Reliance Partners
{{Infobox company
| name = Reliance Partners
| type = Private
| location = Chattanooga, Tennessee
| foundation = 2009
| key_people = Andrew Ladebauche, Co-Founder, CEO
Chad Eichelberger, President
Laura Ann Howell, COO
Ronald Ramsey, CCO
Thom Albrecht, CFO
Mario Paluzzi, CTO
Jason Coleman, EVP of Sales
Ashley Hammonds, EVP, Business Development
Brandon Richards, CSO
| industry = Insurance Services|
| locations = 9
| homepage = {{url|www.reliancepartners.com}}
}}
Reliance Partners is an insurance agency offering commercial insurance products for the transportation and logistics industry. The private equity-backed company{{cite web |date=29 August 2022 |title=Carousel Capital invests in transportation-focused insurance broker Reliance |url=https://www.pehub.com/carousel-capital-invests-in-transportation-focused-insurance-broker-reliance/ |website=pehub.com |publisher=}} is based in Chattanooga, Tennessee, with eight additional office locations throughout the United States.
History
Reliance Partners was founded in 2009 by Andrew Ladebauche and a group of Chattanooga logistics entrepreneurs.{{cite news|url=http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/business/aroundregion/story/2014/mar/23/flush-with-cash-lamp-post-plots-road-ahead/134872/|title=Flush with cash, Lamp Post plots road ahead|newspaper=Timesfreepress.com |publisher=}} In August 2015, Reliance Partners appointed Andrew Ladebauche as CEO and hired Chad Eichelberger as president and COO.{{cite web |date=5 November 2015 |title=Reliance Partners Appoints New Members To Executive Team |url=http://www.chattanoogan.com/2015/11/5/311970/Reliance-Partners-Appoints-New-Members.aspx |website=chattanoogan.com |publisher=}} Eichelberger previously served as president of Access America Transport and president of Brokerage with Coyote Logistics.{{cite web |date=31 March 2014 |title=Coyote Logistics and Access America Transport Merger Complete - Coyote |url=http://www.coyote.com/trucking-news/coyote-logistics-and-access-america-transport-merger-complete/ |website=Coyote |publisher=coyote.com}} In November 2015, Laura Ann Howell joined the team as vice president after working for Thompson Appalachian Hardwoods where she also founded a trucking company and freight brokerage{{cite web|url=http://www.komatsuamerica.com/our-company/customersaction/thompson-appalachian-hardwoods|title=Thompson Appalachian Hardwoods|website=www.komatsuamerica.com}}
In 2016, Reliance Partners Birmingham, Alabama, branch opened in December 2016.{{cite web |date=9 December 2016 |title=Reliance Partners Taps Claridy to Lead New Alabama Office |url=http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/southeast/2016/12/09/434749.htm |website=insurancejournal.com |publisher=}} In October of 2017, logistics industry veteran Ronald Ramsey joined Reliance Partners as Chief Commercial Officer. A Chicago, Illinois, branch opened in November 2017 to expand market presence in the Midwest.{{cite web |date=28 April 2023 |title=Business Briefs: Chattanooga-based Reliance Partners adds Chicago office |url=http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/business/aroundregion/story/2017/nov/02/business-briefs/456044/ |website=timesfreepress.com |publisher=}} Reliance Partners opened an office in Tampa, Florida, in April 2018.{{cite web |date=27 April 2018 |title=Reliance Partners Taps Johnson |url=https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/southeast/2018/04/27/487545.htm |website=insurancejournal.com}} Branon Richards joined the executive leadership in 2018 as Chief Sales Officer and to lead the new Austin, Texas, branch.{{cite web|url=https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/southcentral/2018/11/20/509825.htm|title=Reliance Partners Opens Austin Office, Names Richards Chief Sales Officer|date=20 November 2018}} Reliance opened a Milwaukee, Wisconsin, office later the same year.{{cite web |date=July 2019 |title=Tennessee-based insurance agency Reliance Partners opens Franklin office |url=https://biztimes.com/tennessee-based-insurance-agency-reliance-partners-opens-franklin-office/ |publisher=biztimes.com}}
