Connecting Leaders in the Green Industry: Highlights from the 2026 NALP Leaders Forum

Author, Greg Garcia, Account Executive, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

This year’s National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP) Leaders Forum took place in beautiful Santa Barbara, CA, just up the coast from San Diego. As always, this is one event that my brother Drew Garcia and I really enjoy going to every year. In fact, this marks Rancho Mesa’s 8th consecutive year sponsoring this event.

The forum brings together landscape leaders from across the country, giving them a place to connect, collaborate, and learn. For our Rancho Mesa team, it is an opportunity to not only network with these leaders and stay up to date on what is new and noteworthy in the green industry, but also gives us the opportunity to spend time with some of our clients who attended this year’s forum.

One of the most interesting educational sessions at this year’s event was based around the importance of meetings within an organization. The speaker, Gabrielle (Gabe) Adams, Associate Professor of Public Policy and Business Administration at UVA Darden School of Business, discussed that most organizations may be having too many meetings and the meetings they are having are not as effective as they could be. One of the biggest downfalls that Gabe mentioned is that all too often there is not enough debate and discussion in these meetings, rather most meetings are dominated by one or two voices and most people tend to hold their opinions to themselves even if they don’t agree. Gabe described the best meetings that are the most effective involve everyone participating in the discussion, this is where creative ideas and processes are developed. We found Gabe’s topic to be both educational and thought provoking.

The highlight of the trip was on Thursday night when we hosted both Rancho Mesa clients and other green industry leaders to a dinner at The Elwood, which was just down the road from where the Leaders Forum was taking place. This night was filled with fantastic food and even better conversation. It was a great place to hear strategies and processes that made each of their landscape companies successful.

All in all, NALP Leaders Forum was a huge success, packed with valuable networking and learning opportunities. We are already looking forward to 2027.

If you are interested in discussing this event or your company’s risk management, I can be reached at (619) 438-6905 or ggarcia@ranchomesa.com.

ELEVATE 2022: A Pre-Conference Discussion with NALP CEO Britt Wood

Rancho Mesa's Vice President of the Landscape Group Drew Garcia interviewed the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP) CEO Britt Wood about the upcoming ELEVATE 2022 conference event in Orlando, FL on September 18-21, 2022.

ELEVATE, previously known as LANDSCAPES, is thee event for the leading landscape and lawn care professionals. ELEVATE is designed for owners, and the individuals who will help drive their businesses forward. ELEVATE is venturing outside of its longtime Louisville, Kentucky home to Orlando, Florida, and will be heading to a new location each year.

With over 48 contractor lead sessions, ELEVATE is full of learning and the exchanging of ideas amongst industry leaders. It is NALP’s goal to have attendees become inspired, take what they have learned and apply their new knowledge to elevate their business.

A dedicated expo hall will feature industry suppliers who are showcasing the latest and greatest. There will also be time for fun with influential speakers, music entertainment, and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™ rented out exclusively for ELEVATE attendees!

When:
September 18-21, 2022
Where:
Gaylord Palms Resort & Conference Center
Orlando, Florida
Register:
www.landscapeprofessionals.org/elevate

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.

NALP Announces 2017 Safety Award Recipients

Author, Drew Garcia, NALP Program Director, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

Rancho Mesa would like to congratulate all 263 National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP) members who achieved recognition for their safety efforts in 2017.  

"The National Association of Landscape Professionals Safety Recognition Awards Program is designed to reward landscape industry professionals who consistently demonstrate their commitment to safety, and reflects the dedication of these individuals and their companies to creating and maintaining safe work environments," according to the NALP website.

Companies are evaluated in the following categories:

• No vehicle accidents
• No injuries or illness
• No days away from work

We would like to encourage all professional lawn and landscape companies to partake in NALP’s safe company program because participation as a group will continue to evolve and strengthen safety within the industry as whole.  

I’m looking forward to supporting the association and these individual achievements in Louisville on October 19th at the annual awards ceremony.  

