Madison, Wis. (December 22, 2025) – National Guardian Life Insurance Company (NGL) recognized four team members with G.R.I.T. Awards during its companywide December All Hands Meeting. The awards incorporate NGL’s vision for the future, Together for Tomorrow, into its team members’ daily professional lives. The peer nominations recognized and celebrated colleagues for their outstanding achievements and performance.
The awards highlight the winning mindsets that need to be demonstrated for everyone to deliver and successfully achieve NGL’s goals and vision.
There are four distinct categories for the G.R.I.T. Awards:
Growth and Personal Development Award – Melissa Coxey, Business Systems Analyst
The recipient of this award sets clear professional and personal growth objectives. They hold themselves accountable for their own growth and NGL accountable for support. The individual also embraces courageous conversations and chooses to stay resilient through challenges.
Melissa was nominated an impressive nine times for the Growth and Personal Development Award. One person who nominated Melissa shared, “Melissa consistently
demonstrates a growth mindset and proactively learning complex systems. She has documented key processes, stepped up to support our correspondence system and dedicated herself to learning product development work, significantly reducing deployment time to production. She is an invaluable asset who consistently strives to add value and elevate the entire team.”
Resilience and Accountability Award – Bryant Hacker, Agent Solutions Coordinator
This award recipient is resilient and perseveres. They believe in holding themselves and others accountable for actions and outcomes. Commitment to results and follow through is a basis of their work ethic.
Bryant was awarded the Resilience and Accountability Award. “Bryant has always been a solid team player and in recent months I’ve noticed him really grow into a leader on the team. He takes pride in the quality of his work, and has been a point of reference for me and many others when we have questions, especially about claims but all-around on preneed.”
Initiative,Drive and Execution Award – Kim Ranne, Senior Accounting Systems Analyst
This award is for the NGL team member who takes initiative with a bias for effective action. They ask for help when needed and look beyond daily tasks to effectively execute plans.
Receiving an overwhelming 18 nominations for the Initiative, Drive and Execution Award, Kim incorporates initiative, drive and execution into each of his projects at NGL. “Kim
is constantly thinking ahead and planning what is up and coming for our department,” reads one of her nominations. “You can also see in everything she does, she really cares about executing and making sure all items are communicated to everyone and thinks about all the downstream impacts so that even users who aren't as directly impacted are made aware of upcoming things.”
Trust in Each Other Award – Ted Hetzel, Operations Team Lead
This award recognizes an individual who has demonstrated trust in themselves, peers and leaders. They empower others, is empowered and delegates, as well as fosters open
communication by giving and receiving constructive feedback. Collaboration within and across teams is paramount to their work.
“Ted provides excellent guidance and correction where it is needed. He is very humble and open to receiving feedback himself. Ted also helps in making those bigger, tougher case-by-case decisions that could affect the policy/policyholders. Ted is amazing and spectacular - he has been a great team member and asset to NGL!”
From left to right: Joe Celentano, President & CEO; Ted Hetzel, Operations Team Lead; Kim Ranne, Senior Accounting Systems Analyst; Melissa Coxey, Business System Analyst; Bryant Hacker, Agent Solutions Coordinator.