Meet the Team

Craig Paulson is the founder and president of Altura Benefits. He graduated from Brigham Young University in 1996 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and Business Management. In addition to holding an Accident, Health, and Life Insurance license, Craig is licensed to sell securities and provide investment advice. He utilizes his passion for paying attention to details in his employee benefits, insurance, and financial services career, which began in 1995. During the first six years of his profession, he turned a part-time college job into a successful practice and in 2001 merged with another employee benefits firm. This opportunity allowed Craig to gain valuable knowledge related to larger employer groups, including self-funding experience. After absorbing more knowledge, growing his block of business, and seeing a need for continuing his service expectations, Craig established his own firm. Altura Benefits opened in 2005 and has grown every year since.

Craig is a member of NAHU-America’s Benefits Specialists and served as Past-President, President, President-Elect, and Vice President of UAHU-Utah’s Benefits Specialists . He is also a multi-year NAHU Leading Producers Round Table qualifier.*

Staying active is important to Craig. He enjoys traveling, skiing, golf and running. He completed one marathon and a number of half-marathons. He has skied in Canada, Austria, Dubai and many resorts across the U.S.; however, his favorite ski resorts lie within Utah’s Wasatch Front. He also enjoys spending time with his wonderful wife and four children.

*The Leading Producers Round Table recognizes NAHU members who meet a designated number of insurance policy sales with certain insurance products receiving a heavier weighting than others.

Krista joined Altura Benefits in August of 2017, and shortly thereafter received her Life, Health and Disability insurance license. Krista is dedicated to assisting clients with all aspects of their employee benefits and is responsible for renewals and retention. One of her strengths is developing professional relationships between the employees, clients, and carriers and her experience and personality are an asset to our company and our clients.

Krista graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Brigham Young University-Idaho in 2018. Krista began her career in the Third District Court of Utah before moving to California where she worked as a Human Resources Technician for Manhattan Beach School District for 9 years. After moving back to Utah she once again found herself as a Human Resources Technician for Canyons School District for 3 years before expanding her knowledge and spending 5 additional years as the Retirement and Insurance Specialist for Canyons School District.

Krista loves spending time with her husband and 2 children. Krista’s hobbies and interest include movies, music, Disneyland, attending U of U athletic events, and traveling.

Joining Altura Benefits in 2018, Susan comes to the team with a strong background in employee enrollment and engagement. She has held an Accident, Health and Life Insurance license since 2016. Susan believes strongly in the power of customer service; as an Account Manager she is committed to supporting clients with all aspects of their employee benefit needs.

Susan graduated with a bachelor’s degree from BYU Idaho in the spring of 2019, with an emphasis in business leadership. After moving back to her native Salt Lake in 2009, Susan went to work part-time for Canyons School District. In 2010 she transferred to the Insurance Department and in 2011 transitioned to full-time as the Lead Insurance Specialist. Susan’s six years of experience in a benefits administrator capacity has given her a unique perspective on the challenges employers face when it comes to benefits administration. Following her tenure with Canyons School District, Susan worked for Gallagher Benefits Services as an Online Enrollment manager. Her responsibilities included set up and day-to-day management of the Employee Navigator enrollment software for over 85 clients.

Susan, and her husband of 30 years, have 3 children. Her passions include travel, reading, and baking (especially chocolate chip cookies!)

Danyelle Parry joined the Altura Benefits team in 2007 and after two years of experience, she earned her Accident, Health, and Life Insurance licenses. Her responsibilities over the years include: managing the firm’s individual book of business, client liaison, directing the RFP process for all group clients and billing reconciliation. She has an aptitude for keeping everything and everyone organized, helping the team stick to timelines and meet deadlines. Her colleagues recognize her skills, knowledge, and experience as a valuable part of the team.

Danyelle enjoys hiking with her husband, gardening, cooking, and reading.

