Garcia Brothers Head to Nashville for GROW! 2022

Author, Lauren Stumpf, Media Communications & Client Services Specialist, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

Pictured from left, Greg Garcia, Marty Grunder, and Drew Gracia in front of Milosi Landscape.

Drew Garcia (left) and Greg Garcia pictured tabling at GROW! 2022.

Drew Garcia (left) with President of Rancho Mesa Dave Garcia at GROW 2022! conference.

On February 23 - 25, 2022, Rancho Mesa’s Vice President of the Landscape Group Drew Garcia and Account Executive Greg Garcia attended GROW! 2022 annual conference in Nashville, TN to help landscapers with their risk management needs.

GROW! is led by Marty Grunder, President and CEO of The Grow Group.

“Marty Grunder and his team put on an incredible event,” said Drew Garcia. “I would highly encourage any landscape business, no matter your revenue size to check out the event. From the professional development, business operations insight, and networking, it’d be impossible not to come away with a sizeable amount of new knowledge.”

Landscape professionals throughout the country enjoyed three days packed-full of energizing speakers, stimulating group sessions and networking, and gained an inside look at the operations of a longtime successful landscape company, Milosi Landscape.

 “Just from getting to know Marty and his team, I knew [GROW! 2022] was going to be a great event. I was blown away with how well this event was set up, as well as the amount of knowledge being passed along, and the ability to network with others in the green industry,” said Greg Garcia. “I’m excited to bring back some of the things that I was able to learn to Rancho Mesa to help continue our growth!”

About The Grow Group
Led by Marty Grunder, The Grow Group is a premier consulting firm for landscape professionals, providing innovative programming, peer-groups, and real-world resources to help business owners and their teams succeed. Everything our professionals teach is based on what we know works: We test it ourselves at our “living laboratory,” the business Marty began as a teenager and still leads today, Grunder Landscaping Company. To learn more, please visit GrowGroupInc.com.

Garcia Brothers Give Professional Safety Guidance on NALP Podcast

Author, Lauren Stumpf, Media Communications & Client Services Specialist, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

Image provided by NALP.

In a most recent podcast episode of Growing in the Green Industry, Rancho Mesa’s Drew Garcia, Vice President of the Landscape Group, and Account Executive Greg Garcia discusses the importance of effectively communicating with your team and building awareness around safety. The episode is hosted by Brett Lemcke with R.M. Landscape, Inc. and Macey Robinson with LandCare LLC.

The episode shares tips of starting your own company, implementing a safety plan and different strategies on how to be proactive when it comes to safety in the workplace. Listen to Season 2, Ep. 40 Being Proactive with Safety with Drew Garcia and Greg Garcia below, or on your favorite podcast platform: anchor.fm/nalp-young-professionals

About Growing in the Green Industry Podcast
Growing in the Green Industry is a podcast for the specifically centered around the landscape industry. Each week their hosts and guests discuss topics that matter most for landscape professionals, including career advancement, hiring, professional development, retention, sales, operations, and more. Growing in the Green Industry is produced by the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP), Young Professionals Network. Growing in the Green Industry is produced by NALP's Young Professionals Network. To learn more, please visit www.landscapeprofessionals.org/youngprofessionals.

Garcia Brothers Featured in Landscape Management Magazine

Author, Lauren Stumpf, Media Communications & Client Services Specialist, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

In the December issue of the Landscape Management magazine, Rancho Mesa’s Vice President of the Landscape Group Drew Garcia and Account Executive Greg Garcia shared their insights on how landscape companies benefit from insurance checkups.

Drew and Greg explain how not having the correct coverage can be detrimental to a business in the occurrence of a catastrophic event. The Garcias also go over the importance of a company reviewing their insurance policies with their insurance broker, and the best time to do this to ensure the company is properly covered.

“You hear a lot of landscape professionals who are frustrated with last-minute insurance renewals and decisions,” Drew Garcia says. “Having a ‘pre-renewal’ meeting 90 to 120 days in advance of your policy effective date can just about eliminate this pain” (LM Staff 23).

To learn more, please contact Drew Garcia at (619) 937-0200 or drewgarcia@ranchomesa.com.

