About Us
Our Firm
Founded by John Davidson in 1983, our firm offers customized employee benefit solutions and consulting services built around our clients’ goals and objectives. We specialize in creative benefit solutions, strategic planning and easing the benefits burden on HR. We exclusively work on large group (> 100 employees) employee benefits. Our leading goal is to practice with the best principles always in mind. Making a difference in everything we touch is what we live and breathe each day.
Formerly known as Davidson Benefits Planning, we are a fully-owned division of Alera Group based in Tigard, Oregon.
Our Philosophy and Culture
We value of integrity, hard work, and professionalism. We are committed to innovation and creative employee benefits, risk management and insurance solutions. This is accomplished through our philosophy which is to:
- Expect far more from ourselves than we do from others
- Inspire excellence and success
- Lead with integrity and wisdom
- Provide fanatical attention to service, consistency and detail
Our promise is to partner with our clients to offer exceptional customer service, support, solutions and resources in every touchpoint we have with them. We are committed to recommending ideas, programs, products and services that will maximize the value and ensure the success of cost-effective benefit plans for each and every client.
Well known in the community for our culture, we make concerted efforts to be inclusive, open to everyone’s perspectives and to be optimistic and engage the mind and spirit. Culture development comes from our entire staff. Our culture committee coordinates a variety of events including community volunteer activities to have fun together and invigorate staff.
Part of our culture is also to practice The Collaborative Way which emphasizes Speaking Straight, Being There for Each Other, Listening Generously, Acknowledge & Appreciation and Honoring Commitments. We have ongoing training and support for our employees. The training and message has been extremely well received.
As a result, we have very happy and appreciative employees and outstanding performance for our clients. Our firm achieved Top 100 Employer to Work for in Oregon for the 16th year in a row.
Meet Our Team
People you can count on. People you can trust.
Whitney Solomon
Senior Account Manger
Whitney Solomon is an energetic member of the DBP team. Whitney is a Senior Account Manager who is passionate about client relationships, and creating unique value for her client teams. Her keen attention to detail and the great pride in her work is well respected by her colleagues and peers. Prior to joining DBP, Whitney held roles within the community that included event management and public relations. These roles bring with her a unique understanding of communication styles and needs, as well as creative customer desires in an ever-changing marketplace.
Whitney’s ability to focus on each client individually and give specific strategic attention to each one shows her passion to create a trusting relationship both professionally and personally.
Whitney is a native Oregonian and coffee connoisseur who enjoys being outdoors, golfing, watching sports, wine tasting and spending time with her husband and 2 young children. Whitney earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications from Oregon State University. Whitney maintains her Mental Health First Aid Certification and Life and Health licenses.
Marcella Soulagnet
Account Manager
Marcella Soulagnet is an Account Manager at Davidson Benefits Planning with over 20 years in the employee benefits industry. She was previously with a regional health insurance carrier for 16+ years, where she managed hundreds of small group accounts as well as several larger accounts including association/trust plans and self funded groups.
Marcella truly enjoys establishing long-lasting trusted relationships. She has a knack of explaining things to people in a way that is easy to understand. She is energetic, caring, responsive and jumps in at any opportunity to help.
Outside of work, Marcella enjoys traveling with her family, sipping good coffee, wine tasting, and playing outdoors – rock climbing, Sup boarding, mountain biking, skiing, and especially hiking/exploring our beautiful state. Marcella also has two daughters that keep her quite busy – one is in high school and on the dance/cheer team as well as choir and theatre, and the other is in college at Portland State University.
Marcella holds a Bachelors of Science degree in Biology from Willamette University, and serves on the Board of Directors with the Oregon Association of Health Underwriters (OAHU).
Betsy Volm
Benefits Consultant
Betsy Volm is a Benefits Consultant with Davidson Benefits Planning. Prior to consulting Betsy spent over 20 years in various HR leadership positions. Her experience spans several industries including manufacturing, professional services and healthcare services. Betsy’s collaborative and strategic work-style has been extremely well received by her clients. Her unique perspective enables her to see the bigger picture as she helps guide clients to find the best and most cost-effective benefit product mix to match the culture of the company. Betsy thrives on new challenges and finding unique solutions to bring back the value of benefits to both plan members and employers. Betsy’s earned a SHRM-SCP certification and is a licensed life and health producer.
