Supporting Landscape Professionals: Rancho Mesa Sponsors NALP’s Leaders Forum 2024

Author, Megan Lockhart, Client Communications Coordinator, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

Rancho Mesa President Dave Garcia, Vice President of the Landscape Group Drew Garcia, and Account Executive Greg Garcia attended the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP) Leaders Forum in Litibu, Nayarit, Mexico last week, January 17 to 20.

Rancho Mesa continued its support of Leaders Forum 2024 as a Gold Sponsor this year. Our executives enjoyed networking with other landscape professionals and gaining more knowledge about their industry.

“Leaders Forum is a great opportunity to connect, build relationships and spend time with some of the industry’s best.  NALP does a great job hosting and cultivating plenty of opportunities for businesses and industry partners to network.” Drew said.

The team cultivated business relationships with the many green industry leaders who attended, as well as built more personal bonds while enjoying the destination’s offerings, such as surfing, cornhole, and live music.

“NALP and those who attend Leaders Forum all understand how to make everyone feel welcome,” Drew said. “We are very intentional at this event to listen, this helps our business better develop current and future needs of the green industry.”

Dave, Drew, and Greg were joined by Rancho Mesa clients, partners, and friends, including President of Stay Green, Chris Angelo, CFO of LandCare, Dan Krems, and Allen Sweeney, CEO of Aphix.

About NALP

The National Association of Landscape Professionals is the national trade association representing nearly 100,000 landscape industry professionals in the United States, with additional members in Canada and overseas. Member companies specialize in lawn care, landscape design and installation, landscape maintenance, tree care, irrigation and water management, and interior plantscaping. Members also include students, consultants, industry suppliers, state associations and affiliate members.  For more information, visit www.landscapeprofessionals.org.

Client Spotlight: Munie Greencare Recognized with NALP’s Safety Award

Author, Lauren Stumpf, Media Communications & Client Services Specialist, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

Rancho Mesa would like to congratulate all of the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP) 2022 Safety Award recipients, with a special shoutout to client Munie Greencare Professionals.

“It’s no surprise that Munie achieved this type of safety recognition. President Joe Munie and his team are consistent in everything they do.” said Drew Garcia, Vice President of the Landscape Group at Rancho Mesa.

Munie Greencare received the Gold Overall Safety Achievement for having no injuries and illnesses, and zero days away from work.

“Munie Greencare Professionals has consistently demonstrated their attention to team member safety. They have applied their safe work culture to a large variety of customer offered services in their multi-state operations,” says Keith Smith, Loss Control Supervisor at BHHC. “Their employee commitment to applied operational safety continues to keep injury frequency low compared to similar companies.”

Congratulations to Munie on this well deserved accomplishment!

Garcia's Share Expert Opinions on Rising Workers' Comp Costs

Author, Lauren Stumpf, Media Communications & Client Services Specialist, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

Rancho Mesa's President Dave Garcia and Vice President of the Landscape Group Drew Garcia discuss preparing for rising workers’ compensation costs, in a recent article published by the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP) The Edge.

The Garcia’s shared their professional opinions and forecasting for where the workers’ compensation marketplace is headed and what is causing this shift.

Drew includes beneficial recommendations business owners can take to offset rising costs.

“Some landscapers may say, ‘Oh, I haven’t had a claim in five years. So it doesn’t affect me,’” says Dave Garcia. “But that won’t be the case as all companies will experience a hardening marketplace. All companies will be impacted regardless of individual losses since insurance, by definition, is a spread of risk among all businesses.”

To learn how you can be proactive in preparing for rising workers’ compensation costs, please contact Drew Garcia at (619) 937-0200 or drewgarcia@ranchomesa.com.

Garcia Brothers Give Professional Safety Guidance on NALP Podcast

Author, Lauren Stumpf, Media Communications & Client Services Specialist, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

Image provided by NALP.

In a most recent podcast episode of Growing in the Green Industry, Rancho Mesa’s Drew Garcia, Vice President of the Landscape Group, and Account Executive Greg Garcia discusses the importance of effectively communicating with your team and building awareness around safety. The episode is hosted by Brett Lemcke with R.M. Landscape, Inc. and Macey Robinson with LandCare LLC.

The episode shares tips of starting your own company, implementing a safety plan and different strategies on how to be proactive when it comes to safety in the workplace. Listen to Season 2, Ep. 40 Being Proactive with Safety with Drew Garcia and Greg Garcia below, or on your favorite podcast platform: anchor.fm/nalp-young-professionals

About Growing in the Green Industry Podcast
Growing in the Green Industry is a podcast for the specifically centered around the landscape industry. Each week their hosts and guests discuss topics that matter most for landscape professionals, including career advancement, hiring, professional development, retention, sales, operations, and more. Growing in the Green Industry is produced by the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP), Young Professionals Network. Growing in the Green Industry is produced by NALP's Young Professionals Network. To learn more, please visit www.landscapeprofessionals.org/youngprofessionals.

