Happy Halloween from Rancho Mesa

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

Happy Halloween from the Rancho Mesa Santee and La Mesa, CA offices. This year the Rancho Mesa team was able celebrate Halloween together once again. On Friday, October 29, 2021 team members Sierra Stone, Whitney Chiriboga, Megan Lockhart, Sara Scheuneman, Yvonne Gallagher, Christina Haake, Ashley Hunter, Alyssa Burley, Megan Smidt, Daniel Bondesson, Maria Lotta, Daniel Frazee, and Rachel Bristol put on their costumes and participated in the Halloween spirit.

We hope everyone had a safe and fun Halloween!

Rancho Mesa Mixes Drinks and Makes Memories at CompWest Event

Author, Megan Lockhart, Surety and Media Communications Assistant, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

Information provided by CompWest.

On Wednesday, September 29, several members of our Rancho Mesa team attended the End of Summer Thank You Event hosted by CompWest as a thank you for Rancho Mesa’s partnership and hard work with the organization.

Rancho Mesa coordinators and executives mingled with CompWest representatives at You & Yours Distilling Co. and concocted unique cocktails at their own mixing stations. 

“I really liked meeting Jeraldine [Hartson] and James [Ruby]. It was nice to put faces to the names and to try two different cocktails that I would normally not order,” Ashley Hunter, Account Coordinator with Rancho Mesa, said. “We learned how to measure, shake, stir and pour two cocktails, a Prized Pony and a Chai Maple Old Fashioned. I liked the Old Fashioned better than the Prized Pony because it wasn’t as sweet.”

Through her experience making her own cocktail, Hunter learned new techniques.

“I learned that you put all the ingredients into the cocktail first and add the liquor last. I always did the opposite of this at home,” Hunter said.

The event also allowed Rancho Mesa’s Account Executive Jeremy Hoolihan to gain new knowledge about the history of some cocktails.

“I learned that a Gin & Tonic was originally introduced to the British army to stop the spread of malaria and scurvy. A natural ingredient in gin fended off malaria while the lime added to the drink worked against scurvy,” Hoolihan said.

Rancho Mesa is thankful for its partnership with CompWest and for hosting us for a social event that facilitated community between our two companies.

“These types of social events… build community and strengthen relationships between carriers and brokers,” Amber Webb, Account Executive with Rancho Mesa, said. “I was able to learn about the background of both Jeraldine and James with CompWest and how they have arrived at their current positions. We discussed the appetite of CompWest and some of their underwriting tactics. This allows me and the rest of the RMI team to better understand how best to represent our clients to them as well as help them to understand what types of clients we are working with.”

About CompWest Insurance
CompWest Insurance Company, part of the AF Group, is a dynamic provider of workers’ compensation insurance in California and select Western states, targeting customers in health care, hospitality, manufacturing, professional services, retail and wholesale services, and artisan contractors, ranging in premium up to $1,500,000 (maximum of $500,000 for artisan contractors). They provide leading strategies to small and mid-market employers who desire to achieve long-term cost savings. To learn more, visit www.CompWestInsurance.com

Employee Spotlight: Rancho Mesa Welcomes Sara Scheuneman to the Team

Author, Megan Lockhart, Surety & Media Communications Assistant, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

Rancho Mesa Insurance Services is proud to announce the newest addition to our growing team, Account Coordinator Sara Scheuneman.

Sara grew up in San Diego. After graduating from San Diego State University with a degree in kinesiology, Sara worked in the sports medicine and fitness industry. She then decided to switch paths and pursue a career in commercial insurance.

Sara has a passion for physical and mental wellness. In her spare time, she enjoys being outdoors, riding horses, fishing, weightlifting at the gym, and cooking for herself and her friends.

Sara’s diverse educational knowledge across multiple subjects such as health sciences, mathematics, and computer science, makes her a well-rounded asset to fill the Account Coordinator role. Rancho Mesa is thankful to have Sara’s intelligence and passion on the team and we are excited to see what she will achieve.

