Client Spotlight: Advanced Painting Shines like a Star!

Author, Emily Marasso, Media Communications & Client Services Coordinator, Rancho Mesa Insurances Services, Inc.

Advanced Painting & Wood Repair has been in the industry for over 40 years and with that comes experienced and expert staff.  The proof is in the pudding. Or, is it in the paint?  Recently, the Advanced Painting team had a number of their staff enroll in the RM365 Advantage Safety Star™ program.  In just a few weeks they had a record number of participants achieve their certificates’ of completion and more keep coming in each week.

"Companies like Advanced Painting are exactly who carriers want to pair with when it comes to safety. Programs like Safety Star can help lower the probability of accidents on the job site, promote a safer culture and potentially lower your overall insurance costs," says Casey Craig, Account Executive with Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc. 

Rancho Mesa congratulates to the entire Advanced Painting team for their achievements.

The RM365 Advantage Safety Star Program is designed for supervisors, foremen, safety coordinators, and upper management in the construction industry, or administrators, directors of human resources, facilities/operations managers and safety committee members in human services organizations.  

To get your team on the path to becoming Safety Stars, please visit our RM365 Advantage Safety Star Program webpage and fill out the application form.

Client Spotlight: FHCSD Named Nonprofit of the Year

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

Providing affordable, high-quality health care and supportive services to over 270,000 uninsured, low-income and medically underserved San Diegans, Family Health Centers of San Diego (FHCSD) has been named Nonprofit of the Year.

According to The Nonprofit Institute’s State of Nonprofits & Philanthropy in San Diego 2019 Annual Report, the region has 11,523 nonprofits; 31.5% provide human services and 10.1% are in the health sector. Only one in the district has been chosen as Nonprofit of the Year. FHCSD’s extraordinary long-term commitment to community health is exactly the reason they have earned such a prestigious award.

“Family Health Centers of San Diego is a tremendous nonprofit under normal circumstances, and amid the pandemic, they stepped up even more to make sure underserved communities have access to testing and health care services,” said Assemblymember Todd Gloria. “I’m grateful to FHCSD’s entire team of doctors, nurses, and medical professionals. I am proud to name them as the 78th Assembly District’s Nonprofit of the Year.”

FHCSD operates 49 sites across San Diego County. Their facilities include 22 primary care clinics, 10 behavioral health facilities, eight dental clinics, three vision clinics, three mobile medical units, two mobile counseling centers, an outpatient substance use treatment program, and a pharmacy.

“I am extremely proud of the work our medical staff and support teams do to ensure all San Diegans receive critically needed and affordable health care services every day,” said FHCSD CEO, Fran Butler-Cohen. “We are honored to be recognized by Assemblymember Todd Gloria and the California Association of Nonprofits as a Nonprofit of the Year for our work.”

Rancho Mesa is proud to support FHCSD’s mission and is honored to have the organization as a client.

About Family Health Centers of San Diego

For 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, visit https://www.fhcsd.org/.

Client Spotlight: UCP to Host 38th Annual Golf Classic

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

United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) of San Diego County is set to hold their 38th Annual Golf Classic, benefiting the programs and services provided to children and adults with cerebral palsy and other disabilities. The event will be held at El Camino Country Club in Oceanside, CA on Monday, August 17, 2020.

As an advocate for UCP's mission and 5th consecutive year grand sponsor, Rancho Mesa is honored to be a part of this event and help support the organization.

San Diego Padres Infielder Greg Garcia, Rancho Mesa President Dave Garcia’s son, is recognized by UCP Annual Golf Classic as a 2020 Honorary Chairman.

About United Cerebral Palsy of San Diego County
The mission of UCP of San Diego County is to advance the independence, productivity and full citizenship of people affected by cerebral palsy and other disabilities. By making solid steps, UCP can build a better community for all in the process. For more information, visit ucpsd.org.

To become a sponsor or for upcoming event questions contact Marc Carucci at mcarucci@ucpsd.org or call (858) 571-5365 x112.

Client Spotlight: YardApes Featured in NALP Podcast

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

Rancho Mesa client, Shayne Newman, president of YardApes Inc., discusses professionalism and elevating the landscape industry in episode 8 of the National Association of Landscape Professionals’ (NALP) Growing in the Green Industry Podcast.

