Featured Partner

Regan Barry of Coastal Evergreen

taking leaps of faith and becoming One of the pillars
of the central Coast Chapter of the CLCA

Hello everyone reading this monthly Partner’s Corner, spotlight article for our Central Coast Chapter CLCA newsletter, The Seascape. There are three parts to the story that I would like to share with you. The first part is about my early beginnings and the second part is about my time becoming a member of the CLCA. The third is the gravy.

In 1975 I met my wife Lori while I was a young gardener, just starting out in Santa Cruz. She was my biggest supporter and challenged me often over the next few years to look at the bigger picture of becoming a landscaper/business person. I was, as it was called at the time, part of the underground economy, an un-licensed person working with friends and family doing small jobs. I received some training while working in a retail nursery in Aptos, and worked at Sears Garden Center in the early ’70s in Capitola. This also helped guide me to follow the path I was on to the bigger picture of what it takes to install a whole landscape. Then the big leap of faith happened.

In 1981 I got my C-27 landscape contractors license. Becoming all legit was a big relief and brought challenges that opened my eyes to all the pieces necessary to run and grow a company. It was not easy at times but we kept growing and adding structure to our company culture. Fast forward ten years of highs and lows, mostly highs, and it was time for a change of strategy. We needed help that provide us the tools that would enable us to grow our culture, and add the tools necessary to keep the good workforce that had been loyal to us over the years. In 2001 I became a member of the CLCA and named the Central Coast Chapter as my home team. In 2010 I joined the Central Coast Chapters Board of Directors. Since then it would be difficult to list all the benefits and joy that came with my friendships, and fellowship with the members of our chapter and association. I am proud to say that I was blessed with the opportunity to serve as our chapter president for two terms, and then in 2020 (the year of Covid 19) I served as CLCA State President. I guess that somebody had to do it right? 

Meanwhile: Coastal Evergreen Company became an award-winning landscape and maintenance company, now with over 40 years of experience. We offer consultation, design, installation and maintenance, making us one of the few premier landscape companies in Santa Cruz, Santa Clara, and Monterey counties. No company is successful without a talented and committed workforce. Our employees are the heart and soul of Coastal Evergreen. They embody the family spirit on which Coastal Evergreen was founded. We are proud of them and how they represent their company, customers and community along with the green industry. So I’m very proud of that.

The third chapter of this story is about what a wonderful life I have while being married for 46 years to my best critic and supporter, my true north guide/wife Lori. As for our family we are truly blessed to have three wonderful sons that have given us great daughter-in-laws. Our youngest son Niles is now the main principle running Coastal Evergreen allowing Lori and I some time to consider retirement. We also have four amazing grandchildren. The oldest is 15 and the youngest is 6. We are very fortunate to have the life that we do. That's all. 

REGAN BARRY, president
Coastal Evergreen “We Bring You Outdoors”

phone: (831) 438-4747
email: rbarry@coastalevergreen.com
4615 Scotts Valley Drive, Suite C
Scotts Valley, CA 95066

www.coastalevergreen.com

Visit us on Instagram: @CoastalEvergreen