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.

Employee Spotlight: Andy Roberts Takes Lead of Surety Group

Rancho Mesa is excited to announce Andy Roberts’s new leadership role as Surety Group Leader.

Andy has been with Rancho Mesa since 2018 when he joined the team as a Surety Account Executive.

“Seven years ago I made complete change in my career and came over to Rancho Mesa to start working with Matt Gaynor in the Surety Department, and it has been one of the best decisions I could have made,” Roberts said. “I’m incredibly excited to step into the role of Surety Group Leader and I'm very grateful for the trust that ownership is putting in me to keep building something special within RMI.”

Andy’s dedication, expertise, and team-first mentality have made him an excellent fit for the leadership role. Rancho Mesa congratulates Andy on his achievement and looks forward to his continued success with the Surety Group.

Rancho Mesa Celebrates Partners and Clients with Fiesta Friday 2025

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

Fresh tacos, live music and sunshine set the scene on Friday, May 9, as Rancho Mesa hosted its annual Fiesta Friday event on the lawn and recreational space of its Mission Valley office.

A beloved tradition, the event brought together employees, clients, and carrier partners to an outdoor Cinco de Mayo-inspired party.

The event featured a live band, street tacos, a churro stand, and tequila tasting. Guests socialized, enjoyed delicious food and sipped Don Pilar Extra Añejo and Komos Añejo Cristalino at the tequila tasting table, and voted on their favorite.

Rancho Mesa President Dave Garcia thanked guests for attending and drew names for the raffle. Winners took home one bottle of tequila.

Rancho Mesa is grateful for the clients and partners who attended Fiesta Friday 2025, making it such a success. We enjoyed spending the afternoon connecting with our guests and are thankful for their dedicated relationship to the brokerage.  

Grow With Us: Rancho Mesa Expansion Brings New Opportunities to Mission Valley

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

Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc. is excited to announce the expansion of its Mission Valley office. In response to our continued and steady growth since moving into this new space 2 years ago, Rancho Mesa’s latest office expansion is expected to provide additional career opportunities to both current and future employees in the San Diego insurance community.

Rancho Mesa continues to grow organically as we build up our book of business one client at a time. To meet our growing needs, we recently acquired additional office space, expanding to occupy the entire second floor of our building in the Mission City Corporate Center. The new space underwent a three-month renovation to emulate Rancho Mesa’s rustic modern office style  including a second kitchen, lounge, additional offices and cubicles.

“The expansion to the office is going to look beautiful,” Senior Client Manager Christina Haake said.

The expanded office is vital for the growth goals of Rancho Mesa. As we continue to bring on  new clients, we are adding more team members to support them. Rancho Mesa hires top-tier professionals for roles as client managers, assistant client managers, client coordinators, producers, accounting assistants, client services, and media communications professionals in order to support our growth. The new space accounts for these positions and will allow for over 30 new employees, which we anticipate to fill within the next few years.

 “When I joined Rancho Mesa and its 18 staff members in 2010, our beautiful office in Santee seemed like it would fit us forever,” Sam Brown, Vice President of the Human Services Group, said. “I feel so fortunate that Rancho Mesa's high standards of how a workplace should look and feel have not wavered as we have grown the last 15 years. The new space is just as warm, welcoming, and beautiful as the day I first joined the company.”

As Rancho Mesa looks towards the future, we are excited and proud to not only further the careers of our current employees, but also to establish a greater commitment to the San Diego job market, creating more opportunities in the community.

“I’m so excited as we near the completion of the expansion of our office. It looks amazing and the timing is perfect to meet the needs of our continued organic growth. This expansion gives us the footprint we need to add new team members and create more career opportunities for all our employees,” Rancho Mesa President and CEO Dave Garcia said.

Rancho Mesa is looking for people who love what they do and want to join a winning team. Visit our www.RanchoMesa.com/careers page to learn more about joining our team.