Employee Spotlight: Rancho Mesa Welcomes Amber Webb to Account Executive Team

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

Rancho Mesa Insurance Services is excited to announce the hiring of Amber Webb, newest Account Executive for Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing (MEP) contractors.

Amber started her career within the construction industry in 2005 and has worked for both a general contractor and several subcontractors. Her risk management experience began when she worked as a Safety, Environmental and Health Technician and has evolved into provided commercial insurance for MEP contractors.

Amber is heavily involved in the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) San Diego chapter, serving on the board of directors for the past four years. She was President from 2020-2021 and is currently the Immediate Past President which allows her to serve in an advisory role for the chapter. Amber has a true passion for connecting with people and helping the youth see construction as a viable career path.

“I really enjoy the relationship building aspect of the construction industry and I am excited to use my background and history to help companies with their insurance investments, as well as, support them with their risk management needs,” says Amber.

Amber’s extensive professionalism within the construction industry and impressive leadership skills makes her an ideal fit for this role.

Rancho Mesa is excited to have Amber on the team!

FUN FACTS ABOUT AMBER

Amber was born and raised in San Diego, CA. She is a former collegiate soccer player and golfer at Ottawa University. She lives in Bay Park with her fiancé, Nick, where they will soon be raising a puppy named Sierra! Amber loves riding her e-bike around the bay or to the beach to do yoga. She loves to travel, try different restaurants, and enjoys spending time with friends and family.

Employee Spotlight: Beth James Joins Rancho Mesa as Account Coordinator

Author, Emily Marasso, Media Communications & Client Services Coordinator, Rancho Mesa Insurances Services, Inc.

Beth James, a former educator of elementary through high school students and public speaking coach for a speech and debate league, has decided to take her career in a new direction with Rancho Mesa Insurance. She’s utilizing her superb interpersonal communication skills and administrative expertise in her new role as account coordinator.

 As a recent graduate of the Office Professional Training program at Grossmont College, Beth is ready to dive into the commercial insurance industry as a member of the Rancho Mesa team.

 Rancho Mesa welcomes Beth to the family!

IICF Hosts Family Fun Night

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

On Thursday, August 12, 2021 the Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation (IICF) hosted a Summer Family Fun Night. The event strikingly raised over 42 thousand dollars, directly benefiting nonprofits who support children’s education and well being in San Diego County through the IICF Community Grants Program.

ICCF is a non-profit made up of insurance professionals who help local communities by providing grants, volunteers, and leadership to nonprofits and charities.

Rancho Mesa’s Ashley Hunter, Brittani Davis, Emily Marasso, Kevin Howard, and Sam Brown had a blast with their kids while they played mini golf, swung at the batting cages, and rode go-karts at Family Fun Centers in San Diego, CA.

Rancho Mesa is a proud supporter of IICF and their mission! To learn more, visit www.iicf.org.

Rancho Mesa Team Celebrates Being Back Together

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

On Monday, August 2, 2021 Rancho Mesa welcomed back their team members to both its Santee and La Mesa offices.

After working from home for over a year, the team enjoyed being able to catch up with one another face-to-face during an ice cream social enjoyed outside, on a sunny Monday afternoon at the Santee office.

The team had primarily communicated with their co-workers using virtual platforms over that last year and a half, so there was a lot of catching up to do.

For employees hired during the pandemic, this was their first time meeting the entire Rancho Mesa team in person. It was nice to see the team back together, smiling and enjoying each other’s company.

Business Owners Learn How to Protect Against Cyber Threats

Author, Emily Marasso, Media Communications & Client Services Coordinator, Rancho Mesa Insurances Services, Inc.

Michael Armstrong, Production Underwriter for Evolve MGA, an award-winning managing general agent that specializes in cyber insurance, took to the web and broke down the importance of cyber insurance and how companies can avoid a cyber attack in a detailed webinar hosted on July 22nd, 2021 for Rancho Mesa’s clients.

