Rancho Mesa News
Rancho Mesa Walks for Charity
Author, Lauren Stumpf, Media Communications Assistant, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
At the office we sit at the desk quite a bit. If you’re not careful the only time you are getting up throughout the day is at your break and lunch. So, about four years ago Rancho Mesa started a routine as part of their 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. This year employees wanted to expand the benefits of the 7th Inning Stretch outside of the office.
Author, Lauren Stumpf, Media Communications Assistant, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
WHAT IS THE 7TH INNING STRETCH?
At the office we sit at the desk quite a bit. If you’re not careful the only time you are getting up throughout the day is at your break and lunch. So, about four years ago Rancho Mesa started a routine as part of their 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. Every day at 10:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. a song will play throughout the Rancho Mesa office and when that song concludes, everyone that wants to participate will stand up from their desk, walk to the front door, and head out for some fresh air. Employees walk to the end of the street, turn around and walk back, totaling a distance of a little over a half of a mile. When returning to the office, employees grab a marble. At the end of each quarter they turn in all the marbles collected from each walk. Prizes are awarded based on the number of marbles each person has earned.
This not only gives staff the opportunity to get up and moving, but it gives them the chance to talk and get to know fellow employees. This has been the biggest success with the 7th Inning Stretch; the moral, the culture of our office that has increased as we get to know each other more each day.
HOW IT STARTED
Former employee 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.
“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.
WHAT’S NEW IN 2019?
Rancho Mesa Insurance Services Inc. believes it is extremely important to support efforts within the community. Rancho Mesa currently works with over 40 local non-profits and has donated over $1 million in the last 20 years. This year employees wanted to expand the benefits of the 7th Inning Stretch outside of the office. Now employees walk for a local non-profit in lieu of individual gifts. From the 40+ non-profits that Rancho Mesa supports, employees will pick one per quarter to walk for. At the end of the quarter and once the walk goal has been met, Rancho Mesa will donate $1,000 on behalf of their employees, to the non-profit chosen for the quarter.
Employees of Rancho Mesa say, “TOGETHER WE WALK – TOGETHER WE GIVE!”
Rancho Mesa Promotes Healthy Living with Healthy Snack Tuesday
Author, Alyssa Burley, Client Services Coordinator, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
Every Tuesday following the morning 7th Inning Stretch walk, the Rancho Mesa team gathers in the lunch room for a quick health snack.
Author, Alyssa Burley, Client Services Coordinator, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
Every Tuesday following the morning 7th Inning Stretch walk, the Rancho Mesa team gathers in the lunch room for a quick health snack.
Fruits, vegetables, granola bars, trail mix, eggs, olives, hummus and other healthy snacks are skillfully displayed for employees and visitors to enjoy as an alternative to the vending machine options. The tradition is known as Healthy Snack Tuesday.
“We all look forward to Health Snack Tuesday,” said Lori Stone, Accounting Manager and Office Administrator for Rancho Mesa Insurance. “It’s a great way to encourage employees to be healthy.”
Healthy Snack Tuesday began in 2014 as an employee suggestion and was implemented in conjunction with the 7th Inning Stretch walking routine.
Rancho Mesa Hosts From Hire to Fire Workshop
Author, Lauren Stumpf, Media Communications Assistant, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
On Friday, February 8, 2019 Rancho Mesa hosted their second workshop of the year at the San Diego Christian College in Santee, CA. The informative From Hire to Fire: Avoiding the Top 10 Legal Mistakes workshop was presented by Chris Frank, the founder of C Frank HR Consulting.
Author, Lauren Stumpf, Media Communications Assistant, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
On Friday February 8, 2019, Rancho Mesa hosted their second workshop of the year at the San Diego Christian College in Santee, CA.
The informative From Hire to Fire: Avoiding the Top 10 Legal Mistakes workshop was presented by Chris Frank, the founder of C Frank HR Consulting. The workshop sparked many questions and discussions of owners, human resource personnel, and office managers who attended.
Attendees walked away with a better understanding of current employment laws, how to minimize legal exposure for their company, and how they can apply law knowledge to effectively coach managers/supervisors and lead employees.
