About Us
ABOUT US
For over 30 years, Spire Risk Management (SRM) has made a positive impact by servicing clients across the US, providing consulting, compliance, and administrative services of employee benefit programs at the very highest level. Our mission is to be committed to protecting our client’s human assets through creative insurance solutions.
Since 1986, we have taken full advantage of the flexibility of being privately held. This alone, allows us to be nimble, innovative, and entrepreneurial when it comes to providing the best solutions and experience for our clients.
We invest heavily in our teammates. We empower them to be the best they can be by providing a professional, entrepreneurial, and rewarding workplace. We believe in their professional and personal growth and have created a culture of supporting each other.
On behalf of our entire SRM team, we're grateful for the opportunity to help you navigate through the complex issues of your employee benefit program in an ever-changing landscape.
WHY CHOOSE US?
Culture – The reason SRM is a leading insurance firm in Texas; over 30 years of a proven culture. A culture of serving our clients, our employees, and our community.
Relationships – Relationships create loyalty. For over three decades, we have developed the type of relationships with our clients that has transformed us from being just another broker into a brand they know and trust. We do not take this for granted.
Passion – If you don’t love what you do, you won’t do it with conviction. What distinguishes us at SRM is our passion for putting our clients’ best interest at the forefront of everything we do.
OUR HISTORY
Employee Benefit Services was founded in 1986 by Billie & Art Villemain as an employee brokerage firm. Employee Benefit Services launched its Third Party Administration business in 1999 to serve self-funded clients and introduced its proprietary eligibility management platform, EBSEnroll, in 2013.
In 2019, Spire Risk Management (SRM) acquired an interest in Employee Benefit Services Brokerage and TPA, and rebranded the firm as Spire Risk Management in November of 2019.
In 2020, SRM acquired Texas State Life & Health, a firm specializing in employee benefits and Medicare Insurance Solutions in the San Antonio MSA.
In 2021, SRM acquired Transitional Advisors, a firm focused on small and mid-market employee benefits in the San Antonio MSA.
In 2023, SRM acquired Greer and Associates in Harlingen, TX, specializing in small and mid-market employee benefit plans in the Rio Grande Valley.
In 2024, SRM acquired Benefit Solutions based in Kerrville, TX. Todd Peter and the Benefit Solutions team specialize in small and mid-market employee benefit plans in South Texas.
In 2024, SRM merged with Alera Group, a top national insurance and financial services firm, on December 1, 2024. This merger expanded SRM’s resources and capabilities, including the addition of Property & Casualty, Wealth Services, and Retirement Plan services.
Meet Our Team
Ginelle Gonzalez
Senior Account Manager
Ginelle Gonzalez began her career with the Principal Financial Group. She transitioned to the broker side in 2000 working with SWBC. Her passion for working with high-level clients and providing excellent service remains a priority. After fifteen years with Gallagher Benefit Services, she is new to the Spire Risk Management team and brings the most knowledgeable and experienced resources to the team.
Her experience includes managing a million-dollar book of business, retaining clients, marketing renewals, and adding value-added programs to the comprehensive health and welfare programs already in place. Building solid relationships with her clients and ensuring they have all the resources needed to be employers of choice. She mentors, trains, and builds morale with her peers
recognizing that investing in their knowledge and their future is key to the success of Spire Risk Managements’ team.
Ginelle and her husband Scott are proud parents of three children. She enjoys spending time with her family, reading, and walking their dogs.
Connect on LinkedInKevin Wolff
Partner, HR Consultant
Born and raised in San Antonio, Commissioner Wolff graduated from Tom C. Clark High School. Following this, he immediately enlisted in the United States Navy and held the position of Radioman aboard a guided missile destroyer. After his active enlistment period, Wolff earned both a Bachelors in Business Administration and a Masters in Business Administration from St. Mary’s University. His professional business experience, spanning 30 years, includes human resources, organizational design, and business development and operations. As a Senior Vice President in Human Resources for Citigroup, he worked in Delaware and New York City. Wolff returned to San Antonio in 2002 and served as the Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer for
First American Title.
From 2005-2008, Kevin had the honor of representing San Antonio City Council, District 9. While on City Council, he led initiatives to improve infrastructure, increase the San Antonio Police Department force, strengthen the ethics ordinance for city council members, and created library facilities in Stone Oak, all while adhering to his conservative principles. Wolff also championed a budget with a tax decrease, the first in more than ten years.
