Rancho Mesa News
PWI San Diego Holds Painting Social Fundraiser
Author Alyssa Burley, Client Services Coordinator, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
On Wednesday, April 26, 2017, PWI San Diego held its Painting Social fundraiser at the local craft beer venue, 57 Degrees. The event is one of many the organization hosts to raise funds for various charities.
Author Alyssa Burley, Client Services Coordinator, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
On Wednesday, April 26, 2017, PWI San Diego held its Painting Social fundraiser at the local craft beer venue, 57 Degrees. The event is one of many the organization hosts to raise funds for various charities.
The evening began with some light networking, hors d'oeuvers, beer, wine, and of course laughter! The excitement in the room rose as the instructor began to lead the class through the painting process. Everyone at the event had a great time learning new painting skills, seeing old friends and meeting new ones.
Rancho Mesa's Christina Haake and Alyssa Burley proudly attended the event.
Attendees make the final details on their paintings.
Alyssa Burley and Christina Haake from Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, and Jimmy Trujillo from Imperial PFS show off their finished paintings.
Through its events like the Painting Social, golf tournament, fashion show, and holiday party, the PWI raises funds to support:
- Programs for students entering the insurance industry,
- YWCA's Battered Women's Shelter for women in transition,
- Rachel's Women's Center - Homeless Women's Shelter, and the
- Girl Scouts of San Diego and Imperial Counties.
About PWI San Diego
PWI San Diego is an insurance industry organization bringing together local insurance professionals in San Diego County. The organization provides opportunities for networking, business development, idea exchange, career enhancement, education and giving back to the industry and the community. For more information, visit www.pwisd.org.
Rancho Mesa Encourages Employees to Stay Healthy with the "7th Inning Stretch"
Author Alyssa Burley, Client Services Coordinator at Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
Twice a day, music fills the air of Rancho Mesa's office and the hum of keyboards come to a halt. The music signals the staff that it's time to take to the sidewalks of Santee, CA. This ritual is part of Rancho Mesa's Health and Wellness Program. The daily walks, also known as the "Seventh Inning Stretch," provide an opportunity for the staff to get away from their desks, get moving, and enjoy the outdoors.
Author Alyssa Burley, Client Services Coordinator at Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
Twice a day, music fills the air of Rancho Mesa's office. The hum of keyboards, the clicking of calculators and the various phone conversations come to a halt. A song signals that it's time to take to the sidewalks of Santee, CA, a song in which is alternated from each of the staff's personal playlist.
This ritual is part of Rancho Mesa's Health and Wellness Program. The daily walks, also known as the "7th Inning Stretch," provide an opportunity for the staff to get away from their desks, get moving, and enjoy the outdoors.
“RMI’s 7th Inning Stretch success could not have occurred without the tremendous support of Dave Garcia and the staff. Can you name another company who rewards their employees for time away from their desks?" said Dede Pyle.
The rules are simple. When someone participates on the walk, they get a blue pebble. If they walk five times (or more) during the week, they get a red pebble. If they walk to lunch or go to the gym during lunch, they get another red pebble. At the end of each quarter, prizes are awarded based on the number of pebbles each person has earned.
The staff's progress is measured on a map of the United States. Each quarter, the pebbles are tallied and the distance walked is calculated and recorded on the map. The goal is to walk from San Diego to New York City.
Dede Pyle proposed the 7th Inning Stretch to Rancho Mesa in November 2014, as a means to stay healthy and focused during the agency’s 01/01 crunch, which is the busiest time of year in the insurance industry. The goal was to raise the energy level in a healthy, non-stressful way, have quality time away from the workstation and create camaraderie within the agency. In addition to the twice daily walks, Rancho Mesa provides healthy snacks on Tuesday, also known as “Healthy Snack Tuesday” which is an alternative to the vending machine snacks.
Updated 01/11/2018.
Rancho Mesa in the Community: Waldorf School of San Diego Climb-A-Thon
Author Daniel Frazee, Execuitve Vice President, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
As a proud Corporate Sponsor, Rancho Mesa participated in the first annual Waldorf School of San Diego Climb-A-Thon at Torrey Pines State Beach on Saturday, March 25th.
