Sam Brown Presents Risk Management Techniques and Strategies to Nonprofit Leaders

Nonprofit leaders gathered from far and wide at the University of San Diego Nonprofit Institute’s 14th Annual Nonprofit Governance Symposium on January 26th and 27th, 2018.

This year’s theme, People, Place and Performance: The Triple Bottom Line for Nonprofit Governance, provided attendees and speakers alike with the inspiration needed to make it the best nonprofit symposium in recent memory.

Sam Brown, Vice President, Human Services Group at Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, offered insight into risk management for nonprofit leaders during his presentation titled "Risk Management: Strategy & Tools to Protect Vital Assets."

“I asked the workshop’s attendees to view risk management as an evaluation and decision-making tool when encountering uncertainty. Yes, we want to reduce the chance of an event that could harm a nonprofit’s objectives, but uncertainty can also provide opportunity. In other words, some risk-taking is worth the opportunity to further the Mission,” explains Sam.

Aside from offering terrific networking opportunities, USD states “the purpose of the Annual Nonprofit Governance Symposium is to highlight current best practices, lessons learned from the field, and trends in effective nonprofit and philanthropic board leadership, as well as board recruitment and retention.”

“I found the event to be truly top notch,” commented Sam. “It’s exciting to visit with leaders in our field of expertise. So many great ideas and experiences were shared. I’m just happy to contribute to the community.”

 USD’s Nonprofit Institute will hold its next event in Fall of 2018. 

Drew and Dave Garcia Participate in NALP’s LEADERS FORUM, Punta Cana Dominican Republic

Author, Drew Garcia, NALP Program Director, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

This was our first experience attending the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP) LEADERS Forum, and it will now be an annual “can’t miss” event.  The breakout discussions were presented by Sean Martin of Boston College University and Erica Dawson of Cornell University.  The speakers addressed common industry topics such as working with employees from different backgrounds and leadership decision making.

I’m so impressed with the vision and execution of the event, NALP did an incredible job finding a beautiful location and putting together an incredible agenda.  The association creates these focused networking and training events that attracts some of the strongest voices and leaders that the green industry has to offer.

While I work on the risk management side of business, my industry is without a doubt landscaping.  Working with landscape professionals and helping the industry grow is a true passion of mine.  At Rancho Mesa, we look forward to contributing our time, expertise, and overall enthusiasm to help OUR industry, the landscape industry, continue to evolve.

Drew with CEO of NALP, Sabeena Hickman.

Drew with President of NALP, Jon Cundiff, Weed-Man, Kansas City.

Rancho Mesa Welcomes LaBahn's Landscaping to the Family

Author, Alyssa Burley, Client Services Coordinator, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

Rancho Mesa Insurance Services would like to welcome LaBahn's Landscaping to our family.  We are very excited to be working together.

About LaBahn's Landscaping

LaBahn's Landscaping is a family-owned and operated design-build-maintenance firm serving San Diego County since 1984.  With 30 professional crews working throughout Southern California, we provide pro-active, sustainable landscaping solutions to homeowner and condo associations, apartment complexes, hospitals, corporate campuses, industrial facilities, shopping centers, hotels, resorts, and more. Excellent customer care, long-lasting relationships, and daily follow-through are the hallmarks of our commitment to quality and service. For more information, visit labahns.com.

NALP, in Partnership with Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Launch "Share Your Safety Stories" Campaign

Author, Alyssa Burley, Client Services Coordinator, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

The National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP) in partnership with Rancho Mesa Insurance Services announced its "Share Your Safety Stories" campaign, in early January 2018.

The campaign was designed to share creative ways companies incorporate safety within their cultural.  Submissions can include fitness challenges, stretching routines, or other creative ways companies reinforce a safety cultural.

How to Participate

• Write a story, film a short video around 1:30 minutes or take a photo of the creative way you incorporate safety into the workplace.
  
  Example: Rancho Mesa's Drew Garcia made a video that highlights Rancho Mesa's 7th Inning Stretch, walking program.

• Submit your entry by email to marketing@landscapeprofessionals.org or post to social media on your own outlets using #NALPSafe or post to the NALP Facebook page. Don’t forget to tag your post – #NALPSafe.

• Submissions will be accepted until February 28, 2018.

The best and most innovative #NALPSafe safety stories will be shared with the NALP membership throughout the year.  The winner of the campaign will receive an Apple Watch.

Cal/OSHA Delivers Powerful Presentation

Author, Alyssa Burley, Client Services Coordinator, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

Drew Garcia thanks workshop participants and Carmen Cisneros from Cal/OSHA.

Business leaders from across San Diego County gathered on Thursday, January 4, 2018 for the Cal/OSHA: Enforcement vs. Consultation Branches workshop hosted by Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc. at San Diego Christian College.

Carmen Cisneros, Cal/OSHA's Consultation Services Branch Area Manager, delivered an informative presentation covering the differences between Cal/OSHA’s enforcement and consultation branches. She educated the attendees on how to take advantage of Cal/OSHA's free consultation services and provided real-world examples of her experiences in the Enforcement Branch which sparked discussions with the audience.

"Thanks for putting these on, they are valuable tool that you provide to your clients and we appreciate it," said Tyler Rogers, Heritage Landscape Services, Inc.

Mission and Purpose

Carmen began the workshop by describing her experience within Cal/OSHA's Enforcement branch before moving into the Consultation branch.  She explained the goal of Cal/OSHA is to keep people safe.  Its "mission is to promote, adopt, and maintain reasonable and enforceable standards that will ensure safe and healthful workplace for California workers."  She enjoys working within the Consultation Branch where she can help employers be proactive with their approach to safety in the workplace.

