Dave Garcia Joins ICW Groups’ Trusted Advisor Board

Authors, Alyssa Burley, Media Communications and Client Services Manager and Lauren Stumpf, Media Communications Assist, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

Rancho Mesa’s President and CEO Dave Garcia was recently invited to serve on ICW Group’s Trusted Advisor Board.

The distinguished members will meet to discuss ICW Group’s role within the insurance industry and provide a broker’s perspective.

Dave currently serves on several President Advisory Councils and is truly honored to be a member of ICW Group’s Trusted Advisor Board. “Working with and partnering with Kevin, Paul, Stephanie, and the entire ICW service team over the years has been a huge part of our success at Rancho Mesa. I’m excited for the opportunity to be a part of their Trusted Advisor Board!” says Dave Garcia.

About ICW Group
Based in San Diego, ICW Group Insurance Companies is the largest privately held group of insurance companies domiciled in California. Quoting more than $3 billion annually, ICW Group represents a group of Property, Auto and Workers’ Compensation insurance carriers, including Insurance Company of the West and Explorer Insurance Company.

Additionally, ICW Group was recently recognized as the 16th ranked carrier in Direct Work Comp premiums written nationwide. ICW Group is recognized nationally as an industry leader in helping policyholders achieve fewer and less costly claims, and is committed to meeting the needs of its policyholders and elevating the trusted agents and brokers who advise them. More information is available at www.icwgroup.com.

Are You Ready for Safe + Sound Week?

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

Safe + Sound Week, organized by Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) along with a number of various organizers and partners, is a nationwide event held each August that recognizes the importance and successes of workplace health and safety programs. The event allows companies to share their safety practices with one another to increase workers’ safety.

All organizations looking for an opportunity to recognize their commitment to safety are welcome to participate. More than 1,830 businesses are currently signed up to raise awareness about workers’ health and safety!

Your company can participate in 3 easy steps:

1. Sign Up

2. Plan and Promote Your Events

3. Recognize Your Participation

For more information, visit www.osha.gov/safeandsoundweek.

Client Spotlight: Clark Steel Fabricators Participates in Building Lakeside Landmark

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

If you have visited Lakeside, CA in the last month, you have probably driven under the 30-foot high “Lakeside” sign spanning the north end of Maine Avenue.

On Tuesday, July 16, 2019, enthusiastic residents watched as the new steel and aluminum sign was installed to welcome visitors to the historic business corridor of Lakeside.

Rancho Mesa client, Clark Steel Fabricators, Inc. was a part of the team of craftsmen who worked together to create the new sign.

Kim Clark, President/CEO and Kevin Clark, Vice President of Clark Steel Fabricators became involved with this project 8 years ago when Jerry Mosier of the Lakeside Chamber of Commerce asked if they wanted to take on the construction of the sign.

Clark Steel Fabricators has called Lakeside home since 1999. They take pride in the construction of a local landmark.

“Clark Steel is extremely proud to have been involved in fabricating and installing the Lakeside sign,” said Kim Clark. “We love our hometown and are thrilled to be a part of making Lakeside history!”  

Among the Lakeside sign, Clark Steel Fabricators has also worked on the San Diego Zoo Treetop Pedestrian Bridge, the Stadium Trolley Station, the College Avenue Pedestrian Bridge, and many other San Diego County structures and facilities.

About Clark Steel Fabricators, Inc.
Clark Steel Fabricators, Inc. was established as a family business in 1977 by Melvin Clark. The company is now run by Mel's children, Kim and Kevin, who have been active in the business since its beginning. Clark Steel Fabricators provides high quality steel construction and installation services to customers primarily in the San Diego County area. To learn more, visit www.ClarkSteelFab.com.

Client Spotlight: Three E.L. Hobbs Employees Complete Safety Star Program

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

Within the last month, Eduardo Torres, Mike Gonzales, and Richard McDeavitt of E.L. Hobbs, Inc. completed the RM365 Advantage Safety Star Program™. E.L. Hobbs has many more employees signed up and on their way to becoming Safety Star certified. Rancho Mesa is proud to partner with a company that holds safety to the highest importance.

