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
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.
Rob Striewig
Senior Vice President, Property & Casualty
Rob is a Senior Vice President of the Property & Casualty division. He specializes in managing and negotiating the domestic and international contract/commercial surety programs between clients and surety companies throughout the United States. Rob is known as a trusted, professional, and confidential business partner. He is able to provide ongoing strategic advice, working closely with clients and their other advisors.
Rob served as President of the Striewig Bonding Agency for over 30 years prior to joining Alera Group in 2017. He currently serves as a director on several boards within the industry and also has been involved on several national advisory boards. Rob is a past president of the MBX (Mid-Atlantic Builder’s Exchange) and is currently chairman of the Central PA chapter of CFMA’s (Construction Financial Management Associate) annual scholarship event.
Bill Straw
Senior Vice President, Employee Benefits
Bill Straw is a Senior Vice President, serving as an executive consultant on large employer clients and participates with the new business development team bringing our unique GameChanger portfolio to self-funded employers. Bill combines his long-standing business experience with a passion for people.
Previously, Bill spent 23 years with Highmark in various actuarial and underwriting roles with a unique focus on client consulting and providing client facing support to the sales team.
As a graduate of Penn State University with a degree in actuarial science, Bill also holds his Fellowship in the Society of Actuaries (FSA) designation, along with a state of Pennsylvania producer license for accident and health, a member of the American Academy of Actuaries, and Health Rosetta Associate Advisor Certification.
Besides enjoying his career, Bill lives in Bethel, PA with his wife and two sons and has served as Chairman of the Bethel Township Planning Commission since 2013.
Ethan Troutman
Producer, Employee Benefits
Ethan Troutman is a relationship-focused Employee Benefits Producer at Alera Group with a unique background in mental health and employee assistance programs (EAP). His experience supporting both public and private sector clients across Pennsylvania has given him a well-rounded perspective on what employees truly need—and how employers can meet those needs with smart, sustainable benefits strategies.
Before joining Alera Group, Ethan spent the better part of a decade in the EAP space, managing high-profile accounts and partnering with more than 50 counties, as well as numerous private organizations. Known for his consultative approach, deep integrity, and calm, clear communication style, he’s built a strong reputation as someone who listens first, solves thoughtfully, and genuinely cares.
Ethan holds a Resident Producer License in Accident and Health, Life, and Fixed Annuities. He studied at Harrisburg Area Community College (HACC) and serves on the leadership board at his local church. Faith is central to his life, and he finds his greatest purpose in being a husband to his wife, Aspen, and a father to their two young children. Whether supporting clients or serving his community, Ethan approaches each opportunity with purpose, compassion, and a people-first mindset.
EXPERT EDUCATION
Events and Webinars
Employee Benefits
2025 Healthcare and Employee Benefits Benchmarking Report: How Does Your Benefits Program Stack Up?
In this session, our experts will dive into the results of our annual, market-leading benchmarking survey.
June 26, 2025 at 01:00 pm CT | Virtual
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Employee Benefits
Dynamic Data: Strategies for Success
Join us for this session, as our experts will share how to utilize your organization’s data to create advanced and innovative strategies for success.
July 17, 2025 at 01:00 pm CT | Virtual
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Employee Benefits
Preparing for Open Enrollment: How to Engage and Educate Your Employees on Their Total Benefits Package
In this session, our experts will share guidance on setting yourself up for success during Open Enrollment.
August 21, 2025 at 01:00 pm CT | Virtual
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THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
Insights
Employee Benefits
Benchmarking: How Do Your Organization’s Employee Benefits Offerings Stack Up?
For the sixth consecutive year, Alera Group is offering a valuable piece of market intelligence: our Healthcare and Employee Benefits Benchmarking Report. We’ll introduce the 2025 edition on its release date, June 26, with a one-hour webinar beginning at 1 p.m. CT.
June 5, 2025
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Employee Benefits
Reminder: PCORI Fees Due By July 31, 2025
Employers that sponsor self-insured group health plans, including health reimbursement arrangements (HRAs) should keep in mind the upcoming July 31, 2025 deadline for paying fees that fund the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) via Form 720, which was recently updated and released by the IRS.
June 3, 2025
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Benefits Captives: Your Business and What Your Competitors Are Doing
In one form or another, Captive Insurance has existed as a risk management solution for many decades — originally for property and casualty coverage and primarily for large employers. But its viability as a solution for employee benefits and for midsized businesses has increased dramatically in recent years, fueled by volatility in the insurance market in general and by the skyrocketing cost of health insurance in particular.
May 29, 2025
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Agencies Push Pause Button on Enforcement of MHPAEA 2024 Final Rule
On May 15, 2025, the Department of Labor, Department of Health and Human Services, and the Treasury Department (collectively, the “Agencies”) released a statement regarding the Agencies’ recent request for abeyance of a lawsuit filed by the ERISA Industry Committee (“ERIC”) in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia that challenged certain aspects of Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) Final Rule (“2024 Final Rule”) relating to nonquantitative treatment limitation comparative analyses (“NQTL analyses”).
May 16, 2025
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