Online Resources

During the presentation, Carmen covered various pages on the Cal/OSHA website (www.dir.ca.gov/dosh) and how to navigate through the site.  She explained where to find information on how business owners can participate in advisory meetings to assist Cal/OSHA in its regulations.

Reporting

The presentation included practical information for business owners.  For example, Cal/OSHA's Enforcement Branch will respond to accidents, complaints, referrals, and imminent hazards. Carmen included definitions for terms like "catastrophe" (i.e., inpatient hospitalization of three (3) or more employees) and "serious exposure" (i.e., exposure to a hazardous substance sufficient to create a realistic possibility that death or serious physical harm in the future could result from the exposure). There was also a discussion on when and how to report an accident. When required, an employer must call to report the accident within 8 hours of knowledge of the event.  She also stressed the importance of documentation and recommended tracking the date and time the initial call was made to Cal/OSHA to report an incident.

Citations and Appeals

Carmen discussed the various categories of citations the Enforcement Branch may issue and provided maximum dollar amounts for each:

• Regulatory (up to $7,000)
• General (up to $7,000)
• Serious (up to $25,000)
• Repeat (no adjustment for good faith or history)
• Failure to Abate (maximum penalty up to $15,000)
• Willful (up to $75,000)

She also covered the Appeals Board process, including informal conferences and appeals.  The take away from this part of the presentation was that Cal/OSHA is willing to work with an employer who is genuinely taking steps to correct an issue.

Consultation Services

The main objective of the workshop was to inform employers that Cal/OSHA offers free consultation services. These are resources that are available to employers to ensure they maintain safe workplaces without the added pressure of citations or fines.  The Consultation Branch offers free:

• Onsite visits
• Offsite consultation (telephone support)
• Educational materials
• Educational outreach (workshops)
• Partnership programs

In order for the Consultation Branch to work with an employer, they must be invited and the employer must not have any current citations or penalties

The Catch.  While information is not shared with the Enforcement Branch, "serious and imminent hazards identified during a consultation are expected to be corrected in a timely manner."  So, when working with the Consultation Branch, an employer is expected to make the recommended changes within the set time frame (i.e., within 30 days, immediately); otherwise, the Enforcement Branch may become involved to prevent a serious accident.    

The Cal/OSHA website has an extensive library of educational materials that employers can utilize to ensure their workplace is safe.

Contact Cal/OSHA to schedule a free consultation.

Employee Spotlight: Rancho Mesa Welcomes Whitney Chiriboga

Author, Alyssa Burley, Client Services Coordinator, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

Rancho Mesa Insurance Services is pleased to announce the hiring of Whitney Chiriboga who is working at the front desk and in the certificate department.

Whitney's customer service experience makes her a perfect fit for Rancho Mesa's front desk and certificate department.

Whitney was born and raised in San Diego. She grew up playing tennis and moved to Northern California to attend Sonoma State University where she graduated in 2017. She traveled for a month in Europe after graduating and besides traveling, loves spending time with friends and family and being near the beach, as much as possible.

Rancho Mesa Insurance Services sincerely welcomes Whitney Chiriboga to the RMI team!

Employee Spotlight: Rancho Mesa Welcomes Erin Thomas

Author, Alyssa Burley, Client Services Coordinator, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

Rancho Mesa Insurance Services is pleased to announce the hiring of Erin Thomas, an Employee Benefits Account Coordinator.

With a background in employee benefits, Erin brings the knowledge needed to assist Debbie Milburn with the day to day paperwork involved with administering employee benefits. 

Erin was born and raised in San Diego. She graduated from San Diego State University in 2015. And, she currently lives in La Mesa with her husband Kyle, son Jaxon, and their dog Stella. She enjoys camping, traveling, and anything that takes her outdoors.  Her favorite destinations to visit are Big Bear,  Cabo San Lucas, and San Francisco.

Rancho Mesa Insurance Services sincerely welcomes Erin Thomas to the RMI team!

Rancho Mesa Celebrates the Holidays

Author, Alyssa Burley, Client Services Coordinator, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

On Friday, December 22, 2017, Rancho Mesa staff gathered to celebrate the holidays at the company's office in Santee, CA.

Employee enjoyed a homemade meal, baked goods and exchanged Secret Santa gifts. 

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IIAB San Diego Celebrates the Holidays

Author, Alyssa Burley, Client Services Coordinator, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

The Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of San Diego (IIAB) celebrated the holidays at its 27th Annual Celebrity Waiters Holiday Party for Charity.  The event took place at the Bahia Resort Hotel on Mission Bay in San Diego, CA on Wednesday, December 6, 2017.

Hundreds of IIAB members attended the event and donated food and toys to support the El Nido Program. 

Alyssa Burley, Yvonne Gallagher and Sierra Pedersen from Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

^{Photos courtesy of IIAB San Diego.}

Employee Spotlight: Rancho Mesa Welcomes Account Executive, Casey Craig

Author, Alyssa Burley, Client Services Coordinator, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

Rancho Mesa Insurance Services is pleased to announce the hiring of Casey Craig, an Account Executive in the construction group.

Casey played seven years of professional baseball.  After his baseball career was over, he gave back to the baseball community by running numerous baseball camps, coaches’ clinics, and private lessons.  His enthusiasm towards helping others has translated seamlessly into the Rancho Mesa culture, which thrives on doing the right thing. 

Casey’s focus at Rancho Mesa is on construction insurance and risk profile enhancement for artisan contractors.  His background in baseball has led him to a greater understanding of how important team work is to accomplishing a common goal.