Galesburg area and joined Porter Hay in May. Michelle earned her Certified Insurance Service Representative designation in 2010 and the Certified Insurance Counselor designation in 2020. She lives at Oak Run with her boyfriend Geoff Schoonover who is the Superintendent of the Knoxville IL School District #202. Michelle has two grown children, Zach (Erica) and Rachael (TJ) and nine grandchildren. She enjoys gardening, exploring her new neighborhood and spending time with her family.
Alyssa lives in Galesburg with her husband Jose, Australian shepherd/Blue heeler Ren, and 2 cats named Winry and Monty. She went to Carl Sandburg College and graduated with an associates in arts. In her free time, she enjoys putting together puzzles, taking long walks with her dog, and spending time with her family and friends.
Bethany started working with Porter Hay in 2019 after working in banking for 5 years. Bethany lives in Monmouth with her husband, Zach and 2 daughters, Huxley and Lennox. In her spare time she enjoys baking and crafting with her daughters, being outside and spending time with her family and friends.
Hannah has been in the insurance industry since 2013. She graduated with an Associate’s degree from Black Hawk College in 2010. She enjoys helping people and has worked in the customer service field her entire working life. She resides in rural Galva, IL with her daughter Arleigh, and her boyfriend Zack. In her spare time Hannah enjoys spending time with her family, crafting, decorating, and being outdoors.
Heather resides with her family in Morrison. She started her insurance career as an agent in 2012, writing both personal and commercial policies for a small agency. She went on to sharpen her commercial insurance expertise with a global brokerage in 2017, before coming to Porter-Hay as Senior Commercial Account Manager in 2024. In her free time, Heather enjoys traveling, spending time with her family and friends, kayaking, hiking, and reading. During the Spring and Summer her family is frequently found supporting her brother at the racetrack. She is a diehard fan of the Chicago Bears & Chicago Cubs, and tries to make it to a couple games each year.
Kelly started her career with Progressive Insurance Riverview, FL in 2003 and returned home to the Midwest in 2022. She is licensed in Iowa and Illinois. Kelly lives in Clinton, IA with her husband Randy and 4 Hungarian Puli’s. They have 4 grown children and 6 grandchildren. Together Kelly and her husband Randy rebuilt and customized their 1970 VW Beetle. In her free time, Kelly loves spending time with her family, driving her VW Bug, collecting and restoring antiques, cooking , and gardening.
Nichol started Porter-Hay Insurance in 2025 and earned her license as a CSR.
Nichol grew up just outside of Stronghurst where she gained her love for farming
and the outdoors. In her spare time, she enjoys being with her children, family, 3
dogs and 3 grand-doggies. Her hobbies are smoking different varieties of meat,
hunting, boating, gardening, quilting and sewing.
Shelby has spent her career in customer service, starting in food service and later working with seniors in nursing homes. Her diverse experience spans industries like technical support, order entry, and purchasing, but her passion has always been connecting with people. Although she’s new to the insurance world, Shelby’s dedication to taking care of customers remains unwavering. Before joining Porter-Hay, she honed her skills in various roles, always focused on building relationships and making a positive impact.
Shelby grew up in the Peoria IL area and moved to Galesburg 6 years ago. She recently married her husband in the winter of 2024, and they’re now building their dream life on a small farm outside of Alexis, where they share their home with their three fur babies. Outside of her professional life, Shelby enjoys spending time with her family—especially her nieces and nephews—and nurturing her indoor plants and garden. She also has a deep love for music and art, often participating in and enjoying local events. Shelby’s life is a beautiful blend of work, personal passions, and a deep love for the people around her.
Trudy started at Porter-hay in 2023, and was born and raised in Bishop Hill, helping her dad on the farm. She has 6 years of experience working in customer service. Trudy cherishes time spent with loved ones, including her three dogs, and her boyfriend Cody. Outside of work Trudy enjoys going to concerts, drag races, fishing, and an abundance of tomatoes.
Chad started with Chuck Hay Insurance in 1997 and took over as President of Porter-Hay in 2018. Chad and his wife Amy have two children Lexi and Cayden. He has served on numerous boards including Secretary of the Planning Commission for City of Galva, Galva Economic Development Council, Finance Officer for the Hagburg-Hamilin American Legion Post, OSF Health Insurance Agents Advisory board, IMT Commercial Insurance Agents Advisory board and Finance Officer for Western Illinois QDMA Chapter. In his spare time Chad enjoys traveling, spending time with his family and working on wildlife conservation projects on the family ground.