Employee Spotlight: Kathryn Zamora Becomes Safety Star Certified in Construction

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

Rancho Mesa’s Kathryn Zamora pictured holding her RM365 Advantage Safety Star certification.

Rancho Mesa would like to congratulate client technology coordinator, Kathryn Zamora, for recently earning her certification in construction safety as a part of the RM365 Advantage Safety Star™ program.

The courses in the Safety Star program teach important topics relating to construction safety in the workplace to help employers mitigate job-related injuries. Fall protection, ladder safety, heat illness prevention, and fleet safety are a few of the courses participants must pass in order to earn their certification in construction safety.

“Our Safety Star Program helped me learn about the safety requirements and standards in our client's industries,” Zamora said. “Now, I can confidently recommend the material in each course to clients looking to improve their safety programs.”

The Safety Star Program is just one way Rancho Mesa ensures our team understands the industry-specific risks our clients are exposed to in order to help mitigate them.   

Rancho Mesa Team Celebrates Aztecs' First Win of the Season at Snapdragon Stadium

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

On a sunny Saturday, August 26, 2023, Rancho Mesa employees came together for a day of camaraderie and sportsmanship at San Diego's Snapdragon Stadium. The occasion was the highly anticipated matchup between the San Diego State Aztecs and the Ohio Bobcats. From the comfort of Rancho Mesa's box suite, employees reveled in the game's twists and turns, surrounded by a vibrant atmosphere of cheering fans.

Amid the cheers and applause, employees enjoyed the perks of their VIP experience, savoring complimentary food and drinks while basking in the thrill of the game.

This memorable outing not only marked the Aztecs' first game of the season but also strengthened the bonds among Rancho Mesa's employees, fostering a sense of unity and shared achievement.

New Employee Spotlight: Rancho Mesa Welcomes Reina Maniscalco

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

Rancho Mesa would like to announce a new addition to the team, Reina Maniscalco as a Client Coordinator.

Reina has over 15 years of impressive customer service experience in both the health care and construction industries. Most recently, she ran her husband's grading and excavation company, which helps her better understand our construction clients’ needs.

Although Reina has lived in many different states throughout her life, she is native to San Diego and loves living here. Outside of work, Reina likes cooking and watching her daughter play basketball. She enjoys spending time with her family, camping, boating, and road tripping in nature.

Reina has a passion for helping others. Her years of experience make her a valuable addition to her new team. We are thrilled to see what her future holds at Rancho Mesa.

“I am excited to grow with RMI and look forward to making it my second home and family,” Reina said. “I absolutely love the positive and genuine vibe here at Rancho Mesa.”

Rancho Mesa Hosts Contractual Risk Transfer Workshop

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

On Friday, August 18, 2023, Rancho Mesa hosted an informative workshop, Safeguard Your Company with Contractual Risk Transfer, at the Mission Valley Library, presented by Alan Coppola from Travelers Insurance. 

Attendees enjoyed fresh coffee and pastries as Coppola outlined how companies can use contractual risk transfer to protect themselves from liability claims in the construction industry.

He explained the importance of written contracts in contractor agreements and the risk exposures to beware of when signing them.

In his presentation, Coppola emphasized the importance of establishing a record retention policy and explained how contracts can be used as a tool to transfer risk. He concluded by advising clients to assess their company’s contractual risk process to ensure they are fully protected.

Rancho Mesa offers industry-specific workshops such as this to ensure clients have access to the information they need to protect their organizations.

Our next workshop is Fighting Fraud within the CA Workers’ Compensation System on Friday September 22, 2023. Register today.

Rancho Mesa's Unbroken Streak: 17 Years of Excellence Recognized in National Best Practices Competition

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

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 seventeenth 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 35,000 independent insurance agencies in the U.S., only about 150 across the nation were chosen this year for this distinction. In California, Rancho Mesa is among about a dozen agencies to earn the Best Practices status.

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.

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.

“This is an award that is difficult to achieve, so I’m particularly proud of our continued efforts. Congratulations one and all for your contributions and efforts,” Rancho Mesa President, Dave Garcia said. 

Each year, the Big “I” publishes its "Best Practices Study" using financial and operational data collected from agencies throughout the United States. The 2023 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, and industry specific training.

New Employee Spotlight: Rancho Mesa Welcomes Kathryn Zamora as Client Technology Coordinator

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

Rancho Mesa is excited to introduce a new member to our Media Communications & Client Services department Kathryn Zamora, as Client Technology Coordinator.

