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
Mark Englert
Executive Vice President, Property and Casualty
Mark Englert is an Executive Vice President and the Property and Casualty Practice Leader for Alera Group. In this capacity, Mark is responsible for leading the development of world-class Property and Casualty solutions for Alera Group clients. He works closely with firms across the nation to enhance client experiences, build out new capabilities and coordinate services and resources between firms.
Mark brings over 25 years of insurance industry and related experience to Alera Group, most recently as Managing Director at USI Insurance Services. Prior to that, he was Managing Director and leader of Wells Fargo Insurance Services’ Metro Partnership.
Mark holds both a BBA and an MBA from St. John’s University.
Heather Eshaghpour
Regional Vice President, Employee Benefits Practice Leader
Heather is the Regional Employee Benefits Practice Leader. In her role, Heather collaborates with firms across the region leading initiatives on our client experience, our people, growth, and operational efficiencies. Heather sits on our national employee benefits leadership team working with other practice leaders to drive innovation and growth within the employee benefits practice.
Heather has over 25 years of experience in employee benefits having worked previously for both small and national consulting firms in client-facing and leadership roles. Heather lives in Nashville, Tennessee with her husband, son, and two Labrador retrievers. She is an avid Nashville Predators Hockey fan.
Michael Inman
Property ＆ Casualty Practice Leader
Property ＆ Casualty Practice Leader
Ryan Johnson, CBC
Senior Partner
Ryan is a Senior Partner in our benefits consulting division and specializes in working with mid-market companies to improve and fine-tune their employee benefit offerings. He is involved in all aspects of negotiations, plan architecture, contribution strategy, carrier selection, employee communication, and ongoing support. Ryan enjoys collaborating with clients, problem-solving, and providing new strategies to companies that can improve their plan for the company and its employees. Ryan’s creative and progressive ideas have helped many companies save a significant amount of money while maintaining a rich benefit offering.
Before working with Alera Group: Texas, Ryan was a Top Producer for one of the top 10 largest national insurance brokers in the country, Brown & Brown, Inc. Previous to Brown & Brown, Inc., he worked for HIG Capital, a private equity firm, where he was responsible for sourcing and assessing new investment opportunities in growing companies.
Ryan is a native Houstonian and graduate of the University of Texas at Austin McCombs School of Business. He enjoys volunteering with the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, serves as a Board Member with the Texas Exes Houston Chapter, and is part of the Alera Benefit Advisory Board.
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
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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Employee Benefits
Is Tech-Enabled Brokerage Right for You?
Our experts will lay out what tech-enabled brokerage is, how it works and why it makes sense for the right organizations.
September 19, 2024 at 01:00 pm CT | Virtual
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Employee Benefits
Meeting the Needs of an Aging Workforce
Our experts will provide tips and insights about how to incorporate Medicare, menopause benefits, retirement, communications best practices and other hot topics for older workers into your program successfully and without breaking the bank.
October 17, 2024 at 01:00 pm CT | Virtual
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THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
Insights
Employee Benefits
Preparing for 2025: Creditable Coverage, Enrolling in Medicare and HSA Contributions
With significant changes coming in 2025 to creditable coverage determinations, employers and employees may have questions on what that means for them, whether they make the decision to enroll in Medicare Part D or continue to have coverage under their group health plan.
September 5, 2024
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Employee Benefits
Webinar: Better Benefits Administration and Lower Costs
If you don’t have expert assistance to guide you and your organization in the in using a sophisticated benefits portal, you’re wasting a lot of the money your business has invested — and probably frustrating the employees you mean to serve. Working with a brokerage that offers not only a leading-edge benefits portal but also year-round support and services enables your employees to seamlessly access, understand and navigate the portal, creating a positive benefits experience.
September 5, 2024
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Medicare Part D Credibility Determinations for Non-Calendar Year Plans
In 2003, the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act (MMA) added a voluntary prescription drug benefit to the Medicare program. The benefit, known as Medicare Part D or “Part D,” is an optional program for Medicare beneficiaries to access covered prescription drugs at a lower cost. In 2022, the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) was signed and set into motion changes to Part D benefits, with additional impact on employers in 2024 and 2025.
September 5, 2024
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Workers’ Compensation: Stable market with emerging challenges from mental health claims
Despite pressure from medical inflation, increases in fee schedules on medical procedures and wage inflation affecting premiums and benefits, Workers’ Compensation remains a stable and profitable line for insurers. This stability allows buyers favorable conditions, such as ample capacity and stable rates. However, a new trend is emerging: the inclusion of mental health claims as compensable workers’ compensation.
August 28, 2024
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