Alera Group Schools Team

 As demand for our expertise has grown, so has our commitment. We’ve expanded our team to include dedicated school-focused professionals in underwriting, claims and risk management. This includes in-house loss control consultants and claims specialists who offer timely, knowledgeable support backed by deep industry insight. 

Whether you're evaluating your current coverage or planning for the future, we are here to help protect your people, property and mission. 

Jackie Smith, CIC, CIOP | Director of Commercial Insurance

In her third year at Alera Group, Jackie Smith leads commercial lines operations for the Ohio account management team, overseeing some of our largest and most complex financial institution clients. A key competitive advantage Jackie offers is her prior experience on the carrier side. At CNA Insurance, she led specialty lines wholesale operations and was directly involved in underwriting and distribution strategy for their financial institutions practice. This background gives her unique insight into how insurers evaluate and price risk, allowing her to better advocate for clients and secure stronger coverage terms.

Al Sluka | School Consultant Specialist

Allen Sluka has over 44 years of experience in Ohio public school finance. He started his career with the Auditor of State’s Office auditing public schools where he remained for 15 years working his way up to Audit Manager. He became treasurer of the Independence Local School District in 1996 and remained there for 9 years. During his time there, the district received the Government Finance Officers Association Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting and the Auditor of State’s Award. He then took the position of Treasurer for the Garfield Heights City School District, the school district he attended while growing up, where he remained for 18 years. During his tenure with Garfield Heights City Schools, he took on the added role of Director of Business Services for last 10 of those years.  

Allen continues to be an active member of the Ohio Association of School Business Officials. During his time in OASBO, he graduated from the Leadership Academy, served as President/Vice-President/Treasurer for the Northeast Chapter, seminar director/facilitator, Northeast Regional Director and mentor to five new treasurers. Retired in March of 2023 but continues to work as a financial/business consultant to various school districts as well a school consultant specialist for the Alera Group.

Sara Miller | Account Manager, School Service Team

Sara Miller is a highly experienced commercial insurance professional with over 20 years in the industry, including eight years of specialized focus serving the education sector at Alera Group. She is known for exceptional communication skills, the ability to build strong client relationships, and a strategic approach to negotiating comprehensive coverage and competitive rates. Sara combines deep industry knowledge with a consultative style to deliver tailored insurance solutions that meet the unique needs of educational institutions. She is recognized for integrity, responsiveness, and a proven ability to navigate complex risk environments with clarity and confidence. 

Emily Franz, CLCS, CISR | Account Manager, School Service Team

Emily Franz brings over nine years of experience in commercial insurance, with a strong focus on client advocacy and service excellence. She joined Alera Group’s Highland Heights, Ohio office in April 2025 and works alongside Sara Miller to support clients with day-to-day service, policy management and seamless renewal processes. Emily is passionate about fostering strong, collaborative relationships between clients and carriers, ensuring each program runs efficiently and with the client’s best interests at the forefront.
Sara Miller and Emily Franz service over 20 local school districts.

Sue McNamara, AIC | Claims Manager 

Sue McNamara is a seasoned claims professional with 38 years of industry experience, including 14 years at Alera Group’s Ohio office. She specializes in commercial and education-related claims, offering clients strategic guidance from initial reporting through resolution. Sue works closely with both clients and carriers to streamline the claims process, providing thoughtful, informed recommendations to help achieve timely and effective outcomes.

Brian Toohig, AIC, AINS | Loss Prevention Specialist

Brian has been with the Alera Group Ohio office for four years, focusing on controlling clients’ total cost of risk through proactive loss prevention strategies. He designs customized programs to reduce the frequency and severity of losses across a range of exposures, including fire, water damage and workplace violence.
 
Prior to joining Alera Group, Brian spent over 20 years as a loss control specialist with The Cincinnati Insurance Company. His deep understanding of how underwriters and claims adjusters evaluate risk enables him to craft effective, cost-saving strategies that strengthen clients’ risk profiles and insurance outcomes.