Opening Day: Rancho Mesa Employees Are Welcomed Into New Home

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

Monday, April 25, 2023 was an exciting day for the Rancho Mesa family, as the company officially moved into their new office location in Mission Valley, San Diego, CA.

Three years ago the office separated into 2 locations to accommodate growing staff. Now, the new location’s spacious layout has allowed all employees to finally be reunited under one roof.

President Dave Garcia’s vision was brought to life thanks to Char Garcia, Kim Vasquez, Lori Stone, and Alyssa Burley.

Rancho Mesa's Media Communications & Client Services team Alyssa Burley, Lauren Stumpf, and Megan Lockhart had the honor of recording the first episode in the new StudioOne™ on opening day. The three reflected on the office’s opening day and highlighted exciting new features of Rancho Mesa’s new home. Listen to episode 302 below.

Client Spotlight: LaBahn's Landscaping Holds Annual Training Day

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

Rancho Mesa would like to thank Chris Gillespie, President of LaBahn’s Landscaping, and the entire LaBahn's Landscaping team for allowing Rancho Mesa the opportunity to support their Annual Training Day. 

The company’s annual training day is dedicated to safety, HR, and lawn care operational education to ameliorate their employees and further raise the quality of service provided to their clients.

Training stations included pruning, irrigation, fertilization, heat illness safety, safely backing up trailers, and operating riding lawn mowers.

“The stations were really well thought out. You could tell that everyone was engaged, learning, and having some fun,” says Drew Garcia, Vice President of the Landscape Group, Rancho Mesa. “Looking forward to next year!”

About LaBahn's Landscaping
Information provided by LaBahns.com. LaBahn's Landscaping is a family-owned and operated design-build-maintenance firm serving San Diego County since 1984. With over 150 employees working throughout Southern California, LaBahn’s provides pro-active, sustainable landscaping solutions to homeowner and condo associations, apartment complexes, hospitals, corporate campuses, industrial facilities, shopping centers, hotels, resorts, and more. Excellent customer care, long-lasting relationships, and daily follow-through are the hallmarks of their commitment to quality and service. To learn more, visit labahns.com.

HR Portal Releases New Personalized Tools for Managing HR Compliance

Author, Megan Lockhart, Media Communications and Client Services Coordinator, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

The RM365 HRAdvantage™ portal has recently been updated with new HR Compliance features that Rancho Mesa clients can use to manage federal and state regulations based on their company size and location.

A new HR Compliance Dashboard grants visual data and information for better HR management. The interactive chart shows federal and state regulations relevant to each individual company such as OSHA Recordkeeping, Equal Employment Opportunity, and the Family Medical Leave Act.

Additionally, new HR Compliance Insights provide recommendations that companies can take action on to improve their compliance. This is especially useful if an organization adds a new location or increases their employee count.

The HR Compliance Dashboard and Insights can both be found under the “HR Compliance” dropdown on the top left of the blue menu bar. You can login to view the HR Compliance Dashboard and My Insights User Guide provided by the HR Portal. 

For more information about the features Rancho Mesa offers clients in the HR portal, contact your client services coordinator.

Tree Care Specialist Rory Anderson Panelist During NIP Group Webinar

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

Rancho Mesa's tree care expert Rory Anderson, alongside fellow industry peer Eric Petersen, were panelists during a recent informative webinar designed specifically for tree care professionals.

The webinar on April 6, 2023 was hosted by NIP Group, a carrier specializing in insurance coverage for the tree care and landscape industries. NIP Group has provided specialized coverage and risk control to the industries for more than 30 years. Rancho Mesa is proud to partner with them to provide our tree care and landscape clients with the best service possible.

During the webinar, Rory and Eric discussed coverages that tree care professionals should have, but might be missing.

"The tree care industry has unique risks that many general policies don't cover,” says Anderson. “It was an honor to be asked to speak on specific coverages and risk management practices for tree care professionals. It's exciting and fulfilling to continue to help the tree care industry."

Thank you NIP Group for hosting a beneficial forum for tree care industry professionals.

Rancho Mesa Supports FHCSD's Spirit of the Barrio Fundraiser

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

On Friday, March 10, 2023 the Rancho Mesa team attended Family Health Centers of San Diego's Spirit of the Barrio.

Attendees enjoyed a tamale lunch, while helping raise funds for the San Diego community. A panel of regional leaders opened patrons’ eyes to county wide concerns, as they addressed the severity of homelessness, and the power of strategic partnerships.

Rancho Mesa is proud to have served the incredible organization for 25 years. To learn how you can support our San Diego community, please visit www.fhcsd.org/spirit-of-the-barrio.

About Family Health Center’s of San Diego
For over 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, please visit www.fhcsd.org.

Rancho Mesa Hosts Prevailing Wage Workshop for California

Author, Megan Lockhart, Media Communications and Client Services Coordinator, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

On Friday, February 17, at the Mission Valley Library, attendees gathered with notebooks and pens in hand for the “Navigating Prevailing Wage on CA Public Works Projects” workshop.

Prevailing wage has long been a challenge among California contractors working on public works projects. CFOs, controllers, and payroll staff listened as presenter Kimberly Tobin, President and CEO of Contractors Prevailing Wage Insurance Services, taught the legal and mathematical factors required for understanding prevailing wage in California. 

