NAWIC Celebrates WIC Week at RDO's Demo Day

Author, Alyssa Burley, Client Services Coordinator, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

The National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) San Diego Chapter concluded its celebration of Women in the Construction (WIC) Week at RDO Demo Day on March 7, 2019 at RDO Equipment Co. in Lakeside, CA.

RDO Equipment Co.’s staff and WIC Week committee members welcomed attendees with savory tacos, good music, goodie bags that included personal protective equipment like a pink hard hat, safety vest and safety glasses, and a John Deere pink/camouflage cap, sticker and key chain.

The evening’s main event was the mini excavator competition. Using the excavator’s bucket, participants tried to scoop up three basketballs that were balanced on safety cones, then drop the basketballs into a box. Participants were given a quick instructional lesson on safety and how to operate the Deere 35G excavator. Then, they began their timed run. Ashley Landers from Bay City Electric Works won the competition with the most number of balls dropped in the box in the fastest time.

“At first it was very scary,” said Shelby Ballow from Dowling Construction, Inc. when asked about her experience operating the excavator. “But, my adrenaline was pumping the whole time and it was really fun. I got one ball - first try. And then, it went downhill from there. But, it was really cool and every girl should try an excavator.”

The RDO Demo Day event was part of WIC Week which is designed “to highlight women as a viable component of the construction industry,” according to NAWIC. “WIC Week also provides an occasion for NAWIC’s thousands of members across the country to raise awareness of the opportunities available for women in the construction industry and to emphasize the growing role of women in the industry. It is also a time for local chapters to give back to their communities.”

Rancho Mesa Insurance Services is pleased to support the National Association of Women in Construction San Diego and its mission.

About NAWIC San Diego Chapter
The 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.

About RDO Equipment Co.
RDO Equipment Co. in Lakeside, California, serves the greater San Diego and surrounding areas. We sell and service John Deere construction equipment, Hitachi equipment, and Vermeer equipment as well as provide construction technology solutions from Topcon and more. Whether your job calls for paving, excavation, utilities, concrete, demolition, or landscaping work, our experienced sales department will help you find the right equipment for your needs. Our large inventory of parts ensures you get the right parts fast to reduce any costly downtime. We also have highly trained and certified technicians to get your equipment back up and running as quickly as possible. Contact us day or night for your service needs. For more information, visit www.rdoequipment.com.

NAWIC's Toast to the Trades Fundraiser Brings Awareness to Future Construction Leaders Foundation

Author, Alyssa Burley, Client Services Coordinator, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

The National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) San Diego Chapter kicked off the Women in the Construction (WIC) Week with a ‘Toast to the Trades’ fundraiser benefiting the Future Construction Leaders Foundation (FCLF) on March 5, 2019 at Tom Ham’s Lighthouse on San Diego Bay.

The nearly 200 people in attendance raised $10,000 through ticket sales, silent auction and sponsorships. The funds will be donated to the FCLF, a local 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to the advancement of programs focused on educating youth about career opportunities in the construction industry and encouraging them to pursue careers in this field.

Kayleen McCabe, the evening’s keynote speaker, is a general contractor, TV host of DIY Network’s Rescue Renovation, and trades advocate. She spoke about the rising demand for trade professionals and how it is currently outpacing vocational training.­ McCabe advocates for the restoration of America’s respect for the trades. She also enlightened the audience with anecdotes from her TV show and how the popularity of the DIY movement has gotten some homeowners in over their heads with renovation projects.

Ana Gutierrez, tradeswomen at Clark Construction and former Camp NAWIC participant, spoke about her journey from attending camp as a high school student and learning about the various construction trades to her successful career in the industry.

The ‘Toast to the Trades’ event was part of WIC Week which is designed “to highlight women as a viable component of the construction industry,” according to NAWIC. “WIC Week also provides an occasion for NAWIC’s thousands of members across the country to raise awareness of the opportunities available for women in the construction industry and to emphasize the growing role of women in the industry. It is also a time for local chapters to give back to their communities.”

