We have amazing employees at California Casualty. The Employee Spotlight is a new series aiming to highlight those talented individuals that make up our successful company culture and community. From human resource recruiters and learning and development trainers to claims adjusters, marketers, customer support specialists, partner relations, sales representatives, and beyond; each week, we’ll highlight a new team member, so you can get to know us better and see how our employees make us who we are as a company.
This edition of the Employee Spotlight will feature our Customer Care Specialist, Sarena Means
Sarena has been with us for almost 4 years now and is based in our Colorado office.
Let’s get to learn Sarena!
What made you want to work in Customer Service at California Casualty?
I heard it was a wonderful company that’s proven its place in the industry by being family-owned for 4 generations and in business for more than 100 years, and it definitely is!
People love working here and stay a really long time. I was so impressed with the tenure here. I’ve never seen another company with higher employee retention. It makes for a great family-like environment and culture.
What is your favorite part about your job?
I love my co-workers, I’ve never worked with better people, and we also have great customers. They love us and we love helping them!
Also, in my position here at CalCas, I feel like I have a lot of opportunities to be heard. I may not always get what I want, but I don’t ever feel belittled by my managers, or that I don’t have anything of value to contribute. The management is always willing to listen to me and my concerns. I feel like I’m important at California Casualty, and they give me the opportunity to do what I do best.
What have you learned in your position at California Casualty?
Looking back, I actually didn’t really know much about our affinity groups. We offer a lot of service to our community heroes and I’ve learned more than I ever thought I would about Teachers, and Police Officers, Firefighters, and Nurses.
You get to really know these people and what matters most to them, and it gives you a deeper level of respect for them and what they do every day to help us.
What are your favorite activities to do outside of the office?
I love my family and really enjoy all things with them. Movies, games, Sunday dinners, outside in the sunshine, any and all of it.
Life is changing for us right now. Our oldest moved out in November after buying her first house, and our youngest is going through the Air Force Basic Military Training. That means my husband and I are very new empty nesters and haven’t figured out what that means for us. We’re adjusting to a new normal, but it’s an exciting time!
Anything else you would like the audience to know about you?
My name is Sarena and I’m often teased by customers on the phone about having the same name as the famous tennis player; coincidentally, I actually played tennis in high school. Obviously didn’t go pro, but it was definitely a love of mine for a few years.
I was in an American Furniture Warehouse commercial circa 1999.
I love the Marvel movies, Harry Potter, and Lord of the Rings. I could watch any of the movies from any of the collections at any time and be completely entertained.
If you want to learn more about Sarena or are interested in a career at California Casualty, connect with her on LinkedIn! Or visit our careers page at https://www.calcas.com/careers
We are proud to insure workers on the front lines during the COVID-19 Pandemic. As a policy-holder owned company, California Casualty is committed to providing for your insurance needs, now and in the future- whatever that may bring.
If you have questions about your policy please visit our website at www.calcas.com or contact a customer care representative at 1-800-800-9410.
Peace officers, firefighters, paramedics, and other emergency personnel are the American heroes on the frontlines of keeping our communities safe and in working order during this public health crisis.
They are working daily to ensure public safety, enforce laws, arrive first to emergencies, and provide reassurance to anxious communities. True to their sworn duty, they are stepping up to do what’s needed. Now is the time for the rest of us to step up and support them.
As cities and communities put plans in place to open their doors, here are 5 ways you can help your first responders.
Keep Your Distance
Across the country, various forms of shelter-in-place and social distancing orders will slowly be lifted. The basic idea of the orders was to limit exposure to others and ultimately, limit the spread of coronavirus infections. As life begins to return to it’s new “normal” it is important to remember to continue to keep your distance when out in public and avoid going out if you feel you are getting sick. By continuing to socially distance yourself in public and taking the necessary precautionary measures (like wearing a mask), you will help continue to slow the spread and you’ll also relieve officers’ time and energy in enforcement.
Don’t Abuse 9-1-1
Only call 9-1-1 if you, someone else, or property is in immediate danger. True emergencies include medical emergencies, violent crime, accidents, downed power lines, etc. Calls that are not actual emergencies overload the 9-1-1 system. That’s already an existing problem, and authorities worry it will escalate if the public health crisis continues, or gets worse, as cities begin to open their doors. If you have concerns about coronavirus symptoms that are not a medical emergency, contact your doctor or advice nurse.
Be Safe
Now is not the time for outdoor enthusiasts to put themselves in harm’s way by going rock climbing or wilderness hiking—even if it’s solo. Emergency evacuations and rescue cost resources and manpower. There’ll be time for adventures later; for now, follow the laws and be safe. Observe the speed limit, drive carefully, and be fire- and safety-conscious around your home. In short, remember that any emergency you create for first responders will strain their limited resources.
Call It In
If you need to report a non-emergency crime, file a police report, or add to an existing report, avoid going to the police station in person. Instead, submit your information online or over the phone. Avoiding walk-ins limit exposure risk to their ranks.
