Employee Spotlight: Megan Lockhart Takes on Media Communications & Client Services Coordinator Role

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

Rancho Mesa team member, Megan Lockhart, has been promoted from Surety & Media Communications Assistant to Media Communications & Client Services Coordinator. While Megan gained valuable skills and enjoyed her time in the surety department, she has fully transitioned to the media communications & client services department to allow her to pursue her true passion in a marketing and client facing role.

"We are excited to have Megan as our newest Media Communications and Client Services Coordinator," said Alyssa Burley, Media Communications and Client Services Manager. "Her attention to detail, willingness to learn, and pleasant demeanor is perfect for this role."

Please help us congratulate Megan on her promotion!

Employee Spotlight: Greg Garcia Joins Rancho Mesa’s Landscape Group

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

Rancho Mesa Insurance Services is thrilled to announce the hiring of Account Executive Greg Garcia, as he joins his father Dave Garcia and brother Drew Garcia in the commercial insurance industry. 

Greg grew up surrounded by the game of baseball, it was the “family business.” After 10 years of professional baseball, five of which came at the major league level playing for the St. Louis Cardinals and San Diego Padres, it was time for Greg to join another team.

Greg arrives at Rancho Mesa eager to make his mark. He is working in tandem with Drew specializing in only insuring landscape professionals. Rancho Mesa is excited to have Greg’s dedicated work ethic, team mindset, and drive to excel as a part of the landscape group.

Employee Spotlight: Whitney Chiriboga Promoted to Assistant Account Manager

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

Whitney Chiriboga began her career with Rancho Mesa in December 2017 as a Receptionist and Certician®. In less than a year, her strong work ethic led her to being promoted to Account Coordinator. After she quickly mastered her new role, her true team building spirit gave her the initiative to assist in training fellow team members in their new positions.

Recently, Whitney earned her Property & Casualty Broker-Agent License, making her qualified to advance to her new role as Assistant Account Manager.

“Whitney’s strong work ethic, quality of work, and attention to detail has proven she is ready to take the next step in her insurance career. We are excited to see her step into this new role,” says Kim Vasquez, Vice President, Account Services Manager.

Please help us congratulate Whitney on her promotion! We look forward to her bright future.

Rancho Mesa Mixes Drinks and Makes Memories at CompWest Event

Author, Megan Lockhart, Surety and Media Communications Assistant, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

Information provided by CompWest.

On Wednesday, September 29, several members of our Rancho Mesa team attended the End of Summer Thank You Event hosted by CompWest as a thank you for Rancho Mesa’s partnership and hard work with the organization.

Rancho Mesa coordinators and executives mingled with CompWest representatives at You & Yours Distilling Co. and concocted unique cocktails at their own mixing stations. 

“I really liked meeting Jeraldine [Hartson] and James [Ruby]. It was nice to put faces to the names and to try two different cocktails that I would normally not order,” Ashley Hunter, Account Coordinator with Rancho Mesa, said. “We learned how to measure, shake, stir and pour two cocktails, a Prized Pony and a Chai Maple Old Fashioned. I liked the Old Fashioned better than the Prized Pony because it wasn’t as sweet.”

Through her experience making her own cocktail, Hunter learned new techniques.

“I learned that you put all the ingredients into the cocktail first and add the liquor last. I always did the opposite of this at home,” Hunter said.

The event also allowed Rancho Mesa’s Account Executive Jeremy Hoolihan to gain new knowledge about the history of some cocktails.

“I learned that a Gin & Tonic was originally introduced to the British army to stop the spread of malaria and scurvy. A natural ingredient in gin fended off malaria while the lime added to the drink worked against scurvy,” Hoolihan said.

Rancho Mesa is thankful for its partnership with CompWest and for hosting us for a social event that facilitated community between our two companies.

“These types of social events… build community and strengthen relationships between carriers and brokers,” Amber Webb, Account Executive with Rancho Mesa, said. “I was able to learn about the background of both Jeraldine and James with CompWest and how they have arrived at their current positions. We discussed the appetite of CompWest and some of their underwriting tactics. This allows me and the rest of the RMI team to better understand how best to represent our clients to them as well as help them to understand what types of clients we are working with.”

About CompWest Insurance
CompWest Insurance Company, part of the AF Group, is a dynamic provider of workers’ compensation insurance in California and select Western states, targeting customers in health care, hospitality, manufacturing, professional services, retail and wholesale services, and artisan contractors, ranging in premium up to $1,500,000 (maximum of $500,000 for artisan contractors). They provide leading strategies to small and mid-market employers who desire to achieve long-term cost savings. To learn more, visit www.CompWestInsurance.com

Client Spotlight: Annual Celebrity Waiters Luncheon Returns to Raise Funds for UCP San Diego

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

Coronado Island welcomed back San Diego firefighters, local TV personalities, Hollywood celebrities, look-a-likes, and caring patrons on Friday, September 24, 2021 to raise funds for United Cerebral Palsy of San Diego County (UCP) at the 38th Annual Firefighters & Friends Celebrity Waiters Luncheon.

Rancho Mesa’s Kim Vasquez, Lori Stone, Alyssa Burley, Sierra Stone, and Jack Marrs were gratified to attend as guests of Berkshire Hathaway Homestate Companies. The event was filled with live and silent auctions, generous tips and sponsorships that raised funds for the organization whose mission is to advance the independence, productivity and full citizenship of people affected by cerebral palsy and other disabilities.

Rancho Mesa is truly honored to have UCP San Diego as a client.

