Engage PEO Expands Sales Team in Minnesota

Fort Lauderdale, Fla., September 1, 2026 - Engage PEO, a leading professional employer organization providing HR outsourcing solutions to small and mid-sized businesses nationwide, today announced Erik Nerhus has joined the company as vice president of sales in Minnesota. Nerhus brings significant experience as an employee benefits broker and PEO adviser, further strengthening Engage's national sales team with firsthand broker-channel perspective and supporting the company's continued expansion across the Midwest.

Nerhus will work closely with insurance brokers and other business advisers across the state, helping them evaluate how Engage's comprehensive HR outsourcing solutions can support their clients. He will also focus on developing new business relationships and expanding Engage's presence throughout the market.

Most recently, Nerhus served as a PEO adviser within a national insurance brokerage organization, where he worked exclusively through the employee benefits broker channel. He partnered with benefits consultants and their clients across a multi-state territory to assess HR, payroll, benefits, compliance and risk management needs and evaluate PEO solutions. Prior to that role, he served as an employee benefits consultant, advising employers on the design, implementation and management of their benefits programs.

"Engage was founded on the insurance broker referral model, and those partnerships remain central to how we bring our services to businesses," said Jay Starkman, CEO of Engage PEO. "Brokers put their own client relationships behind every referral, so the PEO they introduce has to earn that trust. Erik brings firsthand experience from the broker side of that relationship. At Engage, he can pair that perspective with a differentiated HR solution that includes direct access to HR Consultants who are licensed employment attorneys, dedicated service teams, comprehensive payroll, benefits and risk management support, and secure, user-friendly HR technology."

"Erik brings a strong combination of PEO knowledge, benefits experience and sales success," said Patrice Alvino, group vice president of sales, Northern Divisions. "He has worked closely with employers and advisers through complex evaluations and knows how to keep the focus on the right solution for the client. His experience and knowledge of the PEO market will be valuable as we continue expanding our presence across the Midwest."

"As an adviser, I know how important it is to bring clients partners you trust and solutions that add clear value," Nerhus said. "What stood out to me about Engage is the breadth of HR support behind the offering and the way the company works with referral partners. I'm looking forward to working with brokers across Minnesota and helping them bring that level of support to their clients."

About Engage PEO

Engage PEO delivers comprehensive HR solutions to small and mid-sized businesses nationwide, sharpening their competitive advantage. Comprised of the industry's most respected veteran professional employer organization executives, certified HR professionals, and attorneys, Engage PEO provides hands-on, expert HR services and counsel to help clients minimize costs and maximize efficiency for stronger business performance. The company's superior service offering includes a full range of payroll technology and tax administration, employer compliance, health and workers' compensation insurance products, advanced technology, and risk management services as part of an extensive suite of HR services.

Engage PEO was among the first PEOs awarded the Certified Professional Employer Organization (CPEO) designation by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), ensuring greater benefits for small and mid-sized businesses such as tax advantages and financial protections. Engage PEO is also accredited by the Employer Services Assurance Corporation. Engage PEO was named to Inc. magazine's list of the 5000 fastest-growing companies 10 times since 2016. For more information on Engage PEO, visit www.engagepeo.com.