Sponsors for the event included:
Project Manager Sponsors - DPR Construction, Tru-Duct Sheet Metal Fabrication, and MC Painting
Superintendent Sponsors - Paradigm Mechanical Corp., SMART, Titan Fire Protection, RDO Equipment Co., and Wateridge Insurance Services
Foreman Sponsors - Herc Rentals, Harper Construction Company, Inc., Ryan Companies, ROE Strategic, Sunrise Bobcat & Hauling Service, Inc., and Women’s Construction Coalition
Journeyman Sponsors - Clairemont Equipment, C-SOS Consulting, Denning Moores, SASC Surety Associates
Apprentice Sponsors - D3 Construction Services, Inc. and Ferguson Commercial

About NAWIC San Diego Chapter
The 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.

About Future Construction Leaders Foundation
The Future Construction Leaders Foundation of San Diego is dedicated to providing opportunities for young men and women to investigate the many private and public construction career opportunities available. From kindergarten to college, we have hands-on, free programs that expose students to various trades and the corresponding seasoned professionals who can guide and coach them. For more information, visit www.futureconstructionleaders.org.

Rancho Mesa Walks for Charity

Author, Lauren Stumpf, Media Communications Assistant, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

WHAT IS THE 7TH INNING STRETCH?

At the office we sit at the desk quite a bit. If you’re not careful the only time you are getting up throughout the day is at your break and lunch. So, about four years ago Rancho Mesa started a routine as part of their Health and Wellness Program. The daily walks, also known as the 7th Inning Stretch, provide an opportunity for the staff to get away from their desks, get moving, and enjoy the outdoors. Every day at 10:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. a song will play throughout the Rancho Mesa office and when that song concludes, everyone that wants to participate will stand up from their desk, walk to the front door, and head out for some fresh air. Employees walk to the end of the street, turn around and walk back, totaling a distance of a little over a half of a mile. When returning to the office, employees grab a marble. At the end of each quarter they turn in all the marbles collected from each walk. Prizes are awarded based on the number of marbles each person has earned.

This not only gives staff the opportunity to get up and moving, but it gives them the chance to talk and get to know fellow employees. This has been the biggest success with the 7th Inning Stretch; the moral, the culture of our office that has increased as we get to know each other more each day.

HOW IT STARTED

Former employee Dede Pyle proposed the 7th Inning Stretch to Rancho Mesa in November 2014, as a means to stay healthy and focused during the agency’s 01/01 crunch, which is the busiest time of year in the insurance industry. The goal was to raise the energy level in a healthy, non-stressful way, have quality time away from the workstation and create camaraderie within the agency. In addition to the twice daily walks, Rancho Mesa provides healthy snacks on Tuesday, also known as Healthy Snack Tuesday which is an alternative to the vending machine snacks.

“RMI’s 7th Inning Stretch success could not have occurred without the tremendous support of Dave Garcia and the staff. Can you name another company who rewards their employees for time away from their desks?" said Dede Pyle.

WHAT’S NEW IN 2019?

Rancho Mesa Insurance Services Inc. believes it is extremely important to support efforts within the community. Rancho Mesa currently works with over 40 local non-profits and has donated over $1 million in the last 20 years. This year employees wanted to expand the benefits of the 7th Inning Stretch outside of the office. Now employees walk for a local non-profit in lieu of individual gifts. From the 40+ non-profits that Rancho Mesa supports, employees will pick one per quarter to walk for. At the end of the quarter and once the walk goal has been met, Rancho Mesa will donate $1,000 on behalf of their employees, to the non-profit chosen for the quarter.

Employees of Rancho Mesa say, “TOGETHER WE WALK – TOGETHER WE GIVE!” 

Rancho Mesa Promotes Healthy Living with Healthy Snack Tuesday

Author, Alyssa Burley, Client Services Coordinator, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

Every Tuesday following the morning 7th Inning Stretch walk, the Rancho Mesa team gathers in the lunch room for a quick health snack.

Fruits, vegetables, granola bars, trail mix, eggs, olives, hummus and other healthy snacks are skillfully displayed for employees and visitors to enjoy as an alternative to the vending machine options. The tradition is known as Healthy Snack Tuesday.

“We all look forward to Health Snack Tuesday,” said Lori Stone, Accounting Manager and Office Administrator for Rancho Mesa Insurance. “It’s a great way to encourage employees to be healthy.”

Healthy Snack Tuesday began in 2014 as an employee suggestion and was implemented in conjunction with the 7th Inning Stretch walking routine.

