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!

Employee Spotlight: Kevin Dwyer Becomes Safety Star™ Certified in Construction

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

Rancho Mesa congratulates Client Manager, Kevin Dwyer for earning his certification in construction safety as a part of our RM365 Advantage Safety Star™ program.

Kevin joined the client management team in July 2025.The courses offered through the Safety Star program allow our team to understand the safety challenges that affect our clients, covering essential workplace construction safety topics. Fall protection, ladder safety, heat illness prevention, and fleet safety are a few of the courses that must be completed to earn construction safety certification. A firm grasp of these subjects helps employers reduce job-related injuries.

The Safety Star program is one of the ways Rancho Mesa ensures clients have the tools and knowledge they need to successfully navigate workplace risks.

Rancho Mesa Excited to Welcome Jessee Keirstead as Risk Control Consultant

Rancho Mesa is excited to announce Jessee Keirstead has joined our team as Risk Control Consultant. Jessee brings extensive experience in helping businesses identify, assess, and reduce risk, enhancing the value we deliver to clients through our insurance solutions.

In addition to his 18 years of industry experience, Jessee has an impressive educational background with a Bachelors degree from Champlain College and a Master’s degree from Southern Connecticut State University.

 “Risk control is an area we identified as a key way to impact our clients’ safety, productivity, and profitability. Combining Jessee’s expertise with our proprietary SafetyOne™ app, monthly workshops, and safety KPIs reinforces our commitment to providing unmatched OneofOne® services,” Rancho Mesa President Dave Garcia said.

With the valuable addition of Jessee to the team, we now offer proactive risk management strategies designed to improve workplace safety, minimize losses, and protect clients’ bottom line.

Outside of work, Jessee enjoys hobbies such as traveling, surfing, snowboarding, diving, spearfishing, hiking, playing hockey, and photography. He also likes spending time with his dog at the beach.

Contact Rancho Mesa to learn more about our expanded services. We’d love to help your business thrive.

Gaining Landscape Industry Insight: Drew Garcia and Greg Garcia Attend NALP’s ELEVATE Conference

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

From left: Landscape Group Partner Greg Garcia and Landscape Group VP Drew Garcia at RMI’s ELEVATE booth.

On November 2-5, 2025, Vice President of the Landscape and Tree Care Group, Drew Garcia, and Partner, Greg Garcia represented Rancho Mesa at the National Association of Landscape Professionals’ (NALP) ELEVATE Conference and Expo in Phoenix, Arizona.

Now in its fourth year as a standalone event, ELEVATE brought together professionals from across the country to share insights, explore new technologies, and discuss trends shaping the landscape industry.

This event served as a valuable opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the challenges and innovations that impact Rancho Mesa clients.

“We get a lot of our industry knowledge from the event and we bring that back to our team

and try to make it make sense for how we deliver our product to our customers,” Drew said. “So [attending ELEVATE] is huge for us in terms of just overall knowledge of the industry.”

In addition to attending educational sessions and networking with peers, Rancho Mesa hosted its third annual client cocktail hour, a relaxed evening that allowed industry professionals to connect beyond the conference floor.

“It's something I look forward to every year,” Drew said. “It's such a great time for us to relax, catch up with people … and then allow our clients to meet each other, too. So, another opportunity for networking.”

Through participation in events like ELEVATE, Rancho Mesa continues to further its commitment to supporting the landscape industry with tailored insurance and risk management solutions.

Rancho Mesa’s Rory Anderson Attends TCI EXPO 2025

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

From left: Tree Care Group Partner Rory Anderson and Newbury Park Tree Services, Inc. owner Dean Lappinga.

Tree Care Group Partner, Rory Anderson, recently represented Rancho Mesa at the 2025 TCI EXPO, which took place November 6-8 at the America’s Center Convention Complex in St. Louis, MO.

Hosted by the Tree Care Industry Association, the event brought together thousands of professionals and over 200 exhibitors for three days of networking, education, and innovation in the tree care industry.

At our sponsored booth, Rory connected with tree care professionals and gained deeper knowledge about their unique business needs.

“TCI Expo once again proved why it’s the premier event for our industry [with] education, innovation, and connection all in one place,” Anderson said.

Attending TCI EXPO 2025 emphasizes Rancho Mesa’s commitment to the tree-care industry. We’re proud to support our team staying involved and up-to-date on the industries we insure.