Leadership at Hester Insurance Group
Jerry W. Hester, II CLU , Principal
®
JERRY W. HESTER, II, CLU® focuses on creative risk management strategies that assist individuals, families and institutions to protect and build wealth efficiently. Jerry has developed a niche by utilizing Traditional and Private Placement Insurance structures with high net worth individual and institutional clients. Mr. Hester is a qualifying member of one of the highly regarded associations in the life insurance industry --- the Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT) and a Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU).
Mr. Hester is a Foundation Member for the University of Illinois Foundation and a Board member of University of Illinois College of LAS Alumni Association. He is a former member of the University of Illinois Alumni Association Board of Directors (UIAA) and also served as Midwest regional board member for Operation Hope.
He received his degree from in Speech Communications from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1997. As a student, Jerry was a star basketball player earning All-Big Ten Honors, as well as a Big Ten Championship and team MVP in 1998 as senior captain. After graduation, Jerry fulfilled his dream of being a professional athlete with a 6-year basketball career playing in Europe on teams from Poland, Israel, England and Serbia, visiting 24 different countries and learning to speak Polish.
Simone Hester, Managing Director
Simone Hester has cultivated her career in management for over twenty years. Her experience in management has allowed her to work with a wide range of employers from small businesses, a federally funded non-profit and a nationally recognized company. Her approach in management is strongly supported by her focus on organization, computer skills, creativity, diversity and a staunch work ethic. Working as the Managing Director of Hester Insurance Group, she oversees the entire office from web design to financials.
Simone received her degree in English Literature from the college of Liberal Arts and Sciences at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in 1995. She was a President’s Award Recipient and scholar from 1990 to 1995. She is also a former Step Up Women’s Network Luminary Circle member. Step Up Women’s Network allowed her the opportunity to mentor young underserved women in the Chicagoland area and network with other professional women.
Simone has a passion for art and photography, she maintains a website and has been featured in online publications and exhibits. Simone currently resides just outside of Chicago, with her husband Jerry and their two children, a daughter, Jordyn and a son, Jerry III.