About Us
Alera Group is an independent, national insurance and financial services firm created in 2017 through a merger of 24 like-minded, high-performing, entrepreneurial firms. Our founding firms worked together to leverage powerful relationships, industry expertise, and resources with the goal of elevating the client experience.
The word “Alera” is derived from the Latin word for “eagle,” which is symbolic of prosperity and success. For us, success is demonstrated through the speed, simplicity, and efficiency of our service, along with the clarity of thought that our clients demand. We are committed to building on these attributes to enhance our strong local presence on a national scale.
Our Legacy Firms
Houston (formerly Ardent)
Ardent was one of 24 founding Alera Group firms, driven to come together by a desire to elevate the client experience through national resources and industry expertise. Ardent was established in 2007 by Bill Brown and Mike Noyes, and the firm quickly grew to become one of the largest firms serving the Houston and Dallas areas.
Dallas (Formerly Ardent)
Ardent was one of 24 founding Alera Group firms, driven to come together by a desire to elevate the client experience through national resources and industry expertise. Ardent was established in 2007 by Bill Brown and Mike Noyes, and the firm quickly grew to become one of the largest firms serving the Houston and Dallas areas.
San Antonio (formerly AMCORP)
AMCORP was founded in 1981 by William E. Zinsmeyer after a 13 year career at Prudential. The firm has established a reputation for integrity and professionalism. By shaping the business around a client-centered model, the AMCORP team created their own Results Discovery Process™ to help clients avoid the Benefits Merry-Go-Round™. Solving clients' needs and establishing long-term relationships helped AMCORP grow to become one of the largest firms in San Antonio.
Meet Our Team
Bill Brown
Managing Director, South Central
Bill Brown serves as Managing Director, South Central Region, covering Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Missouri, Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, Kansas and Kentucky. His responsibilities include oversight of employee benefits, property and casualty insurance, wealth services and retirement services across the region. Working closely with Alera Group’s senior leaders, practice leaders and fellow regional leaders, Bill is focused on enhancing growth activities, creating new opportunities for colleagues to improve client relationships and produce meaningful outcomes.
One of the founding partners of Alera Group, Bill has over 20 years of industry experience. He is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in economics.
Danielle Capilla
Vice President of Compliance, Employee Benefits
Danielle is a Vice President and the Director of Compliance for Alera’s Employee Benefits division. She previously served as the Senior Vice President of Compliance and Operations and Chief Compliance officer at United Benefit Advisors (UBA). Additionally, she served as an Adjunct Professor at DePaul University. She worked as a Senior Writer Analyst at Wolters Kluwer and as a Law Clerk at Clifford Law Offices.
Danielle graduated with a B.A. in Sociology, History, and Business at Tulane University. She earned her JD in Health Law from DePaul University College of Law.
Brooke Dedmon
Business Development, Team Lead
Brooke is a Business Development Team Lead for Alera Group Texas with a focus on prevention not cures for mid-market employers that strategically evaluate ways to attract and retain top talent. Brooke prides herself on partnerships, trust, integrity, and aligning services specific to the needs of her clients as it relates to customized benefit plans, cost containment, employee engagement, and HR administration.
Brooke received her undergraduate degree from Texas State University (2002), studied overseas in Sweden (2002), and received her Master’s in Social Work from the University of Houston (2004). Prior to joining the Alera Group team, Brooke worked for Paycom Software, Inc. and State Farm Enterprise.
Brooke is a member of HR-Houston, SHRM, and involved with local Chambers and Rotary Clubs. She is very outgoing, collaborative, and describes herself as a life learner. Brooke lives in Missouri City, TX with her Husband, 2 daughters, and goldendoodle, Mercy. She loves reading and indoor cycling.
Greg Donovan
Regional Finance Lead, South Central Region
Regional Finance Lead, South Central Region
Resources
Success Stories (downloads)
Captive Refesability Study for Fortune 500 Company
THE CHALLENGE Alera Group was requested to undertake a captive refeasibility study for an U.S. based multinational manufacturer of appliances with...
Enhancing a Healthcare Captive
THE CHALLENGE A non-profit multi-state health system with 35,000 employees wanted to conduct a feasibility study to determine if captive funding...
Quarry Faces Environmental Liability Query
THE CHALLENGE A large quarry operation owned a dig site that had been filled with a profusion of waste material following a mineral extraction....
An Alera Group member company based in Southern California was asked by the board of directors of a 400-unit condominium building to provide a bid...
Complicated Commercial Real Estate Portfolio
An Alera Group member company based in Southern California was retained by a commercial real estate property manager to review the insurance policies...
Persistence Secures an Infant’s Life Sustaining Treatment
An Alera Group member company that provides services focused on customized, comprehensive employee benefits, HR technology solutions, and wellness...
Start Up Benefits for a Start Up Company
Alera Group was contracted by a start-up national credit counseling company to assist with maintaining employee health benefits offerings while...
An Alera Group company that serves as a multidisciplinary employee benefits and risk management consultancy was approached by a company in the...
THE CHALLENGE Alera Group was the benefits broker for an employer that was working with two affiliated health insurance companies, “Company A”...
EXPERT EDUCATION
Events and Webinars
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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Employee Benefits
Collaborative Conversations: 2025 - What to Expect and What You Need to Know
Save the date for a conversation in September where we will discuss the impending PLO changes by BOLI and the Employment Department, their impacts, and other critical considerations.
September 12, 2024 at 08:30 am PT | Virtual
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THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
Insights
Property and Casualty
Assisted Living and Skilled Nursing Sector Vulnerable to Cyber Threats and Staffing Mandates
After a challenging 2023, Property Insurance rates are more stable midway through 2024. However, environmental exposures, new staffing mandates and cyber threats persist. And with over 16,900 skilled nursing facilities and 30,600 assisted living communities in the U.S. accommodating millions of residents, the sector faces unique challenges.
July 23, 2024
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Wealth Services
Weekly Market Update
Stocks were under pressure last week as investors appeared to rotate out of mega-cap tech stocks and into areas that may benefit from lower interest rates.
July 22, 2024
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Property and Casualty
Why a Crop Insurance Broker Is an Essential Partner for Agricultural Producers
In a volatile environment for agriculture business, a thorough, customized program of risk management and property and casualty insurance ― including Crop Insurance ― is essential. And for that, farmers, ranchers and other growers need to work with a certified Crop Insurance broker.
July 16, 2024
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Weekly Market Update
Stocks advanced last week as market leadership shifted amid fresh inflation data and quarterly corporate reports starting to roll in.
July 15, 2024
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