Garcia Brothers Attend LANDSCAPES 2021

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

Pictured left to right: Margaret Hartmann, Senior Vice President & Cheif Marketing Officer, Berkshire Hathaway Homestate Companies; and Greg Garcia, Account Executive of the Landscape Group, Rancho Mesa.

Rancho Mesa’s Landscape Group headed back to Louisville, Kentucky for LANDSCAPES 2021, the largest annual conference for the landscape and lawn care industry. Hosted by the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP),  the event took place on October 19-22nd, during which landscape professionals were able to learn from industry leaders and connect with peers.

Rancho Mesa’s Vice President of the Landscape Group Drew Garcia, Account Executive Greg Garcia, and President Dave Garcia walked away with gained knowledge of industry techniques, challenges, new technologies, and best practices through peer-to-peer discussions and insightful seminars.

“This event is a great opportunity for Rancho Mesa to network with other landscape industry professionals, from software providers, manufacturers, contractors and other industry leaders,” says Drew. “It’s important for our team to remain in the loop on things impacting the industry so we can remain proactive for our customers and anticipate change before it becomes an issue. The education sessions offered by NALP are incredible, it’s a great chance to learn and prepare for the future.”

Also in attendance, were Rancho Mesa partners Margaret Hartmann, Senior Vice President & Chief Marketing Officer and Steve Hamilton, Loss Control Manager with Berkshire Hathaway Homestate Companies.

Pictured left to right: Greg Garcia, Account Executive of the Landscape Group, Rancho Mesa; Margaret Hartmann, Senior Vice President & Chief Marketing Officer, BHHC; Steve Hamilton, Loss Control Manager, BHHC; and Drew Garcia, Landscape Group Leader, Rancho Mesa.

LANDSCAPES is held every October in Louisville, KY. We hope you mark your calendar to join us, next year, for another incredible event!

The Garcias Head East for NALP Landscaping Adventure

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

Rancho Mesa’s Dave, Drew, and Greg Garcia headed to Gaithersburg, Maryland to attend the 2021 Field Trip at Ruppert Landscape. The two-day landscaping event is held by the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP), in partnership with Marty Grunder, CEO of Grunder Landscaping Co. and The Grow Group, and Frank Mariani of Mariani Landscape.

“We were humbled to have the opportunity to sponsor and attend this event,” says Drew. “It’s a great opportunity for Rancho Mesa to learn from landscape industry leaders and surround ourselves with companies who are looking to improve.”

The event gave attendees a look at Ruppert Landscape’s headquarters and a chance to receive inside knowledge of how an industry leading company operates.

The Garcia’s attended the VIP dinner hosted by husband and wife Craig and Pat Ruppert, where they were kind enough to welcome guests into their home. Dinner was enjoyed by many including Rancho Mesa clients, Bill and Laurie Schnetz from Schentz Landscape, as well as Jessica Bird and Max from LaBahn’s Landscaping.

“It says a lot for one of the largest landscape companies in the country to welcome their industry competitors in to see a behind the scenes look at how they are able to be successful,” says Drew.

Events like these are constant reminders that Rancho Mesa is so fortunate to work alongside such a thriving professional industry. We encourage all landscape companies to attend this event in the future; you will certainly find us there!

Landscape Magazine Publishes Drew Garcia’s Mobility & Stretch Routine

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

In this month’s NALP’s The Landscape Professional magazine, Vice President of the Landscape Group Drew Garcia shared his insights on how landscape companies can benefit from a mobility and stretch program.

“Starting the day off with a mobility and stretch routine can help employees prepare for the day ahead by activating their bodies for physical activity,” writes Drew Garcia.

Drew includes helpful tips on how to effectively implement a consistent program, as well as information on ways to integrate safety and participation.

To learn more about how your company may benefit from a mobility & stretch program, please contact Drew Garcia at (619) 937-0200 or drewgarcia@ranchomesa.com.

CLCA Supports Landscape Industry with Golf Tournament

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

Pictured from left to right; Dan Durkin from Nissho of California Inc., Drew Garcia, Greg Garcia, and Dave Garcia of Rancho Mesa.

