Rancho Mesa’s Rory Anderson Guest on Tree Industry Podcast

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

Rancho Mesa’s Rory Anderson, Account Executive of the Tree Care Group, was recently a guest on The IndusTREE Podcast.

Host, ArboRisk founder, Eric Petersen was joined by Mick Kelly of ArboRisk Insurance, and Rory to discuss insurance issues that tree care companies face. They did a deep dive into the current state of the industry and the rising costs, during a time when underwriting acceptability is decreasing.

They also discussed professional liability, employment practices liability, pollution coverages, and ways tree care companies can lower their auto premium.

Rory periodically appears on Rancho Mesa’s StudioOne™ Safety and Risk Management Podcast Network where he addresses risk management for the tree care industry. Listen to episodes on RanchoMesa.com or subscribe on your favorite podcast platform.

About The IndusTREE Podcast
The IndusTREE Podcast is a podcast for tree care companies looking to grow their business by learning from industry professionals! Episodes include discussions on topics ranging from hiring & recruiting, business planning, sales & marketing, safety, driver, fleet, injury management, and much more.

Rancho Mesa Hosts PWI San Diego Kick-Off Night

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

On Thursday, February 15, 2024 PWI San Diego hosted their Membership Kick-Off Social and Game Night at the Rancho Mesa office. Rancho Mesa Senior Client Manager and PWI San Diego Secretary Christina Haake planned the event which yielded an exciting turnout with over 60 attendees.

The fun filled night consisted of a selection of sushi and Thai food cuisines, drinks, games, prizes, and the opportunity to foster relationships with insurance professionals.

Julie Brown, one of the founding members of PWI San Diego, shared the heartwarming story of the group's origins. Since its start in 1981, the organization has expanded to include 33 active members and attracts many more insurance professionals to their monthly networking events.

"It was exciting to see so many new faces and a lot of returning PWI attendees. Hopefully this will inspire people to get a membership with PWI and/or attend other events this year,” said Christina Haake, Client Manager, Rancho Mesa. “We raised $1,000 for OPT of Grossmont College Students and were able to get 12 brand new rolling backpacks for them as well." 

Rancho Mesa is very excited to have contributed to bringing together insurance professionals for an event aimed at nurturing connections.

About PWI San Diego
PWI provides people in the insurance industry (and those who support the insurance industry) opportunities for networking, business development, idea exchange, career enhancement, education and giving back to our community. They do so through general membership meetings and through special events like golfing, shopping events, happy hours, and more. To learn more, please visit pwisd.org.

Cal/OSHA Consultation Services: Workshop Recap

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

On Friday, January 26, attendees met at the Mission Valley Library for the Cal/OSHA’s Consultation Services: A Proactive Approach to Workplace Safety Workshop.

Business owners, safety directors, managers, and supervisors listened as Cal/OSHA Consultation Branch Manager, Carmen Cisneros, presented valuable information about how their companies can effectively utilize Cal/OSHA’s Consultation Services.

Cisneros explained the benefits of Cal/OSHA Consultation, a free service separate from the enforcement branch that’s designed to help employers learn what is needed for compliance while issuing no citations or penalties for what they may find. She also shared personal anecdotes to highlight the importance of following construction safety guidelines.

Rancho Mesa appreciates Carmen and Cal/OSHA for presenting this valuable information for businesses and we are pleased to be able to offer workshops on important topics such as these to our clients.

For more information about utilizing Cal/OSHA’s Consultation Branch, clients can visit the Cal/OSHA website.

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.

Together We Blaze the Trail: Rancho Mesa Kicks Off for 2024

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

On Friday, January 12, 2024, the Rancho Mesa team gathered at Stone Brewery in Liberty Station for its annual Kick-Off Meeting and lunch to reflect on the past year, acknowledge achievements, and set goals for 2024.

Employees enjoyed a catered lunch and dessert while Rancho Mesa President Dave Garcia, presented a summary of the 2023 year. Garcia commended successful milestones in sales and offered insight into the state of the market.

To celebrate members of the team for their dedication to the company, Garcia revealed personalized Rancho Mesa baseball jerseys for employees who have been with the company for at least 5 years.

We look forward to the year ahead with our clients and partners, as we blaze the trail together!

View the Rancho Mesa 2024 Video:

Employee Spotlight: Rancho Mesa Welcomes Alex Torres to the Team

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

Rancho Mesa is pleased to welcome its newest member to the team, Alex Torres, as Administrative Assistant and Certician©.

Alex will handle certificates of insurance as well as maintain administrative assistant duties at the front desk. Her career experience in administrative, billing, and receptionist roles makes her a valuable asset to the team.  

Alex was born and raised in San Diego. She spends her weekends cheering on her three children at their soccer tournaments and cooking with her family. Alex also enjoys traveling, dancing, and watching movies.

Rancho Mesa is excited for Alex’s future at the company.

2023 Reflections: Rancho Mesa Milestones and Triumphs

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

Rancho Mesa had an epic 2023. From moving offices to celebrating huge company milestones, the year was full of excitement for our team.

