Rancho Mesa Hosts Nutrition “Lunch and Learn” for Employees

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

On Thursday, February 26, 2026, Rancho Mesa employees gathered in our Mission Valley office kitchen to enjoy an informative “Lunch and Learn” event focused on nutrition and meal preparation for busy professionals.

Rancho Mesa’s leadership often offers these events for team members as a part of its continued commitment to employee personal development. 

Presenters Danielle Anderson and Christina Beck from Trifecta Integrative Health Coaching provided an innovative demonstration of the “salad in a jar” concept and attendees were provided ingredients and jars to create their own customized salads. During the lunch, the presenters also explained the nutritional functions of lunch ingredients and their importance for performance, health, weight management, and vitality.

Rancho Mesa is proud to offer events such as these in order to support its employees in not only their career but also their personal well-being. 

New Employee Spotlight: Rancho Mesa Welcomes New Client Coordinator Stephanie Leonard

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

Rancho Mesa is happy to welcome new team member, Stephanie Leonard, as Client Coordinator.

Stephanie brings a diverse background in real estate, collections, and mortgage loan sales. She has also worked in the wellness industry for 10 years, all contributing to valuable customer service and organizational skills.

Before calling San Diego her home, Stephanie is originally from Oregon. She has a Bachelor’s degree from National University as well as licenses in real estate and cosmetology, esthetics, and massage. In her free time, Stephanie enjoys playing pool, reading and crocheting. She also loves spending time with her son and taking him to the beach.

Rancho Mesa is excited to have Stephanie’s professionalism and critical thinking on the team and we look forward to her future at the company.

Diana Venegas Promoted to Assistant Client Manager

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

Rancho Mesa congratulates Diana Venegas on her promotion to Assistant Client Manager.

Diana started with Rancho Mesa in November 2023 as a Client Coordinator. She worked closely with nearly every group within Rancho Mesa before moving to Landscape and Tree Care in August to complete her training.

Diana will be returning to the Construction Group as an Assistant Client Manager.

“Throughout many changes and transitions, she stepped into each one with a positive attitude and a willingness to help wherever needed,” says Kim Vasquez, Vice President with Rancho Mesa.

Rancho Mesa appreciates Diana’s commitment to her growth and development and looks forward to her continued success.

New Employee Spotlight: Rancho Mesa Welcomes New Client Coordinator Sandra Almada

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

Rancho Mesa is excited to welcome its new Client Coordinator Sandra Almada.

Sandra’s background and previous administrative experience within the construction industry provides her with a unique perspective to better support our client managers and serve our clients. She brings valuable expertise in organization, communication, and customer service to her new Client Coordinator role.

Sandra was born and raised in San Diego and earned her Bachelor’s degree from UC Riverside. She currently lives in Chula Vista. Outside of work she enjoys spending time with family, friends, and her dog Ellie. Her hobbies include reading and traveling.

Rancho Mesa is excited to have Sandra’s leadership and problem-solving on the team and we look forward to her future at the company.

Rancho Mesa’s 2025: Our Year in Review

With 2025 now behind us, Rancho Mesa reflects with pride on a year defined by progress and strength. The past year produced continued momentum, strengthening our team, building on record-setting success, and navigating ongoing changes in the insurance landscape. Our focus remained firmly on delivering OneofOne® service. We continued to equip our clients with the tools and resources that matter most by maintaining our high standards and expanding our SafetyOne™ training offerings, we pushed ourselves to stay proactive, prepared, and client‑focused, while enjoying ourselves along the way.

Below are a few highlights from our year in 2025.

IIABA Best Practices Agency Designation for 19th Consecutive Year

In August, Rancho Mesa was recognized Best Practices Agency for the 19th consecutive year by the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (Big “I”). This special award is only given to a select group of agencies that are carefully evaluated based on their practices, methods, and finances to find the top performers in the industry. We were proud to stand out as one of a select few agencies to earn the Best Practices status in California.