The Garcias Head East for NALP Landscaping Adventure

Author, Lauren Stumpf, Media Communications & Client Services Coordinator, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

Rancho Mesa’s Dave, Drew, and Greg Garcia headed to Gaithersburg, Maryland to attend the 2021 Field Trip at Ruppert Landscape. The two-day landscaping event is held by the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP), in partnership with Marty Grunder, CEO of Grunder Landscaping Co. and The Grow Group, and Frank Mariani of Mariani Landscape.

“We were humbled to have the opportunity to sponsor and attend this event,” says Drew. “It’s a great opportunity for Rancho Mesa to learn from landscape industry leaders and surround ourselves with companies who are looking to improve.”

The event gave attendees a look at Ruppert Landscape’s headquarters and a chance to receive inside knowledge of how an industry leading company operates.

The Garcia’s attended the VIP dinner hosted by husband and wife Craig and Pat Ruppert, where they were kind enough to welcome guests into their home. Dinner was enjoyed by many including Rancho Mesa clients, Bill and Laurie Schnetz from Schentz Landscape, as well as Jessica Bird and Max from LaBahn’s Landscaping.

“It says a lot for one of the largest landscape companies in the country to welcome their industry competitors in to see a behind the scenes look at how they are able to be successful,” says Drew.

Events like these are constant reminders that Rancho Mesa is so fortunate to work alongside such a thriving professional industry. We encourage all landscape companies to attend this event in the future; you will certainly find us there!

Drew Garcia Goes National in NALP’s The Landscape Professionals

Author, Emily Marasso, Media Communications Assistant, Rancho Mesa Insurance, Services Inc.

It’s no secret that Drew Garcia, Vice President of Rancho Mesa’s Landscape Group, has been helping landscape clients for years in best practices and how to stay safe on the job. But now, he is going national to help landscape professionals all over the country, again!

In this month’s NALP’s The Landscape Professionals Magazine, Drew breaks down the five things landscape companies can do to lower their Experience Modification Rates (XMOD). 

“Landscape companies with a low Experience Modification Rating typically exhibit similar best practices when dealing with work-related injuries. Their proactive approach helps close claims faster and returns employees to work sooner than their counterpart,” writes Drew Garcia.

The NALP (National Association of Landscape Professionals) represents almost 100,000 landscape industry professionals around the world. Specializing in landscape design and installation, lawn care, maintenance and more, the national trade association is made up of students, consultants, state associations and affiliate members, plus industry suppliers. Their mission is “to advocate for lawn and landscape industry growth and the benefits we provide to our communities.”

To learn more about how to lower your XMOD, contact Drew Garcia at (619) 937-0200 or drewgarcia@ranchomesa.com.

Client Spotlight: YardApes Featured in NALP Podcast

Author, Lauren Stumpf, Media Communications Coordinator, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

Rancho Mesa client, Shayne Newman, president of YardApes Inc., discusses professionalism and elevating the landscape industry in episode 8 of the National Association of Landscape Professionals’ (NALP) Growing in the Green Industry Podcast.

The podcast is hosted by Miles Kuperus III, system architect at Include Software, Neal Glatt, managing partner of GrowTheBench, and Brett Lemcke, vice president of R.M. Landscape, all of which are members of the NALP. Newman has also been actively involved with NALP for about 20 years and currently serves on the board of directors.

In episode 8, “Modern Leadership: Giving Back While Moving Forward,” Newman discusses how he has grown his company while building a strong safety-based culture and raising involvement in his community. He has a lot of passion for his industry and speaks about the importance of enhancing public perception of the landscape industry.

About YardApes, Inc.
YardApes, Inc. is a full-service design, construction and maintenance company serving Northwest Connecticut’s residential and commercial clients since 1990. YardApes is one of thirteen Landscape Industry Accredited Companies in the United States and the only Landscape Industry Accredited Company in Connecticut. For more information about YardApes Inc., please visit www.yardapes.com.

Safety Spotlight: Klausing Group Celebrates 3 Years of Outstanding Safety

Author, Emily Marasso, Media Communications Assistant, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

Rancho Mesa’s Vice President of the Landscape Group and Chairperson for the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP) Safety Committee Drew Garcia had the opportunity to congratulate Klausing Group for three years without a lost time accident.

For 12 seasons, 156 weeks, 1,095 days or 6,245 hours, Klausing Group was accident free.  That level of commitment to safety is hard to achieve in the landscape industry.

Klausing Group is a commercial landscape company located in Lexington and Louisville, Kentucky.  With over 20 years in business, they aren’t just focused on creating and maintaining landscapes, the group certifies and trains employees in the landscape industry and has become a leader in doing so.

