NAWIC San Diego Members Broaden their Performance & Payment Bonds Knowledge

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

In a virtual meeting so many have become accustomed, the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) San Diego Chapter 21 met on November 10, 2020 to inspire each other, celebrate new members, discuss upcoming events and learn about performance and payment bonds.

NAWIC’s Professional Development & Education Committee is tasked with providing monthly programming that is relevant and educational for its chapter’s membership.

Andy Roberts, Account Executive in the Surety Group with Rancho Mesa Insurance led the presentation that addressed an increasing requirement many contractors in California are now dealing with on their projects, surety bonds.

Performance and payment bonds are becoming more popular in today’s construction climate. Contractors who previously never or rarely needed bonds, are now discovering a need for a formal bond program.

In the “Surety 101: Performance & Payment Bonding Basics” class, Andy discussed the different types of contract surety bonds (i.e., bid bonds, performance bonds and payment bonds). He explained the distinction between surety bonds and traditional insurance, when a bond may be required and who may require it, the benefits of a bond, the qualification process and indemnity.

While there is so much more to learn about performance and payment bonds, the attendees of the class are sure to better understand why their companies are being required to obtain contract surety bonds for their projects.

To learn more about performance and payment bonds or to book a presentation with Andy Roberts, contact him at (619) 937-0166 or aroberts@ranchomesa.com.

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/.

Rancho Mesa Named "Best Practices" Agency in National Competition for 14th Consecutive Year

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

Santee, CA, August 2020 - 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 fourteen 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 36,500 independent insurance agencies in the U.S., only about 250 across the nation are chosen each year for this distinction. In California, Rancho Mesa is among about a dozen agencies to earn the Best Practices status.

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.

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.

Each year, the Big “I” publishes its "Best Practices Study" using financial and operational data collected from agencies throughout the United States. The 2020 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, employee benefits, and industry specific training.

Support Our Local Construction Industry at the NAWIC 2nd Annual Toast to the Trades - March 6, 2020

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

The National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) San Diego Chapter will celebrate its annual Women in Construction (WIC) Week with its highly anticipated 2nd Annual Toast to the Trades dinner on March 6, 2020 at The Dana on Mission Bay Resort.

Local members of the construction industry, government, and general public will come together to celebrate the careers that build San Diego.

This year’s event will include dinner, drinks, a silent auction, networking, and a panel discussion on “Paving New Roads to Construction.” Proceeds from the event will benefit several youth programs designed to introduce young adults to careers in construction.

NAWIC San Diego’s 2nd Annual
‘Toast to the Trades’

Friday, March 6, 2020 at 5:30 pm
at The Dana on Mission Bay, San Diego, CA

ENJOY DINNER, SILENT AUCTION & PANEL DISCUSSION. ALL SILENT AUCTION PROCEEDS DONATED TO THE FUTURE CONSTRUCTION LEADERS FOUNDATION 501 (C) (3)NON-PROFIT.

This event is part of WIC Week (Women in Construction) with a goal to highlight women as a viable component of the construction industry. WIC Week is one of the many ways we involve and give back to our community.

Register Online

WIC Week provides an occasion for NAWIC’s thousands of members across the country to raise awareness of the opportunities available for women in construction and to emphasize the growing role of women in the industry.

“We must remove barricades and barriers, fill potholes, and pave smoother roads for women in a male-dominated industry and build one another up to help each other achieve success in our careers,” said Diane Mike, NAWIC 2019-2020 National President. “We can and we will change the future of this industry by becoming ingrained at every level of construction to provide a diverse voice.”

Purchase tickets or sponsor the event by visiting nawicsd.org/event.

Rancho Mesa’s Alyssa Burley, Shane Medlin, Sam Clayton, Tom Carapella (Sunrise Bobcat), and Kevin Howard at the 2019 Toast to the Trades event.

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.

CyberOne™ Liability Program Protects Clients From Cybercrime

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

San Diego, CA, February 2020 – Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc., a thirteen-time National Best Practices Insurance Agency is pleased to offer CyberOne™, cyber liability coverage to companies with annual revenues of up to $50,000,000.

Rancho Mesa Insurance began working with CNA on the CyberOne program after it received an overwhelmingly positive response to the Cyber Liability presentation at the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) Pacific Southwest Fall Conference in October 2018. By August 2019, interest in cyber liability had grown to the point that CNA was invited to present at the 64th Annual NAWIC National Conference in Atlanta, GA. That interest led to the development of the CyberOne program. 

