Meet Our Team
Allyson Thomas, SHRM-SCP®
Executive HR Services Partner
Allyson has a strategic mindset and broad experience that touches on all facets of human resources, primarily in the technology and healthcare industries. She serves as HR director and lead for multiple Alera Group clients, ensuring smooth and efficient operations while optimizing employee experience, engagement, and team-building.
Leadership and individual coaching is a passion for Allyson; she is certified in both DISC and MBTI assessments, which she uses for training with a variety of audiences. She also earned the SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP®) designation.
A graduate of the University of Washington and Western Governors University, Allyson previously served in HR leadership roles for AIM Aerospace, Sound Physicians, and Morpho (now Idemia). She lives in University Place, Washington, and enjoys hiking, running half-marathons, working out, music, painting, dancing, and travel, along with many other hobbies. Her volunteer work includes serving on the board for New Phoebe House, which helps mothers stop cycles of addiction, homelessness, and family violence.
Brittany Thomas
Client Support Specialist Lead
Brittany oversees our Client Support Specialist team—providing guidance, fostering a collaborative, efficient work environment, and building strong relationships with both clients and team members. She works closely with HR leads to ensure the accurate, timely completion of administrative functions for benefits administration, training programs, recruiting, onboarding/offboarding, open enrollment, and employee relations.
A graduate of the University of Idaho, where she earned a degree in business and human resources, Brittany has nearly 20 years of experience in HR, benefits, and retirement plans. She also achieved the SHRM People Manager Qualification.
Brittany lives outside of Tacoma, Washington; her hobbies include spending time with her family, watching her two girls play sports, traveling, and getting outside. She has volunteered for over 12 years with the United Way of Pierce County (including five years as a campaign lead) and also supports Mother Earth Farms.
Kristin Verone
Analyst, Employee Benefits
Kristin has served in a variety of roles over her 25+ years with the Washington office, including Office Manager, Database Administrator, and Small Group Account Manager. Today, as an Employee Benefits Analyst, one of her key duties is managing the renewal process for group insurance products—coordinating proposals and performing other vital tasks to ensure clients and Wilson Albers have all the necessary information to negotiate.
Kristin lives in Puyallup, Washington, and loves spending time with friends, family, and her dog Abe. Other hobbies include cooking, taking Abe to the dog park, watching college football, and cheering on Purdue’s basketball team (“Boiler up!” she says).
A graduate of Central Washington University with a bachelor’s degree in administrative office management, Kristin also volunteers for programs and events such as United Way’s Day of Caring and Shop with a Cop.
Julie Wahlgren
Sr. Account Manager, Employee Benefits
In our Tacoma office, Julie manages online benefits administration, communications, directing compliance questions, and making sure the information in our database isn’t compromised. While she has worn several hats since arriving at Wilson Albers about 25 years ago, these days Julie enjoys working behind the scenes—but still loves catching up with clients whenever she can.
Julie is a graduate of Western Washington University who moved to Minnesota after college, and then quickly returned once she realized how much she missed the Northwest. A Registered Health Underwriter (RHU®), she has vast experience in client services, health insurance, benefits administration systems, employee benefits design, and communications. Her favorite part of her current role is knowing that she plays a part in ensuring clients are cared for and that employees understand their benefits.
EXPERT EDUCATION
Events and Webinars
Employee Benefits
Benchmarking That Drives Decisions: Why Averages Mislead — and What Best-in-Class Data Reveals
A clear, data-driven view of the 2026 employee benefits landscape grounded in benchmarking results.
June 16, 2026 at 01:00 pm CT | Virtual
Register Here
Employee Benefits
GLP-1s at Scale: Why Weight-Loss Drug Decisions Are Now a Financial Strategy
A GLP-1 decision framework plus scenarios.
July 21, 2026 at 01:00 pm CT | Virtual
Register Here
Employee Benefits
Open Enrollment That Works: Why Employees Do Not Engage — and How Modern Communications Drive Better Choices
Practical communication strategies to strengthen open enrollment effectiveness and employee decision-making.
August 18, 2026 at 01:00 pm CT | Virtual
Register Here
THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
Insights
Employee Benefits
What the 2026 Benchmarking Data Reveals — and Why It Matters Now
On Tuesday, June 16, 2026, at 2:00 PM ET, Alera Group will host Benchmarking That Drives Decisions: Why Averages Mislead — and What Best-in-Class Data Reveals, a live webinar designed for HR, finance and executive leaders involved in benefits planning, budgeting and long-term strategy.
June 11, 2026
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Employee Benefits
Legal Alert: IRS Releases 2027 HSA Contribution Limits and Other Limits
In Rev. Proc. 2026-24, the IRS released the inflation adjusted amounts for 2027 relevant to Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and high deductible health plans (HDHPs). The table below summarizes those adjustments and other applicable limits.
June 3, 2026
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Legal Alert: PBM Transparency Coming Soon
Two recent movements on the federal level have paved the way for greater pharmacy benefit manager (“PBM”) transparency for group health plans.
May 22, 2026
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Why is umbrella liability getting so expensive?
While most commercial insurance pricing has softened in 2026, umbrella liability has not. In fact, it’s moving in the opposite direction.
May 4, 2026
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