About United Cerebral Palsy of San Diego County

UCP is an agency committed to serving people with cerebral palsy and other disabilities and their families since 1958. Working throughout the years to improve services with every step, UCP has program centers in San Diego and Escondido and numerous community based programs serving hundreds of local citizens on a daily basis. For more information, visit www.ucpsd.org.

Employee Spotlight: Rancho Mesa Welcomes Sara Scheuneman to the Team

Author, Megan Lockhart, Surety & Media Communications Assistant, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

Rancho Mesa Insurance Services is proud to announce the newest addition to our growing team, Account Coordinator Sara Scheuneman.

Sara grew up in San Diego. After graduating from San Diego State University with a degree in kinesiology, Sara worked in the sports medicine and fitness industry. She then decided to switch paths and pursue a career in commercial insurance.

Sara has a passion for physical and mental wellness. In her spare time, she enjoys being outdoors, riding horses, fishing, weightlifting at the gym, and cooking for herself and her friends.

Sara’s diverse educational knowledge across multiple subjects such as health sciences, mathematics, and computer science, makes her a well-rounded asset to fill the Account Coordinator role. Rancho Mesa is thankful to have Sara’s intelligence and passion on the team and we are excited to see what she will achieve.

Employee Spotlight: Rancho Mesa Welcomes Amber Webb to Account Executive Team

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

Rancho Mesa Insurance Services is excited to announce the hiring of Amber Webb, newest Account Executive for Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing (MEP) contractors.

Amber started her career within the construction industry in 2005 and has worked for both a general contractor and several subcontractors. Her risk management experience began when she worked as a Safety, Environmental and Health Technician and has evolved into provided commercial insurance for MEP contractors.

Amber is heavily involved in the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) San Diego chapter, serving on the board of directors for the past four years. She was President from 2020-2021 and is currently the Immediate Past President which allows her to serve in an advisory role for the chapter. Amber has a true passion for connecting with people and helping the youth see construction as a viable career path.

“I really enjoy the relationship building aspect of the construction industry and I am excited to use my background and history to help companies with their insurance investments, as well as, support them with their risk management needs,” says Amber.

Amber’s extensive professionalism within the construction industry and impressive leadership skills makes her an ideal fit for this role.

Rancho Mesa is excited to have Amber on the team!

FUN FACTS ABOUT AMBER

Amber was born and raised in San Diego, CA. She is a former collegiate soccer player and golfer at Ottawa University. She lives in Bay Park with her fiancé, Nick, where they will soon be raising a puppy named Sierra! Amber loves riding her e-bike around the bay or to the beach to do yoga. She loves to travel, try different restaurants, and enjoys spending time with friends and family.

Employee Spotlight: Rancho Mesa Continues to Grow - Welcome Maria

Author, Emily Marasso, Media Communications & Client Services Coordinator, Rancho Mesa Insurances Services, Inc.

Another rock star joins the Rancho Mesa Insurance team. Account Coordinator Maria Lotta has several years of customer service background and is excited to launch her career in the commercial insurance industry.

Working in insurance is a perfect fit for Maria as her mom was a claims rep at Zenith for many years. It was meant to be! 

She is a San Diego native, enjoys being outside with her German Shepard Nala and hiking local trails.

Maria will put down roots at our La Mesa location, so don’t forget to say hi if you get a chance to stop in.

Rancho Mesa welcomes Maria to the team.

Employee Spotlight: Beth James Joins Rancho Mesa as Account Coordinator

Author, Emily Marasso, Media Communications & Client Services Coordinator, Rancho Mesa Insurances Services, Inc.

Beth James, a former educator of elementary through high school students and public speaking coach for a speech and debate league, has decided to take her career in a new direction with Rancho Mesa Insurance. She’s utilizing her superb interpersonal communication skills and administrative expertise in her new role as account coordinator.

 As a recent graduate of the Office Professional Training program at Grossmont College, Beth is ready to dive into the commercial insurance industry as a member of the Rancho Mesa team.

 Rancho Mesa welcomes Beth to the family!

Employee Spotlight: Rancho Mesa’s Andy Roberts Joins Board of Directors for SASD

Author, Megan Lockhart, Surety & Media Communications Assistant, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

Surety Account Executive Andy Roberts took a new leadership position as Treasurer of the Board of Directors for the Surety Association of San Diego (SASD).

With over a decade of experience in the insurance and surety industries combined, Roberts is eager to lead within the organization and give back to the community. As treasurer, he will manage and oversee the finances of the organization.

“This position unexpectedly opened up and I jumped at the opportunity to fill it, and I am very excited to be a part of the Board,” Roberts said. “I’m going to try and learn as much as possible about the position and my next position so that I can do my best for the association over the next three and a half years.”  

The Surety Association of San Diego is a non-profit organization that promotes education, legislation, and community within suretyship.

“The Surety Association of San Diego does a great job of planning events that keep the local agents and underwriters all connected, which is important as we continually try to grow our industry,” Roberts said. 

Roberts has spent the past three years concentrating on his passion for surety as an Account Executive with Rancho Mesa. In that time, Roberts has authored 14 articles about various surety topics published in Rancho Mesa’s newsletter and website, and he is a frequent guest on the StudioOne podcast.

“My favorite thing [about working in surety] are the relationships that you develop with your clients and also the underwriters that you work with,” Roberts said.

The Rancho Mesa team is very proud of Roberts for his leadership achievement and the opportunity to impact and give back to the industry through his new position.

“To me, this position is a way to further my involvement in the surety community which is important to me because I’m very passionate about the industry and doing anything I can to help it,” Roberts said.