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.
Diana Johnson
Employee Benefits Consultant
Diana is a problem-solving Life/Health agent and Employee Benefits Consultant who has been in the insurance industry for 35+ years. As a student of this ever-changing industry Diana has earned multiple professional designations including Certified Employee Benefits Specialist (CEBS) from the Wharton School of Business, Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) and Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC). Her Insurance Accolades include Past President of Eastern Shore Association of Health Underwriters (ESAHU), Past President of National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors - Chesapeake (NAIFA – Chesapeake), as well as a three-time winner of ESAHU’s “Insurance Person of the Year.”
Diana is a team player who partners well with other professionals to bring solutions to employers. She works with decision-makers to develop benefit strategies to meet their company’s financial goals as well as employees’ needs. As a Toastmaster “Competent Communicator,” Diana also enjoys leading employee meetings to explain available benefits and how to best use them.
Carolyn Kinna
Senior Account Manager
Carolyn joined the firm in 2001 and brings over 20+ year of industry experience. Carolyn is a Senior Account Manager for group clients of all sizes. Carolyn’s primary focus is fully insured and self-funded clients, including negotiating renewals, implementation and compliance knowledge. Carolyn prepares detailed plan design analysis of various benefits to aid clients in making informed decisions regarding their benefits package. She facilitates and conducts open enrollment meetings through the development of employee communication materials and carrier coordination. Carolyn holds Life and Health licenses in both Maryland and Pennsylvania and a Business Administration degree from Villa Julie College.
Renee Knighton
Senior Account Manager
Renee joined the firm in April of 2019 and is a Senior Account Manager. She brings with her 20 years of industry experience. Renee focuses her expertise in large group clients by assisting with benefit plan design, advising, educating and coordinating internal and external resources to meet client’s needs and expectations. Renee facilitates open enrollment meetings through the development of employee communication materials and carrier coordination. She ensures retention by establishing strong relationships and providing proactive, consultative expertise based on each client’s unique needs and challenges. Renee holds a Life & Health Insurance License.
Melanie Koch
Senior Benefits Administrator
Mel joined the firm in 2010 in the Individual Department as the assistant. In 2017 she moved into the Administration Department. Mel is now a Senior Benefits Administrator. She is responsible for various administration functions for both small and large, multi-site groups. She also supports the Group Department by conducting benefit audits for our clients.
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
2025 Healthcare and Employee Benefits Benchmarking Report: How Does Your Benefits Program Stack Up?
In this session, our experts will dive into the results of our annual, market-leading benchmarking survey.
June 26, 2025 at 01:00 pm CT | Virtual
Sign Up
Employee Benefits
Dynamic Data: Strategies for Success
Join us for this session, as our experts will share how to utilize your organization’s data to create advanced and innovative strategies for success.
July 17, 2025 at 01:00 pm CT | Virtual
Sign Up
Employee Benefits
Preparing for Open Enrollment: How to Engage and Educate Your Employees on Their Total Benefits Package
In this session, our experts will share guidance on setting yourself up for success during Open Enrollment.
August 21, 2025 at 01:00 pm CT | Virtual
Sign Up
THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
Insights
Employee Benefits
Benchmarking: How Do Your Organization’s Employee Benefits Offerings Stack Up?
For the sixth consecutive year, Alera Group is offering a valuable piece of market intelligence: our Healthcare and Employee Benefits Benchmarking Report. We’ll introduce the 2025 edition on its release date, June 26, with a one-hour webinar beginning at 1 p.m. CT.
June 5, 2025
Find out more
Employee Benefits
Reminder: PCORI Fees Due By July 31, 2025
Employers that sponsor self-insured group health plans, including health reimbursement arrangements (HRAs) should keep in mind the upcoming July 31, 2025 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 3, 2025
Find out more Employee Benefits
Benefits Captives: Your Business and What Your Competitors Are Doing
In one form or another, Captive Insurance has existed as a risk management solution for many decades — originally for property and casualty coverage and primarily for large employers. But its viability as a solution for employee benefits and for midsized businesses has increased dramatically in recent years, fueled by volatility in the insurance market in general and by the skyrocketing cost of health insurance in particular.
May 29, 2025
Find out more Employee Benefits
Agencies Push Pause Button on Enforcement of MHPAEA 2024 Final Rule
On May 15, 2025, the Department of Labor, Department of Health and Human Services, and the Treasury Department (collectively, the “Agencies”) released a statement regarding the Agencies’ recent request for abeyance of a lawsuit filed by the ERISA Industry Committee (“ERIC”) in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia that challenged certain aspects of Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) Final Rule (“2024 Final Rule”) relating to nonquantitative treatment limitation comparative analyses (“NQTL analyses”).
May 16, 2025
Find out more