How did we get here?
The Refuge Group is a collective of family-owned businesses and investments that was established in 1987. The company started as a small limousine business in Jackson, Mississippi. Over the years we expanded operations and diversified our portfolio, adding companies across the travel, insurance, and professional services verticals. Throughout our history, we have remained true to our core values of integrity, hard work, and a commitment to excellence.
Success throughout our journey.
After three years of operating a limousine company, our journey really accelerated in 1990 with the establishment of LeFleur Transportation. Tom’s ambitious goal was to take the service quality of a limousine company and build the largest non-emergency medical transportation provider in the United States. Through hard work and a little luck, we accomplished our goal and facilitated over 1.5 million annual specialized medical trips with a fleet of 600 company-owned vehicles, operating from Washington State to South Georgia and many states in between.
In 2018, we sold the primary assets of the business. As we look toward the future, we remain committed to pursuing opportunities that make a meaningful difference in the world of medical transportation and beyond.
LeFleur Transportation
In the early 1990’s LeFleur Transportation was growing quickly, and we needed additional fleet vehicles. Recognizing the power of vertical integration, Tom and his partner purchased the Jackson, Mississippi U-Save Car and Truck Rental franchise in 1992. Motivated by success as a franchisee, Tom acquired the parent company and franchisor of the system in 1997.
Over the next two decades, our team successfully built the fourth-largest car rental system in the United States and the world's largest car rental franchise system, boasting a fleet of over 45,000 vehicles across domestic and international markets.
In August 2022, we made a strategic decision to sell the U-Save Car and Truck Rental system to Green Motion International, marking a significant milestone in our journey. This transaction allowed us to explore new opportunities while entrusting the legacy of U-Save to a respected global player in the car rental market.
As we embark on new ventures, we cherish the memories and achievements that came with creating and nurturing the U-Save Car and Truck Rental system. Our commitment to excellence and innovation remains unwavering as we partner with Green Motion to build world-class insurance programs for the combined system and continue to own and operate the Jackson, MS U-Save franchise.
U-Save Car and Truck Rental
Tom McDonnell was a board member and significant shareholder in an independent broadline foodservice distributor serving more than 7,000 customers in the Southeastern United States. During his investment period the company became the 8th largest privately held foodservice distributor in the country topping more than $820M in annual revenue. He divested his shares in early 2022.
Merchants Foodservice
To further vertically integrate our passenger transportation and rental car businesses, we acquired Peakstone Financial Services in 1997. Peakstone specialized in tailor-made risk management products for the transportation industry. During our holding period, we expanded carrier and client relationships and added programs for five franchised and affiliate car rental systems.
In June 2023, we made the strategic decision to sell the assets of Peakstone to Higginbotham Insurance Agency Inc. This move was part of our commitment to scaling the business to support the development of international car rental risk management products.
Despite the ownership change, our dedication to the success of Peakstone remains unwavering. We continue to actively manage and drive the growth of this business, ensuring a seamless transition and maintaining the high standards of service that our clients have come to trust.
Peakstone Financial Services
In 2007, we acquired a multi-line independent property & casualty agency based in Scottsdale, Arizona. We scaled the agency and their product offerings to all 50 states and added specialized divisions catering to Rental Fleet Operators and Chiropractic Malpractice protection.
Our shared services team managed all the crucial back-office functions of the agency, allowing our partners to focus on delivering top-notch services to their clients. As a result, we achieved remarkable results, increasing annual written premiums by more than fivefold.
In February 2023, we sold the agency's assets to Higginbotham Insurance Agency Inc. Several key members of our management team remain actively involved in the day-to-day management of the business, ensuring continuity and smooth operation. We take immense pride in the growth and success of the agency and are excited about the future possibilities that lie ahead.