Author Daniel Frazee, Execuitve Vice President, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
As a proud Corporate Sponsor, Rancho Mesa participated in the first annual Waldorf School of San Diego Climb-A-Thon at Torrey Pines State Beach on Saturday, March 25th.
Elementary school kids of all ages were invited to hike the Torrey Pines trails with older High School students and conclude their adventure with breakfast as a community.
Students focused on an Easter theme with the climb as trail leaders were dressed as bunnies to hand out Easter eggs to the younger kids. The goal of the event was raising funds and awareness for Waldorf’s eleventh grade service trip to Costa Rica later this year.
Photos by Daniel Frazee.
Rancho Mesa Says Goodbye to Debbie Milburn and Welcomes Suzi Ffrench
Author Brian Armstrong, Director of Employee Benefits, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
It’s been nearly a year since I joined the team here at Rancho Mesa, and what a year it’s been. While we’ve worked to improve the expertise and service provided to you on your employee benefits, as well as the cost of and your actual benefits themselves, there was a Presidential election that has the potential of changing the entire landscape of healthcare and health insurance in this Country (although it’s important keep in mind that we’re in California, which politically can be a country of its own). While much is still to be determined- just today the GOP announced that they don’t yet have enough votes to pass the American Health Care Act in its current form- you have my commitment to continue to advise and direct you on your benefits to the best of my abilities, and to your satisfaction, if not downright gratification, and to that of every single one of your employees.
Author Brian Armstrong, Director of Employee Benefits, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
Brian Armstrong, Broker
It’s been nearly a year since I joined the team here at Rancho Mesa, and what a year it’s been. While we’ve worked to improve the expertise and service provided to you on your employee benefits, as well as the cost of and your actual benefits themselves, there was a Presidential election that has the potential of changing the entire landscape of healthcare and health insurance in this Country (although it’s important keep in mind that we’re in California, which politically can be a country of its own). While much is still to be determined- just today the GOP announced that they don’t yet have enough votes to pass the American Health Care Act in its current form- you have my commitment to continue to advise and direct you on your benefits to the best of my abilities, and to your satisfaction, if not downright gratification, and to that of every single one of your employees.
Debbie Milburn, Former Account Manager
Toward that end, one of the commitments we made this year was to hire a full-time Senior Account Manager to help you with your day-to-day needs, which when it comes to health insurance, as you know, there can be a lot of. Because of that, you’ve likely gotten to know Debbie Milburn as the wonderful person and service-provider she is, both of which I’m personally grateful for, so I’m sad to announce that due to a great opportunity for her and her family, she is relocating to Austin, Texas, at the end of this month.
While we’ve known for a while that Debbie is leaving, I wanted to wait until we secured a great replacement for her before announcing her departure, and that we’ve done by adding Suzi Ffrench (yes, that’s Ffrench with two F’s) to our team. Like me, Suzi has joined us from one of the largest consulting firms in the country, Willis Towers Watson; so, she brings a great wealth of knowledge and experience helping both employers and employees with their benefits questions and needs. Like Debbie, she is a great fit for Rancho Mesa; so, she’s going to be a great fit for you as part of your benefits team.
Suzi Ffrench, Senior Account Manager
Please feel free to reach out to Debbie to thank her for the great service and commitment she’s provided over the past 7 months (her last day is Friday, March 31st), and to introduce yourself to Suzi, from whom you’ll be hearing, as she picks up where Debbie is leaving off.
As always you’re invited to call me with any questions or input you have on how we’re doing and how we can be of better service to you as we move forward under the current Administration. Through better technology, tools, and services, I’m going to continue to work toward making your employee benefits better, more affordable, more compliant, and easier to administer, and I look forward to doing so with Suzi as part of our team.
