IIAB San Diego Hosts Celebrity Waiters Holiday Party for Charity

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

For 31 years, the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of San Diego (IIAB San Diego) have hosted its Annual Celebrity Waiters Holiday Party for Charity. 

Industry leaders gathered on Friday, December 3, 2021 at the Bahia Resort Hotel on San Diego’s Mission Bay to raise funds for the Burn Institute and Healing Wave Aquatics.  Toys and canned foods were also collected for the El Nido Transitional Housing Program at Interfaith Shelter Network.

Rancho Mesa Vice Presidents Sam Clayton and Sam Brown along with Account Executives Kevin Howard and Amber Webb, Associate Account Executive Jack Marrs, Account Managers Christina Haake, John Parker, and Megan Smidt, with Account Coordinator Rachel Bristol celebrated the holidays and the spirit of giving while supporting the IIAB‘s efforts to raise awareness and much needed funds for local charities.

Sam Clayton, the outgoing IIAB San Diego President, introduced the incoming Board of Directors at the annual event. While his term nears its conclusion, it’s not the end to Rancho Mesa’s support of the philanthropic endeavors of the organization.

Rancho Mesa is proud to be a member of the IIAB San Diego.

IIAB Celebrates Another Successful I-Day

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

Rancho Mesa’s staff celebrated with Sam Clayton, the company’s Vice President of the Construction Group and the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of San Diego (IIAB) President, at the annual Greater San Diego Insurance Day (I-DAY) on October 27, 2021.

I-DAY is known within the insurance industry as the largest one-day trade fair and seminar in California. The event hosted insurance companies, their agents, carriers, vendors, sponsors and others who support the industry.

The highlight of the event was the luncheon.

“It's hard to believe that we're finally here,” Sam began his address to a ballroom of industry leaders. “Our last I-DAY was almost two and a half years ago in April 2019. I just want to say thanks for being here and your support over the last 18 months. Without all of you in this room, there is no association.”

He acknowledged the efforts of past association presidents, current committee chairs and directors while adapting to the challenges brought on by the pandemic.

Despite pandemic restrictions, he mentioned the good that came from the last year.  

“We were able to raise over $7,000 for the Burn Institute,” Sam praised the membership for their efforts. “We were able to raise $5,000 for the San Diego Foundation's COVID 19 Response Fund.”

Guest speaker, MLB Studio analyst, and former outfielder/first baseman Mark Sweeney closed the luncheon with an inspirational talk about how certain people can change their lives.

The day was a success as Rancho Mesa staff was able to visit with long-time industry partners in the exhibit hall while learning about new players in the insurance space.

Happy Halloween from Rancho Mesa

Author, Lauren Stumpf, Media Communications & Client Services Coordinator, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

Happy Halloween from the Rancho Mesa Santee and La Mesa, CA offices. This year the Rancho Mesa team was able celebrate Halloween together once again. On Friday, October 29, 2021 team members Sierra Stone, Whitney Chiriboga, Megan Lockhart, Sara Scheuneman, Yvonne Gallagher, Christina Haake, Ashley Hunter, Alyssa Burley, Megan Smidt, Daniel Bondesson, Maria Lotta, Daniel Frazee, and Rachel Bristol put on their costumes and participated in the Halloween spirit.

We hope everyone had a safe and fun Halloween!

Rancho Mesa Mixes Drinks and Makes Memories at CompWest Event

Author, Megan Lockhart, Surety and Media Communications Assistant, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

Information provided by CompWest.

On Wednesday, September 29, several members of our Rancho Mesa team attended the End of Summer Thank You Event hosted by CompWest as a thank you for Rancho Mesa’s partnership and hard work with the organization.

Rancho Mesa coordinators and executives mingled with CompWest representatives at You & Yours Distilling Co. and concocted unique cocktails at their own mixing stations. 