Employee Spotlight: Brenda Khalil Promoted to Client Technology Specialist

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

Rancho Mesa is excited to congratulate Brenda Khalil on her promotion to Client Technology Specialist.

Brenda initially joined Rancho Mesa in November 2023 as a Client Coordinator supporting our landscape and tree care group. In July 2024, she transitioned to the Media Communications & Client Services department as a Client Technology Coordinator. In this role, Brenda quickly mastered the SafetyOne™ platform and RM365 HRAdvantage™ portal, and built-up her knowledge of workplace safety. She diligently met with clients, sharing the resources Rancho Mesa offers.

Through her expertise, job ownership, and teamwork, Brenda is ready to further support clients as a Client Technology Specialist where she will be more active in the development and presentation of various training content as well as analyze platform usage.

"I'm super excited for the opportunity to contribute more to our Client Services Team, as well as step up into a more involved role with our clients and the implementation of our SafetyOne™ Platform," Khalil said.

Rancho Mesa commends Brenda for her initiative and passion for her role. We look forward to her continued growth within the company.

Employees Overwhelmingly Vote Rancho Mesa Best Workplace

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

The insurance industry is a people business and Rancho Mesa is proud of the work we do in our community and the people on our team. The dedicated individuals who protect our clients are truly what sets us apart.

We value employee satisfaction across all areas of life. So much so, we decided to ask employees about their job satisfaction and we found that 93.5% of our employees said they have a high level of overall job satisfaction. And, while many companies have purchased “best place to work” awards through various publications, Rancho Mesa wanted real data from our real employees. Last year, Rancho Mesa used MarshBerry’s reputable Employee Engagement Survey which allowed employees to voice their opinions honestly and confidentially. MarshBerry then evaluated the feedback and provided a summary of the results. These results offered insight into areas such as career advancement, management, and work/life balance. Here’s what they discovered.

94.3% of employees say their work schedule allows them to have a work/life balance.
Rancho Mesa prioritizes work/life balance by ensuring manageable workloads, encouraging employees to take regular breaks, and time off. The agency offers a strong PTO policy, wellness programs via its health benefit plans, all in order to support employees' well-being. Rancho Mesa leadership promotes deep respect for personal time, with no expectations for after-hours work. The agency believes in recognizing the team’s efforts, ensuring that everyone can maintain a healthy balance between their professional and personal lives.

97.4% of employees say their careers are being advanced by working at Rancho Mesa.
The agency supports employees' career growth through continuing education courses, professional development workshops, and internal promotions. Rancho Mesa funds insurance licensing and certifications for team members, encouraging designations such as AIS, AINS, CRIS, and CISR. Furthermore, in 2024 Rancho Mesa promoted 16% of its entire workforce to more advanced positions. The agency is passionate about supporting its employees' professional goals, setting them up for a fulfilling and successful careers.

97.5% of employees say their immediate supervisor cares about their well-being.
Rancho Mesa upholds a leadership style that is committed to maintaining open lines of communication, regular check-ins and guidance when needed. Leadership also recognizes and celebrates achievements with initiatives like the OneofOne® Recognition Program, encouraging both leadership and employees to submit praise for when their team members go above and beyond. Based on the numbers, 67% of Rancho Mesa employees were publically recognized for their OneofOne work in 2024. The agency is proud to have cultivated a work environment where employees feel supported and truly cared for by their team.  

97.4% of employees say their job fully utilizes their knowledge, skills and experience.
The agency is committed to offer challenging and meaningful work that aligns with the team’s individual expertise. Rancho Mesa also utilizes employees' skills by creating opportunities for them to train and mentor others, encouraging continuous learning, and ensuring every team member can grow and contribute in their own distinct way.

92.1% of employees say they plan to keep working at Rancho Mesa for at least the next three years.
Rancho Mesa is proud to maintain a low employee turnover rate, which reflects the strong loyalty and satisfaction felt among the team members. Many employees choose to build long-term careers with Rancho Mesa, some even retire after 20+ years. Rancho Mesa believes this is the biggest indicator of its commitment to employees.

