Employee Spotlight: Ashley Burner Joins Media Communications Team

Author, Lauren Stumpf, Media Communications Assistant, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

Rancho Mesa Insurance Services is pleased to announce the hiring of  Ashley Burner as a Media Communications Intern.

Ashley is a current Business Administration student at Gonzaga University in Washington state where she is concentrating on marketing.

Ashley was born and raised in San Diego, CA. She went to Academy of Our Lady of Peace. In her free time she enjoys spending time at the beach with family and friends.

Rancho Mesa Insurance Services is excited to welcome Ashley Burner to the RMI team!

Rancho Mesa Throws Fiesta Friday

Author, Lauren Stumpf, Media Communications Assistant, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc. hosted its annual Fiesta Friday on May 17, 2019 in Santee, CA. Partners and staff of Rancho Mesa enjoyed great company, tequila tasting, and delicious street tacos & churros made fresh on site.

The tequila tasting included score cards to judge the tequila based on appearance, aroma, flavor, and smoothness. This year’s, Nicho Real Extra Añejo 5 Years Tequila took the fan favorite, bumping last years winner, Avion Reserva 44 Extra Anejo Tequila, off the throne.

The pop-up photobooth was a favorite new addition to Fiesta Friday, as attendees had fun posing with props and friends!

Rancho Mesa Attends Padres Game with IIAB San Diego

Author, Alyssa Burley, Media Communications and Client Services Manager, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

Members of Rancho Mesa Insurance Services spent the afternoon with the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of San Diego (IIAB San Diego) at the organization’s Padre Game Event on Wednesday, May 22, 2019 at San Diego’s Petco Park.

Account Executive Jeremy Hoolihan, Account Manager Christina Haake, Vice President Sam Brown, Account Manager Yvonne Gallagher, and Vice President Sam Clayton represented Rancho Mesa at the event.

The San Diego Padres did not disappoint their fans with a 5-2 victory over the Arizona D-backs. Rancho Mesa cheered for hometown favorite Greg Garcia. Read more about the game highlights on MLB.com.

About the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of San Diego

IIAB San Diego is a group of local insurance professionals dedicated to upholding the ideals of the American Agency System. Our Association is founded on mutual respect and support of its members. Through our Association, members access information necessary to further their business. The continuing work of our Association benefits our members, the insurance industry and the San Diego community at large. We stand ready to meet the challenges of both the present and the future through involvement in both profession and the community. For more information, visit www.iiabsandiego.com.

Rancho Mesa Co-Hosts OSHA 10 Course for Landscape Industry

Author, Lauren Stumpf, Media Communications Assistant, Rancho Mesa Insurance, Inc.

Attendees holding certificates after completion of the OSHA 10 Course for the Landscape Industry.

On May 14 & 15, 2019 Rancho Mesa Insurance Services’ co-hosted the OSHA 10 Course for the Landscape Industry at the San Diego Christian College in Santee, CA.

The OSHA 10 Course for the Landscape Industry is a two-day training provided by Berkshire Hathaway Homestate Companies (BHHC) in partnership with the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP) and Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc. 

Multiple companies were in attendance at the workshop, including Atlas Tree Service, Four Seasons Tree Care, Inc., Heaviland Landscape Management, Rancho West Landscape, Inc., Pacific Green Landscape, Inc., True Lawn Care, Inc., and Urban Habitat.

Art Marquez of BHHC started off the training with an introduction of the history of OSHA. Steve Hamilton taught the rest of the course covering a variety of topics such as the fatal four hazards (i.e., fall protection, caught in or between, electrical exposures, and struck-by hazards), material handling storage/use, and stairways/ladders. Steve and Art are in the Loss Control department at BHHC, which assists the insureds with safety related trainings and site inspections to ensure that they are not doing anything that would create a hazard or potential claim.

Rancho Mesa's Daniel Frazee Accepts Award at I-Day

Author, Lauren Stumpf, Media Communications Assistant, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

On Wednesday, April 25, 2019 Rancho Mesa Insurance Services Inc. attended Greater San Diego Insurance Day (I-Day) at the Town and Country Resort and Convention Center in San Diego, CA.

The annual San Diego I-Day, organized by the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of San Diego Association (IIAB), is the largest one-day trade fair and seminar in the State of California. Numerous insurance agents/companies along with assorted carriers, vendors, sponsors and more gather at I-Day to enjoy the luncheon, exhibit hall, and awards ceremony.

Daniel Frazee, the Executive Vice President at Rancho Mesa, was honored to accept the Broker of the Year award presented by the of IIAB committee chair. Daniel has been with Rancho Mesa since February of 2000 as an Account Executive in the Property & Casualty department. He became a stockholder in the Agency and was named Vice President in 2004. In 2009, he was elected to the Board of Directors. Frazee holds an Associate in Risk Management (ARM) and a Construction Risk Insurance Specialists (CRIS) designation. He has served on the IIAB of San Diego board for six years; one of those as President, four as committee chair, and two years as the golf committee chair. Rancho Mesa is proud to have Daniel Frazee apart of our team!

