DiBuduo & DeFendis Insurance Brokers, LLC

What DiBuduo & DeFendis Insurance Brokers, LLC does

DiBuduo & DeFendis Insurance Brokers, LLC is a privately held, family-owned independent insurance brokerage founded in 1960 in Fresno, California, and currently led by second-generation Principals Matt DeFendis and Mike DeFendis. The firm operates as a licensed California insurance broker (License #0E02096) and is positioned as one of the largest independent insurance agencies in California, distributing commercial and personal insurance products across 12+ industry verticals including agri-business, construction, healthcare, trucking, energy, beverage, financial, hospitality, real estate, restaurant, retail & wholesale, and habitational. Its product portfolio spans specialized lines such as crop insurance, tree care insurance, workers' compensation, cyber liability, management liability, employee benefits, bonds, and energy raters programs, complemented by a value-added services stack comprising Loss Control consulting, Property & Casualty Claims Services, Workers' Compensation Claims Services, and the Development Academy training program (OSHA, First Aid/CPR, forklift certification).

The firm's revenue model is commission-based: it earns brokerage commissions from insurance carriers for placing, underwriting, and servicing commercial and personal policies, with pricing determined through quote-based engagement on an annual cadence. Go-to-market is direct-to-customer through a network of 80+ insurance producers operating across 11 California office locations (Fresno HQ, Bakersfield, Clovis, Dinuba, Hollister, Lodi, Modesto, Oxnard, San Luis Obispo, Santa Monica, Taft), supported by phone (888-984-1984), website lead capture, email newsletters via Constant Contact, and organic social channels (LinkedIn, Facebook). Strategic reach is amplified by the firm's 1998 partnership with Assurex Global—a commercial insurance, risk management, and employee benefits brokerage network with $46 billion in annual premium volume and 730+ partner offices in 65+ U.S./Canadian cities and 40+ countries.

The company's core technology footprint is conventional rather than differentiated: the underlying platform supports standard brokerage workflows, with disclosed proprietary features limited to a UserWay website accessibility widget for ease-of-use compliance. The firm employs 101-250 staff, including a claims department with seven representatives averaging 30 years of experience and a tenured leadership team covering finance, marketing, IT, HR, and specialized product lines. Growth has been predominantly organic supplemented by selective M&A, including the 2022 acquisition of Calvista Insurance Agency. The company is not venture-backed, does not disclose revenue, and operates without any disclosed AI/ML capability—key considerations given the ongoing technology-driven transformation of the insurance brokerage sector.

Name

DiBuduo & DeFendis Insurance Brokers, LLC

Legal name

DiBuduo & DeFendis Insurance Brokers, LLC

Website

https://dibu.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1960

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

DiBuduo & DeFendis is a family-owned independent insurance brokerage founded in 1960, headquartered in Fresno, California, serving commercial and personal clients across 12+ industry verticals through 11 California offices and 80+ producers, with carrier access via the Assurex Global network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Commercial Insurance Brokerage Services

NAICS

Insurance Agencies and Brokerages (52421)

SIC

Insurance Agents, Brokers & Service (6411)

akta.pro primary industry

Specialty Insurance Brokerage (Marine, Aviation, Cyber, Professional Lines) (FSAEADAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Management Liability (D&O/EPL/Fiduciary) (FSAJAGAD), Personal Trust & Fiduciary Administration (FSAEAKAA)

Keywords

• Commercial insurance brokerage
• Workers compensation coverage
• Cyber liability insurance
• Risk management consulting
• Claims management services

Headquarters

HQ city

Fresno

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices11 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Insurance Brokerage Commissions: Traditional insurance brokerage earning commissions from insurance carriers for placing commercial and personal insurance policies. Services include underwriting, sales, and negotiation of insurance products and services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

DiBuduo & DeFendis Insurance Brokers, LLC is an independent, family-owned insurance brokerage that places commercial and personal insurance policies on behalf of clients across 12+ California industry verticals (agri-business, construction, healthcare, trucking, energy, hospitality, retail, real estate, restaurants, beverage, financial, habitational). Products include Crop Insurance, Tree Care Insurance, Personal Insurance, Cyber Liability, Management Liability, Worker's Comp, Employee Benefits, Energy Raters Programs, and Bonds. Brokerage services are complemented by value-added Loss Control consulting, dedicated Property & Casualty Claims and Workers' Compensation Claims teams, and the Development Academy workplace-safety training program.

