Two Decades of Rancho Mesa Excellence: 20 Years as a IIAB National Best Practices Agency

Author, Megan Lockhart, Marketing & Media Communications Specialist, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc

Rancho Mesa Insurance is incredibly proud to announce that for 20 consecutive years, it has been named an Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America's (Big “I”) Best Practices Agency.

Each year, over a thousand insurance companies throughout the nation are nominated to compete for the Best Practices award. The few hundred who achieve the designation are considered by the IIAB as elite industry leaders.

“The annual study, conducted jointly in a longstanding partnership between the Big ’I’ and Reagan Consulting for the past 33 years, provides critical performance benchmarks across agency revenue categories ranging from under $1.25 million to over $100 million,” The Big “I” said in their article.

This year, over 1,100 agencies throughout the U.S. were nominated. They are judged based on their management and financial achievements in categories such as expense distribution, profitability growth, employee compensation, technology expenses, and P&C carrier representation. Rancho Mesa was one of only 349 agencies that scored high enough to qualify as a Best Practices Agency.

“Earning our 20th consecutive Best Practices Award is an incredible honor and a reflection of the dedication, expertise, and client-first commitment of our entire team. Their commitment to excellence, innovation, and service continues to set us apart and drive our success,” Rancho Mesa President David Garcia said.

Each year, the data submitted by these top-performing agencies serves as the foundation for the Big “I” Best Practices Study, which is used as a benchmark for agencies across the nation to measure their performance and adjust their businesses based on best practices guidelines.

For two decades, Rancho Mesa has consistently strived for excellence in every part of its business. Receiving the National Best Practices Agency Award year after year reaffirms its commitment as a proud leader within the insurance industry.

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

Employee Spotlight: Kevin Dwyer Earns CRIS Designation

Author, Megan Lockhart, Marketing & Media Communications Specialist, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

Rancho Mesa Client Manager, Kevin Dwyer, took a big step in his career recently, earning his CRIS designation.

The Construction Risk and Insurance Specialist (CRIS®) certification is an educational program designed for insurance professionals that provides in-depth knowledge of the insurance and risk management challenges faced by contractors and construction projects. Earning the designation demonstrates a strong commitment to the industry and a high level of expertise in construction insurance and its risks.

“I appreciate Rancho Mesa investing in their employees continued learning and success by allowing me to pursue my CRIS designation,” Dwyer said.

Kevin supports the Construction Group in his role as a Client Manager, particularly electrical and solar clients. He has nearly 10 years of experience in the insurance industry, and over 5 years as a Client Manager.

Rancho Mesa is proud of Kevin’s career achievements and his commitment to our team and clients!

New Employee Spotlight: Rancho Mesa Welcomes Dillen Watson

Author, Megan Lockhart, Marketing & Media Communications Specialist, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

Rancho Mesa is proud to welcome its newest Client Coordinator, Dillen Watson, to the team.

Dillen joins Rancho Mesa with an array of experience in customer service roles, equipping him with the skills and professionalism to serve in the coordinator position. In preparation to entering the insurance industry, Dillen also earned his California P&C license.

Dillen is from Alpine, CA, and enjoys walking along the beach, playing his guitar and learning new instruments. Outside of work he is also interested in traveling to different countries.

We are excited to have Dillen join the Rancho Mesa team and look forward to his future at the company.

New Employee Spotlight: Rancho Mesa Welcomes Sean Linn

Author, Megan Lockhart, Marketing & Media Communications Specialist, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

Rancho Mesa is proud to welcome its newest Client Manager, Sean Linn, to the Construction Group.

Sean is an valuable addition to the team, bringing a well-rounded background in the insurance industry. His diverse experience in business development, production, and client management makes him well-equipped to serve the needs of construction clients.

Sean earned his bachelor's degree in Economics and Business from Westmont College. Outside of work, Sean enjoys spending time with his wife and their two beagles.

We are excited to have Sean join the Rancho Mesa team and look forward to his future at the company.

Rancho Mesa Gives Back: Supporting San Diego Animal Welfare

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

On Saturday, July 11, 2026, Rancho Mesa hosted a successful community service event for its team members in support of animal welfare within San Diego, which brought employees together for an afternoon of service and connection.

Team members and their families spent time creating handmade pet toys that were donated to the San Diego Humane Society, helping provide enrichment and comfort to animals awaiting adoption.