Employee Success

Our team celebrated many professional achievements in 2025, including impressive career milestones.

• Greg Garcia joined the Ownership Team as a new Partner.

• Kristi Kamenski was promoted to Assistant Client Manager.

• Brenda Colby was promoted to Client Technology Specialist.

• Natalie Aguayo was promoted to Client Manager.

• Andy Roberts took a new role as Surety Group Leader.

• Maria Lotta was promoted to Client Manager.

Along with our team’s internal achievements, we also welcomed 8 new employees across a diverse range of roles, to our RMI family last year.

Christina Haake receiving the Emerging Leader Award at IIAB’s
I-Day with her parents.

Rancho Mesa employees dove into the industry’s community last year, taking on impressive leadership roles.

• Partner Alyssa Burley served as Parliamentarian for NAWIC San Diego Board.

• Partner Jeremy Hoolihan served as Secretary/Treasurer on the IIAB San Diego board.

• Senior Client Manager Christina Haake served as President for PWI San Diego and accepted IIAB’s Emerging Leader Award at I-Day.

• Olivia Velasco served as Secretary for PWI San Diego.

Client & Industry Involvement

Rancho Mesa stayed active and engaged in both our clients’ industries and the insurance community last year. Our account executives and administrative staff attended numerous conferences and industry events in order stay updated on the trends that affect our clients. Here are the highlights.

Landscape Group VP Drew Garcia attended NALP’s Leaders Forum in Costa Rica.

The team attended I-Day this year, connecting with insurance professionals at our booth.

Construction Group Vice President Sam Clayton and Partner Alyssa Burley attended NAWIC San Diego Chapter 21 EXPO.

Human Services Group VP Sam Brown attended Philadelphia Insurance’s Big Hitters event.

Partner Rory Anderson attended Tree Care Industry Association’s TCI EXPO in St. Louis, MO.

Construction Group VP Sam Clayton represented Rancho Mesa at the Artisans Captive Board of Directors meeting in Cabo San Lucas, MX.

Drew Garcia and Greg Garcia attended NALP’s 2025 ELEVATE Conference in Phoenix, AZ

Surety Group Leader Andy Roberts and Surety Relationship Executive Anne Wright attended Associated Subcontractors Alliance’s 35th Annual Awards and Installation Banquet.

Client Services

Rancho Mesa is proud of the services and added resources we offered clients last year. We hosted 8 live workshops and streamed 43 virtual webinars for our clients to attend.

Additionally, our Safety and Risk Management Network, StudioOne™, published 103 podcast episodes in the 2025 year, and brought in 15 outside professionals as guests.

Our Employment Law Update workshop, hosted in November 2025 and presented by attorney Thomas E. Daugherty of Klinedinst San Diego, was highly anticipated and covered employment law changes in the 2026 year.

Family Health Centers of San Diego's Spirit of the Barrio raised funds for the San Diego community

2025 MAAC Project Soirée, which Rancho Mesa is proud annual sponsor, makes impactful change in the San Diego community.

Annual support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October

United Cerebral Palsy Association’s Celebrity Waiters Lunch raised funds for those with disabilities.

Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation San Diego Bowling Tournament raised money for San Diego communities.

Community Involvement

In addition to our industry involvement, Rancho Mesa remained dedicated to supporting the San Diego community by participating in sponsorships and events that align with the initiatives we proudly advocate.

Team Enrichment

Rancho Mesa takes pride in fostering a dynamic work environment and creating camaraderie among our team. In 2025 we enjoyed celebrations and social activities beyond the office, which strengthened our team’s bonds, helping us serve our clients effectively. Here are the highlights.

The team cheered on the Aztecs at many SDSU football games in Rancho Mesa’s suite at Snapdragon Stadium.

We hosted clients and carrier partners on the lawn at our Mission Valley office with Fiesta Friday.

Our annual Summer Party was a blast for the whole family at the Mission Bay Resort.