Launching SafetyOne™

Rancho Mesa launched it’s very own proprietary safety mobile app, SafetyOne™, in January kicking off the year with client demonstrations, trainings and webinars designed to get users up to speed quickly. The official launch was a colossal endeavor. After several years of research, planning, development, and focus group input, the mobile app and website was released to Rancho Mesa clients. We’re currently at 999 users and will soon cross the 1,000 user mark.  

Moving to Mission Valley

In typical Rancho Mesa fashion, the first day at the new Mission Valley office could not be just another April morning. Dubbed Opening Day, as a nod to the start of a new baseball season, the morning was carefully orchestrated to build excitement for the new space, the team would call their second home.  Smiling faces eagerly arrived and waited outside the office doors like they were anticipating entering a concert venue. As 8:00 am rolled around, “cel-e-brate good times, c’mon” could be heard coming from within the new office. As the banners were moved from the doorway and the crowd was let inside, the word “wow” could be heard over and over like seeing one of nature’s wonders for the first time. People hugged and shook hands as they explored the new space. Little touches like the naming of The Clubhouse (large conference room) and The Dugout (small conference room) to the concessions sign in the lunchroom all reinforced the feeling of Rancho Mesa’s team spirit.

attending Summit Club

After settling into the new office, it was time to relax at Summit Club.  Every year, this trip is attended by the agency’s top producers, leadership team and admin staff who have reached certain milestones. June was the perfect time to escape to the St. Regis Deer Valley in Park City, Utah. For five days, attendees relaxed and explored the natural beauty of the area while strengthening their relationships with other Rancho Mesa team members.

celebrating 25 years

Once the team came back from Summit Club, it was time for the entire agency, carrier partners and a few original Rancho Mesa clients to celebrate the company’s 25th Anniversary.  Held at the Skybox at DiamondView Tower in San Diego, CA on a warm July evening, the celebration overlooked the city’s baseball stadium and downtown’s stunning skyline. Guests enjoyed a look back at Rancho Mesa’s 25 years through a heartfelt video that featured the story of the agency’s beginning.

Earning the National Best Practices Agency title

In August, for the 17th year, Rancho Mesa was named an Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (Big “I”) National Best Practices Agency. Of the roughly 35,000 independent insurance agencies in the U.S., only about 150 across the nation were chosen in 2023. In California, Rancho Mesa is among about a dozen agencies to earn this distinction.

Giving Back to the Industry

Throughout the year, team members were encouraged to develop their industry knowledge through earning new designations, researching and writing articles, and participating in the StudioOne podcast. As a result of their efforts, many appeared on third-party podcasts, as webinar expert panelists, and speakers for various events.

Along with developing industry expertise, our team is also encouraged to take on leadership roles within various organizations. For the second year in a row, Christina Haake has accepted the role of Secretary of the PWI San Diego. Jeremy Hoolihan has joined the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of San Diego board. Andy Roberts has been elected President of the Surety Association of San Diego for 2024. And I, Alyssa Burley, continue to serve on the National Association of Women in Construction San Diego board.

Our team not only volunteered their time with industry associations but also throughout the community. We supported organizations like Nativity Prep, MAAC Project, Family Health Centers of San Diego, United Cerebral Palsy of San Diego and many others.

With an incredible year behind us, Rancho Mesa is grateful for our clients and partners for their support. The success and excitement of 2023 leaves us hopeful and optimistic for the 2024 year to come.

Employee Spotlight: Rancho Mesa Welcome Diana Venegas as Client Coordinator

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

In our continued growth as a team, Rancho Mesa would like to welcome its newest addition, Diana Venegas, as client coordinator.

Diana’s experience in business administration and billing has given her strong customer service, communication, and technical skills vital to the client coordinator role.

Born and raised in San Diego, Diana enjoys spending her free time creating memories with her three children, cooking and spending quality time with her family and loved ones.

Rancho Mesa is excited to be expanding its client coordinator team with valuable members like Diana and we look forward to her future at the company.

Employee Spotlight: Whitney Chiriboga Attains MLIS Designation

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

Rancho Mesa is proud to announce that Assisant Client Manager Whitney Chiriboga has earned the Management Liability Insurance Specialist (MLIS) designation.

The MLIS program is designed to equip insurance professionals with a comprehensive understanding of management liability exposures and insurance coverage. The program provides Whitney with fundamental knowledge in areas such as professional liability insurance, directors and officers (D&O) liability, employment practices liability (EPL), and fiduciary liability exposures and insurance.

This accomplishment reflects Whitney's dedication to enhancing her expertise and better serving her clients, particularly in the human services and nonprofit sector.

Employee Spotlight: Rancho Mesa Grows with Newest Addition Brenda Khalil

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

Rancho Mesa is excited to announce the newest member of our team, Client Coordinator Brenda Khalil.

Brenda brings with her over 15 years of experience in various office administrative roles, more recently as an accounting/bookkeeping associate. She has also worked as the Education & Customer Relations Coordinator at an animal sanctuary.

As a San Diego native and the youngest of seven children, Brenda has a love for spending time with family and friends. She has a passion for the outdoors, enjoying activates such as hiking, camping, and exploring new towns. Additionally, Brenda has an enthusiasm for trying new restaurants and sharing her own culinary creations with others.

Rancho Mesa is fortunate to have Brenda’s diverse experiences and vibrant personality on the team. Welcome to the Rancho Mesa family, Brenda!