Historically, CMI had grown out of Hoyt-Petersen & Company, an insurance brokerage started in 1971. CMI was started in 1981 and then owned by the late Don Petersen, up until his death in 2001.  CMI handled claims for a lot of Public Entities, which comprised about two-thirds of its book of business, and the other one-third of its business clientele consisted of Raley's Markets, some newspapers, hospitals, and sundry other miscellaneous private companies.

A few insiders knew of the negotiations of the sale starting around early 2008, but were required to keep the word of the possible sale confidential.  York Insurance purchased Bragg & Associates sometime in late 2008, and previously had purchased Southern California Risk Management Associates (SCRMA) in 2006. 

Some of CMI's claims personnel were laid off at the time of the June 5th change over of ownership, due to duplication of positions--mostly at the management level.  But some claims examiners were let go as others were kept. There are other employees, which include claims handlers, who are on a sixty-day transition list.  More changes and consolidations of staff are predicted into the next few months to come. 

York Insurance Services Group is a nationwide organization.