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
Navigating Medicare
The knowledgeable team at Alera Group is here to help you navigate your Medicare options to ensure you feel confident in your post-65 healthcare coverage.
February 11, 2026 at 12:00 pm CT | Virtual
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Property and Casualty
Top Cyber Threats of 2026 – and How to Mitigate Them
Cybercriminals have a new playbook—your business could be next.
February 17, 2026 at 01:00 pm CT | Virtual
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Employee Benefits
Designing Benefits for Mid - to Late-Career Employees
In our three-part webinar series, Designing Benefits That Work – A Data-Driven, Multigenerational Focus, we’ll explore multigenerational workforce insights, debunk generational myths, share early- and late-career benefit strategies, review legal and compliance trends, and provide actionable tools and resources.
February 18, 2026 at 10:00 am CT | Virtual
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THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
Insights
Property and Casualty
AI-Powered Cyber Attacks, Why Yesterday’s Defenses Aren’t Enough.
The widespread availability of AI technology, combined with the ease of manipulating video calls, makes phone and Zoom calls susceptible to exploitation by threat actors.
February 2, 2026
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Employee Benefits
IRS Releases Guidance Related to Recent HSA Changes
The IRS recently released Notice 2026-5, which provides guidance and answers to common questions related to the expanded availability of health savings accounts (“HSA”) under the Reconciliation Act (previously named the One Big Beautiful Bill Act) passed into law earlier this year.
December 30, 2025
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Property and Casualty
Are you prepared for 2026? Property and Casualty Trends Uncovered
The sixth annual Property and Casualty Market Outlook from Alera Group sets the stage for how organizations can recalibrate their risk strategies in 2026. Built on thousands of data points — including a nationwide survey of insurance company partners and wholesale intermediaries — this report delivers actionable insights for insurance buyers, risk managers and business leaders.
December 17, 2025
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Legal Alert: Agencies Clarify How Certain Fertility Benefits May be Treated as Excepted Benefits
This alert is of interest to all employers that offer fertility benefits or may be interested in offering fertility benefits in the future.
November 4, 2025
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