Employee Spotlight: Jessee Keirstead Earns Construction and Treecare Safety Designations

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

Rancho Mesa’s Risk Control Consultant, Jessee Keirstead, took impressive professional strides recently, earning both Construction Health and Safety Technician (CHST) and Certified Treecare Safety Professional (CTSP) designations.

The Construction Health and Safety Technician is certified through the Board of Certified Safety Professionals, and focuses on occupational safety and health practices specific to construction environments, including hazard identification, risk assessment, and regulatory compliance.

The Certified Treecare Safety Professional credential is earned through the Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA). This certifies professionals in safety leadership, incident prevention, and the implementation of comprehensive safety programs tailored to arboricultural and tree care operations.

“Obtaining the CHST and CTSP certifications help expand Rancho Mesa’s expertise in the construction and treecare industries, allowing us to offer more informed, credible, and practical risk control advice. This directly benefits our agency and our clients by helping prevent injuries, reduce claims, and support safer operations,” Keirstead said.

Rancho Mesa is proud of Jessee’s drive to equip himself with knowledge and skills that best serves our clients’ industry.

New Employee Spotlight: Rancho Mesa Welcomes New Client Coordinator Taylor McClean

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

Rancho Mesa is excited to welcome its newest Client Coordinator, Taylor McClean.

With a background in sales and management as well as strong leadership experience, Taylor is excellent fit to support our construction clients.

Taylor was born in Laramie, Wyoming but spent most of her life in San Diego, California. She earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Arizona State University.

She has two cats named Piper and Leo. Outside of work, Taylor loves reading, book binding, listening to music, beach walks, and spending time with friends and family.

Employee Spotlight: Alex Torres Promoted to Client Coordinator

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

Rancho Mesa congratulates Alex Torres on her promotion to Client Coordinator.

Alex joined Rancho Mesa in January 2024 as a Front Desk Administrative Assistant and Certician, supporting Rancho Mesa clients.

Alex will be working within the Construction and Select Client Groups as a Client Coordinator.

“As she grew in the role, we gradually added new responsibilities to her daily workload each of which she handled with reliability, professionalism, and enthusiasm,” Kim Vasquez, Vice President with Rancho Mesa, said. “Her continued development has fully prepared her to take this next step in her career.”

Rancho Mesa appreciates Alex’s hard work and looks forward to her continued success.

New Employee Spotlight: Rancho Mesa Welcomes New Account Executive Raysan Benito

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

Rancho Mesa is excited to welcome its new account executive, Raysan Benito, with the Human Services Group.

Raysan’s experience with nonprofit organizations, human resources, and sales has not only created a passion for building relationships and working with people, but also given him unique insight into the human services industry. Throughout his career, he has built a robust network of contacts in the nonprofit, health care and elder care spaces.

A San Diego native, Raysan earned his bachelor’s degree in business management from San Diego State University, with an emphasis on human resources. He also holds the Trusted Risk Advisor designation through the BIGN Network.

“I am so pleased to welcome Raysan to the Rancho Mesa family. His work ethic and caring for clients ensures he will be a great fit for years to come. The future is bright,” Human Services Group Vice President, Sam Brown, said.

Raysan currently resides in Lemon Grove with his wife and two sons. Outside of his work at Rancho Mesa, he is a surfer, musician and jiu-jitsu instructor.

We are proud to have Raysan’s problem-solving and people skills on the team and are excited for his future at the company.

Rancho Mesa Hosts Ladder Safety Workshop

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

On Friday, March 13, 2026 Rancho Mesa hosted the Ladder Safety Workshop, presented by Zee Reid, Senior Loss Control Specialist with Berkshire Hathaway Homestate Companies.

Ladder safety is consistently one of the most cited OSHA violations each year. This workshop focused on common reasons for violations and citations, industry trends and safety requirements.

Reid also shared examples of real-life violations in the field and a number of online resources that can be used on a jobsite.

The ladder safety workshop is part of the RM365 Safety Star™ Program intended to educate supervisors, foremen, safety coordinators and upper management on workplace safety with the goal of reducing the probability of work-related injuries.

Rancho Mesa clients have access to a variety of other ladder safety resources through the SafetyOne™ platform including toolbox talks and mobile forms for inspections and reporting.

Rancho Mesa is committed to equipping our clients with the tools and support that enable long-term success.

Rancho Mesa Attends the Artisans Ltd. Annual Board Meeting

On March 8-10, 2026, Construction Group Vice President, Sam Clayton, represented Rancho Mesa at the Artisans Insurance Ltd. Board of Directors Meeting in Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands.

Artisans Insurance Ltd., a member-owned group captive, represents California trade contractors. Clayton attended the meeting to support the many clients who are members of this program.

“The Captive had another great year and declared over $6.3 million in dividends to its members,” Clayton said.

The event featured a round of golf at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, followed by the board meetings and President’s Dinner. Sam also connected with Rancho Mesa clients across a diverse range of specialties, including engineering, mechanical, painting, landscaping, and flooring.

By attending meetings such as these, Rancho Mesa ensures we are well informed on the insurance changes that affect our clients.

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.