Events Calendar

January 11, Thursday
Central Coast Chapter Annual New Year’s Mixer & Board Meeting

Time: 5 am - noon
Location: ABBOTT’s Square Market, 725 Front St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060

Everyone is welcome. Come and celebrate the start of 2024.

Contact Regan Barry ‭(831) 212-0344‬ or rbarry@coastalevergreen.com

February 8, Thursday
Central Coast Chapter Board Meeting

Time: 11 am
Location: Nor Cal event in san mateo
Contact Regan Barry ‭(831) 212-0344‬ or rbarry@coastalevergreen.com

Coming in March… Membership and Suppliers Night

Date and location coming soon.

Board of Directors Report

News updates from the Board

Happy 2024 Central Coast Chapter Members, old and new. Welcome to the first edition of the Central Coast Chapter newsletter’s Board of Directors Report. First off we have a great board of directors to serve you this year. Our goal is to make sure you have a positive experience in our chapter, and the CLCA as a whole. We are here to support you to get the most value out of your membership. You can lean on us any time, ask questions, or make suggestions. We promise to do our best to keep you up-to-date on all of our upcoming events and programs that will be posted on our calendar of events section each month in our newsletter, website (clca-cc.org) and on social media. This will include all State sponsored events. We’ve got you covered. In addition we would like to ask you for your participation in the Chapter by attending events, or volunteering as your time allows. We welcome your feedback so that we will remain the best (in my opinion) chapter in the state. This year, as we try to do every year, our board is busy conjuring up a full slate of events throughout 2024. Please save the dates, and of course we will be giving you gentle reminders. Some events will look familiar while others will be variations of a theme. We are open to any ideas from you because this is your Chapter after all.   

Speaking of events, just around the corner is our Annual Leadership Conference held in San Marcos California this year. The event will be held at the Hunter Industries Headquarters and lead by our 2024 State President Tom Sweeney. Tom is a great person and will do a wonderful job leading our association. When I was a bit younger, before gray hair, as our chapter president, I took a very informative field trip/tour of that same facility with the other CLCA chapter presidents. I learned a lot about the evolution of the irrigation industry and how it has rapidly changed over the years. Remember RainBird and Champion 3" or even 2" brass, pop up, lawn sprinkler heads and galvanized pipe? Yikes. Times have definitely changed. I digress, back to the Leasdership Conference. Our association’s event is designed to train our chapter board members on the scope of their responsibilities as they begin their year in the trenches. It also serves as a team-building experience and networking opportunity with other members from around the State. This will be my 10th Leadership Conference. I learn something new every year. We have four members of our board attending. 

Our next Board of Directors Meeting, February 8th, will be held at the NorCal Expo in the San Mateo Events Center, 11 a.m. Contact me for more information. This is the largest trade show that the CLCA sponsors, annually, in Northern California. After our meeting we will be checking out the 100 or so vendors who will be displaying their products. It’s everything landscaping and more. Everyone is invited to attend so look it up in our chapter calendar or go to clca.org to see dates and times. I hope to see you there. 

Not to overwhelm you with awesome things to do with your spare time but please keep in mind that in mid-March we will be having our Annual Membership/Suppliers Night. This is a free trade show and dinner we put on every year as a membership drive. It’s a fun event and nobody from KQED will be there to harass you. We will get you more information as we near the date. 

Thank you for taking some time to read the ramblings of a long time board member who is definitely drinking the kool-aid, and hopefully getting you some compelling intel about the the Central Coast Chapter.

All of us on the Board of Directors look forward to seeing you at our next event and please come up and say hi. 

Los Arroyos International Wholesale Nursery is having an Open House at their ranch, Saturday, Feb. 3 thru Tuesday, Feb. 6. Lunch will be provided. 350 Kliewer Lane, Watsonville, CA 95076. Great opportunity! Please make sure to R.S.V.P. to Amy Bernal at 831-566-9827 or a.bernal@losarroyosnursery.com

—Regan Barry
Coastal Evergreen Company
rbarry@coastalevergreen.com

Central Coast Chapter Board of Directors Election 2024

Our CLCA Central Coast Chapter board elections are held each November and are advertised in our chapter newsletter. Newly elected officers of our chapter will be announced at our annual Holiday Party in December.

our team of leaders manages the Central Coast Chapter and helps us bring awareness to the work we do in our community, and as C- 27 professional Landscape Contractors.

2024 Board of Directors

Immediate Past President: Phil Dundas—The Landscape Company
Membership Director: Terri Baker—Graniterock
Secretary/Treasurer: Katrina Christensen—K&D Landscaping
Director of Events: Scott Long—Central Coast Landscape
Director of Education: Micheal Johnson—California Horticulture Service 
Associate Member Director: Julia Zuckerman—Delta Bluegrass
Legislation Director: Regan Barry—Coastal Evergreen

Please come and learn more about our board by coming to a meeting, or volunteer to help in any capacity. Please contact Regan Barry at rbarry@coastalevergreen.com if you are interested in becoming involved with this dynamic group.

Central Coast Chapter Partners for Success Program

It’s that time of year to renew your partnership. Central Coast’s Partners for Success Program provides an opportunity to increase your visibility in the community, to be seen as a leader in the green industry by helping sustain the many educational and enrichment offerings of our association.

