Refuge Group
Refuge Group is a family-owned holding company headquartered in Ridgeland, Mississippi, operating transportation businesses, trade associations, portfolio investments, and a la carte back-office support services for small businesses and entrepreneurs.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1987
- HeadquartersRidgeland, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Refuge Group does
Refuge Group is a privately held, family-owned diversified holding company established in 1987 by Tom McDonnell and headquartered in Ridgeland, Mississippi. The firm operates three integrated segments: Operating Businesses (transportation companies and trade associations), Portfolio Investments (equity stakes in partner companies and real estate/timber holdings), and Outsourced Support Services (a la carte back-office services for portfolio companies and external clients). Management reports more than 200 years of combined experience across transportation, insurance, and professional services, and the firm employs 11-50 people at the parent level, functioning as a shared back-office for its portfolio.
Operating businesses include the Auto Rental Resource Center (ARRC) and NETRC trade associations serving over 1,000 member operators nationwide, alongside wholly owned non-emergency passenger transportation operators — Quality Transport Services, GC Transports, LeFleur Limousines, and the Jackson, Mississippi U-Save Car and Truck Rental franchise. Portfolio investments span government contracting (GC Logistics, a service-disabled veteran-owned business with $30M+ in federal, state, and municipal contracts since 2017), advisory services (Trace Advisory Group, launched 2019), insurance distribution (Higginbotham Insurance Agency, one of the largest privately held U.S. brokers), trades services (Specialty Heating, Cooling & Plumbing), and Mississippi-based real estate and timber land. The outsourced support segment offers management consulting, accounting, marketing, administrative support, customer and member support, IT solutions, legal/risk/compliance, and human resources services.
Revenue mechanics combine operating income from wholly owned businesses, returns on equity stakes in partner companies, and fees from outsourced professional services and managed services. Go-to-market is relationship-led, targeting small businesses, entrepreneurs, trade associations, and government clients through direct networks and referrals rather than traditional demand-generation. The company has executed a deliberate portfolio rationalization between 2018 and 2023, divesting LeFleur Transportation (2018), Merchants Foodservice (2022), the U-Save franchise system (2022), Sonoran National Insurance Group (2023), and Peakstone Financial Services (2023), with retained management involvement in several of the insurance transactions. Core proprietary technology is not disclosed beyond standard IT infrastructure and member portals; no AI/ML, data, or platform capabilities are evidenced.
Refuge Group firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Refuge Group
- Legal name
- Refuge Group
- Website
- https://refugems.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1987
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Refuge Group is a family-owned holding company headquartered in Ridgeland, Mississippi, operating transportation businesses, trade associations, portfolio investments, and a la carte back-office support services for small businesses and entrepreneurs.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Refuge Group industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Diversified Holding Company and Business Support Services
- NAICS
- Passenger Car Rental (532111), Truck, Utility Trailer, and RV (Recreational Vehicle) Rental and Leasing (53212)
- SIC
- Services-Auto Rental & Leasing (No Drivers) (7510), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Captive Insurance Advisory & Management (FSAEADAF)
Keywords
Where Refuge Group is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Ridgeland
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Refuge Group business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Portfolio Business Operations: Refuge Group generates revenue through wholly owned operating businesses including transportation companies (Quality Transport Services, GC Transports, LeFleur Limousines, U-Save Jackson), trade associations (ARRC, NETRC), and service businesses.
- Portfolio Investments Returns: Returns from equity stakes in partner companies including GC Logistics, Trace Advisory Group, Higginbotham Insurance Agency, Specialty Heating Cooling & Plumbing, and real estate/timber holdings.
- Outsourced Support Services: A la carte back-office services including management consulting, accounting, marketing, administrative support, IT solutions, legal/risk/compliance, and human resources provided to external clients and portfolio companies.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels1 record
Refuge Group product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Refuge Group is a diversified holding company that owns and operates transportation businesses (limousine, non-emergency passenger transportation, contract paratransit, local car rental) and trade associations (ARRC for auto/RV/LSV rental operators and NETRC for non-emergency medical transportation providers). It also delivers a la carte outsourced back-office services such as accounting, IT, HR, legal/risk/compliance, marketing, administrative support, and customer/member support to portfolio companies and external clients, while making first-dollar and strategic equity investments in partner businesses.
