Employee Spotlight: Lauren Stumpf Takes On Marketing and Media Strategy in New Role

Author, Megan Lockhart, Client Communications Coordinator, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc. 

Lauren Stumpf, previously Media Communications and Client Services Specialist, has taken on a new role at Rancho Mesa as Marketing and Media Communications Specialist, where she will be able to focus on enhancing marketing and media strategy.

In her new role, Lauren will be instrumental in shaping marketing and media efforts at Rancho Mesa. She will serve as an essential strategist in brand management. This includes social media planning, podcasts and video production, website management, and public relations strategies. She will also assist in client technology for select clients.

We are thrilled to have Lauren’s experience and professionalism in this new role at Rancho Mesa.

Rancho Mesa Employees and Clients Enjoy Unforgettable Night at Aztecs Football Game

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

On September 2, 2023, Rancho Mesa employees and their clients gathered at the Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego, CA, for an unforgettable evening of college football. Attendees were treated to a top-notch experience within Rancho Mesa’s suite box and pregame field passes.

The San Diego State Aztecs took on the Idaho State Bengals in a thrilling match that had fans on the edge of their seats. The game concluded with the 2 for 2 win of the season for the Aztecs.

Rancho Mesa is looking forward to making many unforgettable experiences as the season continues.

Behind the Scenes: Sentry Insurance Sets Up Video Production at Rancho Mesa Office

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

Sentry Insurance, a renowned name in the insurance industry, recently made a captivating visit to the Rancho Mesa office for an exciting promotional venture. Over the course of two days, the Sentry Insurance video production team made home at Rancho Mesa’s San Diego office to produce a video showcasing the thriving partnership between the two entities. The video featured exclusive interviews with key figures, including Rancho Mesa's President Dave Garcia, Sentry’s Regional Executive John Fischl, and one of their esteemed clients, Greenbrier Lawn & Tree Expert Co.

The video serves as a testament to the relationship between Sentry Insurance and Rancho Mesa, highlighting the companies’ commitment to providing top-notch insurance solutions to their shared clients across various sectors. This collaboration exemplifies the spirit of partnership and dedication that drives both organizations in their pursuit of providing OneofOne™ excellence. Stay tuned for the release of this engaging promotional video.

Rancho Mesa Team Celebrates Aztecs' First Win of the Season at Snapdragon Stadium

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

On a sunny Saturday, August 26, 2023, Rancho Mesa employees came together for a day of camaraderie and sportsmanship at San Diego's Snapdragon Stadium. The occasion was the highly anticipated matchup between the San Diego State Aztecs and the Ohio Bobcats. From the comfort of Rancho Mesa's box suite, employees reveled in the game's twists and turns, surrounded by a vibrant atmosphere of cheering fans.

Amid the cheers and applause, employees enjoyed the perks of their VIP experience, savoring complimentary food and drinks while basking in the thrill of the game.

This memorable outing not only marked the Aztecs' first game of the season but also strengthened the bonds among Rancho Mesa's employees, fostering a sense of unity and shared achievement.

Rancho Mesa Hosts Contractual Risk Transfer Workshop

Author, Megan Lockhart, Media Communications and Client Services Coordinator, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

On Friday, August 18, 2023, Rancho Mesa hosted an informative workshop, Safeguard Your Company with Contractual Risk Transfer, at the Mission Valley Library, presented by Alan Coppola from Travelers Insurance. 

Attendees enjoyed fresh coffee and pastries as Coppola outlined how companies can use contractual risk transfer to protect themselves from liability claims in the construction industry.

He explained the importance of written contracts in contractor agreements and the risk exposures to beware of when signing them.

In his presentation, Coppola emphasized the importance of establishing a record retention policy and explained how contracts can be used as a tool to transfer risk. He concluded by advising clients to assess their company’s contractual risk process to ensure they are fully protected.

Rancho Mesa offers industry-specific workshops such as this to ensure clients have access to the information they need to protect their organizations.

Our next workshop is Fighting Fraud within the CA Workers’ Compensation System on Friday September 22, 2023. Register today.

Rancho Mesa's Unbroken Streak: 17 Years of Excellence Recognized in National Best Practices Competition

Author, Megan Lockhart, Media Communications and Client Services Coordinator, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc., a leading Southern California-based commercial insurance brokerage firm, has been awarded the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America's (Big “I”) Best Practices Agency designation for the seventeenth consecutive year.

An elite group of agencies endure a comprehensive analysis of their methods, practices and financials to determine the best agencies in the industry. Of the roughly 35,000 independent insurance agencies in the U.S., only about 150 across the nation were chosen this year for this distinction. In California, Rancho Mesa is among about a dozen agencies to earn the Best Practices status.

In order to participate, an agency must first be nominated by the Big “I.” Then, it must submit detailed financial and operational information which is analyzed, scored, and ranked objectively based on operational excellence, including: outstanding customer services, growth, stability, and financial management.

The data collected from these Best Practices independent insurance agencies is studied and used to establish benchmarks in which other agencies can measure their performance and adjust their businesses based on the best practices guidelines established through the study.

“This is an award that is difficult to achieve, so I’m particularly proud of our continued efforts. Congratulations one and all for your contributions and efforts,” Rancho Mesa President, Dave Garcia said. 

Each year, the Big “I” publishes its "Best Practices Study" using financial and operational data collected from agencies throughout the United States. The 2023 Best Practices Study will be available later this year. It will include a list of all the Best Practices Agencies by state and the results of the study.