As Bexar County Commissioner for Precinct 3 from 2008-2019, Commissioner Wolff was a leader in economic development of San Antonio and the surrounding community, which included suburban cities and the unincorporated areas of Bexar County. Additionally, Kevin served as the Court’s “transportation go-to,” having served as Chairman for the Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization and led the charge on numerous transportation projects. In his role as Chairman, he secured millions of dollars for the San Antonio region, including the expansion of US-281, I-10, and 1604.
Returning to his HR roots, Kevin joined Spire Risk Management in January of 2021 as a Partner in the firm. In his role, Kevin will manage Human Capital projects for large employers in Texas.
Commissioner Wolff and his wife Sandi have been married for over 25 years and are very active in the San Antonio community. They are the proud parents of one daughter, Sydney, who is working in the medical sector.
Dennis Wagner
Benefits Consultant
Dennis Wagner started his career as an employee Benefits Consultant in 2012. As a benefits consultant he is responsible for new business sales as well as managing his current book of business. Dennis is the local expert on Professional Employer Organizations (PEO’s), as well as benefits administration software systems, such as ADP, Paychex, Ultimate, and PeopleSoft. In 2022 he joined Spire Risk Management and continues to flourish in providing comprehensive health and welfare benefits.
In 1999, Dennis graduated from the State University of New York at Buffalo with a Bachelor of Science in Human Resources and Business Management. He is a former US Marine and is extremely proud of his 8 years of honorable service. Dennis was meritoriously promoted through the rank of Sergeant when he was selected to the Platoon Leaders Class Officers Course in Quantico, VA. The values, discipline and leadership skills that he developed in the Marines are a cornerstone of his life today. He was decorated and honorably discharged in 2011.
Prior to joining Spire Risk Management, Dennis’ leadership skills and hard work produced consistent results in the Payroll and PEO industr y. He w as hired by Payc hex in 2000 and s pent 12 years in sales and sales management. He was then promoted to District Sales Manager in the Tampa, FL office. Dennis relocated to San Antonio with Paychex in a sales role in 2008. He was the first PEO representative for Paychex in San Antonio and was again awarded Circle of Excellence in his first year in this new position.
Dennis’ clients rely on him for his insight and expertise in benefit plan design, employer contribution strategy, carrier negotiations and human resources. Those that have had the opportunity to work with Dennis admire the passion and drive that he exhibits with every task that is placed in front of him.
He is a proud father of two children Allison, and Nathan. He is a member of Holy Spirit Catholic Church, coached with the McAllister Park Little League, and is a member of the North Chamber Leadership Lab class of 2014. He has served on the Supervisory Committee for Generations Federal Credit Union for two years and was an ambassador to the St Petersburg, FL Chamber of Commerce. In his spare time, Dennis enjoys supporting his children’s sports teams.
Connect on LinkedInTammi Greer
Partner, Employee Benefits
Tammi Greer began her career in the healthcare industry in 1992, working in various physician offices as in insurance specialist both in Houston and the RGV. This is where her roots started in the health insurance industry. In 1997, she went to work at Smith-Reagan Insurance Agency selling and servicing individual and group health insurance. After 2.5 years with Smith-Reagan, Greer & Associates, Inc, was born; an Independent Insurance Agency providing all forms of insurance including health, life, disability, Medicare supplements, and Property & Casualty. Since 2000, Greer & Associates continues to grow and have the privilege to work with loyal and dedicated employees assisting in servicing 130+ accounts major medical / ancillary benefits in the RGV.
Through persistence, and perseverance Tammi completed her Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2016 at UTRGV. Though she doesn’t currently practice nursing, her education and experience have become resourceful in her health insurance career.
On January 1, 2023, Tammi merged her employee benefit business with Spire Risk Management, in San Antonio, Texas, further expanding capacity of sales, service and compliance. She continues to lead her long-standing Greer & Associates team thru the unprecedented changes in the health insurance industry with stable carrier relationships, and creative product offerings that ensure employers’ and employees’ expectations are met for quality healthcare and service. Her experience and service team are exceptional!
Greer & Associates, Inc. is a member of NABIP, Trusted Choice for Independent Agencies, IIAT-Independent Insurance Agents of Texas, and the Harlingen Chamber of Commerce.