Respectfully and Sincerely,
Brian Armstrong
Director of Employee Benefits
Client Story: MAAC Project Video
MAAC Project, a local organization providing career pathways, education, health & wellness and housing in the community, recently published a video featuring Darjené Graham, one of the parents from the Child Development Program and Sam Brown from Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
"My MAAC Story - Darjené Graham/Rancho Mesa Insurance"
MAAC Project, a local organization providing career pathways, education, health & wellness and housing in the community, recently published a video featuring Darjené Graham, one of the parents from the Child Development Program and Sam Brown from Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
MAAC builds partnerships with each one of their Head Start parents, providing them with opportunities to grow as leaders and develop their own professional paths, as they open up the doors to academic success for their children.
"Thank you Rancho Mesa Insurance, for believing and investing in our work," wrote Elsa Roth, Manager, Development and Donor Relations for MAAC Project. "Rancho Mesa is not only a sponsor, but a community partner. Together, we provide life-changing programs and services to over 70,000 individuals every year in San Diego through Career Pathways, Education, Health & Wellness and Affordable Housing. We really appreciate you sharing your commitment to MAAC!"
About MAAC Project.
Since MAAC’s beginnings in 1965, its focus has remained constant: to help individuals and families create the lives they want and deserve.
Today, MAAC provides life-changing services to over 35,000 individuals annually throughout San Diego County. Collaboration with community partners ensures MAAC remains on the forefront of the community’s ever-changing needs, while strong relationships with funders foster strategic planning around emerging trends. MAAC’s Pillars of Service — Career Pathways, Education, Health & Wellness and Housing — support our mission of maximizing self-sufficiency with families and individuals through high-quality programs and advocacy in our communities. For more information, visit www.maacproject.org.
Rancho Mesa's Sam Brown Presents at Accounting and Financial Women's Alliance
On Thursday, February 16, Sam Brown, Vice President, Human Services Group at Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, presented2017 Workers’ Comp Updates, How it Affects CA Employers to the Accounting and Financial Women’s Alliance, San Diego Chapter (AFWA) at the Bali Hai Restaurant.
On Thursday, February 16, Sam Brown, Vice President, Human Services Group at Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, presented2017 Workers’ Comp Updates, How it Affects CA Employers to the Accounting and Financial Women’s Alliance, San Diego Chapter (AFWA) at the Bali Hai Restaurant.
Mr. Brown covered the most prominent changes to the California Workers’ Compensation system to help decision makers navigate their policy renewals and plan 2017 safety efforts. Such topics included AB 2883’s changes to the definition of “employee”, First Aid reporting requirements, the 2017 Experience Modification Formula change, and the impact of Proposition 64 (recreational Marijuana) in the workplace.
The AFWA was formed in 1938 originally as the American Society of Women Accountants (ASWA) with the goal of increasing the opportunities for women in all fields of accounting and finance. The first chapter was chartered in Indianapolis, Indiana.
The mission of the San Diego chapter of AFWA is to enable women in all accounting and related fields to achieve their full personal, professional and economic potential and to contribute to the future development of their profession.
Please contact Sam Brown at Rancho Mesa Insurance Services if you have questions about the presentation topics or wish to inquire about future speaking engagements.
Employee Spotlight: Drew Garcia, NALP Safety Committee Member
Author Alyssa Burley, Client Services Coordinator, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc. is dedicated to making a difference on the risk management front; thus, Drew Garcia joined the National Association of Landscape Professionals Safety Committee, in March of 2016.
Author Alyssa Burley, Client Services Coordinator, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc. is dedicated to making a difference on the risk management front; thus, Drew Garcia joined the National Association of Landscape Professionals Safety Committee, in March of 2016.
Committee members come from some of the most successful landscape companies throughout the country; and, they participate in conferences throughout the year in an attempt to continually find solutions to industry specific hazards and injuries.
Once a year, the committee meets in Louisville Kentucky at “LANDSCAPES” to review and prepare for the upcoming campaign.
"The most rewarding aspect, to me, is seeing the commitment from the other committee volunteers who speak with the same passion as we collectively collaborate to make an impact on the industry." Drew Garcia, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
Proud Member:
