News & Insights

Walnut Creek, Calif., 06 January 2016 – Ascension Insurance, Inc. today announced the acquisition of Sundance Insurance, Inc., located in Yuma, Arizona. Sundance is a full service property and casualty insurance broker with an outstanding, well-established brand and reputation in the Yuma community. Don Werley and Debbie Blakesley, the previous co-owners of Sundance, will join Ascension as Senior Vice President and Senior Account Manager, respectively.

This transaction significantly expands the Yuma operations of Ascension’s Pan American business unit. In combination with the Pan American office in Palm Desert, the new team will be a major force in the Arizona and California Imperial Valley region.

“Ascension is the perfect fit for us. Although we occasionally were competitors, I always maintained the highest regard for the expertise and integrity of the Pan American team. Together the ‘whole will be greater than the sum of the parts’” said Don. Debbie added: “We’re united by a common culture based on a passion for putting the customer first. Joining with the Pan American team allows us to continue to offer the great service our clients have come to expect. In addition, Pan American gives us access to a broader array of service capabilities and tools that we didn’t have before.”

Ascension’s CEO, Joe Tatum remarked, “First and foremost, I believe this acquisition is beneficial to clients of both firms because it expands the depth and breadth of our service offerings. It also represents a wonderful opportunity for us to grow our operations in Arizona, the desert region of California and beyond. I couldn’t be more pleased to welcome Don, Debbie and their team to the Ascension/Pan American family.”

Added Pan American President Steve Martin: “We’re extremely excited to have the Sundance team on board. They have been delivering outstanding consulting, brokerage and client management services in the Yuma community for over 30 years. Our ongoing goal is to develop innovative, creative and responsive solutions for our clients in a dynamic marketplace. Our complementary capabilities in serving agricultural, construction and general industry clients; and our combined market access and clout will enable us to continue to deliver on this commitment.”

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About Ascension Insurance, Inc.
Ascension Insurance, Inc. is a premier insurance agency that offers superior risk management and benefits consulting services. It is ranked within the top 45 largest agencies by revenue, with more than 400 employees and 30 locations nationwide. Ascension is a privately held corporation; together with its private equity partners, Parthenon Capital and Century Capital Management, the company expects to continue its strong growth trajectory through additional acquisitions and organic growth.

For more information about Mergers & Acquisitions at Relation, please contact:

Tim Hall
[email protected]
(312) 714-7279