In this episode of Agency Ascend, hosts Chris and Chad sit down with Amanda Hightower, founder of Hightower Insurance Group. Amanda shares how a moment of divine inspiration led her to start her own agency—and the mindset, systems, and leadership lessons that helped her scale it.

She walks through the emotional challenges of being a leader, how she invests in her team, and what it means to lead with both strength and compassion. From learning to say no, to creating space for her family, to staying grounded in her faith, Amanda offers practical advice for agency owners who want to grow without burning out.

Whether you’re thinking about launching your own business or simply want to lead with more intention, Amanda’s story is a masterclass in courage, clarity, and conviction.

Shares:

Amanda: Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win by Jocko Willink & Words That Work by Frank Luntz

Chad: Beyond the Hammer by Brian Gottlieb

Chris: Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business

About the Show

Agency Ascend is a podcast for insurance agents and agency owners who are looking for resources to scale their business. The show is hosted by Managing Partner, Chris Sterlacci, and other staff members of CAA to bring you tools and guidance on how they help Agency owners turn their business into a major asset.

CoVerica Agency Alliance is a strategic master agency of SIAA, the fastest growing agency partnership in the country. Our “integrator” model combines the best aspects of each partnership model — clusters, aggregators, franchises — to create a one-of-a-kind partnership that enhances distribution and drives organic growth. As a top insurance agency strategic partner in Texas, we offer solutions to greatly strengthen your agency’s position in the market.

New episodes drop triweekly on Wednesdays. Please drop us a line if you have a question or suggestion; you can reach us at podcast@coverica.com. Finally, if you like the podcast, we encourage you to subscribe and leave us a review.

Visit us at www.covericaaa.com

In this episode of Agency Ascend, hosts Chad Brummett and Chris Delacey sit down with Diana and Ron Crenshaw of Elite Security Insurance. From military service to agency ownership, the Crenshaws share how their unique paths led them to buy and revitalize a struggling agency. They reveal how systems built from scratch, strong communication, and unwavering honesty with clients helped them grow rapidly—even during a hard market.

The conversation touches on the emotional realities of buying a business, the importance of a mission-driven approach, and the power of being accessible and transparent with customers. Diana and Ron also open up about working together as a married couple, what drives their leadership philosophy, and how they’re planning to merge business with adventure by taking their work on the road.

This episode offers practical wisdom for any insurance professional considering ownership, looking to strengthen operations, or aiming to build deeper client relationships.

Tagline: “Onward and upward — with clarity, communication, and a little chaos.”

Tagline:
“Lead with faith. Build with integrity. Lift others as you climb.”

Shares:
Diana: II Tim 1:7 - "For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline."

Ron: "In chaos there is profit, in extreme chaos there is extreme profit"

Chris: "Inner Excellence" by Jim Murphy

Chad: "Beyond The Hammer" by Brian Gottlieb

About the Show

Agency Ascend is a podcast for insurance agents and agency owners who are looking for resources to scale their business. The show is hosted by Managing Partner, Chris Sterlacci, and other staff members of CAA to bring you tools and guidance on how they help Agency owners turn their business into a major asset.

CoVerica Agency Alliance is a strategic master agency of SIAA, the fastest growing agency partnership in the country. Our “integrator” model combines the best aspects of each partnership model — clusters, aggregators, franchises — to create a one-of-a-kind partnership that enhances distribution and drives organic growth. As a top insurance agency strategic partner in Texas, we offer solutions to greatly strengthen your agency’s position in the market.

New episodes drop triweekly on Wednesdays. Please drop us a line if you have a question or suggestion; you can reach us at podcast@coverica.com. Finally, if you like the podcast, we encourage you to subscribe and leave us a review.

Visit us at www.covericaaa.com

In this episode of Agency Ascend, hosts Chris and Jessica sit down with Wes Spencer, co-owner of Spencer Insurance DFW, for a masterclass in agency growth and strategic decision-making.

Wes shares how he and his brother navigated the transition from a captive agency to full independence—one of only eight agencies nationwide to take advantage of Nationwide’s Partner Choice buyout. He explains how they built a thriving, referral-driven business by prioritizing relationships, client education, and niche commercial markets. Wes also dives into the role of faith and stewardship in leadership, and why long-term thinking beats chasing short-term margins.

This is Part 2 of our conversations with Spencer Insurance DFW. See our previous episode with his brother, James Spencer.

Shares:
Chris: Learned Optimism by Martin Seligman
Jessica: How To Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
Wes: I Cor 16:13-14 - "13 Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. 14 Let all that you do be done in love." (ESV)

About the Show

Agency Ascend is a podcast for insurance agents and agency owners who are looking for resources to scale their business. The show is hosted by Managing Partner, Chris Sterlacci, and other staff members of CAA to bring you tools and guidance on how they help Agency owners turn their business into a major asset.

CoVerica Agency Alliance is a strategic master agency of SIAA, the fastest growing agency partnership in the country. Our “integrator” model combines the best aspects of each partnership model — clusters, aggregators, franchises — to create a one-of-a-kind partnership that enhances distribution and drives organic growth. As a top insurance agency strategic partner in Texas, we offer solutions to greatly strengthen your agency’s position in the market.

New episodes drop triweekly on Wednesdays. Please drop us a line if you have a question or suggestion; you can reach us at podcast@coverica.com. Finally, if you like the podcast, we encourage you to subscribe and leave us a review.

Visit us at www.covericaaa.com