About Us
Unmatched Focus
We are focused solely on the rural healthcare community. No other risk management or insurance agency focuses 100% on rural healthcare. Our insight fuels a passion for finding ways to deliver service and value that others won’t and can’t.
Our Purpose
Because we believe people living in rural communities deserve the best possible health care, our purpose is to ensure the people, services, and facilities they depend upon are protected from risk and empowered to thrive.
Our motto, “Never Go It Alone”, describes our commitment to encouraging and facilitating collaboration among rural healthcare leaders who share our purpose.
Core Values
- Do what you say you are going to do
- Respect yourself and one another
- Seek first to understand then to improve
- Earn and give trust
- Serve with a servant's heart
Meet Our Team
Daniel Warden
Sales Team Lead
Daniel leads our team with over 20 years of experience driving growth and leading high-performing teams in HR, compliance, and workforce management. As Sales Leader at Alera Group, he delivers innovative, scalable solutions for enterprise clients. Previously, Daniel held senior roles at Safeguard Global, including National Director of Large Enterprise Sales and VP of Global Sales, where he led international strategy and consistently exceeded revenue goals. Earlier, he contributed to the success of Workplace Answers, Empower, AonHewitt, and Paychex, building long-term client relationships and expanding market presence. Known for his strategic vision and collaborative leadership, Daniel is passionate about helping organizations solve complex challenges with tech-enabled solutions.
LinkedInJesse Garcia
Risk Consultant
Jesse lives by the motto “Always Be Learning Everywhere (ABLE).” With over 10 years of experience in Benefits, HR, Payroll, and Staffing, he helps small businesses and rural hospitals thrive by offering tailored solutions. A graduate of the University of Texas at Austin with a B.S. in Applied Learning and Development, Jesse is passionate about supporting rural communities and building long-term client relationships through innovative problem-solving and research.
LinkedInHeidi Hughes
Risk Consultant
Heidi is passionate about building strong client relationships. With over 16 years of experience, she combines creative problem-solving with a commitment to exceeding expectations. At Alera Group, Heidi has been instrumental in driving nationwide growth. A skilled presenter and facilitator, she brings clarity and value to every engagement. Her success is rooted in prior business development roles at leading payroll and service firms and her B.S. in Business Administration from San Diego State University.
LinkedInAustin York
Risk Consultant
Austin helps organizations move beyond “good enough” to strategic benefits planning. With expertise in Employee Benefits, HR, and Total Rewards, Austin delivers solutions that maximize savings, improve employee engagement, and drive measurable ROI. He is passionate about tackling complex challenges, thinking outside the box, and aligning strategies that help clients grow and thrive.
LinkedInEXPERT EDUCATION
Events and Webinars
Employee Benefits
Benchmarking That Drives Decisions: Why Averages Mislead — and What Best-in-Class Data Reveals
A clear, data-driven view of the 2026 employee benefits landscape grounded in benchmarking results.
June 16, 2026 at 01:00 pm CT | Virtual
Register Here
Employee Benefits
GLP-1s at Scale: Why Weight-Loss Drug Decisions Are Now a Financial Strategy
A GLP-1 decision framework plus scenarios.
July 21, 2026 at 01:00 pm CT | Virtual
Register Here
Employee Benefits
Open Enrollment That Works: Why Employees Do Not Engage — and How Modern Communications Drive Better Choices
Practical communication strategies to strengthen open enrollment effectiveness and employee decision-making.
August 18, 2026 at 01:00 pm CT | Virtual
Register Here
THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
Insights
Property and Casualty
Why is umbrella liability getting so expensive?
While most commercial insurance pricing has softened in 2026, umbrella liability has not. In fact, it’s moving in the opposite direction.
May 4, 2026
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Property and Casualty
AI Isn’t Liable for the Mistake. You Are.
Artificial intelligence is powerful. It’s also wrong more often than people want to admit.
If you use AI to support or deliver professional services, any mistake it makes is still your responsibility. Not the software’s. Not the vendor’s. Yours.
April 1, 2026
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Identity hijacking is surging. Here’s what leaders need to know.
Cyber incidents across our client base have been sharper, faster and more costly this year. Even organizations with strong controls are being hit in ways that look very different from past attacks.
March 13, 2026
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Legal Alert: RxDC Reporting Due June 1st
Reminder: RxDC Reporting Due June 1st
February 26, 2026
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