Kathryn grew up in North County, San Diego. After graduating from the University of Colorado Boulder in 2021 with a degree in journalism and a minor in sports media, Kathryn gained career experience working in marketing, acquisitions and technical writing fields.   

With her education and career background, Kathryn will be a great asset to the department. Her role will focus on client services needs, supporting clients in utilizing our risk management tools such as the SafetyOne™ platform and RM365 HRAdvantage™ portal.

“I'm enjoying getting to know everyone and learning more about the industry from some incredible role models. I'm really looking forward to growing with Rancho Mesa and supporting this team,” Zamora said. 

We are grateful for the experience, positive energy, and professionalism that Kathryn brings to the team, and we are excited for her future at Rancho Mesa.

Rancho Mesa Supports NAWIC San Diego 1st Annual Paula Covert Memorial Golf Tournament

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

On Friday, July 21, 2023 the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) San Diego Chapter held its 1st Annual Paula Covert Memorial Golf Tournament. The tournament is named in honor of the past NAWIC San Diego Chapter President who founded the original NAWIC San Diego golf tournaments, which ran for 13 years.

All proceeds raised from the tournament are donated to the Future Construction Leaders Foundation and Rady Children's Hospital-San Diego.

Rancho Mesa had the pleasure of sponsoring a hole and providing players with snacks, cold drinks, games, and a prize drawing. Garon Smith from Dynalectric San Diego was named the prizewinner of Rancho Mesa’s giveaway which included a Yeti Soft Cooler, 2 Yeti Wine Tumblers, 2 bottles of wine, and other small gifts.

About National Association of Women in Construction San Diego Chapter
The National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) San Diego Chapter, chartered on April 30, 1959, is very active and involved in the construction industry and the community. Each year the chapter participates in a variety of events including educational seminars and conferences, Women in Construction Week (WIC Week), Block Kids (construction awareness program for children in grades 1 thru 6), CAD/Design/Drafting Contest (High School student activity), Camp NAWIC (a week long program designed to mentor high school girls planning to enter the construction industry), college scholarships, joint meetings with other San Diego professional organizations, and various activities with local charities. For more information, visit www.nawicsd.org.

Rancho Mesa Celebrates 25 Years

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

On Saturday, July 15, 2023 Rancho Mesa celebrated 25 years of providing risk management solutions to organizations across the country.

The commemoration was hosted at The Skybox at DiamondView Tower in downtown San Diego, CA. The venue provided a beautiful setting, overlooking downtown, the water, and Petco Park.

President Dave Garcia attributed the company’s success to carrier partners, clients, leadership team members including his wife Char, and the entire Rancho Mesa team.

“Thank you all for an amazing event, giving me lifetime memories, and for all that you do to make Rancho Mesa special. You are all a part of me forever,” said Rancho Mesa President Dave Garcia.

The event served as a testament to Rancho Mesa's commitment to excellence, innovation, and unwavering dedication. With 25 years of accomplishments under its belt, Rancho Mesa looks forward to continuing its legacy of providing exceptional insurance services and forging lasting partnerships for many years to come.

SafetyOne™ Releases Updated Features for Custom Toolbox Talk Screens

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

The SafetyOne™ Mobile and Desktop Application is frequently updated to ensure our clients experience the most current risk management technology. Recently, our developers have released several new features for creating and modifying toolbox talks.

When creating a new toolbox talk in the administrator website, only the toolbox talk name and summary sections are now required. Red boxes appear around these required sections, allowing clients to make their toolbox talks more concise, if desired.

Additionally, when viewing toolbox talks on the mobile app and in final reports, only sections that contain content are displayed on the screen. This simplifies the experience for the end-user and eliminates any empty dropdowns.

Rancho Mesa is also excited to announce that QR codes for toolbox talks will be available in the near future. Employees will have the ability to scan the code and sign toolbox talks on their own devices. The signatures will then collectively display on the final toolbox talk report.

Updates such as these are valuable additions to SafetyOne as Rancho Mesa continually aims to help clients manage their risk and keep their employees safe.

New Employee Spotlight: Rancho Mesa Welcomes Kelly Boman

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

Rancho Mesa is excited to introduce Kelly Boman, the newest addition to our client coordinator team.

Kelly brings over 10 years of experience in the insurance industry, along with a thorough background in human resources. Having already earned her insurance license, Kelly is “thrilled to be back in the insurance industry” and we look forward to her future with Rancho Mesa.

Outside of work, Kelly enjoys reading, playing Mario Kart with her kids, and wine tasting with friends. She also loves to travel, her favorite destination being Belgium.

With her industry experience and positive attitude, we are elated to have Kelly on the Rancho Mesa team.