Meet Our Team
Meet our Arizona Leadership Team. With professionals across Scottsdale, Chandler, and Flagstaff, our team serves employers throughout Arizona and beyond. Because our capabilities span multiple specialties, we have organized our broader team by area of expertise to make it easy to connect with the right people.
In the About Us section, you’ll find links to explore our Employee Benefits, Retirement Plan Services, and Property & Casualty teams.
Scott Wood
Managing Director, West and Northwest Regions
Scott Wood is a solution-oriented executive with more than 40 years of experience in the insurance industry. As Managing Director of Alera Group’s West and Northwest Regions, Scott partners with firm leaders and consulting teams to deliver integrated solutions that help employers manage risk, control costs, and build sustainable benefit strategies. Scott is overseeing the integration of Alera Group’s Northwest region into West.
A former CEO of multiple large organizations, he brings firsthand experience addressing financial, operational, and human capital challenges. In 2009, Scott founded Benefit Commerce Group with a mission to improve the quality, transparency and sustainability of employer-sponsored health plans. In 2019, BCG joined Alera Group and Scott has continued to champion a collaborative, people-centered culture focused on delivering exceptional outcomes for clients and colleagues.
LinkedInChris Hogan
Executive Vice President & Principal
Chris is a solution-oriented insurance professional with 30 years of experience working with employers on benefit plans and alternative funding analysis. He develops long-term strategies to save money for employers and employees, simplifies implementation and increases wellness program participation. Throughout his career, Chris has been instrumental in product development, financial analysis, marketing management and sales training.
He is a speaker at business and industry events and is a member of Greater Phoenix Leadership (GPL), the region's premier organization of CEOs and business leaders dedicated to improving the greater Phoenix area and the State of Arizona.
LinkedInStephanie Bukata
Chief of Staff
With over 17 years of experience in client account management and insurance relations, Stephanie uses her expertise to create and implement training programs for Alera Group - Arizona’s Client Services personnel to continue their professional development.
She has performed all aspects of benefit program service and has established excellent relationships with insurance companies, other program vendors and our clients. Promoted to Chief of Staff in September 2021, she provides operational support to Alera Group - Arizona's Managing Partner and day-to-day leadership on strategic initiatives and large organizational projects.
She previously was Director, Training and Education, in which she created and implemented training programs for Alera Group - Arizona's Client Services personnel to continue their professional development. Stephanie also worked closely with many Alera Group HR leaders to help implement their learning management system companywide.
LinkedInSeth Vandegrift
Vice President, Strategy & Growth
Seth has over eight years of analytics experience and a strong knowledge of employee benefits, plan structure and modeling. He has been involved in financial analysis for clients and prospects, client reporting, and coordination with our in-house actuarial team. His primary job responsibilities are to support our consulting team in driving innovative benefit strategies that improve employee benefits and reduce costs.
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
Employee Benefits
What the 2026 Benchmarking Data Reveals — and Why It Matters Now
On Tuesday, June 16, 2026, at 2:00 PM ET, Alera Group will host Benchmarking That Drives Decisions: Why Averages Mislead — and What Best-in-Class Data Reveals, a live webinar designed for HR, finance and executive leaders involved in benefits planning, budgeting and long-term strategy.
June 11, 2026
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Employee Benefits
Legal Alert: IRS Releases 2027 HSA Contribution Limits and Other Limits
In Rev. Proc. 2026-24, the IRS released the inflation adjusted amounts for 2027 relevant to Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and high deductible health plans (HDHPs). The table below summarizes those adjustments and other applicable limits.
June 3, 2026
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Legal Alert: PBM Transparency Coming Soon
Two recent movements on the federal level have paved the way for greater pharmacy benefit manager (“PBM”) transparency for group health plans.
May 22, 2026
Find out more 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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