The podcast is hosted by Miles Kuperus III, system architect at Include Software, Neal Glatt, managing partner of GrowTheBench, and Brett Lemcke, vice president of R.M. Landscape, all of which are members of the NALP. Newman has also been actively involved with NALP for about 20 years and currently serves on the board of directors.

In episode 8, “Modern Leadership: Giving Back While Moving Forward,” Newman discusses how he has grown his company while building a strong safety-based culture and raising involvement in his community. He has a lot of passion for his industry and speaks about the importance of enhancing public perception of the landscape industry.

About YardApes, Inc.
YardApes, Inc. is a full-service design, construction and maintenance company serving Northwest Connecticut’s residential and commercial clients since 1990. YardApes is one of thirteen Landscape Industry Accredited Companies in the United States and the only Landscape Industry Accredited Company in Connecticut. For more information about YardApes Inc., please visit www.yardapes.com.

Client Spotlight: Veterans Village of SD Receives Public Health Award

Author, Emily Marasso, Media Communications Assistant, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

Image provided by the San Diego County News Center.

On April 16th, 2020,  Veterans Village of San Diego was awarded the Live Well San Diego Public Health Champion North Central Region Award by the National Public Health Week (NPHW), sponsored by the American Public Health Association. Veterans Village of San Diego is a non-profit organization focused on assisting homeless veterans; servicing more than 3,000 vets across San Diego County. Their motto is “Leave No One Behind” and they have been doing just that for almost 40 years.

The NPHW runs from April 6 - April 12, 2020 and is observed across the United States. It is intended to highlight issues and contributions to public health in order to improve the health of the nation. Each year, NPHW chooses a theme that carries throughout the week with each day focusing on a different topic relating to the Live Well San Diego initiative. Appropriately for this year’s theme, they have chosen COVID-19.

Alongside daily focus topics, the county holds an award ceremony recognizing people and organizations that have helped to improve the well-being and health of San Diegans. Due to social distancing, the ceremony was held virtually, but the recipients were announced by the county during their daily COVID-19 briefing. 

About Veterans Village of San Diego
Veterans Village of San Diego (VVSD) has served all veterans since 1981 and is dedicated to “Leave No One Behind.” VVSD is the only program of its kind in the United States and is nationally recognized as the leader in serving homeless military veterans. Each year VVSD provides services to more than 3,000 military veterans throughout San Diego County. For more information about Veterans Village of San Diego and how you can help support their efforts, visit www.vvsd.net.

Client Spotlight: Peak Landscape Featured on Cover of Lawn & Landscape Magazine

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

Rancho Mesa client Brian Connors, President of Peak Landscape Inc., can be seen on the cover of this month’s November 2019 issue of industry leading Lawn & Landscape Magazine.

Connors and his Truckee, CA-based landscape company were recognized in a cover article, “Report Card Time,” for their ability to use weekly performance evaluations to drive their employees’ work ethic.

“It’s no surprise that Brian and Peak Landscape are getting this kind of recognition,” says Drew Garcia, Vice President of the Landscape Group at Rancho Mesa. “He is such a smooth operator which is a reflection of his attention to detail and process-oriented style. On behalf of our team at Rancho Mesa we couldn’t be more excited for Peak Landscape. Well done!”

The article takes an in-depth look at Peak Landscape’s 10-item evaluation checklist, used to rate employee performance. Component’s on this list include safety, attendance, communication, and upkeep/appearance of company trucks and uniforms. The score an employee receives, depending on how well they complete each element on the checklist, directly effects the bonus they receive at the end of a season. As a result, Connors sees his employees exemplify an increase in productivity, higher quality of work, and an elevated respect for the job.    

“Report Card Time” and the November digital edition can be read at magazine.lawnandlandscape.com/issue/november-2019.

About Peak Landscape Inc.
Peak Landscape Inc. is a full service landscape contracting company, that specializes in the design, installation & maintenance of landscape, irrigation, patios, fences, gates, all phases of tree work and more. To learn more visit, peaklandscapeinc.com.