Attendees learned that phishing is the action of sending fraudulent emails mimicking a reputable company or person for the sake of gaining access to sensitive information. Michael explained the simplest form of phishing is an email or web link that is similar to a legitimate one, often changing only one letter. 

Phishing works by tricking the email recipient into clicking on a link that triggers malware to be downloaded and installed on the system. From there, the hackers can encrypt the data and request a ransom or sell the data on the dark web. Michael shared that on average, a business doesn’t identify a breach for up to 197 days. Imagine the damage that could be done without a good cyber policy.

Companies large and small have experienced data breaches due to cybercrimes. With technology ever changing, it’s never been a better time to review your current cyber insurance policy or start looking for coverage. Thanks to Michael and Evolve MGA for providing such valuable information to our clients.

If you’re interested in getting a cyber insurance quote, contact Rancho Mesa at (619) 937-0164.

Sentry Achieves Impressive A+ Rating for 30 Years

Author, Megan Lockhart, Surety and Media Communications Assistant, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

Rancho Mesa congratulates Sentry Insurance in achieving an A+ rating by AM Best for the 30th year straight.

AM Best is the world-wide leading credit rating authority specializing in the insurance industry. Less than 15% of property and casualty insurance companies in the U.S. receive the A+ status. According to AM Best, this rating is assigned only to companies who have “a superior ability to meet their ongoing insurance obligations.”

“Being assigned this rating for 30 years running is a truly remarkable achievement,” Pete McPartland, Sentry chairman of the board, president, and CEO said.

Sentry and its subsidiaries offer property, casualty, and life insurance, as well as annuities and retirement programs for their business and individual clients throughout the nation. 

“It’s a testament to the dedication, industry experience, and high level of customer service our associates and retirees have brought to the table day in and day out,” McPartland said.

The achievement is especially exciting for the company considering the challenging year COVID-19 caused for businesses in the country.

“Despite the challenges of a nationwide pandemic, our sound business practices allowed us to achieve positive results this past year,” Todd Schroeder, Sentry chief financial officer and president of life and annuities, said.

Sentry maintains high standards for its broker partners, thus maintaining a limited number of appointments. Rancho Mesa is honored to work with a financially superior insurance company.

“We at Rancho Mesa are very proud to have been chosen to be a part of that exclusive group and represent one of the top rated insurance carriers in the nation,” David Garcia, president of Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, said.

Sentry plans to continue its impressive success as the company moves on from the pandemic and into a bright future.

“Through the development and use of industry-leading technology, we’ve provided our customers a better overall experience [which] has been invaluable to our success. We’re poised to exit the pandemic as an even stronger company and provide our customers the protection and services they rely on.”

Rancho Mesa Earns “Best Practices Agency” Designation for 15th Consecutive Year

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

Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc., a leading Southern California commercial insurance brokerage, has been recognized by the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (Big “I”) as a Best Practices Agency for the fifteenth consecutive year.

Of the roughly 35,000 independent insurance agencies in the U.S., only about 120 are chosen each year for this distinction.

In order to participate, an agency must first be nominated by the Big “I.” Then, it must submit detailed financial and operational information which is analyzed, scored, and ranked objectively based on operational excellence, including: outstanding customer services, growth, stability, and financial management. The top agencies in six revenue categories are included, notified and deemed "Best Practices Agencies."

Each year, the Big “I” publishes its "Best Practices Study" using financial and operational data collected from agencies throughout the United States. The 2021 Best Practices Study will be available later this year. It will include a list of all the Best Practices Agencies by state and the results of the study.

To learn more about what it takes to be a "Best Practices Agency," visit www.independentagent.com/best-practices.

About Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America

The Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (Big "I") is a national alliance of more than a quarter million business owners and their employees who offer all types of insurance and financial services products. For more information, visit www.independentagent.com.