Tammi grew up in the Rio Grande Valley, and is a proud mom of her son, Travis, a merchant mariner, daughter in law, Abigail, daughter, Hannah Jo, an elementary school teacher, son in law, Kent, and loving her title “MoMo” as grandmother to Graham and coming soon Laurie. She enjoys playing tennis, gardening, traveling and spending time with her family.
Resources
Our approach is predicated on designing employee benefit programs that are both comprehensive and cost effective…maximizing the expected return on investment. Our process will include the following pillars: CONSULTING, BROKERAGE, COMPLIANCE, ADMINISTRATION
CONSULTING
- Develop a strategy to identify goals, assess plan cost, design service and support models, and wrap it all around timelines.
- Assessment of plan funding options: fully insured, partially self-funded, reference-based pricing and direct contracting.
- Assessment of pharmacy cost. Develop and implement PBM RFP’s to secure most competitive pricing and contract language.
- Consistently compare and contrast plan benefits and costs as it relates to peer benchmarking data.
- Assist with the budgeting process; employee/employer contribution strategies.
- Design, develop and produce customized open enrollment communication material to support HR communication initiatives.
- Conduct periodic utilization review and executive summary meetings to evaluate:
– Budget
– Cost Drivers
– Network Access
– Gaps in Care
– Stop-Loss Tracking
– Plan Trends
– PBM Performance
BROKERAGE
- Establish risk profile to assist with managing budgeting process.
- Provide renewal plan and funding alternatives to analyze potential cost impact.
- Develop formal RFP process on an annual basis and manage the renewal process from start to finish…on time.
- Develop renewal analysis report, documenting plan recommendations, cost impact, and carrier service and support programs.
- Develop network access and network disruption reports to validate appropriate in-network penetration levels.
- Conduct finalist interviews to validate RFP responses, confirm alignment with HR related strategies, and facilitate client implementation process.
COMPLIANCE
- Health & Welfare Compliance Education
- Provide legislative and regulatory updates; covering federal, state and local compliance requirements.
- Assistance with DOL audits and similar federal and state regulatory inquiries.
- Evaluation and administration of COBRA, HIPAA, and FMLA plans and administration.
- ERISA compliance and disclosure support.
- PPACA impact analysis evaluation, support, and consulting.
- Periodic educational compliance and regulatory seminars and webinars.
- ERISA required document management; WRAP, SPD, POP, Form 5500.
ADMINISTRATION
- Dedicated account service team to integrate with client HR staff and manage overall benefits program.
- Proprietary cloud-based eligibility management platform to provide enrollment services (new hires, terms, and changes) throughout the course of a plan year.
- Dedicated claims specialist to triage with provider/carrier/employer to solve claim issues and questions for your employees.
- Assist with assessing wellness strategy goals and facilitate a discussion around wellness objectives. Monitor the development of overall plan, tracking engagement and monitoring performance of wellness vendors.
- Devoted call center to work directly with your employees to help them successfully navigate the complicated healthcare delivery system.
EXPERT EDUCATION
Events and Webinars
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.
October 22, 2025 at 12:00 pm CT | Virtual
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Employee Benefits
Q4 2025 Quarterly Compliance Webinar
Alera Group's quarterly employee benefits compliance roundup will help you stay current on the latest national regulatory developments impacting employers.
November 4, 2025 at 01:00 pm CT | Virtual
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THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
Insights
Employee Benefits
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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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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Legal Alert: Enforcement of the HIPAA Reproductive Health Care Privacy Rule Vacated Nationwide
On June 18, 2025, a federal district court in Texas vacated a significant portion of the HIPAA Privacy Rule to Support Reproductive Health Care Privacy (“Final Rule”), which was implemented on April 24, 2024, on a nationwide basis. The Final Rule, which was implemented in response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization (effectively overturning Roe v. Wade), was intended to protect the ability of individuals to receive reproductive health care when the care is provided lawfully under the circumstances without risk of an individual’s identity or health information being disclosed for purposes of state criminal, civil or administrative investigations (or for imposing liability related to lawfully providing or obtaining reproductive healthcare).
July 21, 2025
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Legal Alert: Employee Benefits Provisions in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act
On July 3, 2025, Congress passed a reconciliation bill (the “Reconciliation Act”) previously named the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, but subsequently redesignated “An Act to provide for reconciliation pursuant to title II of H. Con. Res. 14.”
July 8, 2025
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