The California Landscape Contractors Association (CLCA) San Diego Chapter held its Annual Golf Tournament on Friday, October 23, 2020 at the Rancho Bernardo Inn Golf Course.

All while supporting the landscape industry, players enjoyed warm San Diego weather on a well-known local golf course with partners, friends, and colleagues.

Following the tournament, CLCA held a virtual awards ceremony where the Team from Rancho Mesa was crowned Champion (pictured) with a winning score of an impressive 58!

About CLCA San Diego

The San Diego Chapter of the California Landscape Contractors Association boasts over 240 members and is one of the state’s largest and most active chapters. Each year, the chapter hosts a number of informative, social and educational meetings which allow members to keep abreast of industry trends, network with their peers and just have some fun. Among the annual activities chapter members enjoy are a kick-off dinner, golf tournament, a local awards program, ballgame outings, educational meetings and a holiday dinner. The chapter also produces a monthly publication (Offshoot), participates at local home, garden and consumer information fairs, hosts the Landscape Industry Certified Test at Cuyamaca College in the spring, and stays involved in local political issues affecting the landscape industry such as water conservation and sustainability. To learn more, visit www.clcasandiego.org.

Drew Garcia Goes National in NALP’s The Landscape Professionals

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

It’s no secret that Drew Garcia, Vice President of Rancho Mesa’s Landscape Group, has been helping landscape clients for years in best practices and how to stay safe on the job. But now, he is going national to help landscape professionals all over the country, again!

In this month’s NALP’s The Landscape Professionals Magazine, Drew breaks down the five things landscape companies can do to lower their Experience Modification Rates (XMOD). 

“Landscape companies with a low Experience Modification Rating typically exhibit similar best practices when dealing with work-related injuries. Their proactive approach helps close claims faster and returns employees to work sooner than their counterpart,” writes Drew Garcia.

The NALP (National Association of Landscape Professionals) represents almost 100,000 landscape industry professionals around the world. Specializing in landscape design and installation, lawn care, maintenance and more, the national trade association is made up of students, consultants, state associations and affiliate members, plus industry suppliers. Their mission is “to advocate for lawn and landscape industry growth and the benefits we provide to our communities.”

To learn more about how to lower your XMOD, contact Drew Garcia at (619) 937-0200 or drewgarcia@ranchomesa.com.

Safety Spotlight: Klausing Group Celebrates 3 Years of Outstanding Safety

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

Rancho Mesa’s Vice President of the Landscape Group and Chairperson for the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP) Safety Committee Drew Garcia had the opportunity to congratulate Klausing Group for three years without a lost time accident.

For 12 seasons, 156 weeks, 1,095 days or 6,245 hours, Klausing Group was accident free.  That level of commitment to safety is hard to achieve in the landscape industry.

Klausing Group is a commercial landscape company located in Lexington and Louisville, Kentucky.  With over 20 years in business, they aren’t just focused on creating and maintaining landscapes, the group certifies and trains employees in the landscape industry and has become a leader in doing so.

Drew Garcia has been a Chairperson for the NALP Safety Committee for 4 years and champions companies to who take safety seriously.

“Nothing substitutes a strong safety culture.  You have to be about safety and talk about safety on a daily basis and obviously at Klausing Group, the safety culture is incredibly strong,” said Drew Garcia.

Rancho Mesa congratulates Klausing Group for their excellence in workplace safety.

Drew Garcia Gives Best Practices Advice in Safety+Health Magazine

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

Vice President of the Landscape Group at Rancho Mesa and NALP’s Safety and Risk Management Committee Chair, Drew Garcia, was quoted in the article “Beware of Dog,” published on March 29, 2020 in Safety+Health, the official magazine of the National Safety Council Congress & Expo.

Drew Garcia, shared his insight with Barry Bottino about the threat that homeowners’ dogs may pose to working professionals.

Specifically addressing residential landscape professionals, Drew gives advice on performing a job hazard analysis, addressing any concerns with the homeowner, and then making a plan to keep any dog(s) away from the work area.

According to Drew, it is best practices to keep in mind that some dogs can be aggressive, and to never approach dogs you are not familiar with.

Drew’s complete responses and the full article can be found at SafetyandHealthMagazine.com.