We celebrated the season with our annual Holiday Party, this time at the Coronado Golf Course on Coronado Island.

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View Our Rancho Mesa Recap

What a year! Rancho Mesa takes pride in our achievements of 2025, and we’re grateful for our clients, partners, and fellow team members that have made them possible. As we embark on the new year, we continue our commitment to delivering OneofOne© service and are excited for the 2026 journey ahead.

Rancho Mesa Hosts Cumulative Trauma Claims Workshop with BHHC

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

On Friday, January 30, 2026, Rancho Mesa enjoyed a great turnout for its workshop, Cumulative Trauma Claims: Trends, Impact & Best Practices, presented by Margaret Hartmann, SVP of Marketing, and Nick Heck, CT Claim Supervisor with Berkshire Hathaway Homestate Companies.

Attendees enjoyed refreshments at our Mission Valley office, during the informative presentation. Hartmann and Heck outlined the common trends found with CT claims, the impact these claims have on employers and insurers, and best practices for managing them effectively.

Attendees gained strategies to mitigate risk and improve claim outcomes. The presenters concluded by allowing for questions from the audience and offered advise on handling potential risks.

“Thank you for hosting the workshop on CT Claims this morning,” said one attendee. “I came away with a lot more knowledge of what is going on.”

Through workshops such as these, Rancho Mesa aims to help clients gain necessary information to keep their businesses secure and manage risk.

Values in Action: Rancho Mesa Kicks Off for 2026

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

On Friday, January 16th, the Rancho Mesa team gathered for our annual Kick-off meeting, this year, at The Remy in Mission Valley.

Led by RMI President David Garcia, we reflected on this past year's achievements and set goals for 2026. The team also enjoyed connecting with each other over a delicious lunch.

Garcia also revealed the theme for the coming year, Values in Action, which speaks to the core values that lead us in our work: integrity, accountability, collaboration, community, and passion.

Rancho Mesa is grateful for the loyalty and relationships we've cultivated with our clients and carriers partners this year as we look forward to 2026.

View the Rancho Mesa 2026 Video:

Employee Spotlight: Jessee Keirstead Earns Safety Star™ Certification in Construction

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

Rancho Mesa congratulates Risk Control Consultant, Jessee Keirstead, for earning his certification in construction safety as a part of our RM365 Advantage Safety Star™ program.

Jessee joined the team in November 2025. The Safety Star program equips him with a deeper understanding of the safety challenges clients encounter and the strategies required to effectively mitigate those risks. 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. This knowledge strengthens Jessee’s capability to identify potential hazards during job‑site visits and to offer clients practical measures that reduce exposure to risk.

The Safety Star program serves as a key initiative in Rancho Mesa’s commitment to providing clients with the resources and insight needed to manage risk with confidence.

New Employee Spotlight: Rancho Mesa Welcomes New Account Executive Kyle Dunlap

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

Rancho Mesa is excited to welcome its new Account Executive, Kyle Dunlap, within the Construction Group.

Kyle’s extensive experience in planning and engineering provides him with unique insight into the challenges of the construction industry. This perspective makes him exceptionally qualified to serve electrical contractors with insurance solutions that align with their real-world needs.

Kyle grew up in East County, San Diego and still lives there today with his wife and 3 daughters. Kyle is very involved in his community, coaching his daughters’ softball and soccer teams, serving on the school board, and holding the position of AYSO VP in his region. Kyle enjoys traveling and has visited over 20 countries. His proudest moments are his children’s accomplishments.

Rancho Mesa Celebrates the 2025 Holidays

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

On Saturday, December 6th, the Rancho Mesa team enjoyed a night of festive fun at its annual Holiday Party, at the Coronado Island Golf Course.

Attendees celebrated the season among family and friends with delicious food, drinks, games, a "cash" tunnel, and raffle prizes.

Rancho Mesa is grateful for the clients and partner relationships we’ve strengthened this year, and we wish you a Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!