Meet Our Team
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
The Compliance Pathway Q1
Alera Group's quarterly employee benefits compliance roundup will help you stay current on the latest national regulatory developments impacting employers.
March 5, 2026 at 01:00 pm CT | Virtual
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Employee Benefits
Alera Group Presents: Navigating Medicare
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.
March 11, 2026 at 12:00 pm CT | Virtual
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Employee Benefits
The Funding Edge: Why Fully Insured Limits Control — and What Modern Funding Unlocks
A funding decision framework leaders can use to evaluate options and align on next steps.
March 17, 2026 at 01:00 pm CT | Virtual
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THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
Insights
Property and Casualty
AI-Powered Cyber Attacks, Why Yesterday’s Defenses Aren’t Enough.
The widespread availability of AI technology, combined with the ease of manipulating video calls, makes phone and Zoom calls susceptible to exploitation by threat actors.
February 2, 2026
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Employee Benefits
IRS Releases Guidance Related to Recent HSA Changes
The IRS recently released Notice 2026-5, which provides guidance and answers to common questions related to the expanded availability of health savings accounts (“HSA”) under the Reconciliation Act (previously named the One Big Beautiful Bill Act) passed into law earlier this year.
December 30, 2025
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Property and Casualty
Are you prepared for 2026? Property and Casualty Trends Uncovered
The sixth annual Property and Casualty Market Outlook from Alera Group sets the stage for how organizations can recalibrate their risk strategies in 2026. Built on thousands of data points — including a nationwide survey of insurance company partners and wholesale intermediaries — this report delivers actionable insights for insurance buyers, risk managers and business leaders.
December 17, 2025
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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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