Product overview

DiBuduo & DeFendis Insurance Brokers, LLC is an independent insurance brokerage offering a comprehensive portfolio of commercial and personal insurance products. The core product portfolio includes specialized coverage lines such as Crop Insurance, Tree Care Insurance, Cyber Liability, Management Liability, Worker's Comp, Employee Benefits, Energy Raters Programs, Personal Insurance, and Bonds. These insurance products are organized by industry sector including Agri-Business, Beverage, Construction, Energy, Financial, Healthcare, Hospitality, Real Estate, Restaurant, Retail & Wholesale, and Trucking. The company complements its insurance offerings with value-added services including Loss Control consulting, Property & Casualty Claims Services, and Workers' Compensation Claims Services. Additionally, the company operates a Development Academy that provides workplace safety training programs including OSHA certification courses, first aid/CPR training, forklift certification, and other professional development workshops for clients.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Crop Insurance Insurance coverage for agricultural crops protecting farmers against yield losses due to weather, disease, or other covered perils. Targeted at agri-business clients in California including family farms and large-scale operations.
• Tree Care Insurance Specialized insurance coverage for tree care service businesses covering equipment, liability, and business operations. Serves the tree care and arborist industry vertical.
• Personal Insurance Coverage for individuals including homeowners, auto, and personal liability insurance products, marketed through the firm's Personal Lines Manager and producer network.
• Cyber Liability Insurance Insurance protection for businesses against cyber threats, data breaches, and network security incidents. Sold to commercial clients across all served industries.
• Management Liability Insurance Coverage protecting executives and directors from claims related to wrongful acts, including D&O, E&O, and employment practices liability. Targeted at commercial business owners and financial institution clients.
• Worker's Comp Insurance Workers' compensation insurance covering employee injuries and illnesses sustained in the course of employment. Sold to commercial clients across all 12+ industry verticals with associated claims management handled in-house.
• Employee Benefits Group health insurance, retirement plans, and other employee benefit programs for businesses. Sold through the dedicated Employee Benefits department under Director of Sales Chris Peters.
• Energy Raters Programs Insurance Insurance programs for energy efficiency raters and assessors including E&O coverage. Targeted at the energy industry vertical.
• Bonds Surety and fidelity bonds including contract bonds, commercial bonds, and court bonds. Managed by the Bond Department under Justin Smit.
• Loss Control Services Risk management and loss prevention consulting services to help businesses reduce workplace injuries and property losses. Sold to commercial clients as a value-added layer on top of insurance placement.
• Property & Casualty Claims Services Claims management support including claims processing, adjustment assistance, and liaison services between clients and insurance carriers. Led by VP John Manning with a 35-year-experienced team.
• Workers' Compensation Claims Services Specialized workers' compensation claims management including carrier coordination, return-to-work programs, and medical provider panel development. Led by Manager Katherine Sullivan with 27+ years of experience.
• Development Academy (Safety Training) Safety training and professional development workshops including OSHA certification, first aid/CPR training, forklift certification, and workplace safety courses delivered regionally to commercial clients.

Quantifiable outcome

• Claims processed by experienced representatives with 30-year average experience per claims representative

Named customers1 record

Segments13 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Assurex GlobalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1998DiBuduo & DeFendis became a Partner Firm in Assurex Global in 1998, becoming only the third agency from California and the first from Central California to achieve this status. Assurex Global is a privately held commercial insurance, risk management, and employee benefits brokerage group with $46 billion in annual premium volume and over 730 Partner offices in 65+ U.S. and Canadian cities and 40+ other countries.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Leavitt Group: Network-style independent insurance agency operating across multiple U.S. states with a partner/branch model. Comparable as a privately held independent agency serving SMB and mid-market commercial clients with multi-line coverage.
• Edgewood Partners Insurance Center (EPIC): Independent insurance brokerage and consulting firm focused on middle-market and high-net-worth clients with a strong California presence. Comparable as a privately held independent broker serving similar commercial and personal lines.
• Burns & Wilcox: Specialty insurance brokerage and wholesale distributor handling excess & surplus, professional, and specialty lines. Comparable in the specialty brokerage niche, including cyber and management liability, though larger and more wholesale-oriented.
• Alliant Insurance Services: One of the largest U.S. specialty brokers, founded and headquartered in California, serving middle-market commercial clients across diverse industries. Directly comparable business model (commercial brokerage, multi-vertical specialization) but at much greater scale.
• Woodruff Sawyer: San Francisco-based independent insurance brokerage focused on commercial insurance, risk management, and employee benefits. Comparable West Coast independent with similar middle-market commercial emphasis.
• Heffernan Insurance Brokers: California-headquartered independent insurance brokerage offering commercial, personal, and employee benefits coverage across multiple industries. Highly comparable as a West Coast independent agency with similar multi-line product breadth and producer-driven distribution.

Broad incumbents

• Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Global insurance brokerage and risk management firm serving mid-market and large commercial clients across all major lines. Overlaps directly with DiBuduo & DeFendis's product portfolio but operates at much larger scale and global footprint.
• Acrisure: Rapidly growing insurance brokerage built through aggressive M&A, including many regional independents. Comparable product mix and customer base; an active acquirer of West Coast agencies, making it a relevant benchmark and potential buyer.
• Marsh McLennan: Global leader in insurance brokerage and risk advisory, offering commercial insurance, reinsurance, and risk consulting. Comparable in brokerage and risk advisory services but with a multinational footprint and significantly broader capabilities.
• Brown & Brown Insurance: Large national insurance brokerage built largely through serial acquisitions of regional independents. Comparable business model and customer base, but at vastly greater scale and as a public company, making it both a peer and a potential acquirer of firms like DiBuduo & DeFendis.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/dibuduoanddefendisinsurance
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/1044006
• Xx.com/danddinsurance

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about DiBuduo & DeFendis Insurance Brokers, LLC