The RM365 Advantage Safety Star Program™ in Construction Safety is designed to:

• Lower your organization’s probability of work-related injuries while promoting a safety culture.

• Give your organization a competitive advantage in the insurance marketplace.

• Better understand the major hazards that face your industry and drive insurance premiums.

• Lower the organization’s overall insurance cost.

The program is intended for supervisors, foremen, safety coordinators, upper management, and administrators, directors of human resources, facilities/operations managers and safety committee members, respectively. To learn more, please visit the RM365 Advantage Safety Star Program™ page or contact aburley@ranchomesa.com.

About E.L. Hobbs, Inc.
E.L. Hobbs, Inc. is a well respected, fully licensed, insured and bonded company, established in 2006. They specialize in lath, plaster, integral colored plaster, EIFS, fireproofing, drywall and metal framing to both residential and commercial (private sector & public works) projects. To learn more visit, elhobbsinc.com.

Client Spotlight: Sunrise Bobcat & Hauling Services' Tiffany Carapella Elected to NAWIC Board of Directors

Author, Alyssa Burley, Media Communications and Client Services Manager, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

The National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) San Diego Chapter 21 held its annual election on Tuesday, June 11, 2019 at the Riverwalk Golf Club. Members voted for the chapter’s President-Elect, Vice President, Recording Secretary, Corresponding Secretary, Treasurer and six Directors. Sunrise Bobcat & Hauling Services’ Tiffany Carapella was elected to the Board of Directors.

Carapella is the Chief Financial Officer for Sunrise Bobcat & Hauling Services, Inc., a well-established family-owned business located in Lakeside, CA.

She began her career as a Montessori teacher; but, after starting a family, Carapella found herself working side-by-side with her husband Tom Carapella in the family business.

Tiffany Carapella joined NAWIC in 2018 after hearing her daughter Tosha Carapella, who is Sunrise Bobcat & Hauling Services’ President, share many wonderful things about the organization. Tiffany attended the Fall Conference held in San Diego last year and has become a staple in an organization she now calls family.

“I am helping with Camp NAWIC, was a member of the WIC Week committee this year, and helped to plan and execute our very successful 1st annual Toast to the Trades event,” wrote Tiffany in the NAWIC San Diego Chapter’s Election Guide.

Carapella is a perfect fit for a board position as she is a dedicated team member and always put others first. She has many years of experience being in a leadership position and feels that she is a strong leader.

“I would be open to hearing different ideas and passions and bringing those to light with the help and guidance of my fellow board members,” wrote Carapella.

Tiffany is passionate about giving back to others and being an active influencer in her community. She believes “alongside a team of women who are equally as involved, we could better the community as a whole.”

Congratulations to Tiffany Carapella and all the other ladies who will be serving in leadership roles in the 2019/2020 term, including Kimberly Bell (President) from Pulice Construction, Amber Webb (President-Elect) from Ryan Companies, Shelby Ballow (Vice President) from Dowling Construction, Helen Panebianco (Recording Secretary) from Dynalectric, Edna Rodriguez (Corresponding Secretary) from Herc Rentals, Mary Webb (Treasurer) from Hayward Baker, Hailey Martensen (Director) from J. Geyer Plumbing, Isabel Marocco (Director) from Casper Company, Carol Hutchinson (Director) from United Site Services, Shawn Brown (Director) from RDO Equipment, and Lorena Quintero (Director) from Williams Scotsman.

About Sunrise Bobcat & Hauling Services, Inc.

Sunrise Bobcat and Hauling Service Inc. has been a full service excavation & hauling contractor for over 20 years. We have been dedicated to ourselves to meeting the needs and demands of our customers, both large and small jobs. We will continue to focus on customer satisfaction and safety to maintain our impeccable reputation. For more information, contact info@sunrisebobcat.com.

