About Kardel Insurance Services

After an MBA at the University of Michigan, and five years at Conoco oil in Houston, Texas, Hans J. Kardel and Jean Kardel came to the Central Coast to join family and enjoy California. Mr. Kardel started work in Santa Maria as the manager of the Santa Maria Valley Developers, which is today the Economic Development Association. "As one of the first employees of the Developers, we worked to build the infrastructure that has made Santa Maria the thriving economic community it is today." 

Kardel Insurance spawned out of Mr. Kardel's work at the Developers. "I saw the need in the community for a service oriented insurance organization." Thus, in 1962, Kardel Insurance Services was christened. "We initiated selling NorthWestern Mutual life insurance out of my home on Dahlia Place in Orcutt."

After only one year, Kardel Insurance Services' grew from a home office to a public location at 209A East Cook Street in Santa Maria. "They were humble beginnings". 1971 brought Kardel Insurance Services to 317 East Cook Street. The organization expanded from life insurance and individual health insurance into tax deferred annuities. 

Three years later the office moved to 318 South Lincoln Street, where Mervyn's presently stands. "We continued to expand our product line pursuing group health insurance". A core competency at Kardel Insurance Services continues to be group health insurance written by Blue Cross, Blue Shield and Health Net. Mrs. Kardel spent more and more time at the office as business accelerated, eventually leaving teaching. She currently leads Account Management for group and individual health insurance. 

As the health care industry changed, so did Kardel Insurance Services. "In the late 1970's we added group and individual dental insurance through Delta Dental and Principal Mutual." In 1977 the office moved to its current location at 301 East Cook Street, Suite H across from the Santa Maria courthouse and adjacent to the mall.

New healthcare and retirement needs in the community necessitated new products. In the 1980's "we added Vision through Medical Eye Services and VSP, along with Medicare Supplement's from Blue Cross and Blue Shield". Long Term Care through Unum came in the 1990's and continues to grow in popularity and demand. Also in the 1990's, Kardel Insurance Services added 401k's through Principal and MetLife. 401K's are an excellent product allowing employers to reduce taxes while incenting employees to invest in their retirement. 

Recently, Kardel Insurance Services is proud to announce the addition of another Kardel. Hans M. Kardel is a Righetti High School and Cal Poly Business School graduate, making a second generation of Kardels in the insurance firm. He has returned to Santa Maria after a supply chain management career at consulting firm Accenture in Los Angeles and footwear manufacturer Timberland in New Hampshire.