Meet Our Team
Mahtoska Weathers
Lead Account Manager, Retirement Plan Services
As the Lead Retirement Account Manager, Mahtoska’s primary responsibility for the client is communicating with current and potential clients, scheduling meetings, client data management, and systems management. Internally, he trains new account managers and manages processes across the Northwest region. Mahtoska possesses a B.S. in Mathematics, with a focus on data analysis and statistics.
Mahtoska has earned the Qualified Plan Fiduciary Consultant (QPFC) designation through the National Association of Plan Advisors (NAPA), a reputable organization known for its industry-recognized credentials. This designation reflects his in-depth understanding of the roles of fiduciaries and co-fiduciaries in relation to qualified employer-sponsored retirement plans, further enhancing his ability to provide expert guidance to clients.
After his five-year military service as a Marine Corps member ended, Mahtoska worked at a brewery and then in a customer-service role where he gained wine knowledge to provide informed recommendations. This sparked a lasting passion, and his long-term goals include becoming a certified sommelier while building a thriving career in the financial services industry.
Mahtoska lives with his girlfriend and two dogs in Spanaway, Washington. He enjoys traveling, cooking, relaxing, and playing games.
Mallorie Wheeler
Partner, HR Services
Mallorie provides tailored support to meet the unique needs of our clients, emphasizing training and development so individuals can tap into what makes them tick—and so organizations can develop a more engaged workforce. She believes investing time into your people brings the greatest return.
Mallorie has earned the Professional in Human Resources (PHR®) and SHRM Certified Professional( SHRM-CP®) designations; she also is a Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach and a graduate of Central Washington University with a bachelor’s degree in business administration (specializing in HR). Before joining Alera Group, she worked as HR director for an emergency and specialty animal hospital.
A Tacoma native who loves being outdoors and finding new places to explore with her family, Mallorie is passionate about photography, traveling, reading—and coffee. She is actively involved in her children’s schools and supports initiatives for the well-being of special-needs children in the community.
Melissa Woodward, PHR
Partner, HR Services
Melissa collaborates across the HR team to support our clients in all facets of HR. With over 20 years of experience in the field, she has particular expertise in training and development, recruiting, performance management, and benefits. Melissa enjoys helping business leaders implement programs and processes to improve employee performance and satisfaction.
She earned a bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology from the University of North Texas and is also certified as a Professional in Human Resources (PHR) by the Human Resource Standards Institute.
Melissa lives in Haslet, Texas, with her husband, Lance, and her youngest son, Jagger. Her oldest, Maverick, is a freshman at Texas Tech University. She and her son, Jagger, belong to the Young Men’s Service League of Haslet and volunteer for various nonprofits in the Fort Worth Area. She’s also the president of the local high school boys’ basketball booster club. In addition to watching her boys play sports, Melissa loves to cook, exercise, and craft.
Luke Worley
Client Support Specialist
As a Client Support Specialist, Luke helps Alera Group clients with hiring, terminations, 401(k) administration, recruiting, payroll, and other vital operations. He plays an active role in our work for tribal organizations in Alaska, also assisting with training and our onboarding template in Basecamp.
A graduate of Pacific Lutheran University with a bachelor’s degree in business/HR management and a minor in communications, Luke previously was a supervisor for his family’s business; he also worked at a data center.
Luke is a Washington native who lives in Tacoma. He enjoys fishing, golfing, and being with family.
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
Find out more Property and Casualty
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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