If you missed this workshop, a video of the presentation will be available through the Risk Management Center, along with a downloadable version of the presentation slides and handouts.
Contact Alyssa Burley at (619) 438-6869 for more information about Rancho Mesa’s upcoming workshops and webinars.
Employee Spotlight: Michelle Pandolfi Joins Account Management Team
Author, Lauren Stumpf, Media Communications Assistant, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc
Rancho Mesa Insurance Services is pleased to announce the hiring of Michelle Pandolfi as an Account Coordinator.
Michelle’s experience working as a compliance coordinator and liaison, her great attention to detail, and strong multitasking ability makes her a great asset to the Rancho Mesa team.
Author, Lauren Stumpf, Media Communications Assistant, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
Rancho Mesa Insurance Services is pleased to announce the hiring of Michelle Pandolfi as an Account Coordinator.
Michelle’s experience working as a compliance coordinator and liaison, her great attention to detail, and strong multitasking ability makes her a great asset to the Rancho Mesa team.
Michelle was born and raised in San Diego. After she graduated from San Diego State University in 2016, she enjoyed backpacking in Europe, during which she visited 6 countries. In her free time she enjoys wakeboarding, snowboarding, going to the beach, and traveling.
Rancho Mesa Insurance Services is excited to welcome Michelle Pandolfi to the RMI team!
Rancho Mesa Attends Farmers Insurance Open With Sentry Insurance
Author, Lauren Stumpf, Media Communications Assistant, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
Rancho Mesa’s Sam Clayton, Jeremy Hoolihan, Kevin Howard, and Chase Hixson were the guest of Sentry Insurance company at the Farmers Insurance Open golf tournament played at Torrey Pines Golf Course on Friday January 25, 2019.
Author, Lauren Stumpf, Media Communications Assistant, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
Rancho Mesa’s Sam Clayton, Jeremy Hoolihan, Kevin Howard, and Chase Hixson were the guest of Sentry Insurance company at the Farmers Insurance Open golf tournament played at Torrey Pines Golf Course on Friday January 25, 2019.
Pictured from left to right: Sam Clayton; John Fischel, West Coast Regional Executive; Chase Hixson; Jeremy Hoolihan; Kevin Howard; and Nic Hernandez, West Coast Underwriting Manager for Sentry.
The unbelievable field of PGA Tour Professionals included Tiger Woods, Rory McIIroy, Ricky Fowler, Jason Day, and 2018 Fed Ex champion Justin Rose. Rose went on to win shooting -21 for the weekend!
“The golf, weather, fans, and spending time with one of our premier carrier partners was an amazing experience” said Sam Clayton, Vice President, Construction Group at Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc. is proud to partner with Sentry Insurance. They hand-picked Rancho Mesa as a business partner to grow their market share, due to Rancho Mesa’s expertise in the construction area.
About Sentry
Sentry Insurance started in 1904 and has grown to become one of the largest, and financially secure mutual insurance companies in the nation. They have recently opened their West Coast Regional office in Irvine, CA. At Sentry—because they are a mutual insurance company—their business is built on a foundation of service to their policyholders. Although they’ve grown and changed a lot over the past 110 years, one thing hasn’t changed. They still work to serve policyholders, and to help their clients’ businesses thrive. For more information, visit www.sentry.com.
“Momentum" Video Premiers at Leaders Forum 2019
Author, Lauren Stumpf, Media Communications Assistant, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
Rancho Mesa’s Dave Garcia, President & Chief Executive Officer, and Drew Garcia, Vice President of the Landscape Group, along with Margaret Hartmann, the Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer at Berkshire Hathaway Homestate Companies, participated in NALP’s annual Leaders Forum last weekend in Aruba. The event marked the video premier of Rancho Mesa’s Momentum.
Author, Lauren Stumpf, Media Communications Assistant, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
Rancho Mesa’s Dave Garcia, President & Chief Executive Officer, and Drew Garcia, Vice President of the Landscape Group, along with Margaret Hartmann, the Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer at Berkshire Hathaway Homestate Companies, participated in NALP’s Leaders Forum last weekend in Aruba.
