About Us
Since 1987 you may have known us as AIA, or American Insurance Administrators, or as one of our three core divisions: AIA Property & Casualty (P&C), Benefits Resource Group (BRG), or as Benefits Broker Solutions (BBS). You may have heard something about us becoming part of Alera Group in 2017. But we are all one company, and now we are aligning our name, our brand, our new look, and our new website to reflect that strong one-company story.
Work With Us
We are passionate about collaboration and growth. Enjoy working in a highly collaborative culture? Looking for an exciting environment that is constantly growing and improving? If you care about providing outstanding client service while serving local communities, then we may be looking for you.
Meet Our Team
Fran Sierotowicz
Loss Control Manager, Property & Casualty
Fran is the Director of Loss Control/Risk Management Consultant, focused on helping organizations to effectively evaluate the risk and cost of their insurance programs, in particular the workers’ compensation program. She focuses on the communication of cost-effective compliance and loss-cost reduction programs. Fran works with a variety of stakeholders in organizations – including financial, operational, human resources, training and other executives and employees in delivering results.
Fran’s work involves assisting clients to develop formal safety programs, safety culture improvement, ergonomic evaluations and strategies, health and safety training, safety program auditing, and fleet management services. Collectively, her work helps clients achieve sustainable results in all casualty risk areas.
Fran has spent her entire professional career working in the safety & health and risk management field. The majority of her career has been spent working in the risk management segment of the insurance industry. Her time away from insurance was spent in Hands-on Safety Management Practice for a governmental entity and a manufacturing business.
Fran has a Master’s Degree in Safety Management from West Virginia University; an Associate’s Degree in both Risk Management and Loss Control Management from the Insurance Institute of America; and she is a Certified Fire Protection Specialist from the NFPA. Fran is a State of PA Certified Trainer and an Authorized OSHA Instructor.
Monica Simonsen
Personal Lines Manager
Monica is a Personal Lines Manager with our Property & Casualty division. She has over a decade of experience working with both captive and independent agencies. She brings a well-rounded approach to uncovering her clients’ needs and is passionate about making insurance “user-friendly”. Monica takes pride in being her clients’ coverage expert. She is licensed in Property and Casualty insurance and is working towards her CISR designation.
Jim Smith
Senior Account Executive, Personal Lines
Jim our Personal Lines Senior Account Executive, overseeing a team of four people. He has over 30 years of experience of serving individual clients with their personal insurance needs. Our office has a pool of over 30 insurance companies, allowing Jim to design a personal portfolio tailored to each client’s individual insurance needs. Whether it is auto, home, life, valuable items or a personal umbrella policy, Jim’s ability to provide answers and solutions in today’s ever-changing market makes him a sought-out advisor.
Debra Somma, CISR
Account Manager, Large Commercial Accounts
Debbie joined the team in November 2021 as a Large Commercial Lines Account Executive and brought with her 34 years of insurance experience. She has been licensed insurance agent since 1993 and received her CISR designation in 1995. Her responsibilities include marketing new and renewal business, handling insured’s policy changes, assisting with audits, compiling client information for their renewal reviews to the agent, and servicing the day-to day client needs. She enjoys speaking to her insured’s so she can become more acclimated with their business, and be more familiar with their daily operations, as she believes this builds a stronger client / agent relationship.
In her free time she enjoys spending time with family and friends and kayaking whenever she has the chance.
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
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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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Property and Casualty
Top 5 Insurance Surprises Businesses Face in Q4 — and How to Prevent Them
As year-end approaches, many organizations focus on closing out financials and planning for the year ahead. It’s also the time when insurance programs often reveal unexpected challenges, some avoidable, others the result of shifting market conditions or overlooked details.
October 30, 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
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