2019 Closes With a Grand Holiday Celebration

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

Rancho Mesa had the best time celebrating another amazing year with our team members, friends, and family!

Our annual holiday party was filled food, spirits, music, dancing, games, prizes and holiday cheer at the Estancia La Jolla on December 7, 2019.

Rancho Mesa hopes you have a Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!

Are You Ready for 2020 Employment Law Updates?

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

Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc. hosted a 2020 Legal Updates workshop on December 2, 2019 at the Boys & Girls Club of East County.

Thomas E. Daugherty, a lawyer with Klinedinst Attorneys, led the workshop and discussed the employment law changes that will go into effect in 2020 and how you can be prepared.

Some of the key elements discussed in the workshop are:

• Independent contractors must meet all 3 elements of the ABC Test to be classified as such and not an employee.

• Mandatory arbitration agreements are no longer acceptable.

• The minimum wage amount is increasing again; affecting salary thresholds. 

In addition to these updates, the statute of limitations has increased from 1 to 3 years, and additional time has been given to employers to complete company-wide harassment prevention training. Alongside these changes, discrimination outlines have been extended to include perception against natural hairstyles including afros, braids, twists, locks, etc.

New parents can be thankful that workplace lactation accommodations have been updated and Paid Family Leave is now 8 weeks in lieu of the previous 6 weeks standard beginning July 1, 2020. Domestic partnership now includes any two adults over the age of 18 instead of the previous age of 62. Domestic partners are granted the same rights, protections, benefits, etc. as married spouses.

Construction employees, in certain counties, are required to be trained on Valley Fever and the dangers of being exposed to the fungus. The counties included, but not limited to, are Fresno, Kern, Madera, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Tulare and Ventura to name a few. Gun violence restraining orders now expand availability to employers, co-workers (with employer approval) and employees or teachers at a secondary school.

For clients who missed the workshop, a video of the presentation will be available to view on-demand in the Risk Management Center within the next few weeks. An update will be sent when it is ready to view.

Employee Spotlight: Emily Marasso Joins Rancho Mesa's Media Communications Department

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

Rancho Mesa Insurance Services is pleased to announce that Emily Marasso has joined the Media Communications and Client Services department as a Media Communications Assistant. With a background in marketing, web design, and customer relations, Emily’s energy and expertise make her an ideal fit for the Media Communications and Client Services department and Rancho Mesa team.

Emily was born and raised in Poway and now lives in El Cajon with her husband, two sons, and three dogs. She enjoys taking the trailer camping with her family and everything motorsports.

Rancho Mesa is excited to welcome Emily Marasso to the RMI team!

The Spirit of Giving Continues with OneofOne® Legacy Gift Drawing Winners

Author, Alyssa Burley, Media Communications and Client Services Manager, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

Rancho Mesa Insurance Services is pleased to announce the winners of this year’s OneofOne® Legacy Gift Drawing on Thursday, November 7, 2019.

For the second year, Rancho Mesa has asked its clients to identify what makes the company OneofOne®. What actions have Rancho Mesa employees done to go above and beyond their normal duties? For every response, clients were entered into a drawing for a chance to win one of ten $250 donations to the nonprofit of their choice or the grand prize, the naming rights to an examination room at Family Health Centers of San Diego.

This drawing is a win-win for Rancho Mesa and our local nonprofit community. Rancho Mesa gathers feedback from clients and in return, monetary donations are made to nonprofits that our clients care about in our community.

Within San Diego, Rancho Mesa works with and supports about 40 non-profits, one of those is the Family Health Centers of San Diego. They are one of the largest community clinics within the United States, offering a wide range of health care services that provides care to over 190,000 unique patients a year. They provide these services through 23 primary care clinics, 8 behavioral health facilities, 7 dental clinics, 3 mobile medical units, a teen health center, an outpatient substance abuse treatment program, vision and physical therapy, and a pharmacy.

Grand Prize Winner

Fuller Electric

$250 Donation Winners

Peek Brothers Painting
Custom Installations Inc.
NEWest Construction Co.
Rancho Del Oro Landscape
Apex Mechanical

Bert W Salas Inc.
New Wave Electric
South Bay Salt Works
American Sheet Metal
Minegar Contracting Inc.

Some of the 2019 OneofOne® Testimonial Entries:

About Family Health Centers of San Diego

For nearly 50 years, Family Health Centers of San Diego’s (FHCSD) mission has been to provide affordable, high-quality health care and support services to all people, with a special commitment to the uninsured, low-income and medically underserved. Annually, our staff provides care to more than 210,000 unique patients—a third of our region’s low-income patients—through more than 935,000 encounters. For more information, visit www.fhcsd.org.

Client Spotlight: Peak Landscape Featured on Cover of Lawn & Landscape Magazine

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

Rancho Mesa client Brian Connors, President of Peak Landscape Inc., can be seen on the cover of this month’s November 2019 issue of industry leading Lawn & Landscape Magazine.

Connors and his Truckee, CA-based landscape company were recognized in a cover article, “Report Card Time,” for their ability to use weekly performance evaluations to drive their employees’ work ethic.