NAWIC Celebrates WIC Week at RDO's Demo Day

Author, Alyssa Burley, Client Services Coordinator, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

The National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) San Diego Chapter concluded its celebration of Women in the Construction (WIC) Week at RDO Demo Day on March 7, 2019 at RDO Equipment Co. in Lakeside, CA.

RDO Equipment Co.’s staff and WIC Week committee members welcomed attendees with savory tacos, good music, goodie bags that included personal protective equipment like a pink hard hat, safety vest and safety glasses, and a John Deere pink/camouflage cap, sticker and key chain.

The evening’s main event was the mini excavator competition. Using the excavator’s bucket, participants tried to scoop up three basketballs that were balanced on safety cones, then drop the basketballs into a box. Participants were given a quick instructional lesson on safety and how to operate the Deere 35G excavator. Then, they began their timed run. Ashley Landers from Bay City Electric Works won the competition with the most number of balls dropped in the box in the fastest time.

“At first it was very scary,” said Shelby Ballow from Dowling Construction, Inc. when asked about her experience operating the excavator. “But, my adrenaline was pumping the whole time and it was really fun. I got one ball - first try. And then, it went downhill from there. But, it was really cool and every girl should try an excavator.”

The RDO Demo Day event was part of WIC Week which is designed “to highlight women as a viable component of the construction industry,” according to NAWIC. “WIC Week also provides an occasion for NAWIC’s thousands of members across the country to raise awareness of the opportunities available for women in the construction industry and to emphasize the growing role of women in the industry. It is also a time for local chapters to give back to their communities.”

Rancho Mesa Insurance Services is pleased to support the National Association of Women in Construction San Diego and its mission.

About NAWIC San Diego Chapter
The NAWIC San Diego Chapter, chartered on April 30, 1959, is very active and involved in the construction industry and the community. Each year the chapter participates in a variety of events including educational seminars and conferences, Women in Construction Week (WIC Week), Block Kids (construction awareness program for children in grades 1 thru 6), CAD/Design/Drafting Contest (High School student activity), Camp NAWIC (a week long program designed to mentor high school girls planning to enter the construction industry), college scholarships, joint meetings with other San Diego professional organizations and various activities with local charities. For more information, visit www.nawicsd.org.

About RDO Equipment Co.
RDO Equipment Co. in Lakeside, California, serves the greater San Diego and surrounding areas. We sell and service John Deere construction equipment, Hitachi equipment, and Vermeer equipment as well as provide construction technology solutions from Topcon and more. Whether your job calls for paving, excavation, utilities, concrete, demolition, or landscaping work, our experienced sales department will help you find the right equipment for your needs. Our large inventory of parts ensures you get the right parts fast to reduce any costly downtime. We also have highly trained and certified technicians to get your equipment back up and running as quickly as possible. Contact us day or night for your service needs. For more information, visit www.rdoequipment.com.

NAWIC's Toast to the Trades Fundraiser Brings Awareness to Future Construction Leaders Foundation

Author, Alyssa Burley, Client Services Coordinator, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

The National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) San Diego Chapter kicked off the Women in the Construction (WIC) Week with a ‘Toast to the Trades’ fundraiser benefiting the Future Construction Leaders Foundation (FCLF) on March 5, 2019 at Tom Ham’s Lighthouse on San Diego Bay.

The nearly 200 people in attendance raised $10,000 through ticket sales, silent auction and sponsorships. The funds will be donated to the FCLF, a local 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to the advancement of programs focused on educating youth about career opportunities in the construction industry and encouraging them to pursue careers in this field.

Kayleen McCabe, the evening’s keynote speaker, is a general contractor, TV host of DIY Network’s Rescue Renovation, and trades advocate. She spoke about the rising demand for trade professionals and how it is currently outpacing vocational training.­ McCabe advocates for the restoration of America’s respect for the trades. She also enlightened the audience with anecdotes from her TV show and how the popularity of the DIY movement has gotten some homeowners in over their heads with renovation projects.

Ana Gutierrez, tradeswomen at Clark Construction and former Camp NAWIC participant, spoke about her journey from attending camp as a high school student and learning about the various construction trades to her successful career in the industry.

The ‘Toast to the Trades’ event was part of WIC Week which is designed “to highlight women as a viable component of the construction industry,” according to NAWIC. “WIC Week also provides an occasion for NAWIC’s thousands of members across the country to raise awareness of the opportunities available for women in the construction industry and to emphasize the growing role of women in the industry. It is also a time for local chapters to give back to their communities.”

