About Hart Hawks Group

Brandon Baker

Brandon has an impressive and varied background: he spent 3 years with the Texas Rangers as a pitcher, then 3 years with the U.S. Small Business Administration, all before transitioning into truck insurance. Brandon loves working with clients to help them achieve their insurance goals.

Brandon earned a bachelors in Risk Management and Insurance, then a masters in International Business, both at Georgia State University. Newly married, Brandon enjoys staying active and spending time with friends and family.

Whitt Garrison

Whitt Garrison honed his sales skills in medical sales before joining Hart Hawks Group in 2025 as a Transportation Producer. Whitt’s specialization in non-fleet accounts allows him to focus on personalizing coverage solutions for this niche sector of the transportation industry.

A 2023 Graduate of Clemson University, Whitt enjoys cheering on the Tigers and playing golf in his spare time.

Rachel Garside

Rachel started as an assistant in Commercial and Trucking Insurance in 2019. In 2020 she narrowed her focus to trucking. In 2021 she earned her agent license and continued working in Trucking Insurance with Hart Hawks.

Rachel grew up in the small but picturesque mountain town of Toccoa, Georgia, around Toccoa Falls College. She’s bilingual (French and English, with a little Spanish thrown in for good measure) and loves hiking and the outdoors. She also loves spending time with her three rescue pups, Poppy-Louise, Whitney, and Murphy.

Jeffrey Lewis

Jill Nicholson-Houston, TRS, CIC

Jill began her career in trucking insurance in 2007. She has capitalized on her commitment and expertise in the field by obtaining the Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC) and Transportation Risk Specialist (TRS) designations. These designations, her many years of experience in the trucking insurance industry, and her dedication to providing clients with best-in-class knowledge and customer service make her an invaluable member of The Hart Hawks Group team.

Jill graduated from Winthrop University with a bachelor of science in Business Administration, Marketing Concentration, in 2004. In her spare time, she can be found spending time with her 2 daughters and husband. She enjoys being involved in her local church, serving the surrounding community, and cheering on the Clemson Tigers.

Chris Player, CIC, TRS, CAWC

Chris is a Client Executive with a unique focus on transportation, warehouse and logistics in the Savannah region. Chris has 19 years of experience in the Property & Casualty brokerage field. He is a member of the Society of Certified Insurance Counselors (CIC) and holds the Transportation Risk Specialist (TRS) and Certified Authority on Workers Compensation (CAWC) designations.

Chris earned a bachelor of science in Political Science from the University of Georgia. He is an active member of his community and has served with various organizations, including The Humane Society of Greater Savannah (President), Leadership Savannah graduate (2018), The Savannah Jaycees (VP), Propeller Club – Port of Savannah (member), Savannah Traffic Club (member), The Landings Association Risk Management Committee, Heads Up Guidance Services (Board), Savannah Chamber of Commerce Ambassador and Savannah Quarterback Club (member).

Tammy Schaffer

Tammy started in insurance in 2022 with a primary focus on personal lines, along with some commercial. In 2023, she started in Transportation and now has a mix of accounts (trucking and commercial). She enjoys building relationships with clients and looks for ways to make their policy maintenance as easy and stress-free as possible.

Tammy brings a wealth of varied experience, leveraging what she’s learned across a diverse background that includes work in veterinary medicine, animal care and rescue, hotel events, and brokerage operations. She loves animals and the outdoors. She’s lived all over the US and has been in Georgia since 2013.

Jenny Slater, CIC, TRS

Jenny Slater is a highly experienced transportation specialist with more than 25 years in the industry. She is currently an account executive in the Hart Hawks Kennesaw office. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Georgia (Go Dawgs!!!). She is also recognized as a Certified Insurance Counselor, a Management Liability Insurance Specialist, and a Transportation Risk Specialist.

In addition to her dedication to the transportation industry, Jenny enjoys spending time with her family, including her husband and two daughters.

Mike Slater

Mike Slater is a seasoned risk manager with 24 years in the transportation industry. He is currently leading the Hart Hawks Group as a safety and compliance manager with the goal of improving customer performance and profitability.

Mike holds a bachelor’s degree in industrial and organizational psychology from Piedmont University. He enjoys volunteering as a youth basketball coach and spending time with his family, which includes his wonderful wife of 20 years and their teenage children.

Reese Smith III

Reese Smith III began his career in insurance in 2017. Reese specializes in the transportation industry, with a focus on non-fleet risks. Previously he gained behind-the-scenes experience at Premier Transportation in the parts and service department. There he built a wealth of knowledge on the tractors and trailers being used by his clients, as well as the trucking industry as a whole.

Reese graduated from Georgia Southwestern State University in 2016 with a bachelor in Business Administration, and was a member of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his wife and son doing all things outdoors. He is an avid hunter and fisherman, and he enjoys adding to his collection of arrowheads.

Deborah Tasciotti

Deborah has spent her entire career focused in transportation insurance With more than 40 years’ experience in a wide range of roles (including time spent as a receptionist, claims associate, account manager, and now marketing representative), Deborah brings a wealth of knowledge about the industry she loves. She also loves to keep learning every single day.

Lisa Tipton

Lisa has worked in insurance since 1984. She spent 24 years working in personal lines, then 6 years in commercial lines. Now for the last 10 years she’s focused on trucking insurance.

Lisa has both P&C and L&H licenses. Outside of work, she loves to garden, read, and learn new things.