In 2020, Reliance Partners acquired the assets of Capacity Southeast, a Nashville, Tennessee–based retail insurance agency{{Cite web |title=Reliance Partners acquires Tennessee-based insurance agency |url=https://www.spglobal.com/marketintelligence/en/news-insights/latest-news-headlines/reliance-partners-acquires-tennessee-based-insurance-agency-61045046 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20221021195852/https://www.spglobal.com/marketintelligence/en/news-insights/latest-news-headlines/reliance-partners-acquires-tennessee-based-insurance-agency-61045046 |archive-date=2022-10-21 |access-date=2025-01-04 |website=www.spglobal.com |language=en-us}} before announcing the acquisition of Ohio-based Borderless Coverage in 2021.{{cite web |date=17 February 2021 |title=Reliance Partners acquires cross-border insurer Borderless Coverage |url=https://www.freightwaves.com/news/reliance-partners-acquires-cross-border-insurer-borderless-coverage |publisher=freightwaves.com}} The company also expanded their corporate footprint in Chattanooga, Tennessee, signing a lease with disability insurer, Unum.{{Cite web |date=2021-06-29 |title=Insurer Reliance Partners shifts headquarters to portion of Unum building in downtown Chattanooga |url=https://www.yahoo.com/news/insurer-reliance-partners-shifts-headquarters-080000507.html |access-date=2025-01-04 |website=Yahoo News |language=en-US}} Later in 2021, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee announced grants totaling $1.3 million for training and the expansion of Reliance's recently opened Chattanooga headquarters would lead to the creation of 100 additional jobs.{{cite web |last=Hair |first=Molly |date=November 16, 2020 |title=Governor Bill Lee, Commissioner Rolfe Announce Reliance Partners to expand Chattanooga headquarters |url=https://tnecd.com/news/governor-lee-commissioner-rolfe-announce-reliance-partners-llc-to-expand-chattanooga-headquarters/ |website=tnecd.com}}
In August 2022, Reliance Partners announced an investment from Carousel Capital, a Charlotte, North Carolina–based private equity firm.{{cite news|url= https://www.pehub.com/carousel-capital-invests-in-transportation-focused-insurance-broker-reliance/|title=Carousel Capital invests in transportation-focused insurance broker Reliance|publisher=}} In October 2022, the company announced its intentions to open a new office location in Phoenix, Arizona.{{cite web|url= https://www.linkedin.com/posts/reliance-partners_truckyeah-weregrowing-lovewhatyoudo-activity-6988947127011868672-XViU|title=Reliance Partners Announces Intentions to open in Phoenix|publisher=}} In January of 2023, the Phoenix location opened up and is expected to have 60 employers by end of 2023.
Awards and recognition
- "FreightTech Top 100"{{cite web |title=FreightTech Awards - Freight Tech Innovators & Disruptors |url=https://www.freightwaves.com/awards/freighttech |publisher=FreightTech}}
- "Best Workplaces in Financial Services and Insurance" by Fortune Magazine{{cite web |title=Reliance Partners 2022 Best Workplaces in Financial Services and Insurance |url=https://fortune.com/best-small-workplaces-financial-services-insurance/2022/reliance-partners/ |publisher=fortune.com}}
- "Great Places to Work"{{cite web|url=https://www.greatplacetowork.com/certified-company/5003311|title=Working at Reliance Partners Great Place to Work|publisher=}}
- Inc. 5000 List{{cite web |title=Reliance Partners is a 2022 Inc 5000 Honoree |url=https://www.inc.com/profile/reliance-partners |publisher=inc.com}}
- "Top Insurance Employers"{{cite web |title=Top Insurance Employers 2022 |url=https://www.insurancebusinessmag.com/us/best-insurance/top-insurance-employers-2022-415149.aspx |publisher=insurancebusinessmag.com}}
References
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