About Us
Since 1999, SIG, an employee benefits firm, has been dedicated to partnering with our clients and providing exceptional customer service. The inspirational basis for our operating business principles is: “If you take care of Baltimore, Baltimore will take care of you.” This philosophy has instilled itself in our culture and practice of all employees. SIG has years of industry experience, which has given us an edge over the competition in the vast wealth of knowledge and resources we have gathered. Our employees are passionate about helping and forming long-lasting relationships with others, and when you partner with us, we become a true extension of your company.
In 2017, SIG and 23 other like- minded, entrepreneurial firms came together to form Alera Group. Since then, Alera Group has grown to become the 11th largest independent insurance and financial services firm in the nation with over 4,000 employees, 180 firms, and thousands of clients across the country.
In 2023, we officially began embracing the Alera Group brand. What remains consistent is holding our clients at the core of our business; we focus on bringing personalized solutions, expanding our capabilities, and deepening our resources nationally.
Mission
We go the extra mile to help navigate the healthcare system and marketplace for our clients in order to advise them on the creation of comprehensive benefits plans that align with their core values to maximize their investment while controlling their costs. Our team-oriented approach allows us to become an extension of our clients’ HR departments. Through our vast knowledge and resource base, we keep our clients educated and well informed with the ever-changing healthcare regulations and marketplace.
Core Values
In order to create the organizational culture we desire, we embrace and embody the following core values:
- Partnership
- Integrity
- Creativity
- Flexibility
- Passion
- Collaboration
- Excellence
Meet Our Team
People you can count on. People you can trust.
Tasha Connelly
Senior Account Coordinator
Tasha joined the firm in 2012 and is a Senior Account Coordinator. She brings with her 16 years insurance industry experience. Tasha works primarily with small group clients. In her role, she assists account managers with all aspects of customer service, including proposals, audits, renewals, client collateral and day to day support. She researches, reviews, and resolves claim and enrollment issues promptly and offers valuable support for group administrators and employees. Previously, Tasha was a Benefits Administrator on the administration team. That experience allowed her to gain an excellent understanding of enrollment, third party administrator and carrier systems. Tasha holds an Associate’s Degree in Business Administration as well as her Life & Health and Property & Casualty insurance licenses.
Jess Curano
Client Operations Associate
After interning with the firm throughout college, Jess returned as full-time member of the fully- insured team in 2017. In her role, she assists Account Managers with all aspects of customer service, including benchmarking, audits, open enrollment, client collateral and day-to-day support. Jess brings a wealth of experience, with more than 10 years working in customer service. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Shippensburg University.
Gina Dawson
Account Executive
Gina joined the firm in 2014 and is an Account Executive with 25 years of insurance industry experience. She works with small to mid-size groups as well as all IMD clients including Medicare Supplement. She assists clients with all aspects of customer service, including proposals, claims, renewals and day-to-day support. Gina helps to ensure the retention of clients by establishing strong relationships and holds a Health and Life license.
Ronald E. Drager, JR.
Associate
Ron joined the firm in 1997 and is an Associate. Ron’s focus is on group employee benefits plans, with a concentration on group health, disability, and group and individual life. Ron holds a degree in Marketing Management. He has served on the Broker Counsel for CareFirst BlueCross/BlueShield, Coventry HealthCare and United HealthCare/MAMSI and is a member of the National Association of Health Underwriters, his Chamber of Commerce, Bond Meadow Rotary and the Knights of Columbus. He also has sat on the Board of Directors for Target Community and Educational Services for 12 years and United Way of Carroll County, Maryland. He is currently on the Carroll Hospital Foundation Board as well as the Board of a non-profit organization, “Together We Own It."
Community Service
Paying it Forward is a core component at our firm. Our culture thrives on community involvement where we proudly support our clients, employees and the communities in which we live and work.
We empower our employees to “pay it forward” by fostering a sense of purpose and providing opportunities for impact in our community. One way we do this is by supporting causes and initiatives proposed by our team and providing opportunities to serve the
We empower our employees to “pay it forward” by fostering a sense of purpose and providing opportunities for impact in our community. One way we do this is by supporting causes and initiatives proposed by our team and providing opportunities to serve the wider world. We believe having a culture that encourages serving and giving is a significant contributor to life and career fulfillment, which enhances our overall wellbeing. With the help from our Culture Committee, we have the opportunity to serve our community together with multiple planned events each year.
We strive to creating lasting relationships with our clients. We are proud to support our clients and friends of the firm in their mission and their organizations that help create meaningful, lasting change in our community. Interested in us serving your
We strive to creating lasting relationships with our clients. We are proud to support our clients and friends of the firm in their mission and their organizations that help create meaningful, lasting change in our community.
Interested in us serving your non-profit or organization? Reach out and let us know! Email us here
EXPERT EDUCATION
Events and Webinars
Employee Benefits
[Alera Engage] Benchmarking for the Win: How Does Your Benefits Program Rate?
Ask our clients about the No.1 tool that helps them develop an impactful benefits program, and they'll tell you it's benchmarking.
July 18, 2024 at 01:00 pm CT | Virtual
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Employee Benefits
Driving Communications and Engagement: Open Enrollment
Our experts will walk you through a strategic planning process to make sure you’re sharing in a way that not only drives employee awareness and engagement but also reaches your workforce across platforms with what they need to know about choosing the right benefits for them and their families.
August 15, 2024 at 01:00 pm CT | Virtual
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Employee Benefits
Q3 Compliance Update
Alera Group's quarterly employee benefits compliance roundup will help you stay current on the latest national regulatory developments impacting employers.
September 3, 2024 at 01:00 pm CT | Virtual
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THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
Insights
Employee Benefits
How To Lower Healthcare Costs While Improving Benefit Offerings
Join us on June 20 for a one-hour webinar designed to help you eliminate wasteful healthcare spending while providing your employees with benefits that attract and retain talent. We’ll take you through our three-step solution.
June 11, 2024
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Employee Benefits
Legal Alert: PCORI Fees Due by July 31, 2024
Employers that sponsor self-insured group health plans, including health reimbursement arrangements (HRAs) should keep in mind the upcoming July 31, 2024, deadline for paying fees that fund the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) via Form 720, which was recently updated and released by the IRS.
June 7, 2024
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Legal Alert: CMS Redesigns the Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Program Beginning in 2025
As a result of the changes to Medicare Part D under §11201 of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, on April 1, 2024, CMS released Final Redesign Program Instructions (“Final Program Instructions”) for the Medicare Part D prescription drug program, which are effective starting in 2025.
May 30, 2024
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Legal Alert: HIPAA Privacy Rules Amended to Require Protection of Reproductive Healthcare Information
On April 26, 2024, the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”) issued a Final Rule amending the HIPAA Privacy Rule.
May 15, 2024
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