Reliance Partners is an insurance agency offering commercial insurance products for the transportation and logistics industry. The private equity-backed company[1] is based in Chattanooga, Tennessee with 8 additional office locations throughout the United States.
History
Reliance Partners was founded in 2009 by Andrew Ladebauche and a group of Chattanooga logistics entrepreneurs.[2] In August 2015, Reliance Partners appointed Andrew Ladebauche as CEO and hired Chad Eichelberger as president and COO.[3] Eichelberger previously served as president of Access America Transport and president of Brokerage with Coyote Logistics.[4] 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[5]
In 2016, Reliance Partners Birmingham, Alabama branch opened in December 2016.[6] 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.[7] Reliance Partners opened an office in Tampa, Florida in April 2018.[8] Branon Richards joined the executive leadership in 2018 as Chief Sales Officer and to lead the new Austin, Texas branch.[9] Reliance opened a Milwaukee, Wisconsin office later the same year.[10]
In 2020, Reliance Partners acquired the assets of Capacity Southeast, a Nashville, Tennessee-based retail insurance agency[11] before announcing the acquisition of Ohio-based Borderless Coverage in 2021.[12] The company also expanded their corporate footprint in Chattanooga, Tennessee signing a lease with disability insurer, Unum.[13] 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.[14]
In August 2022, Reliance Partners announced an investment from Carousel Capital, a Charlotte, North Carolina-based private equity firm.[15] In October 2022, the company announced its intentions to open a new office location in Phoenix, Arizona.[16] 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"[17]
- "Best Workplaces in Financial Services and Insurance" by Fortune Magazine[18]
- "Great Places to Work"[19]
- Inc. 5000 List[20]
- "Top Insurance Employers"[21]
References
- ^ "Carousel Capital invests in transportation-focused insurance broker Reliance". 29 August 2022.
- ^ "Flush with cash, Lamp Post plots road ahead". Timesfreepress.com.
- ^ "Reliance Partners Appoints New Members To Executive Team". 5 November 2015.
- ^ "Coyote Logistics and Access America Transport Merger Complete - Coyote". 31 March 2014.
- ^ "Thompson Appalachian Hardwoods". www.komatsuamerica.com.
- ^ "Reliance Partners Taps Claridy to Lead New Alabama Office". 9 December 2016.
- ^ "Business Briefs: Chattanooga-based Reliance Partners adds Chicago office". 28 April 2023.
- ^ "Reliance Partners Taps Johnson". 27 April 2018.
- ^ "Reliance Partners Opens Austin Office, Names Richards Chief Sales Officer". 20 November 2018.
- ^ "Tennessee-based insurance agency Reliance Partners opens Franklin office". July 2019.
- ^ "Reliance Partners acquires Tennessee-based insurance agency".
- ^ "Reliance Partners acquires cross-border insurer Borderless Coverage". 17 February 2021.
- ^ "Insurer Reliance Partners shifts headquarters to portion of Unum Building in downtown Chattanooga".
- ^ "Governor Bill Lee, Commissioner Rolfe Announce Reliance Partners to expand Chattanooga headquarters=".
- ^ "Carousel Capital invests in transportation-focused insurance broker Reliance".
- ^ "Reliance Partners Announces Intentions to open in Phoenix".
- ^ "FreightTech Awards - Freight Tech Innovators & Disruptors".
- ^ "Reliance Partners 2022 Best Workplaces in Financial Services and Insurance".
- ^ "Working at Reliance Partners Great Place to Work".
- ^ "Reliance Partners is a 2022 Inc 5000 Honoree".
- ^ "Top Insurance Employers 2022".