“I really liked meeting Jeraldine [Hartson] and James [Ruby]. It was nice to put faces to the names and to try two different cocktails that I would normally not order,” Ashley Hunter, Account Coordinator with Rancho Mesa, said. “We learned how to measure, shake, stir and pour two cocktails, a Prized Pony and a Chai Maple Old Fashioned. I liked the Old Fashioned better than the Prized Pony because it wasn’t as sweet.”

Through her experience making her own cocktail, Hunter learned new techniques.

“I learned that you put all the ingredients into the cocktail first and add the liquor last. I always did the opposite of this at home,” Hunter said.

The event also allowed Rancho Mesa’s Account Executive Jeremy Hoolihan to gain new knowledge about the history of some cocktails.

“I learned that a Gin & Tonic was originally introduced to the British army to stop the spread of malaria and scurvy. A natural ingredient in gin fended off malaria while the lime added to the drink worked against scurvy,” Hoolihan said.

Rancho Mesa is thankful for its partnership with CompWest and for hosting us for a social event that facilitated community between our two companies.

“These types of social events… build community and strengthen relationships between carriers and brokers,” Amber Webb, Account Executive with Rancho Mesa, said. “I was able to learn about the background of both Jeraldine and James with CompWest and how they have arrived at their current positions. We discussed the appetite of CompWest and some of their underwriting tactics. This allows me and the rest of the RMI team to better understand how best to represent our clients to them as well as help them to understand what types of clients we are working with.”

About CompWest Insurance
CompWest Insurance Company, part of the AF Group, is a dynamic provider of workers’ compensation insurance in California and select Western states, targeting customers in health care, hospitality, manufacturing, professional services, retail and wholesale services, and artisan contractors, ranging in premium up to $1,500,000 (maximum of $500,000 for artisan contractors). They provide leading strategies to small and mid-market employers who desire to achieve long-term cost savings. To learn more, visit www.CompWestInsurance.com

Employee Spotlight: Rancho Mesa Welcomes Sara Scheuneman to the Team

Author, Megan Lockhart, Surety & Media Communications Assistant, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

Rancho Mesa Insurance Services is proud to announce the newest addition to our growing team, Account Coordinator Sara Scheuneman.

Sara grew up in San Diego. After graduating from San Diego State University with a degree in kinesiology, Sara worked in the sports medicine and fitness industry. She then decided to switch paths and pursue a career in commercial insurance.

Sara has a passion for physical and mental wellness. In her spare time, she enjoys being outdoors, riding horses, fishing, weightlifting at the gym, and cooking for herself and her friends.

Sara’s diverse educational knowledge across multiple subjects such as health sciences, mathematics, and computer science, makes her a well-rounded asset to fill the Account Coordinator role. Rancho Mesa is thankful to have Sara’s intelligence and passion on the team and we are excited to see what she will achieve.

Employee Spotlight: Rancho Mesa Welcomes Amber Webb to Account Executive Team

Author, Lauren Stumpf, Media Communications & Client Services Coordinator, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

Rancho Mesa Insurance Services is excited to announce the hiring of Amber Webb, newest Account Executive for Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing (MEP) contractors.

Amber started her career within the construction industry in 2005 and has worked for both a general contractor and several subcontractors. Her risk management experience began when she worked as a Safety, Environmental and Health Technician and has evolved into provided commercial insurance for MEP contractors.

Amber is heavily involved in the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) San Diego chapter, serving on the board of directors for the past four years. She was President from 2020-2021 and is currently the Immediate Past President which allows her to serve in an advisory role for the chapter. Amber has a true passion for connecting with people and helping the youth see construction as a viable career path.

“I really enjoy the relationship building aspect of the construction industry and I am excited to use my background and history to help companies with their insurance investments, as well as, support them with their risk management needs,” says Amber.

Amber’s extensive professionalism within the construction industry and impressive leadership skills makes her an ideal fit for this role.

Rancho Mesa is excited to have Amber on the team!