On behalf of Rancho Mesa, congratulations to the participants!   

View the full list of winners.

NALP Launches New Discounted Workers' Compensation Insurance Program

Article originally published in "The Landscape Professional" March/April 2017 issue.

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The National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP) is partnering with Rancho Mesa Insurance Services and Berkshire Hathaway Homestate Companies to offer NALP members a competitive workers’ compensation option backed by specialized landscape industry expertise and a dedicated service team.

NALP created this program as a member benfit aimed at providing landscape-specific expertise at a discounted rate. A portion of the combined premium is re-invested
back into the association to help fund industry growth and the many programs that benefit NALP members.

The program includes:

• Multiple workers’ compensation options with guaranteed cost and small to large deductibles.
• 6 percent discounted rates for NALP members where allowable. Lowest available base rate in states that do not allow rate deviation.
• Flexible payment plans including stipulated, pay as you go (zero deposit) and monthly payroll reports.
• Quarterly safety webinars specific to the injuries arising out of the landscape industry.
• Dedicated service team with landscape industry specific experience in the workers’ compensation claims, injuries and exposures.
• Underwriting team evaluating only NALP members.
• Claims handling dedicated to NALP members with lower caseloads and the statistically proven ability to close claims faster than the industry.
• Loss control with regional representation for on-site visits managed nationally by a dedicated coordinator.

“Protecting your business, your employees and your bottom line is so important, so we are pleased to bring this highly competitive and tailored workers’ compensation insurance program to landscape and lawn care companies through this new partnership with Rancho Mesa and Berkshire Hathaway,” NALP CEO Sabeena Hickman, CAE, said.

The program is managed by Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, which has 10 consecutive years as a National Best Practices Agency, and policies are underwritten by Berkshire Hathaway, an A++XV rated financial services firm.
For more information, visit bit.ly/nalpworkerscomp.  If you have further questions or want to sign up, email nalp@ranchomesa.com or call program manager Drew Garcia at 619-937-0200.

Reproduced with permission from the National Association of Landscape Professionals.

^{Reproduced with permission from the National Association of Landscape Professionals.}

Source

Rancho Mesa “Rocks” the Landscape Industry

Author, Drew Garcia, NALP Program Director, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

On March 1st 2017 Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc., The National Association of Landscape Professionals, and Berkshire Hathaway Homestate Companies will introduce a unique National Workers Compensation solution designed to cater the needs of Landscape Contractors and Lawn Care Professionals. 

THE AGENCY

Rancho Mesa is a 10 Time National Best Practices Agency out of Santee, California with over 30 years’ experience in The Landscape Industry.  As the program manager, Rancho Mesa will look to challenge and develop the growth of the program to better protect its members.

THE CARRIER

Berkshire Hathaway Homestate Companies has the Highest AM Best rating of A++(XV) “Superior” rating of financial strength, and is the one of the largest specialty Work Comp Carriers in the Country.

THE ASSOCIATION

The NALP is the only National Organization built by the collaboration of landscape and lawn care industry professionals and has pushed the boundaries for Professionalism in the Landscape Industry to new heights through; Education, Certification and Legislation.  As the voice for 100,000 landscape professionals the NALP passionately advocates for the economic, social and environmental benefits of the landscape industry.

THE PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:

•    6% discounted rates for NALP members where allowable. Lowest available base rate in states that do not allow rate deviation.
•    Multiple workers compensation options guaranteed cost and small to large deductible.
•    Flexible payment plans including stipulated, pay as you go (zero deposit) and monthly payroll reports.
•    Quarterly safety webinars specific to the injuries arising out of the landscape industry.
•    Dedicated service team with experience in the landscape industry.
•    Underwriting team only evaluating NALP members.
•    Claims handling dedicated to NALP members with lower caseloads.
•    Loss control with regional representation and managed nationally by a dedicated coordinator.

For more information contact Rancho Mesa Insurance Services at NALP@ranchomesa.com.