CLCA Supports Landscape Industry with Golf Tournament

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

Pictured from left to right; Dan Durkin from Nissho of California Inc., Drew Garcia, Greg Garcia, and Dave Garcia of Rancho Mesa.

The California Landscape Contractors Association (CLCA) San Diego Chapter held its Annual Golf Tournament on Friday, October 23, 2020 at the Rancho Bernardo Inn Golf Course.

All while supporting the landscape industry, players enjoyed warm San Diego weather on a well-known local golf course with partners, friends, and colleagues.

Following the tournament, CLCA held a virtual awards ceremony where the Team from Rancho Mesa was crowned Champion (pictured) with a winning score of an impressive 58!

About CLCA San Diego

The San Diego Chapter of the California Landscape Contractors Association boasts over 240 members and is one of the state’s largest and most active chapters. Each year, the chapter hosts a number of informative, social and educational meetings which allow members to keep abreast of industry trends, network with their peers and just have some fun. Among the annual activities chapter members enjoy are a kick-off dinner, golf tournament, a local awards program, ballgame outings, educational meetings and a holiday dinner. The chapter also produces a monthly publication (Offshoot), participates at local home, garden and consumer information fairs, hosts the Landscape Industry Certified Test at Cuyamaca College in the spring, and stays involved in local political issues affecting the landscape industry such as water conservation and sustainability. To learn more, visit www.clcasandiego.org.

No Tricks by Rancho Mesa, Just Treats for the Boys & Girls Club

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

Over the last few weeks, as we’ve heard more and more about what a different Halloween this is going to be for children everywhere, we wanted to try and help put a few smiles on children’s faces. “With COVID-19, we all feel a sense of fatigue and desire to go back to life as it once was. But, for now that isn’t possible,” said Dave Garcia, President of Rancho Mesa. “We thought, as the Rancho Mesa family, we could maybe bring some joy to a few children this Halloween.”

So, we came up with the idea to package 500 trick or treat bags; loaded with candy, a gaiter facemask, and mini hand sanitizers donated by Berkshire Hathaway Homestate Companies, and distribute them through two of our clients: the Boys & Girls Clubs of both East County and South Bay.

Rancho Mesa team members, Kim Vasquez, Lori Stone, Alyssa Burley, and Sierra Stone ordered all the goodies and for the last four weeks have been filling the treat bags during lunch. 

“I can’t tell you how much I appreciate the four of them stepping up and finding the time to make this happen – and I can’t wait to see pictures of the smiles on those children’s faces,” says Dave.

Beginning this week, the Boys & Girls Clubs will begin handing out the trick or treat bags to all the kids that visit the clubs. With each bag, there is a printed card asking them to take a picture of themselves and send it back to us so that we can post their smiling faces for everyone to enjoy.

Be sure to check back next week as we post all those smiling faces. Happy Halloween from the Ranch Mesa family!

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Ghosts, goblins and pumpkins, oh my! 

Witches flying on brooms through the sky. 

Halloween is particularly spooky this year,

Thanks to the Evil Dr. COVID we had extra to fear.

But fear not, our RMI team quickly got to work,

On a special surprise that would surely bring a smirk.

Bags filled with candy, toys and masks,

Even some hand sanitizer for those everyday tasks.

Then off to the Boys & Girls Club 500 bags went,

For all the sweet little ones whose days are spent,

With the amazing staff and team at the Boys & Girls Club,

So of course, we couldn’t help but want to spread the love.

From all of us at the Rancho Mesa Team,

We want to wish you all a fun, and safe, Halloween!

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.