Business Owners Take Control of their Insurance Costs at Captive Webinar

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

Have you ever wondered if captive insurance is right for your company? Thanks to Doug Hayden, Senior Vice President of Captive Resources, LLC., a group of savvy business owners and CFOs got an extensive breakdown of how performance-based insurance can be beneficial for their business’s bottom line at an April 22nd virtual seminar hosted by Rancho Mesa.

A captive is designed for companies that are not only interested in controlling insurance costs and retaining investment income, but obtaining high quality coverage and insurance-related services. 

Attendees were walked through the mechanics and structure of a captive that makes them successful. Following the introduction of a captive concept, Mike Regan, CEO of Pacific Green Landscape, joined Doug to answer questions and provide insight from first-hand experience as a captive member.

This seminar produced a lots of great questions. If you are interested in a captive for your business or have questions about this option, contact Rancho Mesa at (619) 937-0164.

COVID-19 Update and Q&A - San Diego County's Current COVID-19 Status

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

The rules, regulations and guidelines, in regard to COVID-19, are changing every day.  So, we thought it would be great to provide businesses with current COVID-19 updates, and give them an opportunity to ask specific questions.

On March 4th, 2021, Gary Johnston, Chief Resilience Officer for the County of San Diego, Office of Emergency Services (OES), joined Rancho Mesa to host a live COVID-19 Update and Q&A Session webinar.  Gary works closely with County and external partners to engage key stakeholders, build consensus, and implement recommendations to build the County’s overall resilience, making him a great source for information.

Following Gary’s presentation on the County’s current status, vaccinations and reopening, attendees asked a variety of questions specific to their needs and overall curiosity.   For COVID-19 resources, posters and materials specific to San Diego County, visit the County’s online COVID-19 resource center.

Cal/OSHA Covid-19 Prevention Plan Webinar with Carmen Cisneros

Author, Emily Marasso, Media Communications Assistant, Rancho Mesa Insurances Services, Inc.

January 21st, 2021, Rancho Mesa was joined by Cal/OSHA San Diego Consultation Branch Area Manager, Carmen Cisneros, to learn about the standards set in place by Cal/OSHA’s COVID-19 Prevention Emergency Temporary Standards.

A wide variety of topics, based around the pandemic, were covered. Face mask requirements, prevention plan requirements, and recording and reporting standards were just a few of the areas addressed during the webinar. 

A good source to bookmark for questions is Cal/OSHA’s FAQ page. Since questions are always being added, they have now provided a date at the bottom of the page to show when it was last updated.

The live webinar lasted just over an hour. Cal/OSHA has a 4-hour webinar available that covers the information in greater detail. The webinars are free and you can register on the Cal/OSHA Consultation website.

We want to remind you that the Cal/OSHA consultation department is here to help you. If you are interested in having a consultant visit your site or provide guidance, visit the Consultation section of the Cal/OSHA website.

CLCA Supports Landscape Industry with Golf Tournament

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

Pictured from left to right; Dan Durkin from Nissho of California Inc., Drew Garcia, Greg Garcia, and Dave Garcia of Rancho Mesa.

The California Landscape Contractors Association (CLCA) San Diego Chapter held its Annual Golf Tournament on Friday, October 23, 2020 at the Rancho Bernardo Inn Golf Course.

All while supporting the landscape industry, players enjoyed warm San Diego weather on a well-known local golf course with partners, friends, and colleagues.

Following the tournament, CLCA held a virtual awards ceremony where the Team from Rancho Mesa was crowned Champion (pictured) with a winning score of an impressive 58!

About CLCA San Diego

The San Diego Chapter of the California Landscape Contractors Association boasts over 240 members and is one of the state’s largest and most active chapters. Each year, the chapter hosts a number of informative, social and educational meetings which allow members to keep abreast of industry trends, network with their peers and just have some fun. Among the annual activities chapter members enjoy are a kick-off dinner, golf tournament, a local awards program, ballgame outings, educational meetings and a holiday dinner. The chapter also produces a monthly publication (Offshoot), participates at local home, garden and consumer information fairs, hosts the Landscape Industry Certified Test at Cuyamaca College in the spring, and stays involved in local political issues affecting the landscape industry such as water conservation and sustainability. To learn more, visit www.clcasandiego.org.

