Our Team

Andy Gremel

Andrew Gremel, better known as Andy, has nearly 40 years of experience designing employee benefit programs for small, medium, and large businesses, as well as tailoring individual insurance, financial, estate  and succession plans.

As a member of the State Bar of Michigan, Andy uses his experience and knowledge to design salary continuation arrangements; executive compensation programs; retirement packages; business succession plans; and long-term care programs. He is licensed to practice law in the State of Michigan. However, Andy utilizes his legal knowledge and continuing education commitment to better advise clients when buying health, life, disability income, long term care and accident insurance.

Andy received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from the University of Michigan and his law degree from Wayne State University. He is the past president of the Grand Rapids Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors and was a founder of their charitable foundation whose primary beneficiary is the Widowed Persons Service of West Michigan.  Andy is a member of the Probate and Estate Planning and Health Care Sections of the State Bar of Michigan, as well as the National Association of Health Underwriters.

In addition to his industry expertise and leadership roles, Andy is best known for his commitment to his business clients, their employees and families.  His word is his oath, and he is passionate about building trust and decades-long relationships with his clients, who place their confidence – and future – in his hands. Clients enjoy his curiosity, perspective, and counsel on the intricacies of their business.

Throughout his career, Andy has been an engaged contributor to numerous Michigan-based organizations, at both a corporate and personal level.  He believes to the core that the health and well-being of one’s community are the building blocks to a successful future. He leads by example, investing his time and resources in youth development, critical financial services, health and wellness, leadership training, and numerous conservation efforts.

Earlier in his career, Andy also played a transformational role in the economic development of downtown Rockford, Michigan, redeveloping the Rogue riverside through the eco-friendly construction of award-winning buildings, destination dining, shopping, and an ever popular brew pub.

Andy and his wife love spending time in the woods with their English Setter bird dog, traversing trout streams and ski hills, cruising to music festivals and antique shows in their restored 1977 VW Microbus, meeting new friends, and connecting with their two daughters and son-in-laws.

Ashley Hasko-Gray

Director of Client Services 

Ashley joined our team in February of 2022 as an Account Manager. In her current role, Ashley oversees internal operations and financial systems as well as external client deliverables. She combines her excellent communications skills and results-oriented project management multi-tasking with her love for delivering exceptional client service. Ashley is responsible for analyzing and presenting complex insurance and benefits concepts, relevant options, and proactive solutions. She also cultivates carrier and vendor relationships, drives efficiencies and outcomes with leading industry technologies, and guides clients through in-person and online benefits training and enrollment, claims resolution, and HR and compliance complexities.

Prior to joining the agency, Ashley worked for three years in increasing client services roles with GIS Benefits, a national benefits technology and enrollment solutions firm. She invested the first five years of her career serving as legal and administrative assistant for two Illinois-based law firms, while working on her bachelor’s degree.

Ashley’s curiosity and passion for learning fuel her work/life balance, whether traveling the globe to explore different cultures, food, architecture and history; or poking around museums and historical sites. She loves the outdoors and is always game for fishing, canoeing, boating and gardening. Her family and pets are often along for the fun.

Tia Nielsen

Insurance Agent

Tia started with the agency in the spring of 2022 after earning her Bachelor double degree in Marketing and Business Economics from Grand Valley State University. As a licensed health insurance agent in the State of Michigan, Florida, Wisconsin, and Alabama; Tia advises clients needing individual, short-term, and Medicare associated health insurance. She also provides ongoing service to these clients, including claims support, network navigation and annual renewal assistance.

In addition to advising The Gremel Group’s individual health insurance clients, Tia assists employers with navigating, administering, and managing their company’s group employee benefits programs.

While in college, Tia was a member of the American Marketing Association and The Frederick Meijer Honors College. She also participated in a study abroad program at Kingston University in London, England. While obtaining her degree at Grand Valley, Tia’s Health Economics course work led her to choose a career in the health insurance field. Tia put herself through college working in customer-focused positions, and it was her role as a substitute teacher in Kent County that helped her develop teaching and problem-solving skills which are essential for helping clients understand and choose a quality health insurance plan.

After work hours, Tia likes to listen to music and play her guitar. In the summer months, she hits the links playing in a golf league, while in the winter, Tia plays indoor volleyball. Through her study abroad experience, Tia discovered her passion for traveling and experiencing new cultures. While there are no trips currently planned, there are many places on the bucket list that will be crossed off in the coming years.

Kim Ditmar

Account Executive

Kim is a 30-year licensed insurance veteran with a line of sight into nearly all aspects of individual and group insurance.  She began her career with West-Michigan based Graves & Company and over the course of 25 years, wore many hats – from key account administration, accounting, and agency operations to team manager, mentor, and trusted advisor.  Most recently, Kim has specialized in executive benefits and succession planning for business owners and key leaders.