About NAWIC San Diego Chapter 21

The San Diego Chapter, chartered on April 30, 1959, is very active and involved in the construction industry and the community. Each year the chapter participates in a variety of events including educational seminars and conferences, Women in Construction Week (WIC Week), Block Kids (construction awareness program for children in grades 1 thru 6), CAD/Design/Drafting Contest (High School student activity), Camp NAWIC (a week long program designed to mentor high school girls planning to enter the construction industry), college scholarships, joint meetings with other San Diego professional organizations, and various activities with local charities. To learn more, visit www.nawicsd.org.

Rancho Mesa Hosts Heat Illness Prevention Workshop

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

Berkshire Hathaway's Zadock "Zee" Reid presented at the Heat Illness Prevention workshop hosted by Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc. on Wednesday, June 5, 2019 at the Boys & Girls Club of East County in Santee, CA.

Zee conducted an educational and engaging workshop as he covered a variety of topics including:

• Modified Temperature Guidlines

• Pre-shift Meetings

• Supervisory Expectations

• Clarification on Access to Water

• Clarification on Access to Shade    

• Rest & Recovery periods

• Monitoring Employees

• Weather Monitoring

• High Heat Procedures

• Emergency Response

The Heat Illness Prevention workshop is part the RM365 Advantage Safety Star Program™. At the end of the workshop, attendees completed and passed the required quiz to receive credit towards the program.

It is always a pleasure having Zadock Reid educate our clients on Heat Illness Prevention. We look forward to having Zee back to conduct another interactive and engaging workshop!

For those who were unable to attend the workshop, a video is available on demand within the Risk Management Center, and can be easily accessed by using the key words “Heat Illness Prevention” in the search box. Or, it can be requested via the Workshop Video Request Form.

Rancho Mesa Co-Hosts OSHA 10 Course with Sentry Insurance

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

On May 23 & 24, 2019 Rancho Mesa Insurance Services co-hosted the OSHA 10 Course for the Construction Industry at the San Diego Christian College in Santee, CA. The two-day training was provided by Sentry Insurance.

Ken Grote, a Senior Safety Services Consultant for Sentry, taught the course covering a variety of topics such as the differences between Cal/OSHA and federal OSHA, hazard communication, fall prevention, proper scaffold usage, working safely with electricity, hearing protection, reducing falls, trenching and excavation safety, personal protective equipment (PPE), and much more.

Thank you Sentry Insurance for providing this valuable training to Rancho Mesa Insurance clients.

About Sentry
Sentry Insurance started in 1904 and has grown to become one of the largest, and financially secure mutual insurance companies in the nation. They have recently opened their West Coast Regional office in Irvine, CA. At Sentry—because they are a mutual insurance company—their business is built on a foundation of service to their policyholders. Although they’ve grown and changed a lot over the past 110 years, one thing hasn’t changed. They still work to serve policyholders, and to help their clients’ businesses thrive. For more information, visit www.sentry.com.

Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc. is proud to partner with Sentry Insurance. They hand-picked Rancho Mesa as a business partner to grow their market share, due to Rancho Mesa’s expertise in the construction area.

Rancho Mesa Offers Free CA-Required Supervisor and Employee Anti-Harassment Training

Editor’s Note: This article was originally published on May 8, 2019 and has been updated for accuracy on September 12, 2019.

Author, Alyssa Burley, Client Services Coordinator, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc., a leading commercial insurance brokerage headquartered in San Diego, CA, now offers free Anti-Harassment training to all of its clients’ supervisors and employees throughout the country in response to California’s Senate Bill 1343 (SB 1343) and Senate Bill 1300 (SB 1300). The deadline for this training is January 1, 2021, according to Senate Bill 778.

The Anti-Harassment training for California managers replaces previous versions of the Sexual Harassment and Abusive Conduct Prevention training developed prior to the passage of SB 1343 and SB 1300. In addition to the new requirements, the revised 2-hour supervisor training also covers topics required by Assembly Bill 1825, Assembly Bill 2053, and Senate Bill 396.

The new Anti-Harassment training for employees can be used by Rancho Mesa clients throughout the country. When the employee begins the training, they will select their state to ensure they receive the correct training course. The 1-hour California employee training covers topics addressed in both SB 1343 and SB 1300.