“It’s no surprise that Brian and Peak Landscape are getting this kind of recognition,” says Drew Garcia, Vice President of the Landscape Group at Rancho Mesa. “He is such a smooth operator which is a reflection of his attention to detail and process-oriented style. On behalf of our team at Rancho Mesa we couldn’t be more excited for Peak Landscape. Well done!”

The article takes an in-depth look at Peak Landscape’s 10-item evaluation checklist, used to rate employee performance. Component’s on this list include safety, attendance, communication, and upkeep/appearance of company trucks and uniforms. The score an employee receives, depending on how well they complete each element on the checklist, directly effects the bonus they receive at the end of a season. As a result, Connors sees his employees exemplify an increase in productivity, higher quality of work, and an elevated respect for the job.    

“Report Card Time” and the November digital edition can be read at magazine.lawnandlandscape.com/issue/november-2019.

About Peak Landscape Inc.
Peak Landscape Inc. is a full service landscape contracting company, that specializes in the design, installation & maintenance of landscape, irrigation, patios, fences, gates, all phases of tree work and more. To learn more visit, peaklandscapeinc.com.

#GivingTuesday: One Day to do a World of Good

Author, Alyssa Burley, Media Communications and Client Services Manager, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

Giving Tuesday is a day dedicated to supporting local charities. As a community, we celebrate the season of giving with cherished meals with loved ones on Thanksgiving day. For the next few days, many rush out of the house to stock up on discounted gifts. But, Tuesday has been set aside to give back to the organizations that make a difference in our communities.

The Boys & Girls Club of East County would like to encourage you to embrace “One Day to do a World of Good” by participating in the organization’s celebration of #GivingTuesday.

Club members are getting into the spirit of giving. “Our Club Kids are hard at work raising cans and dry goods for our local food bank. We challenge you to donate this Giving Tuesday. Your gift today can transform a child’s life tomorrow. Donate $3, $5 or $10 dollars today to change a child’s life and spread the giving this season,” reads that organization's flyer.

Donations can be made at bgcec.org/donations/.

About the Boys & Girls Club of East County

The Boys & Girls Clubs of East County have been developing, implementing, and providing activities and programs to disadvantaged youth since 1961. Operating in the communities of El Cajon, Lakeside, La Mesa and Santee, the Clubs offer three full –service clubhouses with gymnasiums for children 5-10, and two Teen Centers in La Mesa and El Cajon designated for teens ages 11-18. Providing children with age appropriate activities, trained professional staff, state of the art computer labs; cool, clean, well maintained buildings and a safe, healthy atmosphere to learn and grow has been the ultimate goal of the Boys & Girls Clubs of East County. For more information, visit bgcec.org.

Client Spotlight: Rancho West Landscape Uses a Simple Newsletter to Drive Safety

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

To say Rancho West Landscape (RWL) is proactive in safety would be an understatement. They have made safety a top priority in their company. Their newsletter is among a variety safety initiatives they‘ve embraced. Each month, RWL is able to compress incredible content into a one-page company publication available in both English and Spanish. With the fast-paced schedule of daily business activities, maintaining the level of consistency in generating the newsletter is an achievement in and of itself.

Drew Garcia pictured with Christy Flores.

“Rancho West is always looking for a way to improve safety, training, process and communication,” says Drew Garcia, Vice President Landscape Group at Rancho Mesa Insurance. “This newsletter is a small example of their company’s culture that is rooted in safety. I always admire consistency in people and organizations. It has been a pleasure to work for Rancho West and watch activity like this continue with regularity.”

In the November 2019 issue, RWL announced their new safety program with Greenius. Greenius is an online safety platform designed to provide educational safety training to landscape professionals. To learn more, read Rancho West Landscape’s November 2019 newsletter Issue 16.

If you are interested in creating your own safety newsletter, Christy Flores, the writer, editor, and publisher of the RWL newsletter, broke down some of the key concepts she thinks about when generating the monthly issues:

• Look to make one key point and center the rest of the information around that point.

• Incorporate current events: time of year, weather, holidays, etc.

• Include company pictures to make it more personal.

• Recognize an employee or group of employees.

• Have fun with it (see the word search and incentive for participation).

• Keep it to one page, too much information is overwhelming.

• English and Spanish (hint: use Google translate and have someone read it over for clarity).

• Be consistent (Christy publishes monthly, but you can start off slow. Try publishing quarterly).

• Distribute newsletters with pay checks, post them in company common areas, and email if possible.

• Provide key contacts.  Christy keeps the area mangers phone numbers on every issue.

• Find the right person to own and enjoy creating the document.

• Find content online, in the news, through your association, and from your insurance broker/carrier.

• Newsletter templates are available on multiple websites and platforms. Christy uses Microsoft Publisher.

“I’m really proud of Christy for sticking to it. Without any recognition, she continued to create the newsletter to help make Rancho West a better company,” expressed Greg Duncan, President of Rancho West Landscape.

Rancho Mesa Insurance thanks RWL for allowing us to highlight their company in an effort to promote safety within the landscape industry.

About Rancho West Landscape
Rancho West Landscape has been servicing Southern California since 1990. As a local landscape contractor based in Murrieta, they have upheld the highest standard of service and continue to raise safety standards.