For more information, contact Regan Barry at rbarry@coastalevergreen.com

register NOW for 2024!

WE love our partners

PaRTNER’S CORNER

Julia Zuckerman of Delta Bluegrass Company

CLCA Central Coast Chapter Associate Member Director

Read more about Julia and her family story, and their long history on the Central Coast. Julie has some very notable hobbies...read more! www.clca-cc.org/partners

The Partner’s Corner! What a great benefit. Here’s an easy way to let people in your industry know what you’re up to, what’s new, and why you’re the success that you are. We want to see pictures of you, your family, your company’s staff, we want to know what you do in your spare time and what makes you unique. We’re interested. Please contact Elise Huffman, the Central Coast editor, if you are interested in being featured on our website in a future “Partner’s Corner.” Partner’s don’t miss this chance for some FREE advertising.

Advertise in the Central Coast Seascape Newsletter!

It’s always a great time to Advertise in this newsletter! Reach your target audience monthly. Sign up for large, medium, or small ads. For specs and pricing contact: clcaccc.editor@gmail.com. OR sign up online next week, we’re setting up the pages online. Sign up info for 2024 coming soon!

announcement

LEAF Receives $250,000 Donation!

Landscape Educational Advancement Foundation (LEAF)

It is with humble pride and great excitement that the Landscape Educational Advancement Foundation (LEAF) announces the $250,000 donation it received from the Landscape Contractors Insurance Services Board of Directors at the 2023 CLCA Convention in Monterey. This donation will establish the LCIS Board of Directors Legacy Fund.

“I cannot find the appropriate words to describe how honored and grateful the Board of Trustees is to be the recipient of such generosity. Beginning in 2025, the earnings from the LCIS Board of Directors Legacy Fund will be awarded to a worthy student, thus allowing LEAF to continue its mission of financially supporting students planning careers in the Green Industry and programs that support them.” said Chair Mary Cohen.

Donations and Legacy commitments are the lifeblood to the success of the LEAF program. If you would like to establish a fund or want more information, please visit LEAF’s website at clca.org/leaf or contact CLCA Headquarters directly at 916.448.2522. LEAF is a non-profit 501 (c)(3) organization and, as such, contributions are tax deductible as allowable by law.

Since its establishment in 1988 by the CLCA Auxiliary, LEAF has awarded 1197 scholarships to 630 students totaling $756,775.

Learn more about LEAF here and find the 2024 LEAF Scholarship Application.

upcoming Event

3rd Annual Central Coast Water Summit

MARCH 7, 2024, 8:30am - 5pm
Cocoanut Grove at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk,
400 Beach St., Santa Cruz, CA 95060

The 3rd Annual Central Coast Water Summit brings together the most diverse and engaged group of local industry professionals. It offers education, and knowledge around water management as it relates to the landscape industry.
CLCA Members will receive a discounted rate! All who enroll early get $20 off the regular price.

Are you…

• Seeking ROI from irrigation investment?

• Ever wondered about creating a water budget for your property?

• Curious about bringing on a Water Manager to your company or property?

• Wanting to incorporate smart water management practices into your landscaping projects?

• Facing challenges in implementing effective water management strategies?

Get your questions answered. Water management is crucial for sustainable landscaping. Let’s delve into the importance and implementation together. Join us! Tickets on sale now, snag your spot before it sells out!

https://lnkd.in/dHFdJ6nD or centralcoastwatersummit.ticketleap.com/kd-central-coast-water-summit/

CLCA Annual event

Holiday Party 2024

Click on images below to see whole image in lightbox.

Our 2023 Holiday Party was a lot of fun, as it always is. We met at the Back Nine Bar & Grill which was decorated in the spirit of the season. Thanks to everyone who came by and shared a meal, a landscaping story, and played our popular White Elephant Gift Exchange. Thanks for bringing Christmas sweaters and Holiday mirth and color to our event! See you all for more fun in 2024! —Regan Barry
___________

What a night to remember! Hey folks, it’s Katrina Christensen here from K&D Landscaping, your fresh-faced secretary/treasurer for the Central Coast Chapter board. I’m over ten years deep in landscaping, and now I'm thrilled to dive into this chapter's adventures. And hey, I've got a secret—I was once a part of those Bay Breezers. Let's keep that between us, alright?

Hats off to Scott Long, our awesome events director, and the 2023 board! Navigating us rowdy landscapers during the festive frenzy? It's like trying to wrangle fireflies, but with more mulch. Greeting you all at the door was a hoot, especially seeing everyone rock those Christmas sweaters! Priceless.

Broccoli as the star of the show? Who’d have thunk! The gift exchange was a riot, with Regan and Shane adding the perfect zest as our MCs. And those liquor bottles? A test of willpower, indeed.

Gear up, folks! 2024 promises more antics and memories. Raise your glasses, and let’s toast to the good times ahead! 🥂

—Katrina Christensen

Elise says “Thank you to Katrina for the wonderful and engaging write up of this holiday party and to all who shared their photos of this event. It sure makes the newsletter more fun!”