Advancing Education: Brittney Thompson Completes Contract Surety School Course

Author, Megan Lockhart, Marketing & Media Communications Specialist, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

Rancho Mesa’s Surety Client Coordinator Brittney Thompson reached an impressive educational milestone recently, completing the “Contract Surety School – Level 1” course, through the National Association of Surety Bond Producers (NASBP).

The three-day course is aimed towards in-house bond department staff and producers, and the curriculum covers topics such as financial statement analysis, work in process concepts and applications. It also teaches credit information-gathering techniques, bond submissions, review of bond forms, and claims handling concepts.

Having completed this course, Brittney is further equipped with the professional knowledge and tools necessary to provide exceptional service to our surety clients, as well as advance her own career.

“I feel so valued and honored that you are investing time, money, and energy into me, to further my career in surety. I am so grateful.” Thompson said.

Rancho Mesa supports both the professional growth and educational advancement of its employees. We are proud of Brittney for her example of initiative, drive, and success with this achievement.

19 Years Strong: Rancho Mesa Named IIAB National Best Practices Agency

Author, Megan Lockhart, Marketing & Media Communications Specialist, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc

Rancho Mesa Insurance is honored to be awarded the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America's (Big “I”) Best Practices Agency designation for the 19th consecutive year.

The IIAB defines insurance companies who achieve the Best Practices Agency title as elite industry leaders. This year, over 1,100 agencies throughout the U.S. were nominated to compete for the designation. The agency submissions were scored and ranked objectively on a variety of performance factors. Rancho Mesa was one of only 348 agencies that scored high enough to qualify as a Best Practices Agency.

“Being selected as a Best Practices Agency now for the 19th consecutive year is something I’m extremely proud of,” Rancho Mesa President and CEO, David Garcia, said.

Each year, the data submitted by these top-performing agencies serves as the foundation for the Big “I” Best Practices Study, which is used as a benchmark for other agencies to measure their performance and adjust their businesses based on best practices guidelines.

“The award is one that you have to continually earn the old fashion way, by future of your financial stability, expertise and the services you offer both your clients and employees. With around 39,000 insurance agencies in the United States, being one of just a few hundred agencies honored is really special,” Garcia said.

For nearly two decades, Rancho Mesa has prioritized excellence across all categories of business. The National Best Practices Agency Award serves as a reminder that we’re doing things right, by way of our growth, financial operations, and client care. 

To learn more about what it takes to be a "Best Practices Agency," visit www.independentagent.com/best-practices.

Rancho Mesa Launches New Weekly Driver Safety Toolbox Talk Subscription

Author, Jadyn Brandt, Client Communications Coordinator, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

In a hardening auto market, it is more important than ever to ensure your employees are safe while behind the wheel. If your employees are required to drive while on the job, taking proper steps to train drivers on necessary safety precautions can lead to fewer accidents and lower insurance costs.

That is why Rancho Mesa is excited to announce the launch of our new weekly Driver Safety Toolbox Talk subscription, delivering driver safety meeting content directly to your inbox.

Each week, subscribers will receive an email containing one of Rancho Mesa’s 52 driver-specific toolbox talks, available in both English and Spanish. These toolbox talks can be used as weekly safety meeting topics to strengthen fleet safety and driver awareness. Our content covers a variety of subjects and problems that might arise behind the wheel, including daily vehicle checks, handling aggressive drivers, and proper load securement to name a few.

Subscribe to Rancho Mesa’s free weekly Driver Safety Toolbox Talks to start receiving safety content and empower your employee to make safer decisions behind the wheel.

Rancho Mesa also provides additional driver safety resources, including vehicle inspection reports and fleet safety training accessible through the SafetyOne™ platform and the Building A Fleet Safety Program with Rancho Mesa's Tools & Resources webinar.

More driver training tips can be found on our website.

Rancho Mesa Employee Referral Program: Rewarding OneofOne® Talent

Author, Megan Lockhart, Marketing & Media Communications Specialist, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

Rancho Mesa believes great people know great people, an idea recently demonstrated by Client Managers Amy Johnston and Kevin Dwyer through our Employee Referral Program.

Amy received a referral bonus after recommending Kevin for our open Client Manager position in the Construction Group. Kevin officially joined the team last month, and we were excited to welcome him to the Rancho Mesa family.

The Employee Referral Program recognizes and rewards team members who help our team grow by bringing in top talent. Once a referred candidate is hired and completes a number of employment days, the referring employee receives a bonus as a sign of appreciation for their contribution.

The program has become a valuable resource for attracting qualified professionals while cultivating community at Rancho Mesa. We are thankful to Amy for setting a OneofOne example.

