Business Moves
Fiesta Auto Insurance
Huntington Beach, Calif.-based Fiesta Auto Insurance, a franchise system to combine insurance and tax preparation under one roof, opened 20 new locations. The company’s growth phase has increased its presence to more than 60 open locations throughout the United States.
The new locations are in: Harbor City, Calif.; Fresno, Calif.; Watsonville, Calif.; Corpus Christi, Texas; Dallas; Houston; Katy, Texas; San Antonio, Texas; Ft. Worth, Texas; Pembroke Pines, Fla.; Pompano Beach, Fla.; Palm Springs, Fla.; Miami; Taylor, Mich.; New York; Bridgehampton, N.Y.; Ozone Park, N.Y.; Newark, N.J.; Chicago; and Malden, Mass.
The announcement comes as Fiesta Auto Insurance plans to have more than 150 locations open by the end of 2010, and 1,500 during the next five years.
“As a hybrid concept that pairs two extremely successful industries in one business model, we have really opened the doors for investors to reach out to the underserved Hispanic demographic and blue-collar communities,” said John Rost, Fiesta founder and president.
EPIC, Jeffrey Stephens Insurance Services
EPIC (Edgewood Partners Insurance Center) acquired Jeffrey Stephens Insurance Services (JSIS), a retail insurance brokerage based in San Rafael, Calif.
JSIS was established in 1993 by founder and principal Jeff Stephens after spending the first 10 years of his insurance career at Marsh and other large national brokers. During the next 17 years, Jeff built JSIS into one of Marin County’s most successful boutique agencies, serving the needs of clients focused in the nonprofit, health care and wholesale/retail industries.
Stephens and his team will be based in EPIC’s San Francisco location.
Ganis Consulting, Astonish Results
Astonish Results added Ganis Consulting to its insurance marketing and Web services team.
Ganis Consulting is an insurance agency consultancy and business brokerage that helps agencies with operations analysis, consulting, buyer/seller representation and valuations.
Since 2005, Ganis Consulting has been helping agencies streamline operations and understand the acquisition process. While the Ganis Consulting brand will eventually be phased out and incorporated into Astonish, the three-person team of Stuart Ganis, Mary Ganis and Jerry Pickett will continue serving existing clients indefinitely, while maintaining membership in the Alliance of Insurance Agents and Brokers (AIAB) and select California trade organizations.