About Us
Our Firm
Founded in 1992 by K. Brian McLaughlin, Granite Group is a full-service employee benefits and risk management consulting firm. Our mission is to exceed our clients’ and their employees’ expectations as they relate to our commitment to outstanding service, innovation, ethics, and expertise. We are a customer focused company that brings personal and exceptional service to our valued clients on a consistent basis through our dedicated approach.
Our People
Built around the premise of teamwork, Granite Group employees’ broad and varied skillsets can better serve our clients unique needs. Our experienced staff will deliver tailored benefits solutions based on a structured consulting process. Our team will assess your benefits needs, survey the marketplace, set goals, provide thorough risk assessment and competitive pricing, and introduce the tools and technology to deliver the best benefit options for you and your employees. In 2023, our Manchester, NH office welcomed former Landmark Benefits employees from the Windham, NH location.
Our Presence
Developed over 30 years, GGB remains focused on our client community, and supports their business and social needs across New England. Our employees live and serve in the neighborhoods they grew up in, providing our clients with a valuable resource that understands the local needs of the community. As an Alera Group firm, our clients also benefit from the expertise and resources of a large national firm, while still maintaining the advantages of local service and relationships.
Associations
Meet Our Team
K. Brian McLaughlin
Managing Partner
In 1988, Brian received a BS degree in Economics and Finance from Southern New Hampshire University. After working for John Hancock Financial Services, Mass Mutual and Benefit Strategies, Inc., he founded Granite Group Benefits in 1992. He has been involved in the employee benefit industry for more than 25 years. He is a licensed producer and employee benefits broker in the State of New Hampshire and many other states.
LinkedInJames Scammon
Executive Vice President
Jim has been in group benefits since 1986 and has a broad range of experience. He came to Granite Group Benefits from CIGNA HealthCare of New Hampshire where he was Sales Manager for all lines of group coverage for six years. Prior to CIGNA, Jim spent four years as a benefits consultant for Towers Perrin in New York City, working with large employers such as AT&T, NYNEX, and MacMillan/McGraw-Hill. He began his career as an Account Executive for The Travelers in New York. Jim has a Bachelor's degree from Dartmouth College and earned his MBA at the Stern School of New York University.
Kathy Ellis
Director of Health & Wellness
Kathy joined Granite Group Benefits as the Director of Health & Wellness in November 2014. Prior to being a part of Alera, she managed comprehensive employee wellness programs for large corporations, worked in clinical health promotion and instructed undergraduate classes in health and human performance. Kathy’s passion for wellbeing goes beyond promoting healthy habits. She looks to help people find a way to feel their best every day so they can pursue the things they love. She thrives on sharing those concepts with employers to help create workplace communities that help employees thrive.
Kathy earned her Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science & Sports Studies from the University of Tampa and her Master’s degree in Human Performance from Bridgewater State University. She is a registered yoga teacher with Yoga Alliance and is also certified through the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), American Council of Exercise (ACE), the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM). An outdoor enthusiast, Kathy is also a volunteer hike leader for the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) New Hampshire Chapter.
LinkedInKelly Mitchell
Senior Benefits Consultant
In 2003, Kelly joined Granite Group Benefits as a Senior Client Manager. She came to Granite Group Benefits from CIGNA Healthcare where she began her career as a Team Leader in the Member Services Department. Having gained significant experience in Group Health Insurance, Kelly then took a position within CIGNA's Sales Department as a Client Strategy Specialist. Kelly has worked in Sales and Customer Service since 1998. She enjoys educating her clients as well as advocating for them, in order to ensure they get the most out of their benefit program. Kelly received her Bachelor's Degree from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.
LinkedInOur Community
We believe in being contributing members of the communities we serve. GGB employees, through business-sponsored and personal endeavors, volunteer their time mentoring, fundraising, and supporting multiple organizations in our local community to include:
Veterans Count, American Red Cross of Greater Manchester, Boys & Girls Club of Manchester, CareGivers, Cystic Fibrosis – Northern NE Chapter, Girl Scouts of the Green & White Mountains, Granite United Way, Greater Lakes Region Making Strides, Henniker Food Pantry, Manchester Area Human Resources Association, Meals on Wheels of Hillsborough County, New England Parkinson's Ride, and UpReach Therapeutic Equestrian Center.
