Oakbridge Insurance Adds Ormond Agency, Its First East Coast Florida Location

Oakbridge Insurance Agency LLC announced a partnership with The Ormond Agency, an Ormond Beach-based independent agency with a substantial personal insurance practice, giving Oakbridge its first location on Florida's East Coast. Business Wire published the announcement on November 3, 2026. The Ormond Agency, led by Principal Joe Lennartz, will continue operating from Ormond Beach with its existing team and client relationships intact.

What the Ormond Agency Brings to Oakbridge

The Ormond Agency has built its business around long-standing client relationships and knowledge of Florida's property insurance market, according to the announcement. Oakbridge said that experience is particularly valuable for clients with higher-value homes, coastal properties and complex asset profiles, as carrier appetite and underwriting requirements continue to vary across the state. For Ormond, the partnership adds the market access and specialty resources of a national brokerage.

Matt James, Chief Executive Officer of Oakbridge, said: "Ormond brings the kind of market knowledge that matters in Florida, particularly when clients have more specialized property and personal insurance needs." James added that Lennartz and his team "know this market, know their clients, and have built a strong business around both."

Trae Vaughan, President of Oakbridge, said: "Ormond has built a sizable personal lines business while maintaining the relationships and local involvement that made it successful in the first place." Vaughan said the team gains more resources and capabilities to draw from, while Oakbridge gains a Florida presence and personal lines expertise.

Lennartz said: "Our clients are looking to us for guidance across a wider range of needs." He said Oakbridge gives the agency access to expertise it can bring into those situations without changing how it works with clients. Oakbridge describes itself as a U.S. Top 50 independent insurance brokerage offering property and casualty, employee benefits and specialty solutions; more information is on its company website.

Oakbridge's Earlier 2026 Partnerships and Leadership Change

In August 2026, Oakbridge entered into a strategic partnership and joint venture with Valentine Insurance, which will operate under the name "Valentine Insurance, an Oakbridge Partner," Insurance Journal reported. Earlier that month, Business Insurance reported that Oakbridge announced it was acquiring Memphis-based Valentine Insurance, a property/casualty and employee benefits provider serving West Tennessee and the Mid-South.

In July 2026, Oakbridge announced a partnership with Larry S. Helms & Associates Insurance Services, a commercial and personal lines firm serving the greater Charlotte, North Carolina market, Insurance Business America reported. That month, Oakbridge also completed a planned executive leadership transition: founder Robbie Smith moved to Executive Chairman, Matt James became CEO and Trae Vaughan was appointed President, Insurance Business America reported.

Ormond Beach Operations Continue

The Ormond Agency will continue operating from Ormond Beach with its existing team and client relationships intact, preserving the local presence and service model that have long defined the agency, according to the announcement. As part of Oakbridge, the team will pair that foundation with broader market access and specialty resources.