We’re honored to have the real voices of our team vote Rancho Mesa a best place to work, and we’re proud of the company culture that led to these results. If you are seeking a lasting career that values personal growth, professional development, and a positive work environment, you are invited to explore Rancho Mesa’s employment opportunities. 

Employee Spotlight: Brenda Khalil Becomes Safety Star Certified in Construction

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

Rancho Mesa’s Brenda Khalil pictured holding her RM365 Advantage Safety Star certification.

Rancho Mesa congratulates client technology coordinator, Brenda Khalil, for earning her certification in construction safety as a part of our 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.

“Participating in the Safety Star program is a key factor in helping our clients mitigate risks. Gaining knowledge from getting certified, plays an essential role in understanding the risks within many industries and better allows me to assist our clients in implementing an effective safety culture throughout their organization,“ Khalil said.

The Safety Star program is just one way Rancho Mesa ensures not only our clients but also our team members understand how to mitigate industry-specific risks

Employee Spotlight: Rachel Bristol Promoted to Client Manager

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

We are pleased to congratulate Rachel Bristol on her recent promotion from Assistant Client Manager to Client Manager.

Rachel recently celebrated her 5th anniversary with Rancho Mesa. Since her start in 2019 as a receptionist and Certician©, Rachel has made impressive career strides, moving up to Client Coordinator the following year.

Through her excellent dedication to her team, supporting client managers, she was then promoted to the Assistant Client Manager role in 2022, where she continued to excel and expand her responsibilities.
Throughout her career, Rachel has become our most accomplished client coordinator trainer, dedicating much of her time to training her new team members. In the past two years especially, Rachel has gained valuable experience assisting client managers while also maintaining her own book of clients, to prepare for her new role.

“I am thrilled about my promotion to the position of Client Manager. I look forward to being more hands-on with our clients and taking on new challenges,” Bristol said. “I am grateful for the opportunity to grow and learn.”

We are thankful for Rachel’s contributions to Rancho Mesa, and we are proud of her impressive career achievements.

Employee Spotlight: Ashley Hunter Earns CRIS Designation

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

Rancho Mesa Assistant Client Manager, Ashley Hunter, took a commendable step in her career recently by earning her CRIS designation.

The Construction Risk and Insurance Specialist (CRIS®) certification is an educational program for insurance professionals that focuses on the insurance and risk management needs of construction projects and contractors. Those who complete the program prove a dedication to the industry and an expertise in construction insurance and risk management.

“I am glad I have the opportunity to continue to learn and grow within the insurance industry,” Hunter said. “Gaining my CRIS was a big accomplishment for me to complete through one of our busiest times.”

Ashley began her insurance career issuing certificates. She then gained bonding experience working in the Surety department, and has now moved to the Landscape Group managing her own accounts and providing support to the Client Manager.

Rancho Mesa is proud of Ashley’s career achievement and commitment to our team.

Employee Spotlight: Megan Lockhart Promoted to Marketing and Media Communications Specialist

Author, Alyssa Burley, Partner, Media Communications and Client Services Group, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

Rancho Mesa is excited to announce Megan Lockhart has been promoted to Marketing and Media Communications Specialist.

Megan joined Rancho Mesa in July 2021 as a Surety & Media Communications Assistant where she split her time between the Surety Group and the Media Communications and Client Services Group. After only a few months, she transitioned to the Media Communications and Client Services Coordinator role where she, most notably, assisted clients with the transition from the Risk Management Center to the SafetyOne™ mobile app and website. In September 2023, her role’s focus and title changed to Client Communications Coordinator where she has ultimately honed her strategic communications skills and stepped up to learn new skills when needed in a marketing and media communications capacity.

“I am honored and excited to step into this new role as Marketing and Media Communications Specialist,” Megan said. “I'm looking forward to taking on new responsibilities and initiative within our team!”

Rancho Mesa appreciates the dedication of its team members and is proud to watch them grow in their careers.