Client Spotlight: Rancho West Landscape Uses a Simple Newsletter to Drive Safety

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

To say Rancho West Landscape (RWL) is proactive in safety would be an understatement. They have made safety a top priority in their company. Their newsletter is among a variety safety initiatives they‘ve embraced. Each month, RWL is able to compress incredible content into a one-page company publication available in both English and Spanish. With the fast-paced schedule of daily business activities, maintaining the level of consistency in generating the newsletter is an achievement in and of itself.

Drew Garcia pictured with Christy Flores.

“Rancho West is always looking for a way to improve safety, training, process and communication,” says Drew Garcia, Vice President Landscape Group at Rancho Mesa Insurance. “This newsletter is a small example of their company’s culture that is rooted in safety. I always admire consistency in people and organizations. It has been a pleasure to work for Rancho West and watch activity like this continue with regularity.”

In the November 2019 issue, RWL announced their new safety program with Greenius. Greenius is an online safety platform designed to provide educational safety training to landscape professionals. To learn more, read Rancho West Landscape’s November 2019 newsletter Issue 16.

If you are interested in creating your own safety newsletter, Christy Flores, the writer, editor, and publisher of the RWL newsletter, broke down some of the key concepts she thinks about when generating the monthly issues:

• Look to make one key point and center the rest of the information around that point.

• Incorporate current events: time of year, weather, holidays, etc.

• Include company pictures to make it more personal.

• Recognize an employee or group of employees.

• Have fun with it (see the word search and incentive for participation).

• Keep it to one page, too much information is overwhelming.

• English and Spanish (hint: use Google translate and have someone read it over for clarity).

• Be consistent (Christy publishes monthly, but you can start off slow. Try publishing quarterly).

• Distribute newsletters with pay checks, post them in company common areas, and email if possible.

• Provide key contacts.  Christy keeps the area mangers phone numbers on every issue.

• Find the right person to own and enjoy creating the document.

• Find content online, in the news, through your association, and from your insurance broker/carrier.

• Newsletter templates are available on multiple websites and platforms. Christy uses Microsoft Publisher.

“I’m really proud of Christy for sticking to it. Without any recognition, she continued to create the newsletter to help make Rancho West a better company,” expressed Greg Duncan, President of Rancho West Landscape.

Rancho Mesa Insurance thanks RWL for allowing us to highlight their company in an effort to promote safety within the landscape industry.

About Rancho West Landscape
Rancho West Landscape has been servicing Southern California since 1990. As a local landscape contractor based in Murrieta, they have upheld the highest standard of service and continue to raise safety standards.

Client Spotlight: Urban Habitat’s Project Gains National Recognition

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

Drew Garcia, left, with Urban Habitat holding the Gold Award of Excellence plaque.

Urban Habitat’s Brett and Theresa Brennan were recognized by the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP) for their Coachella Etherea Art Park Project on Thursday, October 17, 2019 at the 50th Annual Awards of Excellence Ceremony in Louisville, Kentucky.   

“When Urban’s project was announced you could hear the entire room take notice. A special moment for Brett and Theresa,” said Drew Garcia, Vice President of the Landscape Group at Rancho Mesa. “Sometimes I get so caught up in delivering for our landscape clients, from the insurance aspect, that I don’t get the opportunity to lift my head up and enjoy the beautiful work they create on a daily basis. Our team takes a lot of pride working with Urban Habitat and we are extremely proud of the amazing work they create on a daily basis.”

The Coachella Valley, CA based company received the Gold Award for their excellence and creativity in the Commercial Design/Build category. The NALP Awards of Excellence Program honors outstanding landscape projects. Judges assess excellence in design, craftsmanship, build, maintenance, attention to detail, in addition to specific criteria for various categories, is assessed for each. Urban Habitat received the Gold Award, the program’s highest category of excellence, for going above and beyond the standard. Rancho Mesa is honored to work with a company that shares our OneofOne® philosophy.

Drew Garcia reiterated, “This was a statement project, Urban was competing against National and Super-Regional Landscape Companies to win this award. To come out with a Gold Award among companies like that is incredible.”