Outside of work Betsy is an avid reader, enjoys her lab, traveling and spending time with her husband and daughter.
Education: Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Human Resource Management from Western Washington University
Responsibilities: Strategic Planning, customer service, collaboration, benefit communication, creative solutions, compliance.
Kelly Walker
Strategic Partnership Consultant
Kelly Walker is a Strategic Partnership Consultant joining Davidson Benefits Planning in 2021. She brings with her 20+ years of experience and a wealth of knowledge in the healthcare industry. Kelly previously spent more than 15 years at a progressive health insurer specializing in both large and small group with various funding arrangements, individual and Medicare lines. These roles allowed her to consult and speak to a wide array of audiences, both public and private organizations, about topics ranging from advanced healthcare strategies to population health.
Kelly’s diverse background and ability to connect with one person or a room of folks positions her well to listen, moderate and then help pinpoint strategies for a particular need or situation. She loves a good challenge! This skill set then transitions well into her commitment to doing the right thing by and for the client. Kelly enjoys collaborating with the rest of the Davidson team to identify or develop creative solutions that serve all parties.
Kelly has also held roles in both Sales and Account Management with local and national employee assistance, work-life, wellness, and coaching companies. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from Pacific Lutheran University with a degree in Psychology and Sociology. While this education by no means positions her as an armchair therapist, these degrees seem to come in handy!
While you will see Kelly’s passion for her work and business constituents, she is equally driven in her role as a mom to three kiddos. Weekends are spent traveling to different kid’s sporting or music events, while she fits in a bit of reading and time with her husband, family and close friends.
Resources
Pocketpal Video - App for Employee Benefits Portal (Touchpoints)
* Access requires credentials, please email info@jjdavidson.com for access information
EXPERT EDUCATION
Events and Webinars
Employee Benefits
Collaborative Conversations: 2025 - What to Expect and What You Need to Know
Save the date for a conversation in September where we will discuss the impending PLO changes by BOLI and the Employment Department, their impacts, and other critical considerations.
September 12, 2024 at 08:30 am PT | Virtual
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Employee Benefits
Is Tech-Enabled Brokerage Right for You?
Our experts will lay out what tech-enabled brokerage is, how it works and why it makes sense for the right organizations.
September 19, 2024 at 01:00 pm CT | Virtual
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Employee Benefits
Meeting the Needs of an Aging Workforce
Our experts will provide tips and insights about how to incorporate Medicare, menopause benefits, retirement, communications best practices and other hot topics for older workers into your program successfully and without breaking the bank.
October 17, 2024 at 01:00 pm CT | Virtual
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THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
Insights
Property and Casualty
Property Insurance Rate Increases Easing for Real Estate Sector
After six consecutive years of steep Property Insurance rate increases, many organizations in real estate development and property management may finally experience a more palatable renewal.
June 18, 2024
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Employee Benefits
How To Lower Healthcare Costs While Improving Benefit Offerings
Join us on June 20 for a one-hour webinar designed to help you eliminate wasteful healthcare spending while providing your employees with benefits that attract and retain talent. We’ll take you through our three-step solution.
June 11, 2024
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Employee Benefits
Legal Alert: PCORI Fees Due by July 31, 2024
Employers that sponsor self-insured group health plans, including health reimbursement arrangements (HRAs) should keep in mind the upcoming July 31, 2024, deadline for paying fees that fund the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) via Form 720, which was recently updated and released by the IRS.
June 7, 2024
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Legal Alert: CMS Redesigns the Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Program Beginning in 2025
As a result of the changes to Medicare Part D under §11201 of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, on April 1, 2024, CMS released Final Redesign Program Instructions (“Final Program Instructions”) for the Medicare Part D prescription drug program, which are effective starting in 2025.
May 30, 2024
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