Cybercrimes are a real concern for organizations of all sizes, in every industry that utilizes even basic technology to operate. It threatens to disrupt business operations while extorting capital and damaging the organization’s reputation. Scams are growing in sophistication, frequency and severity. These crimes range from simple telephone scams to highly sophisticated technological attacks. Preventive measures are vital to keep an organization’s data and capital safe, but no preemptive actions can offer a 100% guarantee against cybercrimes. Having a robust insurance policy to cover those instances that are unpreventable is vital for protecting the organization.

Rancho Mesa Insurance and CNA have put together a comprehensive cyber liability program. To access this program, contact Rancho Mesa.

About Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
Rancho Mesa is a thirteen-time National Best Practices commercial insurance brokerage providing risk management solutions to dynamic organizations throughout the United States. Our core commitment is to be a trusted business partner and client advocate while delivering comprehensive and innovative products and services. To learn more, visit www.ranchomesa.com.

About CNA
Together, the CNA insurance companies are among the largest U.S. commercial property and casualty insurance companies. CNA provides a broad range of standard and specialized property and casualty insurance products and services for businesses and professionals in the U.S., Canada and Europe, backed by 120 years of experience and approximately $45 billion of assets. To learn more, visit www.cna.com.

Article edited 4/19/2021.

#GivingTuesday: One Day to do a World of Good

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

Giving Tuesday is a day dedicated to supporting local charities. As a community, we celebrate the season of giving with cherished meals with loved ones on Thanksgiving day. For the next few days, many rush out of the house to stock up on discounted gifts. But, Tuesday has been set aside to give back to the organizations that make a difference in our communities.

The Boys & Girls Club of East County would like to encourage you to embrace “One Day to do a World of Good” by participating in the organization’s celebration of #GivingTuesday.

Club members are getting into the spirit of giving. “Our Club Kids are hard at work raising cans and dry goods for our local food bank. We challenge you to donate this Giving Tuesday. Your gift today can transform a child’s life tomorrow. Donate $3, $5 or $10 dollars today to change a child’s life and spread the giving this season,” reads that organization's flyer.

Donations can be made at bgcec.org/donations/.

About the Boys & Girls Club of East County

The Boys & Girls Clubs of East County have been developing, implementing, and providing activities and programs to disadvantaged youth since 1961. Operating in the communities of El Cajon, Lakeside, La Mesa and Santee, the Clubs offer three full –service clubhouses with gymnasiums for children 5-10, and two Teen Centers in La Mesa and El Cajon designated for teens ages 11-18. Providing children with age appropriate activities, trained professional staff, state of the art computer labs; cool, clean, well maintained buildings and a safe, healthy atmosphere to learn and grow has been the ultimate goal of the Boys & Girls Clubs of East County. For more information, visit bgcec.org.

LANDSCAPES 2019 Conference Grows A Culture of Safety

Author, Drew Garcia, Vice President, Landscape Group, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

Rancho Mesa looks forward to participating in the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP) LANDSCAPES event each year. From veteran industry icons to rookie start-ups, this event has information for everyone.

The 4-day schedule was packed as Dave Garcia, President of Rancho Mesa, and myself championed two different Breakfast with Champions' table topics. We discussed the top five free safety phone applications for landscape professionals.

As much as we are supposed to lead the discussion at the tables I always end up coming away learning more from the group. We discussed how equipment continues to evolve, and we witness the result this has on productivity, yet not often do companies explore how they can leverage today’s tech to become a safer company. From communication to training, and overall awareness, technology is ready to make a difference in the landscape industry.

Alyssa Burley, Rancho Mesa’s Media Communications Manager, had re-arranged a hotel conference room into our mobile studio, “StudioOne.” Alyssa and I were able to interview six different landscape companies from across the country. In the next few months, NALP and Rancho Mesa will be releasing the final version of these safety interviews to help the industry share ideas and continue to build upon establishing a safe work environment.

I was also able to interview Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer Margaret Hartmann and Loss Control Manager Steve Hamilton of Berkshire Hathaway Homestate Companies (BHHC) to provide insurance carrier perspective in regards to the landscape industry. In the months to come, you will hear how BHHC takes a proactive approach to claims management and injury prevention.

At the Kentucky Expo Center, Dave and I led a hour and fifteen-minute presentation on “the Four Secrets to Making Your Safety Program Improve Your Bottom Line,” which was full of audience interaction.

On the last night, I was selected to participate in the 50th Annual Awards of Excellence as the presenter for the safety portion of the program. I had the pleasure of announcing the winners of the Safety Awards and then join Rancho Mesa client Brett and Theresa Brennan of Urban Habitat, who collected a Gold Award for their Coachella Etherea Art Park Project.

