About Us
Our Firm
Founded in 1992 by K. Brian McLaughlin, Granite Group is a full-service employee benefits and risk management consulting firm. Our mission is to exceed our clients’ and their employees’ expectations as they relate to our commitment to outstanding service, innovation, ethics, and expertise. We are a customer focused company that brings personal and exceptional service to our valued clients on a consistent basis through our dedicated approach.
Our People
Built around the premise of teamwork, Granite Group employees’ broad and varied skillsets can better serve our clients unique needs. Our experienced staff will deliver tailored benefits solutions based on a structured consulting process. Our team will assess your benefits needs, survey the marketplace, set goals, provide thorough risk assessment and competitive pricing, and introduce the tools and technology to deliver the best benefit options for you and your employees. In 2023, our Manchester, NH office welcomed former Landmark Benefits employees from the Windham, NH location.
Our Presence
Developed over 30 years, GGB remains focused on our client community, and supports their business and social needs across New England. Our employees live and serve in the neighborhoods they grew up in, providing our clients with a valuable resource that understands the local needs of the community. As an Alera Group firm, our clients also benefit from the expertise and resources of a large national firm, while still maintaining the advantages of local service and relationships.
Associations
Meet Our Team
Nancy Melrose
Senior Client Manager
(603) 296-0700 ext. 5270
Nancy joined Granite Group Benefits as a Client Manager in 2013. She has over 25 years’ experience in employee benefits and human resources. In her current position, she is responsible for employee and employer advocacy, maintaining client relationships and managing day-to-day service. In addition, she works with existing clients on their annual renewal review process and is responsible for quoting and writing group new business.
Nancy earned her Bachelor’s Degree from Boston College. Prior to working at GGB, Nancy worked at Eaton & Berube Insurance Agency, Inc., an independent local full-service agency for 10 years in the Financial Services Division. She resides in Lyndeborough, NH with her husband of more than 35 years.
Heather Zambrowicz
Senior Client Manager
(603) 296-0700 ext. 5450
Heather brings a steadfast commitment to customer support and is proud to serve as an Account Manager at Granite Group Benefits, bringing over two decades of expertise in employee benefits. As one of the original Account Managers in the Windham office since 2001 and now contributing to the success of the Manchester office as of 2023, she is dedicated to delivering unparalleled service, claims assistance, enrollment processing, and strategic benefits planning that align with the evolving needs of our valued clients and their workforce.
Heather is a lifelong resident of Southern New Hampshire where she lives with her husband and three children.
Barbara Foley
Reimbursements and Rewards Administrator
(603) 296-0700 ext. 5443
Barbara joined the Windham office in 2003 after working in an accounts receivable position at a local oil & propane company. In 2023 she moved to the Manchester office. She has over 30 years of office experience, 20 years of which have been working in the insurance industry.
At the Windham location, Barbara started as a client services representative then worked her way up to becoming the Office Manager, in addition to managing Health Reimbursement Accounts and Health Reward Incentive Programs for clients. Currently, she continues to manage HRAs and HCRs, as well as oversees many aspects of office related and financial responsibilities. She enjoys assisting colleagues, carriers, vendors, clients and their employees when questions or issues arise to ensure timely resolution.
In her free time, Barbara loves being with her three children, their spouses, and her six grandchildren. She also loves gardening and enjoying the outdoors.
Melanie McLaughlin
Enrollments & Terminations
(603) 296-0700 ext. 5446
Melanie started working in the Windham office in October 2019 as an Employee Benefits Assistant. In this role she was responsible for processing enrollments, changes, and terminations for large group clients. Melanie also processed COBRA letters and audited the groups. On many occasions she would work with the carriers to research and resolve claims and invoice issues for clients. In 2023 Melanie joined the Manchester office.
In her current role as Employee Enrollments and Terminations Manager, Melanie continues to be responsible for clients’ enrollments, changes, and terminations along with overseeing and successfully transitioning select groups to ResourcePro. Melanie also works closely with the carriers, continuing to resolve concerns that may come up and escalating any issues on a case-by-case basis as needed.
Our Community
We believe in being contributing members of the communities we serve. GGB employees, through business-sponsored and personal endeavors, volunteer their time mentoring, fundraising, and supporting multiple organizations in our local community to include:
Veterans Count, American Red Cross of Greater Manchester, Boys & Girls Club of Manchester, CareGivers, Cystic Fibrosis – Northern NE Chapter, Girl Scouts of the Green & White Mountains, Granite United Way, Greater Lakes Region Making Strides, Henniker Food Pantry, Manchester Area Human Resources Association, Meals on Wheels of Hillsborough County, New England Parkinson's Ride, and UpReach Therapeutic Equestrian Center.
Our culture rewards teamwork. Whether we are working for you, or helping in our communities, we do it together.