We are grateful for the employees who offered their time to support this cause. Their enthusiasm and willingness to give back reflects the values Rancho Mesa upholds. We are proud to create opportunities for our team to support our San Diego community.

“My daughter and I truly enjoyed participating in making toys for homeless cats and dogs. It gave me an opportunity to teach my daughter about giving back, and showing her that small acts of kindness can have a big impact.” Client Technology Specialist Brenda Colby said. “Events like this, really make working for Rancho Mesa even more special.” 

Drew Garcia Featured in NALP’s The Edge: Shares Insight for Landscape Businesses

Recently, Drew Garcia, Vice President and Landscape Group Leader, was featured in The Edge, the National Association of Landscape Professionals’ online magazine. Drew discusses how Rancho Mesa helps landscape businesses strengthen their safety programs, improve claims management, and navigate insurance challenges with industry-specific expertise.

Drew represented Rancho Mesa, sharing valuable insight with the landscape industry in his interview, “How Rancho Mesa Helps Landscape Businesses Strengthen Safety and Claims Management.”

Employee Spotlight: Chad Winder Becomes Safety Star™ Certified in Construction

Author, Megan Lockhart, Marketing & Media Communications Specialist, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

Rancho Mesa congratulates Client Technology Coordinator Chad Winder, for earning his certification in construction safety as a part of our RM365 Advantage Safety Star™ program.

Chad joined the team in May 2026. The courses in the Safety Star program allows him to learn about important safety issues that impact clients, teaching topics relating to construction safety in the workplace. Fall protection, ladder safety, heat illness prevention, and fleet safety are a few of the courses that must be passed in order to earn construction safety certification. Knowledge of these topics help employers mitigate job-related injuries.

The Safety Star program is one of the ways Rancho Mesa ensures clients are equipped with the tools and knowledge to navigate workplace risks effectively.

Rancho Mesa Hosts Heat Illness Prevention Workshop

Author, Jadyn Brandt, Client Communications Coordinator, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

On Friday, June 12, Rancho Mesa hosted its annual Heat Illness Prevention Workshop, presented by Rancho Mesa Risk Consultant Jessee Keirstead and Zee Reid from Berkshire Hathaway Homestate Companies. 

As temperatures start to rise nationwide, this workshop was a reminder to employers of the dangers that come with working in high heat and ways to prevent heat illness. 

The presentation focused on the important elements of a heat illness prevention plan as well as common causes of OSHA citations. 

The Heat Illness Prevention workshop is part the RM365 Advantage Safety Star Program™. Following the presentation, attendees participated in a quiz to receive credit towards the program. 

New Employee Spotlight: Rancho Mesa Welcomes Chad Winder

Author, Megan Lockhart, Marketing & Media Communications Specialist, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

Rancho Mesa is excited to welcome the newest member of its Client Services team, Chad Winder, as a Client Technology Coordinator. 

In his role, Chad will work directly with clients, helping them navigate the SafetyOne™ Platform and the RM365 HRAdvantage™ Portal, and access their resources.

Chad brings over 15 years of experience working in the insurance industry. His career background in assisting clients out in the field, as well as his bachelors degree in Business Administration and Management, makes him a valuable addition to the client services team.

Chad was born and raised in San Diego. Outside of work he enjoys golfing, and sports, especially Padres baseball, as well as spending time with friends and family.

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

Rancho Mesa Celebrates Partners and Clients with Fiesta Friday 2026

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

On Friday, May 8, Rancho Mesa hosted its annual Fiesta Friday event on the lawn and recreational space of its Mission Valley office. Fueled by fresh tacos, live music, and cold beverages, attendees enjoyed the sunshine with a Cinco de Mayo-inspired party.

The festivities included a live band, street tacos, a churro stand, and tequila tasting. Guests socialized, enjoyed delicious food and sipped Asombroso Extra Añejo and Komos Añejo Cristalino at the tequila tasting table, and voted on their favorite.

Rancho Mesa President Dave Garcia thanked guests for attending and drew names for the raffle. Winners took home one bottle of tequila.

Rancho Mesa is grateful for the clients and partners who attended this year’s Fiesta Friday, and for making it such a success. We enjoyed spending the afternoon connecting with our guests and are thankful for their dedicated relationship to the brokerage.