Amy Lifferth joined Altura Benefits in 2013. For 6 years, she specialized in handling individual and family plans, working closely with both Utah’s local carriers and also with the Federal Marketplace (healthcare.gov) to help Altura Benefits clients take advantage of all their insurance options. She now focuses on Medicare, including Medicare Advantage and Medigap plans, and provides other internal support to Altura Benefits. She is licensed in Accident, Health, and Life Insurance. Amy holds a Bachelor’s degree in History from Brigham Young University, with a minor in Business. Prior to entering the insurance industry, Amy worked in payroll for Nicholas & Co, in accounts payable for Generations Healthcare, and as a flight attendant for Delta Airlines.

Amy loves spending time with her husband and 3 children, and her interests include cooking, reading, traveling, and music.

Jillynn Christensen joined the Altura team in 2019.

In August of 2018, she received her bachelor’s degree, with a major in Human Development and Family Studies and a minor in Psychology. She works alongside our Account Managers, Susan Bone and Krista Riley, as a Client Service Coordinator to facilitate enrollments and compliance. She has previously worked for Olympus Family Medicine as a receptionist, which opened the door to insurance for her. She has also worked at Uinta Academy, a residential treatment center, helping young girls grow and develop life skills. Jillynn enjoys spending her time with friends and family, reading, camping, traveling, and laughing.

Maren Bateman joined the Altura team just in time for the 2018 open enrollment period. From Portland, Oregon she came to Utah to follow in the footsteps of her parents, who both graduated from Brigham Young University (BYU). In December of 2017, she received her bachelor’s degree from BYU, with a major in Communication Disorders and a minor in Ballroom Dance. During her time at university, she also took a semester off and moved to Florida to work at Walt Disney World. She will often be found quoting Disney movies and laughing at puns.

Maren is a licensed health, accident, and life insurance producer working alongside our Individual Plans Specialists, Jacque Wall and Amy Lifferth. With a foot in each door, she also fills the role of office manager and assists the president of the company, Craig Paulson.

Matthew Spencer joined the Altura Benefits team in December of 2018. Merging his businesses with Altura will help him transition into retirement someday.

He founded the Utah Private Health Exchange; the only small employer group benefits exchange of it’s kind in Utah. Matt worked with Utah businesses to offer their employees an array of group health insurance plans using defined contribution. Matt also owned Association Health Plans, providing employee health insurance brokerage services for employers affiliated with numerous state and national trade, industry and professional associations.

Matt began his insurance career by supervising the processing of 3,000 daily health insurance claims at Traveler’s Railroad Medicare regional office. Spencer also worked in the insurance arms of Utah Farm Bureau, American Savings and Loan, and the Utah Local Government’s Trust.

Matt obtained a Master of Science degree in Human Resource Economics from the University of Utah. He is a Life Underwriting Training Council Fellow, Chartered Benefits Consultant and Master Health Insurance Specialist. He is a licensed insurance agent, broker, and consultant.

His interests are reflected in various affiliations and memberships:

• National Association of Health Underwriters
• Society for Human Resource Management
• American Consulting Engineers Council
• Association of Health Underwriters Leading Producer’s Round Table
• National Association of Health Underwriters President’s Council
• American Council of Engineering Companies
• Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce Humana Discount Representative
• Red Rock 4-Wheelers;
• Boy Scouts of America Great Salt Lake Council Executive Board and Silver Beaver Association.
• Matt Spencer lives in downtown Salt Lake City with his wife, Cynthia. They have four children and seventeen grandchildren. Their families have lived in Utah since 1847.

Jacque received a Bachelors Degree in Horticulture and Floral Design from Brigham Young University-Idaho in 2018. Jacque’s love of learning and helping others, as well as Altura Benefits’ company values, led her to joining the team in 2019 – just before open enrollment. Jacque is the Individual Plans Specialist, and she enjoys helping our clients find and enroll in health coverage that will meet their family’s specific need.

Before she joined the Altura Benefits Team, Jacque worked at an apartment management company assisting tenants and property managers with renter insurance. Her role at Altura Benefits allows her to delve deeper into the insurance realm as she works closely with our individual clients. Navigating the ever changing world of health insurance isn’t easy, but Jacque would love to help and guide you down the path that will work best for you. She’s currently studying in preparation to take Utah’s health and life insurance licensing exam.

Jacque loves singing, playing the guitar and piano, playing with her nephews, and buying way too many plants.