Product overview
Refuge Group is a collective of family-owned businesses and investments established in 1987, headquartered in Ridgeland, Mississippi, with holdings focused primarily in transportation, insurance, and professional services. The company operates through two main segments: Operating Businesses (Auto Rental Resource Center, NETRC, Quality Transport Services, GC Transports, LeFleur Limousines, and U-Save Jackson) and Portfolio Investments (GC Logistics, Trace Advisory Group, Higginbotham Insurance Agency, Specialty Heating/Cooling/Plumbing, and Real Estate/Timber/Land). Additionally, the company provides comprehensive Outsourced Support Services including management consulting, accounting, marketing, administrative support, customer & member support, IT solutions, legal/risk/compliance, and human resources. Previously operated businesses include LeFleur Transportation (sold 2018), U-Save Car and Truck Rental (sold 2022), Merchants Foodservice (divested 2022), Peakstone Financial Services (sold 2023), and Sonoran National Insurance Group (sold 2023). The company leverages over 200 years of combined diverse experience to provide back-office support, strategic investments, business connections, and advisory services to portfolio companies and partners.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- LeFleur Limousines Jackson, Mississippi's longest-continuously operating limousine business, providing chauffeured transportation for industry leaders, musicians, and non-emergency medical patients.
- Quality Transport Services Non-emergency passenger transportation business operating in Arizona, formed through the 2018 acquisition of Quality Transport Services of Arizona and the 2021 combination with Phoenix EI Transportation to create one of the largest non-emergency passenger transportation businesses in Arizona.
- GC Transports Contract paratransit operating business providing non-emergency passenger transportation services in Mississippi, Ohio, and Arizona.
- U-Save Jackson Local Jackson, Mississippi U-Save car and truck rental franchise offering various modes of transportation to the community, retained by Refuge Group after the broader U-Save system sale to Green Motion International.
- Auto Rental Resource Center (ARRC) Trade association for auto, RV, and LSV rental operators that connects members with a network of other rental operators for fleet access, cost-effective solutions, and comprehensive support services.
- NETRC Trade association for non-emergency medical transportation providers offering comprehensive solutions tailored to industry requirements, including negotiated insurance products.
- Outsourced Support Services A la carte back-office services for external clients and portfolio companies covering management consulting, accounting, marketing, administrative support, customer and member support, IT solutions, legal/risk/compliance, and human resources, designed to minimize startup expenses and allow leaders to focus on core mission.
Quantifiable outcome
- U-Save grew to fourth-largest car rental system in US with 45,000+ vehicles
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Refuge Group
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Refuge Group technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Refuge Group partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.
- Higginbotham Insurance Agency, Inc.flagshipOne of the largest privately owned insurance and financial services brokers in the United States. Refuge Group became shareholders through divestiture of Sonoran National Insurance Group and Peakstone Financial Services assets to accelerate development of international insurance programs.
- Trace Advisory GroupcoreBusiness launched in 2019 offering innovative, forward-thinking support for program administration, process development, and change management. On-budget, on-time performance delivering results-based solutions for government and business institutions.
- GC Logistics LLCcoreService disabled veteran-owned government contracting business that has secured over $30 Million in federal, state, and municipal contracts. Refuge Group is a partner in the business providing project management, logistics solutions, custodial services, and grounds maintenance.
- Specialty Heating, Cooling & PlumbingminorVeteran-owned business specializing in heating, cooling, and plumbing for homes and businesses throughout Mississippi. Offers residential, commercial, and industrial services.
- Quality Transport Services of ArizonacoreAcquired in 2018 and combined with Phoenix EI Transportation (2021) to create one of the largest non-emergency passenger transportation businesses in Arizona.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves10 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Refuge Group competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- CoAdvantage: PEO and HR outsourcing provider serving small and mid-sized businesses with HR, benefits, payroll, and risk management. Comparable to Refuge's Human Resources Services and Legal/Risk/Compliance service offerings within its OSS division.