Eugene Van Loan Leadership Award
2021 Easter Seals NH Celebration Breakfast Granite Group Benefits congratulates Managing Partner Brian McLaughlin, this year’s Eugene Van Loan Leadership Award recipient at Easterseals.
We are so proud of your service and all of the great work you continue to do in the community.
“We Take Care of the People Who Took Care of Us”
The Meals on Wheels cause runs deep in the Scammon family. He recalled that when talking to his parents after first joining the board, he learned his grandmother had been a driver for Meals on Wheels.
“This cause is so important-we are literally helping people in need be able to live safely at home. These are the teachers, police officers, fire fighters, coaches-all people who played a key role in the community.”
The Meals on Wheels CRAZE! Event is coming up!
Saturday, October 30th, 5:00-7:00pm, Trombly Gardens, Milford, NH. This is our new outdoor fall event which is fun for all ages!
There will be a corn maze, costume contest, bonfire, hot dogs/ s’mores roast, pumpkin cornhole, and more! Cool CRAZE t-shirts available for $10.
Visit https://www.hcmow.org/craze to purchase your tickets and t-shirts!
GGB supports the Meals on Wheels Jam Fest!
Saturday, September 25th, 11:30 AM- 9:00 PM, Sherman’s Pit Stop, Wilton, NH.
All of the musicians’ tip proceeds will benefit Meals on Wheels of Hillsborough County!
Visit: https://www.hcmow.org/jam-fest for more info and a concert schedule.
Cheering by Chairing for our Community
Our very own Kim Socha is helping to chair the 8th Annual Farnum Spirit of Hope event taking place May 12th.
Friends and supporters gather annually at the Spirit of Hope Event, presented by Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, to celebrate the victories of recovery made possible through Farnum Services.
The event raises awareness about substance use treatment services and invites members of the community to join in changing the conversation around addiction from stigma to support, from problems to solutions.
Champions Among Us!
Senator Lou D’Allesandro, a longtime supporter of senior services in NH, stopped by the Carpenter Center in Manchester to assist with the distribution of “Grab ‘n’ Go” meals from Meals on Wheels of Hillsborough County.
Jim Scammon, current board chair of MOWHC, met with the Senator to thank him for his participation and many years of support.
GGB is Making Strides
Granite Group Benefits' Jeanette Chasse and her team Carole Strong at the 27th Annual Greater Lakes Region Making Strides walk yesterday at Opechee Park in Laconia!
GGB Steps UP!
Great time last night supporting SJCS Meals on Wheels and their Step UP! 5k.
We Support Veteran’s Count
The 5th Annual “Make 12 Hours Count” Radio Thon is this Wednesday, March 20th.
Tune in to News Radio 96.7 and WGIR AM 610 – Don’t forget about the online auction happening NOW — text VETSAUCTION to 51555 to bid on the items (the auction is open to everyone)!
EXPERT EDUCATION
Events and Webinars
Employee Benefits
Q2 Compliance Update
Alera Group's quarterly employee benefits compliance roundup will help you stay current on the latest national regulatory developments impacting employers.
June 4, 2024 at 01:00 pm CT | Virtual
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Employee Benefits
Optimize Your Benefits: A Three-Pronged Approach
Want to lower healthcare costs and enrich your benefits program at the same time? If so, this webinar is for you.
June 20, 2024 at 01:00 pm CT | Virtual
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Employee Benefits
[Alera Engage] Benchmarking for the Win: How Does Your Benefits Program Rate?
Ask our clients about the No.1 tool that helps them develop an impactful benefits program, and they'll tell you is benchmarking.
July 18, 2024 at 02:00 pm CT | Virtual
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THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
Insights
Employee Benefits
The importance of women’s health concerns in employee benefits design
Women’s Health Month 2024 coincides with jarring controversy and growing concern over challenges and inequities regarding women’s health in general and one area in particular: maternal health. Alera Group's May 16 webinar will focus on how employer can offer solutions through their employee benefits program.
May 1, 2024
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Employee Benefits
This Mental Health Awareness Month, ‘Run Your Own Race’
May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Here are tips and resources to help you get started on the route to a happier, healthier you.
April 25, 2024
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Q1 Considerations: Affordability for Applicable Large Employers
Under the ACA, Applicable Large Employers (ALEs) are required to offer “affordable” medical coverage to full-time employees or be subject to a fine. In September 2023, the IRS announced that the 2024 affordability percentage would reduce from the 2023 rate of 9.12% to 8.39% as of January 1, 2024. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has just released the 2024 Federal Poverty Level (FPL) amounts, with an increase of 3.3%.
April 23, 2024
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Three Key Considerations for Large Employers
Early in the year is the time for employers who are approaching or over 50 employees to document and update the “key components” of being a larger employer, to ensure that no compliance obligation is missed. st of an unpublished page.
April 23, 2024
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