Be a Good Neighbor
Many of us know first responders and police officers personally. Whether they’re in your family, friend circle, or neighborhood, make a point to reach out and check-in. See if there’s anything you can do for them or their families. This could be something like dropping off food at the station, walking their dog, or just simply being someone to talk to. They have been and will continue to be overwhelmed—physically, mentally, and emotionally until this pandemic has resolved completely. Let them know you’re there for them.
Life will return back to normal, but to keep our first responder and healthcare systems from getting overwhelmed, it is important to remain vigilant on doing what we can to stay healthy and continue stopping the spread.
This article is furnished by California Casualty, providing auto and home insurance to educators, law enforcement officers, firefighters, and nurses. Get a quote at 1.866.704.8614 or www.calcas.com.
The first Arbor Day in America took place April 10, 1872 in Nebraska City, Nebraska, when a proposed “tree-planting holiday” saw an estimated one million trees planted in the state in one day. Almost 150 years later, our love of trees remains strong as ever—they give us beauty, comfort, shade, protection, and a living expression of the seasons.
However, the benefits of living with trees also come with risk, especially for home-owners. Falling trees or branches can damage your home or even injure people. They can fall on power lines, leading to outages or fires, and their roots can damage pipes, foundations, and utility infrastructure. If a tree grows on your property, you are legally responsible for damage or injuries caused by it.
Since it’s difficult to tell when a tree might fail, here are 7 signs that could indicate bad tree health and a hazardous situation in the making.
How to Spot Tree Health Trouble Signs:
1. Leaning Trees. A little lean is normal, as most trees don’t grow straight, but if you see cracked or buckling soil—especially on the opposite side of the lean—that’s an indicator of stress. Another sign is exposed roots around the tree’s base.
2. Multiple Trunks. A tree with multiple trunks can break if the trunks are weakly attached. Check for cracks and splits where the trunks meet.
3. Dead Branches. As a normal part of their growth cycle, trees will shed dead branches, called deadwood. Most will eventually fall but keep an eye out for branches with a diameter of 2 inches or more—these are more likely to cause damage when they fall.
4. Fungi or Mushrooms. Fungi growing on the tree’s base or roots signals decay. These organisms feed off the tree’s internal cells, compromising its structural integrity.
5. Cracks. Large cracks in a tree’s trunk or branches require immediate attention. Most worrying is horizontal cracks in the trunk; however, any significant crack is a sign that the wood is weak or has already begun to fail and it’s only a matter of time before it snaps.
6. Cavities. Although not always the case, tree cavities can signal internal decay. Check for peeling bark and hollow or decayed areas, especially where branches meet the trunk. If you notice ants, birds, squirrels, bees, or raccoons spending a lot of time on trees that don’t provide food, it may also be a sign that there’s an internal void.
7. V-Shaped Branches. Look at where branches attach to the trunk:those unions should look more like the letter U than V. Tight V-shaped forks are more prone to break than the more open U-shaped ones.
When To Call an Arborist
Some of the above hazards can be addressed relatively easily. For instance, you can prune branches and use cabling to stabilize a small or medium-sized tree that’s leaning. However, if you notice serious hazards or are dealing with especially large or old trees, it’s safest to contact a certified arborist.
This article is furnished by California Casualty, providing auto and home insurance to educators, law enforcement officers, firefighters, and nurses. Get a quote at 1.866.704.8614 or www.calcas.com.
“Books give a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and life to everything.” -Plato
“Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body.” -Joseph Addison
“There is more treasure in books than in all the pirate’s loot on Treasure Island.” -Walt Disney
Books have been used for centuries to teach, to excite, to calm, to humor, to escape reality, and so much more. Although we may not be able to go enjoy our favorite books at school or in libraries, during these trying times, we are fortunate enough to still be able to celebrate the transformative power of reading with our families by enjoying ebooks for free online.
Here are 5 websites that offer free ebooks for kids, so they can discover their love for reading:
Open Library– A non-profit internet archive of more than one million books that are available to read for free online, 20,000 of those are children’s books
Oxford Owl– Is a website designed for parents to help kids learn. It has 200+ free ebooks along with activity guides separated by age and reading level to help kids learn.
Barnes & Noble Free eBooks – Offers a large selection of free picture books, chapter books, and read-along eBooks for toddlers, as well as free fiction, non-fiction, and educational eBooks for young readers. You can download them with their free Nook app.
Amazon’s Free Kids eBooks – Has children’s books for free download on their website by visiting the “Kindle” tab and opening up “Children’s eBooks”, you can then select any genre you would like and at the top of each genre’s page, there is a “100 Free” tab.
International Children’s Digital Library – Is a non-profit website that offers thousands of books for children separated by age group and genre. Create a free account to save books and start reading.
If your child prefers audiobooks you could visit the World Book Day’s World of Stories, which is currently offering free audiobooks in the genres: Picture Books, Young Fiction, Fiction, & Teen.
*Please note that not all books on audiobook apps are free
This article is furnished by California Casualty, providing auto and home insurance to educators, law enforcement officers, firefighters, and nurses. Get a quote at 1.866.704.8614 or www.calcas.com.
