Insurance executive announces launch of commercial development firm

Chase Marable, a managing director at Higginbotham Insurance Agency Inc., told Springfield Business Journal today that as of March 30, he announced the launch of a real estate and private equity firm dubbed Marable Capital.

Marable said that he’ll continue his work at Higginbotham while operating Marable Capital.

“This just (complements) the impact we’re making at the insurance side,” Marable said, noting the two companies are not connected but are aligned “with the purpose of investing in communities.”

The new venture will have two key areas of focus, Marable said: commercial real estate development and equity investments in small- to mid-market businesses.

He said legal registration filings for Marable Capital were in progress, as is setting up a physical office. Startup costs for Marable Capital were undisclosed.

Marable credited the support of his wife, Haley Marable, for making the new venture possible. Haley Marable will serve as managing partner of Marable Capital and is co-owner. Haley’s background will support underwriting and evaluating deals for Marable Capital, Chase Marable said. He said the company does not have additional ownership partners or other investors at this time, but “will have investors deal by deal in the future.”

Marable emphasized business and community relationships as high priorities for Marable Capital.

“Our real goal here is to make an impact to the communities we’re serving,” Marable said.

He added, “I think everything that we do is going to come down to the people we partner with, partnering with the right people that also want to make an impact an impact to the community.”

Marable said that Marable Capital didn’t have real estate or equity deals to announce today.

“We have a few in the pipeline, but nothing ready to announce just yet,” he said.

By way of sharing potential examples of the type of work his new firm might do, Marable added that Marable Capital might take on multifamily or commercial real estate development partnerships. It could invest in smaller-to-midsize companies in the health care sector or involved in infrastructure-type businesses like plumbing or HVAC.

Marable lists several other ventures in addition to his role at Higginbotham on his LinkedIn profile, among them FQHC Marketing and Gold Rush Properties. He said those businesses will continue as he pursues activities with Marable Capital.

“Within our career, my goal and center of the heart of what I do is to go out there and to make a difference in our communities or with those that we serve,” Marable said. “Whenever we’re making a difference, whether it’s buying real estate and making it just a phenomenal place to live for the tenants, helping a mid-market small business grow or protecting those with insurance at Higginbotham – whatever it is, I just want to be able to make a difference to others, make an impact on others, and really just give back and be generous to the communities we serve.”

“So, I think this aligns just so greatly with what my purpose is.”

Marable was a 2023 SBJ 40 Under 40 honoree; a 2022 SBJ Men of the Year honoree; and a 2020 SBJ Trusted Advisers Up-and-Comer, according to past reporting.