In her presentation, Tobin covered selecting the right wage determination, completing necessary paperwork such as the DAS 140/142, and maintaining a proper audit trail. Calculating rates for individual employees is also not an easy task. Tobin explained the two formulas needed and how to complete a certified payroll report and the fringe benefit statement, to attendees.

Rancho Mesa is pleased to be able to offer learning opportunities such as these through our workshops, and we appreciate Kimberly for her time teaching our clients this often intimidating yet important topic.

About Contractors Prevailing Wage Insurance Services

CPW are subject matter experts on prevailing wage requirements and compliance along with Davis-Bacon regulations. In addition, CPW has found powerful and innovative ways to benefit both employer and employees, saving the employer hundreds of thousands of dollars, while helping the employees by providing them with meaningful and valuable employee benefits. To learn more, visit contractorsprevailingwage.com.

Employee Spotlight: Megan Smidt Earns MLIS Certification

Author, Megan Lockhart, Media Communications and Client Services Coordinator, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

Client Manager in the Human Services Group, Megan Smidt, took an important new stride in her career by earning her MLIS® certification on Tuesday, January 24.

The Management Liability Insurance Specialist (MLIS®) designation is an educational program for insurance professionals and risk managers. It requires five core courses as well as 6 hours of approved continuing education credits to maintain the designation each year.

“Megan's achievement demonstrates such a strong commitment to her craft and Rancho Mesa's clients. I honestly couldn't be prouder to have her as a Human Services Group team member,” Sam Brown, Vice President of the Human Services Group, said. “She is setting the bar high!”

Megan has nearly a decade of experience working in the insurance industry. Rancho Mesa is proud of her hard work and dedication to advancing her career and for setting a OneofOne® example in the industry.

New OSHA Log Documentation Features Released in the HR Portal

Author, Megan Lockhart, Media Communications and Client Services Coordinator, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

In its most recent update, the RM365 HRAdvantage™ portal has released a new OSHA log feature that allows clients to document their OSHA recordable incidents in the portal.

Clients will now have the ability to document their company’s incidents, generate the OSHA 300 Form and 300A Summary, and sort the data by location of the incident, employees involved, and type of injury.

The portal also added a feature that helps employers determine whether an incident is OSHA recordable. The user can answer a brief series of questions to help determine if documentation is necessary.  

These new features can be found on the “Safety” menu, then click “OSHA Logs.”

For further information, please contact your Rancho Mesa client services coordinator.

The Future of Risk Management: Rancho Mesa Launches SafetyOne™ Mobile Application

Author, Megan Lockhart, Media Communications and Client Services Coordinator, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc. would like to formally announce the launch of its very own SafetyOne™ Mobile and Desktop Application, a platform that will allow clients to integrate risk management with mobile convenience.   

In our continual commitment to meet our client’s needs, Rancho Mesa will be discontinuing our previous risk management platform to make way for new technology. SafetyOne™ will allow companies to effectively manage their safety and risk management needs directly through any mobile device. 

“I’m so excited about the launch of our SafetyOne™ app. Our amazing client services team has spearheaded the implementation of SafetyOne™,” Dave Garcia, President of Rancho Mesa, said. “Personal training, on-demand videos, and regularly scheduled webinars will ensure quick understanding and use of the SafetyOne™ App for our clients.”

SafetyOne™ is designed to carry out an effective safety program within your organization. With a variety of features, clients can administer tailgate talks, perform safety observations, complete mobile forms such as incident reports, and access company policies and files all from their mobile device.

“The SafetyOne™ App is really going to streamline our clients' safety programs through real-time data and intuitive technology. Plus, with minimal setup required, we expect clients to start using it right away," Alyssa Burley, Media Communications and Client Services Manager, said.

Rancho Mesa is looking forward to offering clients a unique risk management experience as well as a library of online safety training courses to assure they are best equipped to manage their risk.

“We’ve had a focus group of clients using it for the past six weeks and their reactions and excitement have been off the charts. We’ve been working for the last several years to create a mobile app that has the ability to assign trainings to employees, conduct those trainings in the field, and then digitally track their completion,” Garcia said. 

With the new platform officially launched, Rancho Mesa’s client services team will begin reaching out to clients directly to start their personal onboarding process into the new platform.

Employee Spotlight: Rancho Mesa Welcomes Robin Quiroz as Client Coordinator

Author, Megan Lockhart, Media Communications and Client Services Coordinator, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

As Rancho Mesa continues to grow our team, we would like to welcome our newest addition, Robin Quiroz, as Client Coordinator.

Robin’s experience has given her strong customer service and training skills. Her career background will be a valuable asset to the position.

Originally from Central California, Robin recently moved to San Diego and looks forward to exploring and enjoying the city. She spends her free time with her four children and her cats, and enjoys hiking and beach trips.

“I am looking forward to being able to provide roots here in the San Diego area for my children,” Quiroz said. “I’m always excited to learn new things and am thankful for the opportunity to be able to branch out into a new career with RMI.”    

Rancho Mesa is happy to be expanding its team with valuable members such as Robin and we look forward to seeing her thrive in her new role.