As a part of The Gremel Group team, Kim evaluates executive benefit programs designed for business owners to recruit and retain top talent. She also is instrumental in ensuring the agency’s investments in technology streamline operations and enhance communications with clients and carriers. Kim also plays a key role in mentoring younger team members.

Kim is steadfast on the importance relationships play to exceed clients’ expectations, optimize internal operations, and drive alignment with carriers.

Kim is a West Michigan native, along with her husband of over 32 years.  She balances her career with enjoying time with their three adult children, family and friends. Kim loves to hike and relax outdoors at their lake cottage.  Kim also supports her community through volunteering with Safe Haven Ministries, an organization that provides resources for victims of abuse or domestic violence, as well as the New Growth Project which creates inclusive employment opportunities for neuro-diverse individuals.

Meredith Gremel

Consultant

In addition to being Andy’s life partner for going on four decades, Meredith advises The Gremel Group clients on employee engagement and retention strategies, communications, and corporate responsibility initiatives. Clients understand that competition for attracting, developing, and retaining top talent is fierce. Recruiting and training costs are on the rise, and turnover rates are impacting the company bottom line like never before. Candidates of all ages and stages of their career are looking beyond a job description, salary and company’s benefits package when considering job offers or investing further with their employer.  Growth and development opportunities, company culture, transparent communications, accountability and feedback, recognition for top performers, remote/hybrid or flexible work schedules, and a company’s commitment to one’s community and environment all factor into cultivating an engaged work team.

Meredith has nearly forty years of experience advising businesses on business, consumer and digital marketing; brand development; internal, external and M&A communications; media relations; corporate giving and sustainability initiatives; and public-private partnerships.  She has worked with small and medium sized businesses, served as an executive with a Fortune 350 international distributor, and consulted with military suppliers, school systems, community and private foundations, and 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations.

When not advising clients or spending time with Andy and their daughters and large, extended family, Meredith loves getting her gardening hands dirty, adventuring with her girlfriends at a favorite lakeshore or theater, traveling, devouring library books, or following her favorite University of Michigan’ and Green Bay Packers’ football teams.

Krista Davis

Account Executive

Krista is a veteran insurance professional with substantial experience in helping small and large employers develop and implement their employee benefits strategies and programs. She worked for Priority Health for over 23 years before joining the independent agent community in 2010 and has been employed at The Gremel Group since 2016.  While Krista’s primary focus is new business development, she has been instrumental in helping our clients deliver innovative and creative ideas to improve costs and profitability, engage employees in fully understanding their benefit options and wellness tools, and leverage clients’ benefits investment to attract and retain talented team members.

While at Priority Health Krista advanced through various roles in the new business sales and existing client service departments. She started working with businesses as small as two employees and at the end of her tenure with the organization she was responsible for the service and retention of numerous key employers, each with several thousand employees in the Grand Rapids area. In her role as Key Account Manager, she was responsible for working with Human Resources professionals and C-suite executives to identify and implement strategies for their employee benefits programs.

Krista obtained her health insurance agent’s license in 1991 and earned her bachelor’s degree from Aquinas College with a dual major in Business Administration and Communications. She has been a member of the National Association of Benefits & Insurance Professionals (NABIP) since the early 90’s and has held a variety of roles on the local West Michigan board since 2001 including serving as President in 2012. Krista has held various positions on the State of Michigan’s NABIP board including becoming President in 2016 and she earned the NAHU Benefit Account Manager Certification in 2018.

Krista and her husband are originally from Connecticut, and they enjoy cooking and lake living at their home in Belding. Krista also loves attending area art shows, concerts, and theater performances. She is a long-time member and supporter of the Grand Rapids Civic Theater.

Nancy Norton

Advisory Council Member – Emerita

Nancy joined Andy’s team in 1990 and she has worn many hats over the course of her career with The Gremel Group.  Controller, Licensed Agent, Account Executive, Office Manager and Medicare/Marketplace Specialist are official titles, yet her passion has always been helping clients obtain their objectives through the various insurance products and services they need. 

In December of 2023, Nancy officially retired and has transitioned to serving as an Advisory Council Member to the agency, drawing on her decades of experience and deep relationships with clients to help ensure a smooth transition of service. 

When she is not supporting The Gremel Group team, Nancy loves spending time with her children and grandchildren – she has even been known to jump out of perfectly good airplanes with any of her grandchildren who dare to join her!  Nancy is also always looking for her next travel experience. After calling West Michigan home since her earliest years, Nancy now resides in sunny Jacksonville, Florida.