New Employee Spotlight: Rancho Mesa Welcomes Elia Gonzalez

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

Rancho Mesa is excited to welcome the newest member of its team, Elia Gonzalez, as Assistant Client Manager.

Elia has over 25 years of experience in the industry, working with a range of roles and insurance types, including commercial, auto, and private lines. She will now support the client management team in the Construction group.

Elia also holds a Bachelor of Science in Communications from Universidad Autonoma de Baja California. Her well-rounded experience and education make Elia a valuable addition to the team. We are excited for her future at Rancho Mesa.

Elia was born in Tijuana and has lived in San Diego for over 30 years. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her three adult daughters, pet bearded dragon and cat. She also loves watching movies and going to concerts.

New Employee Spotlight: Rancho Mesa Welcomes John Turner

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

Rancho Mesa is excited to welcome its newest member of the team, John Turner, as Assistant Client Manager in the Construction Group.

John joins us with over a decade of experience in the insurance industry, having worked in a variety of roles that have developed his skills in customer relations, sales consulting, and commercial account servicing. In addition to his industry experience, John has an educational background in legal administration, graduating from San Diego State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice Administration. John’s well-rounded career and education make him a valuable addition to the team.

A fourth-generation San Diegan, John continues to reside in San Diego with his wife and child. Outside of work, he enjoys gardening, restoring his '73 Roadrunner, and making gelato for friends and family.

We are excited to have John join the team, and we look forward to his contributions and success at Rancho Mesa.

Advancing Education: Brittney Thompson Completes Contract Surety School Course

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

Rancho Mesa’s Surety Client Coordinator Brittney Thompson reached an impressive educational milestone recently, completing the “Contract Surety School – Level 1” course, through the National Association of Surety Bond Producers (NASBP).

The three-day course is aimed towards in-house bond department staff and producers, and the curriculum covers topics such as financial statement analysis, work in process concepts and applications. It also teaches credit information-gathering techniques, bond submissions, review of bond forms, and claims handling concepts.

Having completed this course, Brittney is further equipped with the professional knowledge and tools necessary to provide exceptional service to our surety clients, as well as advance her own career.

“I feel so valued and honored that you are investing time, money, and energy into me, to further my career in surety. I am so grateful.” Thompson said.

Rancho Mesa supports both the professional growth and educational advancement of its employees. We are proud of Brittney for her example of initiative, drive, and success with this achievement.

New Employee Spotlight: Rancho Mesa Welcomes Kevin Dwyer

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

Rancho Mesa is excited to welcome the newest member of its Client Management team, Kevin Dwyer.

Kevin will support the Construction Group, particularly HVAC and plumbing clients. After graduating from San Diego State University with a Bachelor of Arts in History, Kevin gained nearly 10 years of experience in the insurance industry, and over 5 years as a Client Manager. His career background makes him a valuable addition to our team.

Kevin was born and raised in San Diego. Outside of work, he enjoys golfing, fishing, and coaching his children’s sports teams.

We are excited about Kevin joining the client management team and we look forward to his future at Rancho Mesa.

New Employee Spotlight: Rancho Mesa Welcomes Emily Feemster

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

Rancho Mesa is excited to welcome the newest member of its Client Services team, Emily Feemster, as a Client Data Analyst & Technology Coordinator. 

In her role, Emily will support Account Executives by providing benchmarking and data analysis, as well as preparing documents for pre-renewal and claims review meetings. She will also work directly with clients, helping them navigate the SafetyOne™ Platform and the RM365 HRAdvantage™ Portal, and access their resources.

Emily recently graduated from the University of Washington with a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration, majoring in Management Information Systems. Her background in both business strategy and technology makes her a strong addition to the team and well-suited for her new role.

“I'm super excited to start my career with Rancho Mesa,” Feemster said. With both of my parents also in the insurance industry, it is exciting to follow in their footsteps and be a part of the San Diego insurance community.”

Emily grew up in Carlsbad, CA, and still resides there today. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling, and exploring new restaurants.

Employee Spotlight: Maria Lotta Promoted to Client Manager

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

Rancho Mesa is proud to announce the promotion of Maria Lotta from Assistant Client Manager to Client Manager.

Maria joined RMI in August 2021 as a Client Coordinator and was promoted to Assistant Client Manager in 2024, serving within the Construction group. Since then, she has proven to be a dedicated and valuable member of the Rancho Mesa team, consistently going above and beyond for both clients and fellow employees.

In her new role as Client Manager, Maria will transition to the Human Services group, where she will support non-profit and social services clients.

We congratulate Maria on this well-deserved promotion and look forward to her continued success at Rancho Mesa.

New Employee Spotlight: Rancho Mesa Welcomes New Accounting Specialist Silvia Patron

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

Rancho Mesa is excited to welcome the newest member of its growing Accounting team, Silvia Patron as Accounting Specialist. 

Silvia’s accounting background includes accounting management roles. She graduated from the Universidad Autónoma de Baja California in 2014, with a degree in accounting.

Born and raised in Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico, Silvia moved to San Diego in 2022. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, hiking, travelling, working out, and going to the beach.

Silvia’s accounting knowledge, attention to detail, and professionalism makes her a vital addition to the team, and we are excited for her future at Rancho Mesa.

Employee Spotlight: Andy Roberts Takes Lead of Surety Group

Rancho Mesa is excited to announce Andy Roberts’s new leadership role as Surety Group Leader.

Andy has been with Rancho Mesa since 2018 when he joined the team as a Surety Account Executive.

“Seven years ago I made complete change in my career and came over to Rancho Mesa to start working with Matt Gaynor in the Surety Department, and it has been one of the best decisions I could have made,” Roberts said. “I’m incredibly excited to step into the role of Surety Group Leader and I'm very grateful for the trust that ownership is putting in me to keep building something special within RMI.”

Andy’s dedication, expertise, and team-first mentality have made him an excellent fit for the leadership role. Rancho Mesa congratulates Andy on his achievement and looks forward to his continued success with the Surety Group.

Employee Spotlight: Natalie Aguayo Promoted to Client Manager

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

Rancho Mesa is proud to announce Natalie Aguayo’s recent promotion from Assistant Client Manager to Client Manager.

Natalie has proven a vital member of the Construction Group since joining in December 2024. Her nearly 10 years of experience in the commercial insurance industry has allowed her to skillfully master the Assistant Client Manager role and make a smooth transition to Client Manager.

Natalie’s experience, work ethic, and professionalism make her a valuable member of our team. We are proud of her achievement and look forward to her continued success.

New Employee Spotlight: Rancho Mesa Welcomes New Surety Account Executive Josh Hill

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

Rancho Mesa is excited to welcome its new Account Executive, Josh Hill, for the Surety Group.

Josh has over 10 years of experience in the banking industry managing commercial loans as both a loan officer and relationship manager. 

Josh brings a unique combination of financial expertise and relationship management to his role, providing him with the tools necessary to excel in the surety industry.

“From my first interview through my first week on the job, I knew that RMI was a perfect fit for me. The culture here is truly amazing and I look forward to helping this company grow over the years,” Hill said.

Born and raised in East County, San Diego, Josh continues to live in the area with his wife of 18 years, and his two children. Josh is a former collegiate baseball player at San Diego State University and remains an avid fan of the sport and supporter of the Padres. Outside of work, his family enjoys taking extended off-road trips to remote destinations, camping, fishing, and visiting the beach.