Anna Holhut, CIC

President of Amherst Insurance Agency, Inc

Anna Holhut joined the Amherst Insurance in 1987 and is the President and owner of Amherst Insurance Agencies, Inc. A graduate of Central Connecticut State University, Anna holds a brokers license in the areas of property, casualty, commercial, life and health insurance. With over 30 years experience in the insurance field, Anna is a member of the Pioneer Valley Insurance Group (MA). In 1993 and 1997, she was recognized by CNA Insurance Company for her outstanding customer service by being given the Customer Service Representative of the Year Award. Anna holds the CIC and CISR designations.

Anna is an active member and past president of the Amherst Rotary Club. She was a 2006 recipient of the Paul Harris Fellowship Awards, given by the Rotary Foundation and Amherst Rotary Club. She lives in Hatfield with her husband Bob and their son John.

Cecilia Chan

Personal & Commercial Lines Manager

Cecilia has been in the insurance industry since 1995. She specializes in Personal and Commercial lines. Cecilia and her husband live in Hatfield, MA and have 2 children, 2 grandchildren, 1 dog named Ozzy and two cats named Harriet and Lottie. In her free time, she likes to travel to the Caribbean Islands, working on her flower garden and watching her webcam for the birth and growth of the Decorah Eaglets.

Erin Knechtel

Personal & Commercial Lines Account Executive, Child Care Insurance Specialist

Erin has been in the insurance industry since 2011 and with Amherst Insurance since 2017. She grew up in Granby MA, and spends most of her summers at Old Orchard Beach with her husband, two children and dog Charli.

Denise Sawicki

Commercial Lines Account Executive, CIC

Denise began her 43-year insurance career while still in high school in Amherst, MA. She joined Amherst Insurance in 2017. Denise and her husband have been married for 35 years. They love spending time with her 2 children, 2 granddaughters and 1 grandson, especially during trips to the beach, vacations in Cape Cod and fun filled times at Disney World. In her downtime, Denise enjoys exercising and going to the gym.

Sue Kimball

Processor

Sue has been with Amherst Insurance just shy of one year, however she has over 18 years of industry experience. Sue’s vacation spots take her from Cape Cod north to Maine and west to Wyoming. She enjoys hiking with her dog, riding her horse and gardening.

Johanna Kostek

Personal Lines Account Executive

Johanna has been in the insurance industry since 1999. She grew up in Hadley, MA and she enjoys spending time with her husband at their camp in Corning, NY. Her hobbies include crocheting, golf, hiking, fishing, hunting, and searching for sea glass.

Eve Gouty

Receptionist

Eve joined the Amherst Insurance team in 2014. She and her husband reside in Palmer, MA . Eve spends her spare time hanging out on the Quaboag river with her husband, tending to her flower garden and looking for hummingbirds.

Paul Clapp Jr.

Accountant

Paul has worked in accounting since 2009, but this is his first experience in the insurance industry. His previous experience came in public accounting firms. He and his wife have one son and one dog Baxter. In his free time, he enjoys coaching and playing hockey, golf, bowhunting and spending time with friends and family. He enjoys traveling to tropical destinations and camping in New Hampshire. Fun Fact: He is a high school level ice hockey Official.

Rachel Bergeron

Personal Lines Account Executive

Rachel is a mom of 2 girls. Her family just bought a house in Ware, and relocated there from Palmer where she and her husband were born and raised. On the weekends, she enjoys doing family stuff like going roller skating or anything art related like Claytopia in Northampton, or just spending time watching movies or reading books. She has a 4-year-old pup named Charlie that she adopted when she was only 8 weeks old. She also enjoys working in her garden. Fun fact: When she was younger, she wanted to be a DJ!

3. Katherine Sama

Personal Lines Account Executive

Kat joined the Amherst Insurance team in 2025. Her hobbies include biking, hiking, reading, knitting, and petting as many cats as she can. She likes visiting Maine and anything involving pasta.