Employee Spotlight: Maria Lotta Promoted to Assistant Client Manager

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

Rancho Mesa would like to congratulate team member, Maria Lotta, on her promotion from Client Coordinator to Assistant Client Manager.

Maria joined Rancho Mesa in 2021. As a Client Coordinator she showed impressive initiative and commitment to her team, taking on extra work to support client managers and training many new employees.

Throughout her time here, Maria has excelled working in a variety of industries and has gained the essential experience for her new role. Her hard work and dedication has earned her this promotion to Assistant Client Manager, where she will give more hands-on assistants to client managers.

Rancho Mesa commends Maria for her accomplishments, and we look forward to her continued growth on the team.

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.

Heat Illness Prevention Vital for Workers in Late Summer and Early Fall

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

With Fall on the horizon, and high heat still a hazard for employees working outdoors, it remains critical for employers to practice heat illness prevention on the job.

 These past few months have seen record-breaking heat across California and throughout the U.S., with temperatures reaching as high as 120 degrees in areas like Palm Springs. Since many employers conduct heat illness prevention training in May or June, as we close out Summer and enter Fall, employers might be tempted to reduce their monitoring of heat illness symptoms with workers on the jobsite. However, temperatures can still sore well into September and even October. So, this can be dangerous if employers are no longer vigilant.

 In order to prepare, employers should check their Heat Illness Prevention Program to ensure it meets current standards. The Cal/OSHA website offers a sample written Heat Illness Prevention Program for both indoor and outdoor spaces that employers can download.

 Additionally, employers should keep workers up to date on their heat illness prevention training. Rancho Mesa has added additional dates to our Heat Illness Prevention webinar to help keep employees safe. Clients can register for one of the webinars in the coming weeks to learn how to best protect their workers from heat illness.

 Rancho Mesa is happy to offer the necessary resources clients need to stay prepared. For questions about this and other workshops and webinars, contact your Client Technology Coordinator.

Rancho Mesa Hosts Contractual Risk Transfer Workshop

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

On Friday, August 23, 2024, Rancho Mesa enjoyed a great turnout for its workshop, Protect Your Company with Contractual Risk Transfer, presented by Alan Coppola from Travelers.

Attendees munched on cookies and sipped refreshments at our Mission Valley office, during the informative presentation. Coppola outlined the importance of including insurance requirements in written contracts on construction projects, and covered common risk exposures associated with these contracts.

Coppola closed his presentation by advising clients to assess their company’s contractual risk process to ensure they are fully protected.

Through workshops such as these, Rancho Mesa aims to help clients gain necessary information to keep their businesses secure and manage risk.

Involved in the Community: Rancho Mesa Sponsors Local Little League

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

Rancho Mesa is proud to sponsor the Alpine American Little League season for the 2024 year.

Drew Garcia, Vice President of the Landscape Group has stepped in as coach for the team this season. Garcia, a former professional baseball player himself, is a proud example of our team using their skills to make a meaningful impact on youth lives.

We are grateful for the opportunity to give back to this valuable community.

Employee Spotlight: Brenda Khalil Named Client Technology Coordinator

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

Rancho Mesa is excited to announce Brenda Khalil is now a Client Technology Coordinator in the Media Communications and Client Services Group.

After joining Rancho Mesa in November 2023 as a Client Coordinator, Brenda has shown her drive to learn new skills and expand her knowledge of the industry.

As a Client Technology Coordinator, she is now working with clients to implement Rancho Mesa’s RM365 HRAdvantage™ Portal and SafetyOne™ mobile app and website, along with administering the RM365 Advantage Safety Star™ Program.

“I am excited to embark on this new adventure in Client Services, as my desire to help others and be creative, backed by prior experience, will allow me to be a true contributing member of an already amazing team of people. I look forward to assisting our clients,” said Brenda.

Rancho Mesa is delighted to see Brenda growing her career within the Media Communications and Client Services Group.

Employee Spotlight: Rancho Mesa Insurance Services Announces the Promotion of Kelsey McPherson to Senior Client Manager/Team Lead

Author, Harriet Berholtz, Marketing and Media Communications Specialist, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

Rancho Mesa is excited to announce Kelsey McPherson has been promoted to Senior Client Manager/Team Lead for the agency’s Construction Group.

McPherson joined Rancho Mesa in 2018 as a Client Manager with experience working with clients from various industries, including construction. Over the last six years, she has specialized in the construction industry and worked to build her leadership skills. Through her dedication and drive, McPherson has shown that she is ready for her new role in the Construction Group.

“I am beyond grateful and excited to step into this new role and for the incredible journey with Rancho Mesa over the past six years,” said McPherson. “These years have provided substantial growth, learning and collaboration with an exceptional team. I look forward to building on our successes and continuing to contribute to the Rancho Mesa OneofOne® vision.”

McPherson is a role model, earning her Certified Insurance Service Representative (CISR) and Construction Risk Insurance Specialist (CRIS) designations. These certifications underscore her commitment to professional development and her deep understanding of the industry.

This promotion to Senior Client Manager/Team Lead reflects Rancho Mesa’s commitment to recognize and foster talent within the agency. Her leadership and expertise have already made a significant impact, and Rancho Mesa is excited to see how she will continue to drive the agency’s success forward.

Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc. Honored with Best Practices Agency Designation for Eighteenth Consecutive Year

Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc., has been awarded by the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (Big “I”) as a Best Practices Agency for the eighteenth consecutive year.

This prestigious recognition is given to an elite group of agencies that undergo a comprehensive analysis of their methods, practices, and financials to determine who is the best in the industry. Out of approximately 35,000 independent insurance agencies in the U.S., 2,600 were nominated and only 235 were selected this year for this distinction. In California, Rancho Mesa stands out as one of a select few agencies to earn the Best Practices status.

To qualify, an agency must first be nominated. Following the nomination, it must submit detailed financial and operational information, which is then analyzed, scored, and ranked objectively based on operational excellence, including outstanding customer service, growth, stability, and financial management. Each agency must be among the 35-45 top-performing agencies in its revenue category to be awarded Best Practices status.

The data collected from these Best Practices independent insurance agencies is studied and used to establish benchmarks, enabling other agencies to measure their performance and adapt their businesses based on the best practices guidelines established through the study.

“This award is incredibly challenging to achieve, and I am immensely proud of our team's sustained efforts. Congratulations to everyone at Rancho Mesa for your dedication and hard work,” said Dave Garcia, President of Rancho Mesa.

Each year, the Big “I” publishes its "Best Practices Study," which includes financial and operational data collected from agencies across the United States. The 2024 Best Practices Study will be available later this year and will feature a list of all the Best Practices Agencies by state, as well as the study's results.

To learn more about what it takes to be a "Best Practices Agency," visit www.independentagent.com/best-practices.