- EmpireCLS Worldwide: Leading chauffeured ground transportation and executive limousine service operating nationwide. Directly comparable to LeFleur Limousines, which serves executive passengers, musicians, and NEMT clients across Mississippi.
- MTM Transit: One of the largest privately held NEMT brokers and operations providers in the United States. Direct peer to Quality Transport Services and GC Transports, competing for state Medicaid agency contracts and operating similar paratransit passenger transportation models.
- Insource Partners: Boutique consulting firm providing outsourced finance, accounting, HR, and operational support to small and mid-sized companies. Closest pure-play comp to Refuge's Outsource Support Services practice, which markets a la carte back-office services to small businesses and entrepreneurs.
- Modivcare: Public non-emergency medical transportation and personal-care services company (NASDAQ: MODV). Directly comparable to Refuge's Quality Transport Services and GC Transports operating businesses, both of which compete for Medicaid managed care NEMT contracts in similar geographies.
Broad incumbents
- Foundever: Global customer experience and business process outsourcing provider (formerly Sitel). Directly comparable to Refuge's Outsourced Support Services line covering 24/7 multilingual call center, customer support, and back-office services for SMB and trade-association clients.
- Acrisure: Scaling insurance brokerage platform with both retail brokerage and reinsurance/intermediation capabilities. Comparable to Refuge's affinity and group-insurance programs delivered through NETRC/ARRC and to its Peakstone/Sonoran-era risk management and brokerage model.
- Berkshire Hathaway: Large diversified holding company operating owned businesses across insurance, transportation, and services, with long-duration capital and family-controlled governance. Comparable as an archetype for Refuge Group's family-owned holding-company model spanning insurance, transportation, and services.
- Higginbotham Insurance Agency: One of the largest privately owned insurance and financial services brokers in the United States, where Refuge Group holds equity acquired via the Peakstone and Sonoran divestitures. Comparable as a scaled P&C/employee-benefits brokerage against Refuge's pre-divestiture Peakstone Financial Services and Sonoran National Insurance Group operations.
Others
- Greenbriar Equity Group: Private equity firm specializing in transportation, distribution, and logistics. Adjacent comparable as a capital partner in the NEMT, paratransit, and logistics ecosystem, similar to Refuge's first-dollar and strategic investments into transportation and logistics operators such as GC Logistics.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Refuge Group social profiles
Digital presenceRefuge Group financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Refuge Group leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles14 records
Refuge Group subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries6 records
Refuge Group funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Refuge Group M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Refuge Group
What does Refuge Group do?
Refuge Group is a diversified holding company that owns and operates transportation businesses (limousine, non-emergency passenger transportation, contract paratransit, local car rental) and trade associations (ARRC for auto/RV/LSV rental operators and NETRC for non-emergency medical transportation providers). It also delivers a la carte outsourced back-office services such as accounting, IT, HR, legal/risk/compliance, marketing, administrative support, and customer/member support to portfolio companies and external clients, while making first-dollar and strategic equity investments in partner businesses.
Is Refuge Group a public or private company?
Refuge Group is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Refuge Group founded?
Refuge Group was founded in 1987. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Refuge Group based?
Refuge Group is headquartered in Ridgeland, United States, in the North America region.
How does Refuge Group make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Portfolio Business Operations are the primary driver. The others are portfolio Investments Returns and outsourced Support Services.
Who are Refuge Group's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are CoAdvantage, EmpireCLS Worldwide, MTM Transit, Insource Partners and Modivcare. Broad incumbents are Foundever, Acrisure, Berkshire Hathaway and Higginbotham Insurance Agency. Greenbriar Equity Group is listed as an others.
Does Refuge Group have an API?
No public API is recorded for Refuge Group.
What industry is Refuge Group in?
Refuge Group's product category is Diversified Holding Company and Business Support Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAEADAF, Captive Insurance Advisory & Management. Its NAICS code is 532111 and its SIC code is 7510.