Rob Lieblein, founder and chief development officer of Alera Group, and a distinguished alumnus of Shippensburg University, has been recognized as one of the top alumni featured in the America the Entrepreneurial campaign. This initiative celebrates entrepreneurs and their contributions to economic growth and social change across the United States. Launched in conjunction with the nation’s 250th Anniversary, Shippensburg is honoring the entrepreneurial achievements of alumni and encouraging students to utilize resources such as the Charles H. Diller Jr. Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership and Innovation. This center offers funding, mentorships, competitions, conferences and various entrepreneurial opportunities – aligning with Lieblein’s dedication to fostering the next generation of business leaders.
“It’s an honor to be selected as one of the thousands of successful people who have gone to Shippensburg and to be recognized as one of the top entrepreneurs. It is very humbling,” Lieblein said.
Lieblein’s journey started as a Ship student interested in earning a Bachelor of Arts in Computer Science, and he later added accounting to his degree path. Now, he is recognized as the founder of one of the most successful and fastest-growing financial and insurance firms in the United States. After a successful career in public accounting for KPMG, Rob and John Zentgraf, a fellow Shippensburg alumnus and fraternity brother, spent several years acquiring and building companies before Lieblein ventured out into investment banking and, in 2017, helped orchestrate a merger of some of his insurance agency clients to form the Alera Group.
After a two-year effort, he managed to simultaneously merge 24 clients and raise approximately $500 million before officially launching Alera on Jan 1, 2017. The company grew from roughly $150 million in revenue at launch to about $1.6 billion today, with approximately 5,000 employees and over 200 offices nationwide.
“Collaboration is the heart and soul of who we are,” Lieblein said. “We follow what’s called ‘The Collaborative Way’” (Lloyd Fickett). Lieblein not only stresses performance, but he also stresses the need for measuring engagement and an enjoyable workplace culture that prioritizes employee satisfaction. “We are continuously building a great company through a culture founded not only on collaboration, but also on having fun,” Lieblein shared.
Lieblein credits Shippensburg University with providing him the space to explore different career opportunities and develop communication skills that he believes are essential within business leadership. While at Ship, he joined the Acacia fraternity, which opened doors to lifelong friendships and a network that helped shape his character. “It helped me become a well-rounded person,” Lieblein said.
His dedication to philanthropy and giving back has stayed with him throughout his life. In 2022, Lieblein established the Robert J. Lieblein College of Business Scholarship with the Shippensburg University Foundation to assist deserving students, and he also made a gift to the SU Foundation that funded the renovation of the Forum in the John L. Grove College of Business, named the Rob Lieblein and Alera Group Forum in his honor. He shared that the contributions are intended to create opportunities, beyond personal recognition, so that current and future students can benefit from gaining an improved learning facility.
“It’s more about the scholarship. It’s about creating opportunities for others,” Lieblein expressed. “I believe everybody should give back, not only to their university but to whatever causes they believe in.”
Lieblein shared how his own career serves as an example of the steps and attitude students need to achieve: define ambitions, take calculated risks and surround themselves with the right people. “Being willing to take calculated and smart risks and understand the downsides of your entrepreneurial pursuits versus the potential outcome,” he said. “You have to have goals and ideas, and again, be willing to take educated risks, and you will be amazed by what you can achieve.”
He also recognized the personal costs of entrepreneurship and thanked his family for their unwavering support. “None of this would have happened without the support of my wife,” Lieblein acknowledged. He named his wife, Kelly, and daughters Cassie and Maddie when asked to acknowledge those who have helped guide and support him along the way.
As Lieblein looks ahead, he said he plans to remain involved with Alera’s leadership transition and to continue supporting educational causes. For students at Shippensburg and beyond, his message is simple: stay curious, plan, execute and build relationships. “Don’t let life get stagnant. Always think about what you want to do next,” he said. Lieblein also emphasized that while it is important to work hard, it is equally important to dedicate time to family, friends, hobbies and personal endeavors.
Lieblein’s selection for the America the Entrepreneurial campaign pays tribute to the impact that Ship alumni can have as business leaders. His longtime contributions to business students, such as the Robert J. Lieblein College of Business Scholarship, the Rob Lieblein and Alera Group Forum, and his success as co-founder and chief development officer of the Alera Group, prove the power of giving back and taking calculated risks to achieve your dreams.