Supervisor and employee trainings can be completed 100% online via a computer or mobile device. Certificates of completion are generated and stored for easy recordkeeping. Automatic reminders ensure supervisor and employee trainings are repeated every two years.

Webinar: How to Enroll Supervisors and Employees in the Free Online Anti-Harassment Training
This 15-minute training is designed for owners, management and human resources personnel to teach them how to:

• Access the Online Portal

• Add Employees/Supervisors

• Register Employees/Supervisors for the Anti-Harassment Training

Initial Sessions Begin: May 8-17, 2019

This webinar is NOT the Anti-Harassment training.

“We understand the importance of having our clients trained in order to avoid discrimination and harassment in the workplace,” said David Garcia, President and CEO of Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc. “That is why we have decided to offer both the supervisor and employee Anti-Harassment training free of charge for our clients. It’s just the right thing to do to ensure our clients are compliant and foster an inclusive workplace.”

In September 2018, former California Governor Jerry Brown approved SB 1343 which requires those who employ “5 or more employees, including temporary or seasonal employees, to provide at least 2 hours of sexual harassment training to all supervisory employees and at least one hour of sexual harassment training to all nonsupervisory employees by January 1, 2021, and once every 2 years thereafter, as specified,” reads the bill description.

Along the same lines as SB 1343, SB 1300 addresses unlawful employment practices of discrimination and harassment by “an employer, labor organization, employment agency, apprenticeship training program, or any training program leading to employment, to engage in harassment of an employee or other specified person.”

For questions about this training requirement or to learn how to enroll your supervisors and employees, register for the “How to Enroll Supervisors and Employees in the Online Anti-Harassment Training” webinar or contact Rancho Mesa’s Client Services Department at (619) 438-6869.

Resources:
“Free Online Anti-Harassment Training Flyer”
“Anti-Harassment Training Frequently Asked Questions”
“Ensuring CA Sexual Harassment and Abusive Conduct Prevention Training is SB 1343 Compliant,” published February 7, 2019.
“California SB 1343 Expands Sexual Harassment and Abusive Conduct Prevention Training Requirements,” published January 17, 2019
“California SB 1343 Expands Sexual Harassment Training Requirements,” published November 15, 2019.

Rancho Mesa Builds Momentum with Release of New Video

Author, Alyssa Burley, Client Services Coordinator, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

On April 25, 2019, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services released its highly anticipated “Building Momentum” video that highlights the firm’s emphasis on building relationships with clients and its OneofOne® motto.

The new video comes on the heels of the company’s “Momentum: The Rancho Mesa Insurance Landscape Division Story” that debuted in January at the Leaders Forum 2019 in Aruba.

From the beginning, our goal has been to establish long-term relationships with our clients by developing solutions to their risk management needs. Long ago, we stopped measuring our risk management capabilities by industry standards and developed a shared company interest in elevating our product through creativity and communication.

Captive Resources LLC Educates Rancho Mesa Clients at Captive Insurance Workshop

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

On Tuesday, April 16, 2019, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc. hosted a Captive Insurance Workshop at the East County Boys & Girls Club in Santee, CA.

Doug Hayden from Captive Resources, LLC, discussed the captive model as a viable insurance option for local business owners. A captive is designed for companies that are not only interested in controlling insurance costs and retaining investment income, but obtaining high quality coverage and insurance related services.

About Captive Resources, LLC
Captive Resources is an independent captive consulting company providing businesses the opportunity to control their insurance costs through the creation and oversight of member-owned group captive insurance companies. They have a time-tested approach that balances potential risk, and profit, arising from businesses’ insurance programs. Rancho Mesa has partnered with Captive Resources in offering their programs to our best customers. For more information, visit www.captiveresources.com.

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Before the workshop began, Jen Murdoch announced the upcoming 2019 Golf Day hosted by East County Boys & Girls Club on July 12, 2019. For for information please visit https://bgcec.org/event/2019-golf-day/.