The Leaders Forum is an annual leadership education conference for landscape industry professionals. It is a great opportunity for fellow company owners and executives to connect, share, and learn.
The event marked the video premier of Rancho Mesa’s Momentum. After the video ended, Rancho Mesa’s Drew Garcia was welcomed to the stage to address the audience on behalf of the company.
“It was a great opportunity to speak in front of some of the landscape industry’s greatest leaders,” said Drew Garcia. “I’ve had the privilege to work with some incredible leaders throughout my baseball and insurance career. I look forward to this event each year, I always come home with so much information that I can apply to my life; both at home and at work.”
Leaders Forum is a great way to jump start the year with fresh ideas that can be brought back to the workplace and positively impact your business.
“Let’s keep the momentum going in 2019!” said Drew Garcia.
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 Berkshire Hathaway Homestate Companies
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.
RM365 Advantage Safety Star Program™ Lights Up the Sky
Author, Dave Garcia, President & Chief Executive Officer, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
The response to our proprietary RM365 Advantage Safety Star Program™ has been like a rocket launch from Cape Canaveral, lighting up the sky. Countless clients from California and from as far away as Illinois have already begun the certification process, in a race to see who becomes the first Safety Star Team Member.
Author, Dave Garcia, President & Chief Executive Officer, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
The response to Rancho Mesa’s proprietary RM365 Advantage Safety Star Program™ has been like a rocket launch from Cape Canaveral, lighting up the sky. Countless clients from California and as far away as Illinois have already begun the certification process in a race to see who becomes the first Safety Star Team Member.
This program is designed to provide safety education to supervisors, foremen, safety coordinators and upper management in order to lower their company’s probability of work-related injuries, while promoting a safety culture. There are many reasons for completing the certification process, including improving the safety culture of the organization which:
Reduces the probability of claims.
Improves productivity by keeping your employees safely at work.
Demonstrates care about the impact a claim has on the employees’ families.
Provides a competitive advantage in the insurance marketplace.
Lowers overall costs of insurance.
Leaders in the insurance marketplace agree, stating:
“Rancho Mesa is always thinking outside the box for their clients to help them better manage risk,” said Margaret Hartmann, Senior Vice President & Chief Marketing Officer at Berkshire Hathaway Homestate Companies. “We value Rancho Mesa’s efforts as they help prepare our policy holders for the future.”
“Policyholders that recognize their employees are their most valuable asset, investing in and promoting a safety culture at their company, are Stars in our books,” said Gene Simpson, Vice President of Underwriting & Marketing at CompWest Insurance. “Businesses that strive to get their employees safely home to their families at the end of the day are valued customers at CompWest Insurance Company, because they care about their employees and understand the importance of avoiding workplace injuries.”
This program is available exclusively to Rancho Mesa clients. If you have not already registered and want to enroll in the RM365 Advantage Safety Star Program™, visit www.ranchomesa.com/rm365-advantage-safety-star-program and fill out the application.
For non Rancho Mesa clients who want to learn more, please contact Alyssa Burley at (619)438-6869 or aburley@ranchomesa.com.
Rancho Mesa Kicks Off the Year With First Workshop
Author, Lauren Stumpf, Media Communications Assistant, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc
On Friday, January 11, 2019, Rancho Mesa hosted their first workshop of the year: Cal/OSHA: Enforcement vs. Consultation. The workshop took place at San Diego Christian College in Santee, CA.
Area Manager of the Cal/OSHA Consultation Services Branch, Carmen H. Cisneros, delivered an informative presentation on the various services Cal/OSHA provides for companies.
Author, Lauren Stumpf, Media Communications Assistant, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
On Friday, January 11, 2019, Rancho Mesa hosted their first workshop of the year: Cal/OSHA: Enforcement vs. Consultation. The workshop took place at San Diego Christian College in Santee, CA.
Area Manager of the Cal/OSHA Consultation Services Branch, Carmen H. Cisneros, delivered an informative presentation on the various services Cal/OSHA provides for companies. Instead of employers dreading Cal/OSHA visits, her goal is to educate business leaders and have them work side-by-side with Cal/OSHA to create a better workplace safety environment. She covered topics such as, onsite assistance, partnership programs, top 10 Cal/OSHA citations, and resources that OSHA provides.