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Rancho Mesa Hosts From Hire to Fire Workshop

Author, Lauren Stumpf, Media Communications Assistant, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

On Friday February 8, 2019, Rancho Mesa hosted their second workshop of the year at the San Diego Christian College in Santee, CA.

The informative From Hire to Fire: Avoiding the Top 10 Legal Mistakes workshop was presented by Chris Frank, the founder of C Frank HR Consulting. The workshop sparked many questions and discussions of owners, human resource personnel, and office managers who attended.

Attendees walked away with a better understanding of current employment laws, how to minimize legal exposure for their company, and how they can apply law knowledge to effectively coach managers/supervisors and lead employees.

If you missed this workshop, a video of the presentation will be available through the Risk Management Center, along with a downloadable version of the presentation slides and handouts.

Contact Alyssa Burley at (619) 438-6869 for more information about Rancho Mesa’s upcoming workshops and webinars.

Employee Spotlight: Michelle Pandolfi Joins Account Management Team

Author, Lauren Stumpf, Media Communications Assistant, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

Rancho Mesa Insurance Services is pleased to announce the hiring of  Michelle Pandolfi as an Account Coordinator.

Michelle’s experience working as a compliance coordinator and liaison, her great attention to detail, and strong multitasking ability makes her a great asset to the Rancho Mesa team. 

Michelle was born and raised in San Diego. After she graduated from San Diego State University in 2016, she enjoyed backpacking in Europe, during which she visited 6 countries. In her free time she enjoys wakeboarding, snowboarding, going to the beach, and traveling.

Rancho Mesa Insurance Services is excited to welcome Michelle Pandolfi to the RMI team!

Rancho Mesa Attends Farmers Insurance Open With Sentry Insurance

Author, Lauren Stumpf, Media Communications Assistant, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

Rancho Mesa’s Sam Clayton, Jeremy Hoolihan, Kevin Howard, and Chase Hixson were the guest of Sentry Insurance company at the Farmers Insurance Open golf tournament played at Torrey Pines Golf Course on Friday January 25, 2019. 

Pictured from left to right: Sam Clayton; John Fischel, West Coast Regional Executive; Chase Hixson; Jeremy Hoolihan; Kevin Howard; and Nic Hernandez, West Coast Underwriting Manager for Sentry.

The unbelievable field of PGA Tour Professionals included Tiger Woods, Rory McIIroy, Ricky Fowler, Jason Day, and 2018 Fed Ex champion Justin Rose. Rose went on to win shooting -21 for the weekend!

“The golf, weather, fans, and spending time with one of our premier carrier partners was an amazing experience” said Sam Clayton, Vice President, Construction Group at Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc. is proud to partner with Sentry Insurance. They hand-picked Rancho Mesa as a business partner to grow their market share, due to Rancho Mesa’s expertise in the construction area.

About Sentry

Sentry Insurance started in 1904 and has grown to become one of the largest, and financially secure mutual insurance companies in the nation. They have recently opened their West Coast Regional office in Irvine, CA. At Sentry—because they are a mutual insurance company—their business is built on a foundation of service to their policyholders. Although they’ve grown and changed a lot over the past 110 years, one thing hasn’t changed. They still work to serve policyholders, and to help their clients’ businesses thrive. For more information, visit www.sentry.com.

“Momentum" Video Premiers at Leaders Forum 2019

Author, Lauren Stumpf, Media Communications Assistant, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

Rancho Mesa’s Dave Garcia, President & Chief Executive Officer, and Drew Garcia, Vice President of the Landscape Group, along with Margaret Hartmann, the Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer at Berkshire Hathaway Homestate Companies, participated in NALP’s Leaders Forum last weekend in Aruba. 

The Leaders Forum is an annual leadership education conference for landscape industry professionals. It is a great opportunity for fellow company owners and executives to connect, share, and learn.

The event marked the video premier of Rancho Mesa’s Momentum. After the video ended, Rancho Mesa’s Drew Garcia was welcomed to the stage to address the audience on behalf of the company.

“It was a great opportunity to speak in front of some of the landscape industry’s greatest leaders,” said Drew Garcia. “I’ve had the privilege to work with some incredible leaders throughout my baseball and insurance career. I look forward to this event each year, I always come home with so much information that I can apply to my life; both at home and at work.”

Leaders Forum is a great way to jump start the year with fresh ideas that can be brought back to the workplace and positively impact your business.