Drew Garcia Goes National in NALP’s The Landscape Professionals

Author, Emily Marasso, Media Communications Assistant, Rancho Mesa Insurance, Services Inc.

It’s no secret that Drew Garcia, Vice President of Rancho Mesa’s Landscape Group, has been helping landscape clients for years in best practices and how to stay safe on the job. But now, he is going national to help landscape professionals all over the country, again!

In this month’s NALP’s The Landscape Professionals Magazine, Drew breaks down the five things landscape companies can do to lower their Experience Modification Rates (XMOD). 

“Landscape companies with a low Experience Modification Rating typically exhibit similar best practices when dealing with work-related injuries. Their proactive approach helps close claims faster and returns employees to work sooner than their counterpart,” writes Drew Garcia.

The NALP (National Association of Landscape Professionals) represents almost 100,000 landscape industry professionals around the world. Specializing in landscape design and installation, lawn care, maintenance and more, the national trade association is made up of students, consultants, state associations and affiliate members, plus industry suppliers. Their mission is “to advocate for lawn and landscape industry growth and the benefits we provide to our communities.”

To learn more about how to lower your XMOD, contact Drew Garcia at (619) 937-0200 or drewgarcia@ranchomesa.com.

Client Spotlight: YardApes Featured in NALP Podcast

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

Rancho Mesa client, Shayne Newman, president of YardApes Inc., discusses professionalism and elevating the landscape industry in episode 8 of the National Association of Landscape Professionals’ (NALP) Growing in the Green Industry Podcast.

The podcast is hosted by Miles Kuperus III, system architect at Include Software, Neal Glatt, managing partner of GrowTheBench, and Brett Lemcke, vice president of R.M. Landscape, all of which are members of the NALP. Newman has also been actively involved with NALP for about 20 years and currently serves on the board of directors.

In episode 8, “Modern Leadership: Giving Back While Moving Forward,” Newman discusses how he has grown his company while building a strong safety-based culture and raising involvement in his community. He has a lot of passion for his industry and speaks about the importance of enhancing public perception of the landscape industry.

About YardApes, Inc.
YardApes, Inc. is a full-service design, construction and maintenance company serving Northwest Connecticut’s residential and commercial clients since 1990. YardApes is one of thirteen Landscape Industry Accredited Companies in the United States and the only Landscape Industry Accredited Company in Connecticut. For more information about YardApes Inc., please visit www.yardapes.com.

Safety Spotlight: Klausing Group Celebrates 3 Years of Outstanding Safety

Author, Emily Marasso, Media Communications Assistant, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

Rancho Mesa’s Vice President of the Landscape Group and Chairperson for the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP) Safety Committee Drew Garcia had the opportunity to congratulate Klausing Group for three years without a lost time accident.

For 12 seasons, 156 weeks, 1,095 days or 6,245 hours, Klausing Group was accident free.  That level of commitment to safety is hard to achieve in the landscape industry.

Klausing Group is a commercial landscape company located in Lexington and Louisville, Kentucky.  With over 20 years in business, they aren’t just focused on creating and maintaining landscapes, the group certifies and trains employees in the landscape industry and has become a leader in doing so.

Drew Garcia has been a Chairperson for the NALP Safety Committee for 4 years and champions companies to who take safety seriously.

“Nothing substitutes a strong safety culture.  You have to be about safety and talk about safety on a daily basis and obviously at Klausing Group, the safety culture is incredibly strong,” said Drew Garcia.

Rancho Mesa congratulates Klausing Group for their excellence in workplace safety.

Utilize Down Time to Become a Safety Star™

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

If you are facing a slowdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic, now is an excellent time to train your management team to become Safety Stars™. The RM365 Advantage Safety Star Program™ offers modules specific to the construction industry as well as organizations in the human services.

These online programs are ideal for your supervisors, foremen, safety coordinators, upper management, administrators, directors of human resources, facilities/operations managers, and safety committee members. All participants take the Accident Investigation and Analysis module while choosing several electives like Fall Protection, Heat Illness Prevention or Patient & Resident Handling, Bloodborne Pathogens, and 15-Passenger Van Safety, to name a few.

