Affiliations
How we Help!
Protecting Assets
With well over a decade of commercial insurance experience, we help clients prepare for the unknown. As a boutique style independent insurance agency, we work on behalf of our the clients vs. one specific carrier, though we have access to well over 100 markets. Without big corporate overhead or high pressure call centers, our mission is to advocate for our clients, keeping both coverage and cost in mind.
Commercial/Business Insurance
- Workers’ Compensation Insurance
- General Liability Insurance
- Professional Liability
- Errors & Omissions (E&O)
- Medical & Legal Malpractice
- Educators Legal Liability
- Law Enforcement Liability
- Abuse & Molestation
- Management Liability
- Employment Practices Liability Insurance (EPLI)
- Directors & Officers (D&O)
- Fiduciary Liability
- Employee Benefits Liability (EBL)
- Crime/Employee Dishonesty
- Pollution Liability
- Cyber Liability
- Liquor Liability
- Professional Liability
- Commercial Property
- Fire & Hazard
- Business Personal Property
- Inland Marine Insurance
- Contractors Tools & Equipment
- Builders Risk
- Business Owner's Policy (BOP - combined small commercial package)
- Commercial/Fleet Auto Insurance
- Cargo Insurance
- Surety Bonds
- License & Permit Bonds
- Construction Bonds
- Court Bonds
- Fidelity Bonds
- Specialty Programs (Education, Municipalities & Other Governmental Agencies, Nonprofits)
We take a consultative approach with access many different insurance products and carriers to offer optimum coverage packages at a competitive price point. Though we can certainly get quotes from a number of highly rated carriers, we want to truly know our clients and their needs and we can help design an all encompassing Risk Management plan to suit your needs.
Assessing Need
What would happen if your organization was served with a lawsuit, your location had a loss such as a fire, or you had an employee injury?
Do you have a dedicated agent who is available to support your risk management needs?
Schedule a meeting for a complimentary review of your current insurance policies and risk management program.
Building Relationships
Everyone has different insurance needs, but the coverage is the easy part of it. Though we work to offer a personalized assessment, most importantly we want to get to know our clients and how we can best support them. We're in this for the long haul and work to build longstanding business partnerships with our clients and referral relationships.
The best part? We don't work with just anybody so you don't have to worry about us stalking you into submission. We'll leave that to the commoditized brokers.
Meet the Core of Ascent!
Jodie Lyons - Founder & Managing Principal
Jodie has close to 13 years in the commercial insurance industry, coming from a background insuring the public sector as a senior underwriter for Colorado School Districts Self Insurance Pool (CSDSIP) and Colorado Intergovernmental Risk Sharing Agency (CIRSA).
In 2019 Jodie left governmental risk pooling to delve into the private sector, joining a large regional brokerage that focused primarily in high volume workers' compensation. She quickly grew to be a top producer in the firm, though she was met with limitations in advocating for clients while in what felt to be a "sell only" environment.
In Jodie's words: "I didn’t want to become another cog in a corporate wheel and knew there could be a better way to help companies by offering both a personal approach and market access. So I BET IT ALL and ventured out to build it on my own on the faith that I would draw in a like-minded team and a healthy client base."
Jodie lives in the Saddle Rock community in SE Aurora & spends her downtime with her gal-pals at the golf course or on a mountain with her husband and furbabies. She is the proud mother of an Army Reservist/CSU son and a daughter in the medical field.
Russell Lyons - Chief Operating Officer
Russell is our resident "safety guy" who works with clients on their safety practices when he's not wrangling the back office here at Ascent.
Russell recently retired as a 35 year, 3.8 million mile OTR driver who also took on DOT safety & compliance for his prior organization.
Hanging up his wheels (but not his CDL) he's focused on
helping organizations with their safety & compliance both on and off the road. This includes workplace safety, DOT compliance, transportation safety, and operational risk.
For those needing safety support that aren't (yet) with Team Ascent for their insurance needs, Russell is the founder and head hoss of our sister company, Ascent Safety Solutions
When Russell isn't geeking out on all things safety & compliance (or critiquing Jodie's mad driving skills) he likes quiet time at home with the furbabies, football, and mastering the landscaping.
Kadie Mellem - Licensed Insurance Associate
Kadie is our newest Agent, recently joining Team Ascent from the Service Industry.
She’s been a bartender or server for the past 9 years and though she loves the industry, she was ready to tackle something new. Kadie moved to Colorado to be a Project Manager for a roofing company. While roofing wasn’t the right fit, she quickly fell in love with all things Colorado.
Kadie is a proud grad of The University of South Carolina (Go Cocks!) with a degree in Marketing and Economics.
While newer to the industry, Kadie is eager to learn, picking up quickly with Jodie's mentorship. Kadie is handling our smaller commercial and personal lines under Jodie's guidance as she learns and grows with the team.
When not in the office, Kadie enjoys doing hot yoga, cooking, and watching college football – or horror movies – with her cats Roger & Steve.
Welcome to the team, Kadie!
Chester & Wizzle - "Champions of Cheer"
Chester & Wizzle are our official Champions of Cheer who enjoy accompanying Mom & Dad to the office from time to time to share their shenanigans.
They're both hypoallergenic and have their favorite beds under the desk when we have visitors.
If you're sensitive to animals, we're happy to have them chill at home for your scheduled meeting.