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.
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.
Shena Wallis
Senior Account Manager
Shena Wallis brings over 25 years of invaluable experience in the benefits industry to her role as a Senior Account Manager. Shena’s history includes 9 years with a national actuarial firm, benefits positions with one of the largest private employers in the Northwest, and experience with one of the largest insurers in the Northwest. Shena has a lengthy background in Customer Service and is a natural “people person.” Since March 2016, she has been a valuable asset at Alera, where she excels in managing a diverse book of business catering to clients ranging from 50 to 500-plus employees. In her role, she demonstrates a comprehensive understanding of clients' needs, working with Fully Insured, Self-Funded, and Level Funded clients to recommend tailored products and services that maximize value for their employees. She is driven by a passion for client satisfaction and excellence in service delivery.
Outside of her professional endeavors, Shena finds solace and delight in the great outdoors alongside her husband and two dogs. Whether it's exploring scenic hiking trails, biking along picturesque routes, riding ATV’s, or camping under the starry night sky, she fully immerses herself in the serenity of outdoor adventures, finding a harmonious balance and rejuvenation amidst the beauty of nature.
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
2025 Healthcare and Employee Benefits Benchmarking Report: How Does Your Benefits Program Stack Up?
In this session, our experts will dive into the results of our annual, market-leading benchmarking survey.
June 26, 2025 at 01:00 pm CT | Virtual
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Employee Benefits
Dynamic Data: Strategies for Success
Join us for this session, as our experts will share how to utilize your organization’s data to create advanced and innovative strategies for success.
July 17, 2025 at 01:00 pm CT | Virtual
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Employee Benefits
Preparing for Open Enrollment: How to Engage and Educate Your Employees on Their Total Benefits Package
In this session, our experts will share guidance on setting yourself up for success during Open Enrollment.
August 21, 2025 at 01:00 pm CT | Virtual
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THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
Insights
Employee Benefits
Benefits Captives: Your Business and What Your Competitors Are Doing
In one form or another, Captive Insurance has existed as a risk management solution for many decades — originally for property and casualty coverage and primarily for large employers. But its viability as a solution for employee benefits and for midsized businesses has increased dramatically in recent years, fueled by volatility in the insurance market in general and by the skyrocketing cost of health insurance in particular.
May 29, 2025
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Employee Benefits
Agencies Push Pause Button on Enforcement of MHPAEA 2024 Final Rule
On May 15, 2025, the Department of Labor, Department of Health and Human Services, and the Treasury Department (collectively, the “Agencies”) released a statement regarding the Agencies’ recent request for abeyance of a lawsuit filed by the ERISA Industry Committee (“ERIC”) in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia that challenged certain aspects of Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) Final Rule (“2024 Final Rule”) relating to nonquantitative treatment limitation comparative analyses (“NQTL analyses”).
May 16, 2025
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IRS Releases 2026 HSA Contribution Limits and HDHP Deductible and Out-of-Pocket Limits
In Rev. Proc. 2025-19, the IRS released the inflation adjusted amounts for 2026 relevant to Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and high-deductible health plans (HDHPs). The table below summarizes those adjustments and other applicable limits.
May 5, 2025
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Severe Weather Is Getting Worse. Is Your Business Interruption Insurance Keeping Up?
The increasing frequency and severity of weather- and climate-related events such as catastrophic storms, floods and wildfires make business continuity planning more important than ever. Part of your plan should include reviewing your organization's Business Interruption Insurance coverage.
May 5, 2025
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