Friday morning wrapped up the event and the team headed back to San Diego, CA. LANDSCAPES is held every October in Louisville, Kentucky. We hope you mark your calendar to join us, next year on October 20-23, 2020, for another incredible event!

Rancho Mesa Film Studio Travels East to National Conference

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

Drew Garcia interviewing Margaret Hartmann Senior Vice President Chief Marketing Officer at Berkshire Hathaway Homestate Companies.

Media Communications Manager, Alyssa Burley, moved the Rancho Mesa filming studio east to Louisville, Kentucky for the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP) 2019 LANDSCAPES Conference.

Alyssa joined Drew Garcia, Rancho Mesa's Vice President of the Landscapes Division and Program Manager for the NALP Lawn & Landscape Workers’ Compensation and Package Programs, as he interviewed several landscape industry professionals, including this year's safety award winners, and Margaret Hartmann & Steve Hamilton of Berkshire Hathaway Homestate Companies.

LANDSCAPES is an educational event for landscape and lawn care professionals. The four day event is packed full of keynote speakers, expos, recognition ceremonies, networking, and more. Presenters included Drew and David Garcia, President of Rancho Mesa, as they educated attendees on the "4 Secrets to Using Your Safety Program to Improve Your Bottom Line."

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.

Rancho Mesa Attends 7th Annual State of Nonprofit & Philanthropy Summit

Author, Alyssa Burley, Media Communications and Clients Services Manager, Rancho Mesa Insurances Services, Inc.

Rancho Mesa’s Sam Brown and Chase Hixson.

San Diego’s warm clear skies provided a cheerful backdrop for The Nonprofit Institute’s 7th Annual State of Nonprofit and Philanthropy Summit at the University of San Diego’s Mother Rosalie Hill Hall in the School of Leadership and Education Sciences. The Summit hosted nearly 260 attendees on October 18, 2019 who gathered to hear the results of the 2019 Leader Survey, participate in dialog with public, private, and social sector leaders, and explore trends in philanthropic giving and donor behavior, public trust, and the impact of public policy on nonprofits.

“The purpose of the Summit is to highlight the current state of the nonprofit sector and philanthropy that supports it, as well as key trends that affect how these organizations are able to operate, fulfill their mission and meet critical needs in the community,” according to the event’s webpage.

Rancho Mesa’s Vice President of the Human Services Group Sam Brown, and Account Executive Chase Hixson understand the challenges shared by their clients in fulfilling their missions.

“The USD Nonprofit Institute supports nonprofit leaders in so many important ways. Every attendee had something to learn or wisdom to share. We are incredibly lucky to have this in San Diego. Rancho Mesa is proud to support this important event,” said Sam Brown.

Rancho Mesa is honored to sponsor the Annual State of Nonprofit & Philanthropy Summit and support the local nonprofit community.

Rancho Mesa Launches RM365 HRAdvantage™ Platform

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

Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc., a leading commercial insurance brokerage based in Southern California, launched its RM365 HRAdvantage™ platform in late August 2019. The platform is designed to assist business owners, human resources and office staff with navigating their employment risks through an online portal.

Clients enjoy unlimited access to a team of certified HR experts who can quickly answer complex human resources and compliance questions over the phone or through the online portal. They will provide their expert advice on how your company should proceed in unique situations.

Confidently manage a living employee handbook with an easy-to-use comprehensive handbook builder and receive suggested updated as laws change throughout the year.

Rely on an extensive library of human resources and compliance articles, forms, job description builder and calendar of important dates to ensure that your company is in compliance with regulations.

Develop your employees’ soft skills and ensure compliance through targeted online courses in human resources, compliance and legal issues, computer and IT, customer service, and professional development.

“Rancho Mesa saw a need and decided to offer its clients access to an online portal with expert human resources advice along with a host of other tools to assist them with their administrative duties,” said Dave Garcia, President and CEO at Rancho Mesa Insurance. “We’re confident our clients will take advantage of our new HRAdvantage resource.”

Feel confident that you have a team of HR professionals providing expertise and guidance to minimize the risks associated with employment law, safety, healthcare, and compliance.

All Rancho Mesa clients will receive login information to the RM365 HRAdvantage portal the first week of September 2019. Clients will have the opportunity to register for two overview webinars held the second week of September 2019.

To learn more about the HRAdvantage portal visit RanchoMesa.com/HRAdvantage.