About Urban Habitat
Urban Habitat has years of experience as Coachella Valley's premier landscape provider. Their vast experience and expertise includes small renovations to large scale industrial and commercial sites, resorts, hotels, master planned communities and public works projects. They specialize in design/architecture, landscape construction installation, grounds maintenance, arboricultural, and water management services. To learn more visit their LinkedIn page.

Client Spotlight: 36th Annual Celebrity Waiter Luncheon Raises Funds for UCP San Diego

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

San Diego’s firefighters, local TV and radio personalities, Hollywood celebrities, look-a-likes, and caring patrons gathered on Coronado’s sunny shores to raise funds for the United Cerebral Palsy of San Diego County (UCP) at the 36th Annual Firefighters & Friends Celebrity Waiters Luncheon. Clear skies over the Coronado Island Marriott Resort & Spa on September 20, 2019 lend itself to a perfect afternoon for giving to a worthwhile cause.

The event’s live and silent auctions, generous tips and sponsorships raised $58,000 for the organization whose mission is to advance the independence, productivity and full citizenship of people affected by cerebral palsy and other disabilities.

“UCP would like to thank our local media partners Sunny 98.1 FM, Location Edit, KUSI News and the San Diego Community Newspaper Group for their promotional efforts,” reads the organization’s website. “UCP also thanks the staff of the Coronado Marriott Resort & Spa for their assistance and cooperation and the following organizations, companies and individuals for their support: Auctioneer Clint Bell, Berkshire Hathaway Homestate Companies, Misty Thompson & Melody Morgan, DPC Productions, the San Diego Gulls, San Diego Seals National Lacrosse team and the San Diego Enforcers.”

Rancho Mesa Insurance is truly honored to support UCP’s mission.

The 36th Annual Firefighters & Friends Celebrity Waiters Luncheon to benefit United Cerebral Palsy of San Diego County. Video courtesy of United Cerebral Palsy of San Diego.

About United Cerebral Palsy of San Diego County

UCP is an agency committed to serving people with cerebral palsy and other disabilities and their families since 1958. Working throughout the years to improve services with every step, UCP has program centers in San Diego and Escondido and numerous community based programs serving hundreds of local citizens on a daily basis. For more information, visit www.ucpsd.org.

7th Inning Stretch Benefits the Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank

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

Chase Hixson, Account Executive of Human Services at Rancho Mesa, presenting the check to James Floros, President & CEO of The Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank.

As a part of Rancho Mesa’s Health and Wellness Program, employees take part in what is called the 7th Inning Stretch. The daily walks provide an opportunity for the staff to get away from their desks, get moving, and enjoy the outdoors. At the beginning of the year, Rancho Mesa employees wanted to expand the benefits of the 7th Inning Stretch, outside of the office. Now employees walk for a local non-profit. From the 40+ non-profits that Rancho Mesa supports, employees pick one per quarter to walk for. At the end of the quarter and once the walk goal has been met, Rancho Mesa donates $1,000 on behalf of their employees, to the non-profit of their choice.

Rancho Mesa is excited to announce that the employees have met their cumulative goal of 2,000 walks, and the recipient this quarter is the Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank!

According to the 2019 Hunger Fact Sheet, currently, 1 in 7 adults, and 1 in 5 children face food insecurity in San Diego County. That converts to a total of 450,000 people who have little to no food at home, and do not know when/how they will get their next meal. Thanks to the Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank, the North County Food Bank chapter, nonprofit partners, and countless supporter contributions, 350,000 people are provided food every month. Based on the Food Bank’s dollar-to-meals conversion rate, $1 provides 5 meals to local San Diego families! For those interested in making a monetary contribution, please visit the Virtual Food Drive webpage.

About The Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank

The Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank and the North County Food Bank chapter comprise the largest hunger-relief organization in San Diego County. Last year, the Food Bank distributed 28 million pounds of food. Through their North County Food Bank chapter and by partnering with nearly 500 nonprofit partners with feeding programs, the Food Bank provides nutritious food to individuals and families in need in communities throughout San Diego County. To learn more, visit www.SanDiegoFoodBank.org or take a look at the 2019 Hunger Fact Sheet.

Watch the 2019 San Diego Food Bank Mission Video; highlighting the Diaper-to-Degree Program,
On-the-Go Food Pantry Program, and the College Hunger Relief Program.