“Let’s keep the momentum going in 2019!” said Drew Garcia.

About NALP

The National Association of Landscape Professionals is the national trade association representing nearly 100,000 landscape industry professionals in the United States, with additional members in Canada and overseas. Member companies specialize in lawn care, landscape design and installation, landscape maintenance, tree care, irrigation and water management, and interior plantscaping. Members also include students, consultants, industry suppliers, state associations and affiliate members. For more information, visit www.landscapeprofessionals.org.

About Berkshire Hathaway Homestate Companies

The Berkshire Hathaway Homestate Companies is a group of six insurance carriers that are part of the Berkshire Hathaway group of insurance companies. Headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, with more than 40 years in business, BHHC has grown from a regional organization to a national insurance group, offering insurance products from coast to coast. For more information, visit www.bhhc.com.

RM365 Advantage Safety Star Program™ Lights Up the Sky

Author, Dave Garcia, President & Chief Executive Officer, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

The response to Rancho Mesa’s proprietary RM365 Advantage Safety Star Program™ has been like a rocket launch from Cape Canaveral, lighting up the sky. Countless clients from California and as far away as Illinois have already begun the certification process in a race to see who becomes the first Safety Star Team Member.

This program is designed to provide safety education to supervisors, foremen, safety coordinators and upper management in order to lower their company’s probability of work-related injuries, while promoting a safety culture. There are many reasons for completing the certification process, including improving the safety culture of the organization which:

•  Reduces the probability of claims.

•  Improves productivity by keeping your employees safely at work.

•  Demonstrates care about the impact a claim has on the employees’ families.

•  Provides a competitive advantage in the insurance marketplace.

•  Lowers overall costs of insurance.

Leaders in the insurance marketplace agree, stating:

“Rancho Mesa is always thinking outside the box for their clients to help them better manage risk,” said Margaret Hartmann, Senior Vice President & Chief Marketing Officer at Berkshire Hathaway Homestate Companies. “We value Rancho Mesa’s efforts as they help prepare our policy holders for the future.”

“Policyholders that recognize their employees are their most valuable asset, investing in and promoting a safety culture at their company, are Stars in our books,” said Gene Simpson, Vice President of Underwriting & Marketing at CompWest Insurance. “Businesses that strive to get their employees safely home to their families at the end of the day are valued customers at CompWest Insurance Company, because they care about their employees and understand the importance of avoiding workplace injuries.”

This program is available exclusively to Rancho Mesa clients. If you have not already registered and want to enroll in the RM365 Advantage Safety Star Program™, visit www.ranchomesa.com/rm365-advantage-safety-star-program and fill out the application.

For non Rancho Mesa clients who want to learn more, please contact Alyssa Burley at (619)438-6869 or aburley@ranchomesa.com.

Rancho Mesa Kicks Off the Year With First Workshop

Author, Lauren Stumpf, Media Communications Assistant, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

On Friday, January 11, 2019, Rancho Mesa hosted their first workshop of the year: Cal/OSHA: Enforcement vs. Consultation. The workshop took place at San Diego Christian College in Santee, CA. 

Area Manager of the Cal/OSHA Consultation Services Branch, Carmen H. Cisneros, delivered an informative presentation on the various services Cal/OSHA provides for companies. Instead of employers dreading Cal/OSHA visits, her goal is to educate business leaders and have them work side-by-side with Cal/OSHA to create a better workplace safety environment. She covered topics such as, onsite assistance, partnership programs, top 10 Cal/OSHA citations, and resources that OSHA provides.

Attendees came away with a better understanding of the various ways they can utilize Cal/OSHA for the benefit of their company’s safety. Carmen suggests scheduling an onsite consultation with Cal/OSHA so a company can correct any problems, rather than have a hazard detected during inspection; resulting in fines.

If you missed this workshop and want to learn more about the services available, contact CAL/OSHA at (619) 767-2060 to set up a one-on-one meeting with Area Manager of the Cal/OSHA Consultation Services Branch, Carmen H. Cisneros. If you are outside of the San Diego area, click here to find the Cal/OSHA Consultation area office closest to you.

Contact Alyssa Burley at (619) 438-6869 for more information about upcoming workshops.

Click here for a helpful article written by Rancho Mesa’s Vice President of the Construction Group, Sam Clayton, outlining key steps to take before, during, and after an OSHA visit.