Client Spotlight: FHCSD Named Nonprofit of the Year

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

Providing affordable, high-quality health care and supportive services to over 270,000 uninsured, low-income and medically underserved San Diegans, Family Health Centers of San Diego (FHCSD) has been named Nonprofit of the Year.

According to The Nonprofit Institute’s State of Nonprofits & Philanthropy in San Diego 2019 Annual Report, the region has 11,523 nonprofits; 31.5% provide human services and 10.1% are in the health sector. Only one in the district has been chosen as Nonprofit of the Year. FHCSD’s extraordinary long-term commitment to community health is exactly the reason they have earned such a prestigious award.

“Family Health Centers of San Diego is a tremendous nonprofit under normal circumstances, and amid the pandemic, they stepped up even more to make sure underserved communities have access to testing and health care services,” said Assemblymember Todd Gloria. “I’m grateful to FHCSD’s entire team of doctors, nurses, and medical professionals. I am proud to name them as the 78th Assembly District’s Nonprofit of the Year.”

FHCSD operates 49 sites across San Diego County. Their facilities include 22 primary care clinics, 10 behavioral health facilities, eight dental clinics, three vision clinics, three mobile medical units, two mobile counseling centers, an outpatient substance use treatment program, and a pharmacy.

“I am extremely proud of the work our medical staff and support teams do to ensure all San Diegans receive critically needed and affordable health care services every day,” said FHCSD CEO, Fran Butler-Cohen. “We are honored to be recognized by Assemblymember Todd Gloria and the California Association of Nonprofits as a Nonprofit of the Year for our work.”

Rancho Mesa is proud to support FHCSD’s mission and is honored to have the organization as a client.

About Family Health Centers of San Diego

For 50 years, Family Health Centers of San Diego’s (FHCSD) mission has been to provide caring, affordable, high-quality health care and supportive services to everyone, with a special commitment to uninsured, low-income and medically underserved persons. To learn more information, visit https://www.fhcsd.org/.

Culture Works Gives Remote Recruiting Advice During Live Webinar

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

Social distancing is becoming our “normal” and many businesses have resorted to tele-commuting and doing more meetings remote. In the current employment climate, how can an employer be sure they’re hiring the right fit for the company, virtually? Thanks to Culture Works, on Tuesday, September 29th, 2020, Rancho Mesa clients got an in depth walk through of best practices for remote recruiting and interviewing in a live webinar.

Kristi Pestore, CEO of Culture Works, and Melisa Meral, Culture Operations Specialist for Culture Works spent about an hour providing insight on how to execute effective remote interviews and how to attract and retain employees. 

We are in a digital age, so getting a potential candidate to click on your job posting and then follow through with submitting an application can be difficult. Key things Kristi and Melisa mentioned are both monetary and non-monetary benefits. It’s as simple as asking your current employees what they like about their jobs. It usually has nothing to do with the wage, but about the company culture. Highlighting cultural things like quarterly group lunches or holiday events can spark interest, causing a potential candidate to inquire and learn more about the company and position.

Another important thing to remember when remotely interviewing is to be prepared. If you have multiple interviewers, make sure you are all on the same page prior to meeting. Do your research on the applicant, as well. It never hurts to do a quick search on popular business-based social media platforms to see how an applicant represents themselves online.

The webinar ended with a brief question and answer segment. Some of the questions asked were, how many interviews should you conduct with a candidate? Can we ask about their past wages? And, what are some suggestions for multiple candidate virtual interviews? To find out the answers to these questions and maybe get answers to some of your own questions, watch the recorded webinar. 

To sign up for other Rancho Mesa webinars, visit our website at www.ranchomesa.com/workshops-and-webinars.

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.

Rancho Mesa Attends Annual NAWIC Golf Event

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

The National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) San Diego Chapter held their annual golf tournament on August 27th, 2020 at the Twin Oaks Golf Course in San Marcos, California. This year’s event was conducted a little bit different to ensure safe social distancing between attendees. 

Rather than their traditional golf tournament where players can mingle before and after the round of golf,  they were all given specific tee times throughout the day. 

To reduce the size of attendees and to say “thank you” to past event sponsors, the event was by invitation only. Rancho Mesa’s Sam Clayton, Vice President of the Construction Group and Kevin Howard, Account Executive, showed their support alongside John Fischl from Sentry Insurance, and Mike Weimann from 24 Hour Express Plumbing & Services.

Players enjoyed individually packaged hand-crafted lunches prepared by the golf course’s snack bar and plenty of refreshments.

To participate in the event, each team donated an opportunity prize for this year’s drawing. Participants purchased drawing tickets to raise money for Rady’s Children’s Hospital and the NAWIC Education Foundation (NEF). 

Founded in Fort Worth, Texas by sixteen women, NAWIC’s core purpose is to “Strengthen and amplify the success of women in the construction industry.” For over 65 years they have been providing education, professional development, networking and more to their members.  Learn more at www.nawicsd.org.