LANDSCAPES 2019 Conference Grows A Culture of Safety

Author, Drew Garcia, Vice President, Landscape Group, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

Rancho Mesa looks forward to participating in the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP) LANDSCAPES event each year. From veteran industry icons to rookie start-ups, this event has information for everyone.

The 4-day schedule was packed as Dave Garcia, President of Rancho Mesa, and myself championed two different Breakfast with Champions' table topics. We discussed the top five free safety phone applications for landscape professionals.

As much as we are supposed to lead the discussion at the tables I always end up coming away learning more from the group. We discussed how equipment continues to evolve, and we witness the result this has on productivity, yet not often do companies explore how they can leverage today’s tech to become a safer company. From communication to training, and overall awareness, technology is ready to make a difference in the landscape industry.

Alyssa Burley, Rancho Mesa’s Media Communications Manager, had re-arranged a hotel conference room into our mobile studio, “StudioOne.” Alyssa and I were able to interview six different landscape companies from across the country. In the next few months, NALP and Rancho Mesa will be releasing the final version of these safety interviews to help the industry share ideas and continue to build upon establishing a safe work environment.

I was also able to interview Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer Margaret Hartmann and Loss Control Manager Steve Hamilton of Berkshire Hathaway Homestate Companies (BHHC) to provide insurance carrier perspective in regards to the landscape industry. In the months to come, you will hear how BHHC takes a proactive approach to claims management and injury prevention.

At the Kentucky Expo Center, Dave and I led a hour and fifteen-minute presentation on “the Four Secrets to Making Your Safety Program Improve Your Bottom Line,” which was full of audience interaction.

On the last night, I was selected to participate in the 50th Annual Awards of Excellence as the presenter for the safety portion of the program. I had the pleasure of announcing the winners of the Safety Awards and then join Rancho Mesa client Brett and Theresa Brennan of Urban Habitat, who collected a Gold Award for their Coachella Etherea Art Park Project.

Friday morning wrapped up the event and the team headed back to San Diego, CA. LANDSCAPES is held every October in Louisville, Kentucky. We hope you mark your calendar to join us, next year on October 20-23, 2020, for another incredible event!

Client Spotlight: Urban Habitat’s Project Gains National Recognition

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

Drew Garcia, left, with Urban Habitat holding the Gold Award of Excellence plaque.

Urban Habitat’s Brett and Theresa Brennan were recognized by the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP) for their Coachella Etherea Art Park Project on Thursday, October 17, 2019 at the 50th Annual Awards of Excellence Ceremony in Louisville, Kentucky.   

“When Urban’s project was announced you could hear the entire room take notice. A special moment for Brett and Theresa,” said Drew Garcia, Vice President of the Landscape Group at Rancho Mesa. “Sometimes I get so caught up in delivering for our landscape clients, from the insurance aspect, that I don’t get the opportunity to lift my head up and enjoy the beautiful work they create on a daily basis. Our team takes a lot of pride working with Urban Habitat and we are extremely proud of the amazing work they create on a daily basis.”

The Coachella Valley, CA based company received the Gold Award for their excellence and creativity in the Commercial Design/Build category. The NALP Awards of Excellence Program honors outstanding landscape projects. Judges assess excellence in design, craftsmanship, build, maintenance, attention to detail, in addition to specific criteria for various categories, is assessed for each. Urban Habitat received the Gold Award, the program’s highest category of excellence, for going above and beyond the standard. Rancho Mesa is honored to work with a company that shares our OneofOne® philosophy.

Drew Garcia reiterated, “This was a statement project, Urban was competing against National and Super-Regional Landscape Companies to win this award. To come out with a Gold Award among companies like that is incredible.”

About Urban Habitat
Urban Habitat has years of experience as Coachella Valley's premier landscape provider. Their vast experience and expertise includes small renovations to large scale industrial and commercial sites, resorts, hotels, master planned communities and public works projects. They specialize in design/architecture, landscape construction installation, grounds maintenance, arboricultural, and water management services. To learn more visit their LinkedIn page.

Rancho Mesa Film Studio Travels East to National Conference

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

Drew Garcia interviewing Margaret Hartmann Senior Vice President Chief Marketing Officer at Berkshire Hathaway Homestate Companies.

Media Communications Manager, Alyssa Burley, moved the Rancho Mesa filming studio east to Louisville, Kentucky for the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP) 2019 LANDSCAPES Conference.

Alyssa joined Drew Garcia, Rancho Mesa's Vice President of the Landscapes Division and Program Manager for the NALP Lawn & Landscape Workers’ Compensation and Package Programs, as he interviewed several landscape industry professionals, including this year's safety award winners, and Margaret Hartmann & Steve Hamilton of Berkshire Hathaway Homestate Companies.

LANDSCAPES is an educational event for landscape and lawn care professionals. The four day event is packed full of keynote speakers, expos, recognition ceremonies, networking, and more. Presenters included Drew and David Garcia, President of Rancho Mesa, as they educated attendees on the "4 Secrets to Using Your Safety Program to Improve Your Bottom Line."

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.