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.

Reliance Partners
Company typePrivate
IndustryInsurance Services
Founded2009
HeadquartersChattanooga, Tennessee
Number of locations
9
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
Websitewww.reliancepartners.com

History

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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

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References

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  1. ^ "Carousel Capital invests in transportation-focused insurance broker Reliance". 29 August 2022.
  2. ^ "Flush with cash, Lamp Post plots road ahead". Timesfreepress.com.
  3. ^ "Reliance Partners Appoints New Members To Executive Team". 5 November 2015.
  4. ^ "Coyote Logistics and Access America Transport Merger Complete - Coyote". 31 March 2014.
  5. ^ "Thompson Appalachian Hardwoods". www.komatsuamerica.com.
  6. ^ "Reliance Partners Taps Claridy to Lead New Alabama Office". 9 December 2016.
  7. ^ "Business Briefs: Chattanooga-based Reliance Partners adds Chicago office". 28 April 2023.
  8. ^ "Reliance Partners Taps Johnson". 27 April 2018.
  9. ^ "Reliance Partners Opens Austin Office, Names Richards Chief Sales Officer". 20 November 2018.
  10. ^ "Tennessee-based insurance agency Reliance Partners opens Franklin office". July 2019.
  11. ^ "Reliance Partners acquires Tennessee-based insurance agency".
  12. ^ "Reliance Partners acquires cross-border insurer Borderless Coverage". 17 February 2021.
  13. ^ "Insurer Reliance Partners shifts headquarters to portion of Unum Building in downtown Chattanooga".
  14. ^ "Governor Bill Lee, Commissioner Rolfe Announce Reliance Partners to expand Chattanooga headquarters=".
  15. ^ "Carousel Capital invests in transportation-focused insurance broker Reliance".
  16. ^ "Reliance Partners Announces Intentions to open in Phoenix".
  17. ^ "FreightTech Awards - Freight Tech Innovators & Disruptors".
  18. ^ "Reliance Partners 2022 Best Workplaces in Financial Services and Insurance".
  19. ^ "Working at Reliance Partners Great Place to Work".
  20. ^ "Reliance Partners is a 2022 Inc 5000 Honoree".
  21. ^ "Top Insurance Employers 2022".
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