Our culture rewards teamwork. Whether we are working for you, or helping in our communities, we do it together.
Eugene Van Loan Leadership Award
2021 Easter Seals NH Celebration Breakfast Granite Group Benefits congratulates Managing Partner Brian McLaughlin, this year’s Eugene Van Loan Leadership Award recipient at Easterseals.
We are so proud of your service and all of the great work you continue to do in the community.
“We Take Care of the People Who Took Care of Us”
The Meals on Wheels cause runs deep in the Scammon family. He recalled that when talking to his parents after first joining the board, he learned his grandmother had been a driver for Meals on Wheels.
“This cause is so important-we are literally helping people in need be able to live safely at home. These are the teachers, police officers, fire fighters, coaches-all people who played a key role in the community.”
The Meals on Wheels CRAZE! Event is coming up!
Saturday, October 30th, 5:00-7:00pm, Trombly Gardens, Milford, NH. This is our new outdoor fall event which is fun for all ages!
There will be a corn maze, costume contest, bonfire, hot dogs/ s’mores roast, pumpkin cornhole, and more! Cool CRAZE t-shirts available for $10.
Visit https://www.hcmow.org/craze to purchase your tickets and t-shirts!
GGB supports the Meals on Wheels Jam Fest!
Saturday, September 25th, 11:30 AM- 9:00 PM, Sherman’s Pit Stop, Wilton, NH.
All of the musicians’ tip proceeds will benefit Meals on Wheels of Hillsborough County!
Visit: https://www.hcmow.org/jam-fest for more info and a concert schedule.
Cheering by Chairing for our Community
Our very own Kim Socha is helping to chair the 8th Annual Farnum Spirit of Hope event taking place May 12th.
Friends and supporters gather annually at the Spirit of Hope Event, presented by Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, to celebrate the victories of recovery made possible through Farnum Services.
The event raises awareness about substance use treatment services and invites members of the community to join in changing the conversation around addiction from stigma to support, from problems to solutions.
Champions Among Us!
Senator Lou D’Allesandro, a longtime supporter of senior services in NH, stopped by the Carpenter Center in Manchester to assist with the distribution of “Grab ‘n’ Go” meals from Meals on Wheels of Hillsborough County.
Jim Scammon, current board chair of MOWHC, met with the Senator to thank him for his participation and many years of support.
GGB is Making Strides
Granite Group Benefits' Jeanette Chasse and her team Carole Strong at the 27th Annual Greater Lakes Region Making Strides walk yesterday at Opechee Park in Laconia!
GGB Steps UP!
Great time last night supporting SJCS Meals on Wheels and their Step UP! 5k.
We Support Veteran’s Count
The 5th Annual “Make 12 Hours Count” Radio Thon is this Wednesday, March 20th.
Tune in to News Radio 96.7 and WGIR AM 610 – Don’t forget about the online auction happening NOW — text VETSAUCTION to 51555 to bid on the items (the auction is open to everyone)!
EXPERT EDUCATION
Events and Webinars
Employee Benefits
Navigating Medicare: Educational Webinar
The knowledgeable team at Alera Group is here to help you navigate your Medicare options to ensure you feel confident in your post-65 healthcare coverage.
November 12, 2025 at 12:00 pm CT | Virtual
Sign Up
THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
Insights
Employee Benefits
Legal Alert: Agencies Clarify How Certain Fertility Benefits May be Treated as Excepted Benefits
This alert is of interest to all employers that offer fertility benefits or may be interested in offering fertility benefits in the future.
November 4, 2025
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Employee Benefits
Legal Alert: IRS Adjusts Health Flexible Spending Account and Other Benefit Limits for 2026
This alert is of interest to all employers that sponsor health FSAs and qualified transit plans, among others.
October 10, 2025
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2025 Leave Report: Insights to Guide 2026 Leave Planning
Explore Alera Group’s 2025 Leave Report. Benchmark PTO, parental leave, and holiday policies to strengthen employee retention and recruitment as you plan for 2026 and beyond.
October 1, 2025
Find out more Employee Benefits
Legal Alert: IRS Issues Affordability Percentage Adjustment for 2026
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has released Rev. Proc. 2025-25, which contains the inflation adjusted amounts for 2026 used to determine whether employer-sponsored coverage is “affordable” for purposes of the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) employer shared responsibility provisions and premium tax credit program.
July 23, 2025
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