Drew Garcia has been a Chairperson for the NALP Safety Committee for 4 years and champions companies to who take safety seriously.

“Nothing substitutes a strong safety culture.  You have to be about safety and talk about safety on a daily basis and obviously at Klausing Group, the safety culture is incredibly strong,” said Drew Garcia.

Rancho Mesa congratulates Klausing Group for their excellence in workplace safety.

Rancho Mesa Sponsors Leaders Forum 2020

Author, Lauren Stumpf, Media Communications Coordinator, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

Rancho Mesa’s Drew Garcia, Vice President of the Landscape Group, and Dave Garcia, President & Chief Executive Officer, attended NALP’s Leaders Forum in Cabo San Lucas on January 21st to 26th. Rancho Mesa was a sponsor along with Caterpillar and John Deere.

“Once you have experienced this event you will become an annual attendee. The content and networking amongst industry greats is incredible,” said Drew Garcia.

On Friday morning of the event, Rancho Mesa unveiled their new video titled "Above and Beyond - Landscape." The video features Drew, explaining Rancho Mesa’s 2020 theme.

“We admire the complexity and professionalism the landscape industry stands for,” expressed Drew Garcia. “It was our hope that the video would demonstrate our appreciation for their work and our ambition to not only understand the risk, but provide tangible solutions to help support the direction the industry is headed. Based on some feedback after the movie played, I think our message was received. We are proud to be so engaged and committed.”

In attendance were Rancho Mesa partners, Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, Margaret Hartmann from Berkshire Hathaway Homestate Companies (BHHC) and AXIS Insurance’s Associate Program Manger, Nakia Rawles and Executive Vice President & Head of U.S. Programs, John Tatum.

Mark you calendars for January 21-23, 2021 when Leaders Forum heads to Maui, Hawaii!

About NALP
The National Association of Landscape Professionals is the national trade association representing nearly 100,000 landscape industry professionals in the United States, with additional members in Canada and overseas. Member companies specialize in lawn care, landscape design and installation, landscape maintenance, tree care, irrigation and water management, and interior plantscaping. Members also include students, consultants, industry suppliers, state associations and affiliate members. For more information, visit www.landscapeprofessionals.org.

About BHHC
The Berkshire Hathaway Homestate Companies is a group of six insurance carriers that are part of the Berkshire Hathaway group of insurance companies. Headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, with more than 40 years in business, BHHC has grown from a regional organization to a national insurance group, offering insurance products from coast to coast. For more information, visit www.bhhc.com.

About AXIS
AXIS Insurance Co. is a leading global specialty insurer and reinsurer, providing clients and distribution partners with a broad range of risk transfer products and services, backed by the exceptional financial strength and solid claims-paying ability of the AXIS insurance companies. They provide customized property, casualty, professional lines and other specialty coverage across the globe through wholesale and retail brokers, and managing general underwriters. To learn more, visit www.axiscapital.com.

Photos provided by NALP.

Client Spotlight: Urban Habitat’s Project Gains National Recognition

Author, Lauren Stumpf, Media Communications Assistant, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

Drew Garcia, left, with Urban Habitat holding the Gold Award of Excellence plaque.

Urban Habitat’s Brett and Theresa Brennan were recognized by the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP) for their Coachella Etherea Art Park Project on Thursday, October 17, 2019 at the 50th Annual Awards of Excellence Ceremony in Louisville, Kentucky.   

“When Urban’s project was announced you could hear the entire room take notice. A special moment for Brett and Theresa,” said Drew Garcia, Vice President of the Landscape Group at Rancho Mesa. “Sometimes I get so caught up in delivering for our landscape clients, from the insurance aspect, that I don’t get the opportunity to lift my head up and enjoy the beautiful work they create on a daily basis. Our team takes a lot of pride working with Urban Habitat and we are extremely proud of the amazing work they create on a daily basis.”

The Coachella Valley, CA based company received the Gold Award for their excellence and creativity in the Commercial Design/Build category. The NALP Awards of Excellence Program honors outstanding landscape projects. Judges assess excellence in design, craftsmanship, build, maintenance, attention to detail, in addition to specific criteria for various categories, is assessed for each. Urban Habitat received the Gold Award, the program’s highest category of excellence, for going above and beyond the standard. Rancho Mesa is honored to work with a company that shares our OneofOne® philosophy.

Drew Garcia reiterated, “This was a statement project, Urban was competing against National and Super-Regional Landscape Companies to win this award. To come out with a Gold Award among companies like that is incredible.”

About Urban Habitat
Urban Habitat has years of experience as Coachella Valley's premier landscape provider. Their vast experience and expertise includes small renovations to large scale industrial and commercial sites, resorts, hotels, master planned communities and public works projects. They specialize in design/architecture, landscape construction installation, grounds maintenance, arboricultural, and water management services. To learn more visit their LinkedIn page.