To learn more about what it takes to be a "Best Practices Agency," visit www.independentagent.com/best-practices.

About Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

Rancho Mesa was founded in 1998 and is regarded as a leading Southern California insurance agency with recognized expertise in construction, landscape and nonprofit/social services. The company provides its clients with risk management services, comprehensive insurance programs, bonding, and industry specific training.

Rancho Mesa Celebrates 25 Years

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

On Saturday, July 15, 2023 Rancho Mesa celebrated 25 years of providing risk management solutions to organizations across the country.

The commemoration was hosted at The Skybox at DiamondView Tower in downtown San Diego, CA. The venue provided a beautiful setting, overlooking downtown, the water, and Petco Park.

President Dave Garcia attributed the company’s success to carrier partners, clients, leadership team members including his wife Char, and the entire Rancho Mesa team.

“Thank you all for an amazing event, giving me lifetime memories, and for all that you do to make Rancho Mesa special. You are all a part of me forever,” said Rancho Mesa President Dave Garcia.

The event served as a testament to Rancho Mesa's commitment to excellence, innovation, and unwavering dedication. With 25 years of accomplishments under its belt, Rancho Mesa looks forward to continuing its legacy of providing exceptional insurance services and forging lasting partnerships for many years to come.

SafetyOne™ Releases Updated Features for Custom Toolbox Talk Screens

Author, Megan Lockhart, Media Communications and Client Services Coordinator, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

The SafetyOne™ Mobile and Desktop Application is frequently updated to ensure our clients experience the most current risk management technology. Recently, our developers have released several new features for creating and modifying toolbox talks.

When creating a new toolbox talk in the administrator website, only the toolbox talk name and summary sections are now required. Red boxes appear around these required sections, allowing clients to make their toolbox talks more concise, if desired.

Additionally, when viewing toolbox talks on the mobile app and in final reports, only sections that contain content are displayed on the screen. This simplifies the experience for the end-user and eliminates any empty dropdowns.

Rancho Mesa is also excited to announce that QR codes for toolbox talks will be available in the near future. Employees will have the ability to scan the code and sign toolbox talks on their own devices. The signatures will then collectively display on the final toolbox talk report.

Updates such as these are valuable additions to SafetyOne as Rancho Mesa continually aims to help clients manage their risk and keep their employees safe.

Rancho Mesa Hosts Heat Illness Prevention Workshop

Author, Megan Lockhart, Media Communications and Client Services Coordinator, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

On Friday, June 2, Rancho Mesa held its Heat Illness Prevention Workshop at the Mission Valley Library, presented by Zee Reid from Berkshire Hathaway Homestate Companies.

Attendees enjoyed bagels, pastries, and fresh coffee as they learned best practices for keeping themselves and their employees safe from heat illness on the job site.

Reid covered the symptoms of heat illness, tactics employees should follow to prevent heat-related illness, and how to develop written procedures to avoid heat-related OSHA violations.

Like many of Rancho Mesa’s live workshops, this training is a part of the RM365 Advantage Safety Star™ program. Clients who chose to participate, took the quiz at the end of the presentation and earned credit towards their certification in construction safety.

Rancho Mesa values offering these workshops to promote safety and help clients manage risk.

Our next webinar is Cyber Liability Explained: Hacking Trends for 2023 on Friday, July 14.

About Berkshire Hathaway Homestate Company
The Berkshire Hathaway Homestate Companies (BHHC) are a group of six regional insurance carriers that are part of the Berkshire Hathaway Insurance Group. With more than 40 years in business, BHHC has earned an enviable record of success in the insurance industry that is supported by A.M. Best's highest financial strength rating of A++. Its financial strength provides employees, agency partners, and policyholders the security rarely available in today's marketplace. To learn more, visit www.bhhc.com.

SafetyOne™ Adds Multi-Language Translation to Mobile Forms

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

The SafetyOne™ Desktop & Mobile App released a new feature that translates external mobile form pages on the client website to 136 languages.

This feature exists on the following two pages:

1. When an external user fills out a mobile form accessed via a QR code or browser link.

2. When an external user views their final report.

For those not yet familiar, Rancho Mesa clients have the ability to collect data using mobile forms via the SafetyOne™ app. These customizable forms can be completed through the mobile app, by scanning a QR Code, or clicking a link in an email. Having mobile forms accessible via QR code or a link allows non-app users to easily complete your company’s forms and submit data electronically.

For example, you can quickly and easily collect visitor information by creating a mobile form and placing its QR code at the entrance of your jobsite or facility.

Some Rancho Mesa clients put QR codes on their company vehicles. They ask their drivers to scan the QR code, and complete a quick vehicle inspection before taking the vehicle. This makes collecting mobile form data simple, and anyone can do it because the mobile app is not needed to complete the form, it is complete on the mobile device’s web browser.

Our developers recognized that not everyone is comfortable filling out mobile forms in English, so they added the ability to translate the mobile forms that are accessed through a QR Code or URL.

The person completing the mobile form can choose from any of the 136 languages, and the form will translate any dropdown list, check box, or prefilled option. Once the form is submitted, it is translated back into English for the SafetyOne™ administrator to review on the admin website. 

So, if you think the end user may prefer another language, consider customizing your mobile forms with predetermined options, so they can choose from your list and the system will translate it for you.

Listen to StudioOne™’s podcast episode 310, as Rancho Mesa’s Alyssa Burley and Megan Lockhart discuss the new mobile form updates in detail.