About Us
For over a century, our agency (formerly Insurance Underwriters Limited, IUL) has served clients throughout the New Orleans Metro area and across the Gulf South with comprehensive risk management solutions designed to protect against the unexpected. As a locally based firm, we understand the unique challenges facing businesses in our region.
We go beyond traditional insurance by taking the time to understand your industry and what matters most to your organization. Our relationship-focused, one-on-one approach ensures you have the insights needed to make informed decisions about risk mitigation while maintaining your peace of mind.
Drawing from extensive experience with organizations of all sizes—from local enterprises to global corporations—we recognize that every business faces distinct challenges. We carefully assess your specific circumstances, evaluate your risk tolerance, and develop a customized strategy that combines risk transfer, retention, reduction, and elimination to meet your organization's exact needs.
Meet Our Team
Sean Francioni
Managing Partner
Sean provides strategic leadership and vision for the Metairie office, guiding the team's success and dedication to superior client service. A Southeastern Louisiana University graduate with a degree in business management, Sean combines his academic background with a commitment to fostering growth and delivering exceptional results for clients and team members alike. He enjoys spending time with family, outdoor activities, sports, and cooking.
LinkedInChip Brockhaus
Risk Consultant
Chip brings clients nearly four decades of comprehensive experience in insurance, risk management, and bonds. He specializes in discovering, preparing, and effectively marketing each client's compelling business story while ensuring their risk programs remain strategically aligned with business objectives. His extensive expertise spans risk assessment and analysis, claims management and advocacy, audit advocacy, loss control and safety programs, contractual risk transfer, and captives and alternative risk financing. He holds multiple industry certifications, including Certified Risk Manager (CRM), Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC), and Certified Marine Insurance Professional (CMIP), along with his designation as a Louisiana Civil Law Notary. Chip is deeply committed to his community, actively serving at St. Timothy Church in Mandeville.
LinkedInPaul Geraci
Risk Consultant
Paul brings over 35 years of experience serving construction and trade contractors, service stations, manufacturing, machine shops, and public levee districts in the greater New Orleans area. Paul earned a position on the President’s Agents Advisory Council with Siebels Bruce Group, Inc. as agency principal, received a top sales award from the Fireman’s Fund Insurance in addition to establishing an exclusive garage liability program with Gulf Insurance endorsed by the Automotive Service Association. This extensive background and proven track record of developing specialized programs has proven invaluable in his current focus on the emerging vertical of Levee Districts. Paul enjoys fishing, hunting, boating, and outdoor camping.
Chad Kropp
Risk Consultant
Chad provides comprehensive insurance solutions for large property, construction, trucking and hauling services, and home elevation and house lifting services. With expertise across these specialized industry sectors, he understands the unique risks and coverage needs that each business faces. As a Louisiana State University alum with a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration, Chad leverages strong analytical and relationship-building skills to deliver tailored insurance programs that protect clients' operations and assets. Chad enjoys playing golf, attending sporting events, and traveling.
LinkedInResources
Contact Center
Need to report a claim, pay a bill, request an ID card or a proof of insurance certificate? Below is a list of companies we represent.
Berkshire Hathaway Homestate Companies
Berkshire Hathaway Guard Insurance Companies
Foremost, a Farmers Insurance Company
EXPERT EDUCATION
Events and Webinars
Employee Benefits
Navigating Medicare
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
April 8, 2026 at 12:00 pm CT | Virtual
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Employee Benefits
Network Performance Strategy: Why Any Provider Costs More — and How to Steer to Value Without Disruption
A steering strategy that improves outcomes and total cost of care.
April 21, 2026 at 01:00 pm CT | Virtual
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Employee Benefits
The Compliance Pathway Q2
Alera Group's quarterly employee benefits compliance roundup will help you stay current on the latest national regulatory developments impacting employers.
May 14, 2026 at 01:00 pm CT | Virtual
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THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
Insights
Property and Casualty
AI Isn’t Liable for the Mistake. You Are.
Artificial intelligence is powerful. It’s also wrong more often than people want to admit.
If you use AI to support or deliver professional services, any mistake it makes is still your responsibility. Not the software’s. Not the vendor’s. Yours.
April 1, 2026
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Property and Casualty
Identity hijacking is surging. Here’s what leaders need to know.
Cyber incidents across our client base have been sharper, faster and more costly this year. Even organizations with strong controls are being hit in ways that look very different from past attacks.
March 13, 2026
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Legal Alert: RxDC Reporting Due June 1st
Reminder: RxDC Reporting Due June 1st
February 26, 2026
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Property and Casualty
AI-Powered Cyber Attacks, Why Yesterday’s Defenses Aren’t Enough.
The widespread availability of AI technology, combined with the ease of manipulating video calls, makes phone and Zoom calls susceptible to exploitation by threat actors.
February 2, 2026
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