Sponsors for the event included:
Project Manager Sponsors - DPR Construction, Tru-Duct Sheet Metal Fabrication, and MC Painting
Superintendent Sponsors - Paradigm Mechanical Corp., SMART, Titan Fire Protection, RDO Equipment Co., and Wateridge Insurance Services
Foreman Sponsors - Herc Rentals, Harper Construction Company, Inc., Ryan Companies, ROE Strategic, Sunrise Bobcat & Hauling Service, Inc., and Women’s Construction Coalition
Journeyman Sponsors - Clairemont Equipment, C-SOS Consulting, Denning Moores, SASC Surety Associates
Apprentice Sponsors - D3 Construction Services, Inc. and Ferguson Commercial

About NAWIC San Diego Chapter
The San Diego Chapter, chartered on April 30, 1959, is very active and involved in the construction industry and the community. Each year the chapter participates in a variety of events including educational seminars and conferences, Women in Construction Week (WIC Week), Block Kids (construction awareness program for children in grades 1 thru 6), CAD/Design/Drafting Contest (High School student activity), Camp NAWIC (a week long program designed to mentor high school girls planning to enter the construction industry), college scholarships, joint meetings with other San Diego professional organizations and various activities with local charities. For more information, visit www.nawicsd.org.

About Future Construction Leaders Foundation
The Future Construction Leaders Foundation of San Diego is dedicated to providing opportunities for young men and women to investigate the many private and public construction career opportunities available. From kindergarten to college, we have hands-on, free programs that expose students to various trades and the corresponding seasoned professionals who can guide and coach them. For more information, visit www.futureconstructionleaders.org.

Rancho Mesa Promotes Healthy Living with Healthy Snack Tuesday

Author, Alyssa Burley, Client Services Coordinator, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

Every Tuesday following the morning 7th Inning Stretch walk, the Rancho Mesa team gathers in the lunch room for a quick health snack.

Fruits, vegetables, granola bars, trail mix, eggs, olives, hummus and other healthy snacks are skillfully displayed for employees and visitors to enjoy as an alternative to the vending machine options. The tradition is known as Healthy Snack Tuesday.

“We all look forward to Health Snack Tuesday,” said Lori Stone, Accounting Manager and Office Administrator for Rancho Mesa Insurance. “It’s a great way to encourage employees to be healthy.”

Healthy Snack Tuesday began in 2014 as an employee suggestion and was implemented in conjunction with the 7th Inning Stretch walking routine.

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Employee Spotlight: Michelle Pandolfi Joins Account Management Team

Author, Lauren Stumpf, Media Communications Assistant, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

Rancho Mesa Insurance Services is pleased to announce the hiring of  Michelle Pandolfi as an Account Coordinator.

Michelle’s experience working as a compliance coordinator and liaison, her great attention to detail, and strong multitasking ability makes her a great asset to the Rancho Mesa team. 

Michelle was born and raised in San Diego. After she graduated from San Diego State University in 2016, she enjoyed backpacking in Europe, during which she visited 6 countries. In her free time she enjoys wakeboarding, snowboarding, going to the beach, and traveling.

Rancho Mesa Insurance Services is excited to welcome Michelle Pandolfi to the RMI team!

Rancho Mesa Attends Farmers Insurance Open With Sentry Insurance

Author, Lauren Stumpf, Media Communications Assistant, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

Rancho Mesa’s Sam Clayton, Jeremy Hoolihan, Kevin Howard, and Chase Hixson were the guest of Sentry Insurance company at the Farmers Insurance Open golf tournament played at Torrey Pines Golf Course on Friday January 25, 2019. 

Pictured from left to right: Sam Clayton; John Fischel, West Coast Regional Executive; Chase Hixson; Jeremy Hoolihan; Kevin Howard; and Nic Hernandez, West Coast Underwriting Manager for Sentry.

The unbelievable field of PGA Tour Professionals included Tiger Woods, Rory McIIroy, Ricky Fowler, Jason Day, and 2018 Fed Ex champion Justin Rose. Rose went on to win shooting -21 for the weekend!

“The golf, weather, fans, and spending time with one of our premier carrier partners was an amazing experience” said Sam Clayton, Vice President, Construction Group at Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc. is proud to partner with Sentry Insurance. They hand-picked Rancho Mesa as a business partner to grow their market share, due to Rancho Mesa’s expertise in the construction area.

About Sentry

Sentry Insurance started in 1904 and has grown to become one of the largest, and financially secure mutual insurance companies in the nation. They have recently opened their West Coast Regional office in Irvine, CA. At Sentry—because they are a mutual insurance company—their business is built on a foundation of service to their policyholders. Although they’ve grown and changed a lot over the past 110 years, one thing hasn’t changed. They still work to serve policyholders, and to help their clients’ businesses thrive. For more information, visit www.sentry.com.