Attendees came away with a better understanding of the various ways they can utilize Cal/OSHA for the benefit of their company’s safety. Carmen suggests scheduling an onsite consultation with Cal/OSHA so a company can correct any problems, rather than have a hazard detected during inspection; resulting in fines.
If you missed this workshop and want to learn more about the services available, contact CAL/OSHA at (619) 767-2060 to set up a one-on-one meeting with Area Manager of the Cal/OSHA Consultation Services Branch, Carmen H. Cisneros. If you are outside of the San Diego area, click here to find the Cal/OSHA Consultation area office closest to you.
Contact Alyssa Burley at (619) 438-6869 for more information about upcoming workshops.
Click here for a helpful article written by Rancho Mesa’s Vice President of the Construction Group, Sam Clayton, outlining key steps to take before, during, and after an OSHA visit.
Rancho Mesa Releases New Fillable Accident and Investigation Forms
Author, Alyssa Burley, Client Services Coordinator, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc. is pleased to announce the release of its new fillable accident and investigation forms to clients, in January 2019.
The new forms are distributed as fillable PDFs, making completing the information simple and easy for clients who are at a computer, laptop, tablet or smartphone.
Author, Alyssa Burley, Client Services Coordinator, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc. is pleased to announce the release of its new fillable accident and investigation forms to clients, in January 2019.
The new forms are distributed as fillable PDFs, making completing the information simple and easy for clients who are at a computer, laptop, tablet or smartphone.
The “Supervisor’s Report of Employee Accident or Near Miss” form now includes a body diagram where employees can specify exactly where the injury has occurred on the body. Identifying all injured body parts at the time of the accident is important when documenting a workplace injury. This ensures additional body parts are not added to the claim at a later time.
Each form in the library is offered in both English and Spanish. And, both versions are now combined into one PDF document, making distribution of the forms easier for employers.
Rancho Mesa clients can access the new forms through the online Risk Management Center, Accident and Investigation Center or by contacting the Client Services Department at (619) 438-6869.
NAWIC San Diego Hosts Engaging Panel Discussion at January Meeting
Author, Alyssa Burley, Client Services Coordinator, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
Members and guests of the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) San Diego Chapter 21 began the new year in style with an engaging panel discussion at the organization’s monthly meeting on January 8, 2019 at the Riverwalk Golf Club.
Author, Alyssa Burley, Client Services Coordinator, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
Members and guests of the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) San Diego Chapter 21 began the new year in style with an engaging panel discussion at the organization’s monthly meeting on January 8, 2019 at the Riverwalk Golf Club.
Lisa Thibodeaux, president at Construction Experts, Inc., vice president of the NAWIC San Diego Chapter and chairperson for the chapter’s Professional Development and Education Committee moderated the evening’s discussion.
The panel consisted of Annet Del Rosario, shop supervisor for Able Heating and Air Conditioning, Mary Darling, rental operations manager for Bay City Electric Works, Katie Burke, owner and plumber at Fluid Plumbing, and Nicole Donnelly, owner of Miramar Kitchen & Bath.
Through both laughter and seriousness, panelists discussed their paths into the construction industry, their motivations, obstacles they have overcome, mentors they have had along the way, and advice for others in the industry.
After the panel discussion concluded and the meeting was adjourned, many in the audience continued the discussion in small groups throughout the banquet room.
The January NAWIC San Diego Chapter 21 meeting was a success and it could not have happened without the brave women who participated in the discussion.
About NAWIC San Diego
The San Diego Chapter, chartered on April 30, 1959, is very active and involved in the construction industry and the community. Each year the chapter participates in a variety of events including educational seminars and conferences, Women in Construction Week (WIC Week), Block Kids (construction awareness program for children in grades 1 thru 6), CAD/Design/Drafting Contest (High School student activity), Camp NAWIC (a week long program designed to mentor high school girls planning to enter the construction industry), college scholarships, joint meetings with other San Diego professional organizations and various activities with local charities. For more information, visit nawicsd.org.