Rancho Mesa Named "Best Practices" Agency in National Competition for 14th Consecutive Year

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

Santee, CA, August 2020 - 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 fourteen 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 36,500 independent insurance agencies in the U.S., only about 250 across the nation are chosen each year for this distinction. In California, Rancho Mesa is among about a dozen agencies to earn the Best Practices status.

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.

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.

Each year, the Big “I” publishes its "Best Practices Study" using financial and operational data collected from agencies throughout the United States. The 2020 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, employee benefits, and industry specific training.

Rancho Mesa Welcomes Baby Girl Camryn!

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

Move over Sarah Jessica Parker, Camryn Katherine Parker has made her debut! 

It was a beautiful San Diego day on July 14th, 2020.  Account Manager, John Parker, and wife Kimmie welcomed their sweet baby girl at five in the evening. Camryn is 8lbs 10ounces and 20 inches long. Mom and baby are happy and healthy.

Camryn was greeted at home by her two furry siblings.  The Rancho Mesa family would like to extend a big congratulations to the Parker family and we can’t wait to meet Camryn and snuggle her once it’s safe.

Client Spotlight: UCP to Host 38th Annual Golf Classic

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

United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) of San Diego County is set to hold their 38th Annual Golf Classic, benefiting the programs and services provided to children and adults with cerebral palsy and other disabilities. The event will be held at El Camino Country Club in Oceanside, CA on Monday, August 17, 2020.

As an advocate for UCP's mission and 5th consecutive year grand sponsor, Rancho Mesa is honored to be a part of this event and help support the organization.

San Diego Padres Infielder Greg Garcia, Rancho Mesa President Dave Garcia’s son, is recognized by UCP Annual Golf Classic as a 2020 Honorary Chairman.

About United Cerebral Palsy of San Diego County
The mission of UCP of San Diego County is to advance the independence, productivity and full citizenship of people affected by cerebral palsy and other disabilities. By making solid steps, UCP can build a better community for all in the process. For more information, visit ucpsd.org.

To become a sponsor or for upcoming event questions contact Marc Carucci at mcarucci@ucpsd.org or call (858) 571-5365 x112.

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.

NAWIC Today Magazine publishes Sam Clayton’s Cyber Threats Article

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

Rancho Mesa’s Sam Clayton, Vice President of the Construction Group, recently had an article published in the July/August 2020 issue of NAWIC Today, the National Association of Women in Construction's (NAWIC) official publication. This nationally-distributed magazine covers construction safety, technology, leadership and other important industry topics. Leading the CyberOne™ program for Rancho Mesa, Sam is has an extensive knowledge about how the construction industry can protect itself from losses due to cybercrimes.

Sam’s article titled “3 Cyber Threats of Employee Telecommuting” features helpful tips to minimize threats to businesses while many employees are currently working remote. Check out Volume 4/Number 4 of NAWIC Today for the full article.

Founded in Fort Worth, Texas by sixteen women, NAWIC’s core purpose is to “Strengthen and amplify the success of women in the construction industry.” For over 65 years they have been providing education, professional development, networking and more to their members. Rancho Mesa Insurance Services offers a CyberOne™ insurance program designed for NAWIC members.

Want even more information about cyber threats and how you can be prepared? Listen to our podcast StudioOne™ Safety and Risk Management Network on most major streaming platforms.

Edited 4/19/2021.

Rancho Mesa’s Party of Five

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

Babies, we were all one once; and many of us have had them or are having them. During the Baby Boom, 50 million babies were born between the 1940s and 1950s. We haven’t seen numbers like that since, until this year. Well, we may be exaggerating a little.

Since the start of 2020, Rancho Mesa’s family has continued to grow. In January, we welcomed sweet baby girl Rylee. Rylee is daughter to Sierra Stone, one of our Assistant Account Managers, and granddaughter to Lori Stone, Rancho Mesa’s Accounting Manager. This is Sierra’s first child and Lori’s second grandbaby.

With March bringing more luck than ever, Andy Roberts, Account Executive in the Surety department, and wife Kelsey brought Reagan Lee into the world. Andy says he is looking forward to seeing her reach all the milestones: first steps, first word, first boyfriend – just kidding, Andy!

Springtime came after the winter melted away. We had a wet winter here in San Diego, so the season change was more than welcomed. Another grandbaby was born into the Rancho Mesa family. Kim Vasquez introduced her second grandson from daughter Brittani Davis who also works at Rancho Mesa as an Account Manager in Santee. Both are looking forward to watching new baby boy Desmond and big brother DJ build a relationship and grow together.

We also have some amazing tiny humans to look forward to in the coming months. In August, Account Manager John Parker is expecting his first baby. Their fur children are eagerly awaiting, as well. 

As Summer comes to an end, a new beginning will start at the Thomas household. Account Coordinator Erin and family are waiting for baby boy #2. Big brother Jaxon can’t stop asking when the baby will be here, and Erin just wants to hold him.  Don’t worry, that day will be here sooner than you know.

We want to say congratulations to all our parents and soon to be parents. Bringing a life into the world is one of the most special and amazing things you can experience. It’s also one of the hardest, but so rewarding. The next generation of Rancho Mesa Insurance is coming and we can’t wait to watch them grow and flourish.