Meet Our Team
Kerry Hartz
Consultant, Employee Benefits
Kerry has professional experience in nearly every facet of the health insurance industry and employer groups of all sizes and types. He began his career more than 35 years ago at the precursor to Regence Blue Shield and worked with various brokerage firms and third-party administrators before moving to Alera Group.
The longtime holder of a Washington insurance license, Kerry has earned three course certifications from the National Association of Health Underwriters as well: Consumer Directed Healthcare, Benefits Account Manager, and Advanced Self-Funded. He enjoys the team-oriented atmosphere in our office and serving as the primary point of contact for the clients he supports.
Kerry is married with a son; he likes working in the yard, maintaining the family cars, riding bicycles, playing with the family pets, occasionally being part of a trivia-contest team, and going to the health club.
Kerry is not registered as an investment advisor representative and cannot offer advisory products or services in that capacity.
Chérie Hendrix
Employee Benefits Lead Consultant, National Accounts
With over 25 years of experience in the industry, Chérie leads our teams for large groups and self-funded plans—providing benefits program strategy, healthcare reform guidance, financial analysis, and account management. Certified as an Advanced Specialist for self-funded plans by the National Association of Health Underwriters (NAHU), she works with clients including native corporations, public employers, nonprofits, professional firms, and many others.
Before joining the team in 2015, Chérie spent 16 years at Mercer as a principal and senior consultant. There, she focused on mid-sized to large employers in a variety of industries, with benefit plans ranging from 200 to over 15,000 employees.
Chérie, who holds life and disability insurance licenses in several states, is a member of the Employee Benefits Planning Association, International Foundation of Employee Benefits, NAHU, Alaska Association of Health Underwriters, Western Pension & Benefits Association, the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), and other professional organizations. She has presented at the State of Reform Health Policy Conference in Anchorage as well as events for the Alaska Native Village Corporation Association, SHRM, and the Alaska Chamber of Commerce.
A graduate of Seattle University, Chérie has a degree in French with a minor in business. She volunteers at Catholic Social Services and has previously volunteered for the French American School of Puget Sound.
Cherie is not registered as an investment advisor representative and cannot offer advisory products or services in that capacity.
Ismail Kljucanin
Account Manager, Retirement Plan Services
Ismail provides vital support and service to our retirement plan advisors and their clients, helping analyze plan performance, participation, and contributions. His industry background includes three years with KeyBank as a financial consultant; he also earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance from the University of Oregon.
A resident of Gresham, Oregon (about 30 minutes outside of Portland), Ismail was born in Germany and moved to the U.S. when he was a child. He’s fluent in Bosnian and volunteers in the community with Islamic Bosniaks Educational & Cultural Organization (IBECO). When he’s not serving clients or volunteering, he loves to travel, watch and play sports, and spend time with friends and family.
Abbi Lasich, MBA-HRM, PHR®, SHRM-CP®, MBA-HRM
Senior HR & Workforce Solutions Consultant
Utilizing her problem-solving skills, comprehensive HR expertise, and passion for business, Abbi helps Alera Group deliver the right workplace solutions to clients. Her experience includes employee benefits, financial services, and HR functions in industries such as manufacturing, financial services, and technology.
In addition to her MBA in human resource management from Southern Columbia University, Abbi has earned the SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM-CP®) designation and also has her health and disability insurance license. She has been the director of the Northwest Human Resource Management Association conference since 2023 and served on the board of SHRM Olympia from 2008-2018.
A resident of southwest Washington, Abbi is married with two daughters. She enjoys golf, travel, and wine.
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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