About Us
Alera Group Pittsburgh is dedicated to understanding our clients' business needs, human resource objectives, financial goals, and long-term strategic plans. We strive to find new and innovative ways for employers to offer high quality, affordable benefits to their employees now and in the years to come.
We focus on all areas of Employee Benefits, including, but not limited to:
- Health and Welfare Benefits Consulting
- Strategic Planning
- Data Analytics
- Cost Containment Strategies
- HR Support
- Compliance
- Benefits & Administration Technology
- Pharmacy Solutions
- Human Capital Management
- Specialty Programs
- Ancillary/ Voluntary Benefits
- Worksite Benefits
Our consulting philosophy is to ensure our clients understand their funding options in their various lines of business. We not only illustrate fully insured proposals, but also specialize in self-funding. Clients who consider self-funding can select traditional self-funding options or choose from one of our captive models.
National Scope. Local Service.
Why work with Alera Group Pittsburgh? Because we provide the best of both worlds – national scope combined with local service. Our mission is to transform the client experience by providing a greater depth and breadth of resources, innovative thinking, and constant collaboration, while maintaining strong local relationships.
National Scope.
Our clients benefit from our national resources and broad expertise. As an Alera Group company, we have the resources, technical expertise, and best practices of a larger national firm.
Local Service.
Alera Group Pittsburgh is dedicated to delivering exceptional client experiences and the best possible outcomes; positively impacting our employees, clients and the communities where we live and work.
Work With Us
At Alera Group, 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.
Explore Openings.Meet Our Team
People you can count on. People you can trust.
Don Balla
Senior Vice President, Partner
Don Balla is a Senior Vice President and Partner of Alera Group Pittsburgh and has more than 27 years of experience in the insurance and financial services industry. Don has oversight of Sales & Marketing for the Western Pennsylvania marketplace. Prior to selling his agency to Alera Group in 2017, He most recently served as Managing Principal of the Employee Benefits Division of Simpson & McCrady, LLC. Under his leadership, Simpson & McCrady grew into a multi-line insurance advisory firm providing benefits, property and casualty, and risk management services.
Balla earned his Bachelor of Administration degree in Business Administration and Economics from Grove City College. Balla is currently serving on industry advisory boards for insurance companies. Additionally, he serves/advises many charitable organizations.
Susan Campbell
VP, Client Operations
Susan Campbell is the VP, Client Experiences for the Alera Group Pittsburgh office. Susan has been in the insurance industry for almost 30 years with a focus in client management. At Alera Group, she assists clients with:
- Finding creative strategies to control employee benefit costs;
- Compliance issues;
- Utilizing Alera Group tools and services;
- Promoting wellness strategies;
- Everyday HR challenges regarding their benefits, and;
- Providing updates on health care reform.
Campbell earned her Bachelor of Arts in Communications with a concentration in Business from Mt. St. Joseph University in Cincinnati, Ohio. In addition, she has her Managed Health Professional (MHP) designation from America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), Group Benefits Disability Specialist designation and is licensed in Health and Accident, Life and Fixed Annuities.
Tina Hapanowicz
Senior Vice President, Partner
Tina is a Senior VP, Partner of Alera Group Pittsburgh and has provided expertise in insurance benefits for more than 30 years. Her current role is to provide local corporate oversight of business matters and, along with local leadership, setting the strategic direction and growth for Western Pennsylvania. Prior to the formation of Alera Group, Tina was president of Coury Health Services, Inc. She worked with clients to understand their culture and business needs, then facilitated the development of the strategies required to improve the health and productivity of their workforce while allowing the employer to focus on their core business. As an original founding partner of Alera Group, she will continue to focus on our mission with emphasis on maintaining the mindset for quality customer experience and provide unlimited resources through collaboration to ensure delivered excellence and build long term relationships with our clients.
Hapanowicz earned her Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Pittsburgh. She currently participates in the Alera’s Women’s Leadership Council and has sat on several carrier advisory boards in the past.
Kevin Sweeney
Senior Vice President, Partner
Kevin is a Senior Vice President and Partner of Alera Group Pittsburgh. His role is to assist in the development, growth, and execution of the company’s strategic plan.
Kevin has been servicing employer groups since 1996 in Western Pennsylvania. Kevin is an advocate for his customers, lobbying for them on both the state and federal level throughout his career. This expertise has placed him on multiple producer advisory boards, forums and focus groups and volunteer organizations. He has extensive background in the fiscal needs of plan performance, funding strategies and benefit solutions for mid, large and national accounts.
Kevin is a graduate of Duquesne University and lives in Wexford with his wife and three children.
EXPERT EDUCATION
Events and Webinars
Employee Benefits
Setting Your Strategy for the New Year: Alera Group's 2025 Employee Benefits Market Outlook
Our experts will highlight key results from Alera Group’s "2025 Employee Benefits Market Outlook" and explain how these trends can impact your benefits program this year.
January 16, 2025 at 01:00 pm CT | Virtual
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Wealth Services
State of the Markets
Join us as we unveil the factors that drive the nation's financial pulse and how they may impact your personal finances.
January 22, 2025 at 12:00 pm CT | Virtual
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Wealth Services
State of the Markets
Join us as we unveil the factors that drive the nation's financial pulse and how they may impact your personal finances.
April 23, 2025 at 12:00 pm CT | Virtual
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Insights
Employee Benefits
Don’t Forget About Your Gag Clause Attestations
When the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (CAA) was enacted on December 27, 2020, it included a provision that prohibits group health plans and health insurance carriers from entering into certain agreements that, either directly or indirectly, restrict the release of certain information related to provider networks and de-identified encounter data, among other things. Such restrictions are commonly referred to as “gag clauses.” The CAA also requires plans and carriers to attest annually that their agreements do not include such impermissible gag clauses.
November 20, 2024
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Employee Benefits
Avoiding an Employee Lawsuit Over a Tobacco Surcharge Claim
Tobacco surcharges on health insurance premiums for employees who use tobacco products are attractive options for employers looking to keep their workforce healthy while lowering their organization’s healthcare costs. But surcharges can go too far, and many employers may be unaware of the limitations. Alera Group's new whitepaper on tobacco surcharges is designed to assist employers in complying with federal regulations.
November 19, 2024
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Q4 Considerations: New HIPAA Privacy Considerations
Earlier this year, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued a Final Rule titled HIPAA Privacy Rule to Support Reproductive Health Care Privacy.
November 15, 2024
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Spotlight on 2025 Benefit Limits
The IRS has released the 2025 benefit plan limits. The following chart shows some of the key limits for the 2023, 2024 and 2025 tax years.
November 15, 2024
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