Rancho Mesa Sponsors NAWIC San Diego Annual Golf Tournament

Author, Megan Lockhart, Marketing & Media Communications Specialist, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

On Friday, July 25, Rancho Mesa was proud to sponsor NAWIC San Diego’s 3rd Annual Paula Covert Memorial Golf Tournament at Twin Oaks Golf Course in San Marcos, CA.

Partner Alyssa Burley, Marketing & Media Communications Specialist Megan Lockhart and Client Technology Specialist Brenda Khalil handed out snacks, refreshments and Rancho Mesa koozies while connecting with tournament participants at our table on Hole 11.

Players could also subscribe to one of our email newsletters for a chance to win two Padres tickets.

Rancho Mesa was grateful to NAWIC for hosting this fun-filled event that offered us the opportunity to network and build stronger relationships within the industry.

Rancho Mesa Attends San Diego ASA Annual Awards and Installation Banquet

Author, Jadyn Brandt, Client Communications Coordinator, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

Rancho Mesa’s Surety Group Leader Andy Roberts and Surety Relationship Executive Anne Wright were in attendance for the San Diego Associated Subcontractors Alliance (ASA) 35th Annual Awards and Installation Banquet on Friday, July 18, 2025.

ASA rolled out the red carpet at Humphrey’s by the Bay for a night of cocktails, dinner, and industry awards to celebrate the achievements of its members.

San Diego ASA brings together subcontractors, specialty trade contractors and, construction industry suppliers, providing them with support, resources, and networking opportunities. Anne Wright previously held positions as ASA’s President, Board Member, and Chairperson.

New Employee Spotlight: Rancho Mesa Welcomes Kevin Dwyer

Author, Megan Lockhart, Marketing & Media Communications Specialist, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

Rancho Mesa is excited to welcome the newest member of its Client Management team, Kevin Dwyer.

Kevin will support the Construction Group, particularly HVAC and plumbing clients. After graduating from San Diego State University with a Bachelor of Arts in History, Kevin gained nearly 10 years of experience in the insurance industry, and over 5 years as a Client Manager. His career background makes him a valuable addition to our team.

Kevin was born and raised in San Diego. Outside of work, he enjoys golfing, fishing, and coaching his children’s sports teams.

We are excited about Kevin joining the client management team and we look forward to his future at Rancho Mesa.

New Employee Spotlight: Rancho Mesa Welcomes Emily Feemster

Author, Megan Lockhart, Marketing & Media Communications Specialist, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

Rancho Mesa is excited to welcome the newest member of its Client Services team, Emily Feemster, as a Client Data Analyst & Technology Coordinator. 

In her role, Emily will support Account Executives by providing benchmarking and data analysis, as well as preparing documents for pre-renewal and claims review meetings. She will also work directly with clients, helping them navigate the SafetyOne™ Platform and the RM365 HRAdvantage™ Portal, and access their resources.

Emily recently graduated from the University of Washington with a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration, majoring in Management Information Systems. Her background in both business strategy and technology makes her a strong addition to the team and well-suited for her new role.

“I'm super excited to start my career with Rancho Mesa,” Feemster said. With both of my parents also in the insurance industry, it is exciting to follow in their footsteps and be a part of the San Diego insurance community.”

Emily grew up in Carlsbad, CA, and still resides there today. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling, and exploring new restaurants.

Employee Spotlight: Maria Lotta Promoted to Client Manager

Author, Megan Lockhart, Marketing & Media Communications Specialist, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

Rancho Mesa is proud to announce the promotion of Maria Lotta from Assistant Client Manager to Client Manager.

Maria joined RMI in August 2021 as a Client Coordinator and was promoted to Assistant Client Manager in 2024, serving within the Construction group. Since then, she has proven to be a dedicated and valuable member of the Rancho Mesa team, consistently going above and beyond for both clients and fellow employees.

In her new role as Client Manager, Maria will transition to the Human Services group, where she will support non-profit and social services clients.

We congratulate Maria on this well-deserved promotion and look forward to her continued success at Rancho Mesa.

SafetyOne™ Adds New Functionality for Training Reminders

Author, Jadyn Brandt, Client Communications Coordinator, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

Rancho Mesa aims to provide practical resources to help our clients implement an effective safety program and mitigate risks. We do this by listening to feedback from our clients and implementing features to better serve their needs.

In the latest platform update, SafetyOne™ Administrators (often safety managers and human resources personnel) can ensure their team stays on top of online trainings with our new email reminder feature. Administrators can set email reminders to be sent at three different intervals and/or daily until the training is completed.

“Our clients expressed a need, and we listened,” Rancho Mesa Client Technology Specialist Brenda Khalil said. “This new feature is a great addition to the platform, and we feel it will become a key feature for ensuring employees stay on top of training within their organization.”

The training reminders can be accessed through the SafetyOne website. For step-by-step instructions on how to schedule training reminders, visit Rancho Mesa’s SafetyOne FAQ page.