Sending management through the RM365 Advantage Safety Star Program™ can give a company a competitive advantage in the insurance marketplace, reduce the probability of claims, and lower its overall insurance costs.

To enroll in the RM365 Advantage Safety Star Program, visit www.ranchomesa.com/rm365-advantage-safety-star-program and fill out the application.

Podcast Episode 3 Now Available

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

Episode 3 of the Safety and Risk Management podcast network is now available to be heard on demand.

In epsisode 3, Drew Garcia, Vice President of the Landscape Group at Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, discusses landscape safety, operations, best practices, and industry advice with Fred Peratt, President of Enviornmental Enhancements.

About Enviornmental Enhancements
Founded in 2001, Environmental Enhancements is a landscaping company in DC and Sterling, Virginia that provides a full range of environmentally-friendly landscaping services to commercial property managers and homeowners. Washington Business Journal ranked them among the top ten leading landscaping companies in the DC and Sterling area. To learn more, visit eelandscaping.com.

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Subscribe to StudioOne™ Safety and Risk Management Network

Subscribe to the StudioOne™ Safety and Risk Management Network podcasts on Apple Podcasts, Breaker, Google Podcasts, Overcast, Pocket Casts, RadioPublic, or Spotify to never miss an episode!

To find the StudioOne™ podcast in any of the above apps on your mobile device, type in “StudioOne Safety and Risk” in the search box. You can also listen from your computer by visiting www.RanchoMesa.com/StudioOne or anchor.fm/ranchomesa.

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Latest Episodes

Rancho Mesa Sponsors Leaders Forum 2020

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

Rancho Mesa’s Drew Garcia, Vice President of the Landscape Group, and Dave Garcia, President & Chief Executive Officer, attended NALP’s Leaders Forum in Cabo San Lucas on January 21st to 26th. Rancho Mesa was a sponsor along with Caterpillar and John Deere.

“Once you have experienced this event you will become an annual attendee. The content and networking amongst industry greats is incredible,” said Drew Garcia.

On Friday morning of the event, Rancho Mesa unveiled their new video titled "Above and Beyond - Landscape." The video features Drew, explaining Rancho Mesa’s 2020 theme.

“We admire the complexity and professionalism the landscape industry stands for,” expressed Drew Garcia. “It was our hope that the video would demonstrate our appreciation for their work and our ambition to not only understand the risk, but provide tangible solutions to help support the direction the industry is headed. Based on some feedback after the movie played, I think our message was received. We are proud to be so engaged and committed.”

In attendance were Rancho Mesa partners, Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, Margaret Hartmann from Berkshire Hathaway Homestate Companies (BHHC) and AXIS Insurance’s Associate Program Manger, Nakia Rawles and Executive Vice President & Head of U.S. Programs, John Tatum.

Mark you calendars for January 21-23, 2021 when Leaders Forum heads to Maui, Hawaii!

About NALP
The National Association of Landscape Professionals is the national trade association representing nearly 100,000 landscape industry professionals in the United States, with additional members in Canada and overseas. Member companies specialize in lawn care, landscape design and installation, landscape maintenance, tree care, irrigation and water management, and interior plantscaping. Members also include students, consultants, industry suppliers, state associations and affiliate members. For more information, visit www.landscapeprofessionals.org.

About BHHC
The Berkshire Hathaway Homestate Companies is a group of six insurance carriers that are part of the Berkshire Hathaway group of insurance companies. Headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, with more than 40 years in business, BHHC has grown from a regional organization to a national insurance group, offering insurance products from coast to coast. For more information, visit www.bhhc.com.

About AXIS
AXIS Insurance Co. is a leading global specialty insurer and reinsurer, providing clients and distribution partners with a broad range of risk transfer products and services, backed by the exceptional financial strength and solid claims-paying ability of the AXIS insurance companies. They provide customized property, casualty, professional lines and other specialty coverage across the globe through wholesale and retail brokers, and managing general underwriters. To learn more, visit www.axiscapital.com.

Photos provided by NALP.