FUN FACTS ABOUT AMBER

Amber was born and raised in San Diego, CA. She is a former collegiate soccer player and golfer at Ottawa University. She lives in Bay Park with her fiancé, Nick, where they will soon be raising a puppy named Sierra! Amber loves riding her e-bike around the bay or to the beach to do yoga. She loves to travel, try different restaurants, and enjoys spending time with friends and family.

Employee Spotlight: Beth James Joins Rancho Mesa as Account Coordinator

Author, Emily Marasso, Media Communications & Client Services Coordinator, Rancho Mesa Insurances Services, Inc.

Beth James, a former educator of elementary through high school students and public speaking coach for a speech and debate league, has decided to take her career in a new direction with Rancho Mesa Insurance. She’s utilizing her superb interpersonal communication skills and administrative expertise in her new role as account coordinator.

 As a recent graduate of the Office Professional Training program at Grossmont College, Beth is ready to dive into the commercial insurance industry as a member of the Rancho Mesa team.

 Rancho Mesa welcomes Beth to the family!

IICF Hosts Family Fun Night

Author, Lauren Stumpf, Media Communications & Client Services Coordinator, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

On Thursday, August 12, 2021 the Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation (IICF) hosted a Summer Family Fun Night. The event strikingly raised over 42 thousand dollars, directly benefiting nonprofits who support children’s education and well being in San Diego County through the IICF Community Grants Program.

ICCF is a non-profit made up of insurance professionals who help local communities by providing grants, volunteers, and leadership to nonprofits and charities.

Rancho Mesa’s Ashley Hunter, Brittani Davis, Emily Marasso, Kevin Howard, and Sam Brown had a blast with their kids while they played mini golf, swung at the batting cages, and rode go-karts at Family Fun Centers in San Diego, CA.

Rancho Mesa is a proud supporter of IICF and their mission! To learn more, visit www.iicf.org.

Rancho Mesa Team Celebrates Being Back Together

Author, Lauren Stumpf, Media Communications & Client Services Coordinator, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

On Monday, August 2, 2021 Rancho Mesa welcomed back their team members to both its Santee and La Mesa offices.

After working from home for over a year, the team enjoyed being able to catch up with one another face-to-face during an ice cream social enjoyed outside, on a sunny Monday afternoon at the Santee office.

The team had primarily communicated with their co-workers using virtual platforms over that last year and a half, so there was a lot of catching up to do.

For employees hired during the pandemic, this was their first time meeting the entire Rancho Mesa team in person. It was nice to see the team back together, smiling and enjoying each other’s company.

Business Owners Learn How to Protect Against Cyber Threats

Author, Emily Marasso, Media Communications & Client Services Coordinator, Rancho Mesa Insurances Services, Inc.

Michael Armstrong, Production Underwriter for Evolve MGA, an award-winning managing general agent that specializes in cyber insurance, took to the web and broke down the importance of cyber insurance and how companies can avoid a cyber attack in a detailed webinar hosted on July 22nd, 2021 for Rancho Mesa’s clients.

Attendees learned that phishing is the action of sending fraudulent emails mimicking a reputable company or person for the sake of gaining access to sensitive information. Michael explained the simplest form of phishing is an email or web link that is similar to a legitimate one, often changing only one letter. 

Phishing works by tricking the email recipient into clicking on a link that triggers malware to be downloaded and installed on the system. From there, the hackers can encrypt the data and request a ransom or sell the data on the dark web. Michael shared that on average, a business doesn’t identify a breach for up to 197 days. Imagine the damage that could be done without a good cyber policy.

Companies large and small have experienced data breaches due to cybercrimes. With technology ever changing, it’s never been a better time to review your current cyber insurance policy or start looking for coverage. Thanks to Michael and Evolve MGA for providing such valuable information to our clients.

If you’re interested in getting a cyber insurance quote, contact Rancho Mesa at (619) 937-0164.