PESTICIDE PROGRAM SPECIALIST — Xerces Society

Aaron is a Pesticide Program Specialist at the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, primarily in residential and urban landscapes.

“Supporting Biodiversity through Pollinator Plantings and Avoiding Pesticide Exposure”

Aaron presented the unique and specialized relationships between pollinators, plants, and other species and how planting choices can support biodiversity and conservation needs. He covered the principles of ecologically-based pest management to reduce pesticide impacts on pollinators in the urban landscape.

PRINCIPAL — Pacific Water Management Inc.

Certified Water Conservation Manager, Certified Landscape Irrigation Auditor, Certified Golf Irrigation Auditor, and EPA WaterSense Partner.

“Commercial Irrigation: Big Changes & Emerging Issues”

Bob Costa’s passion for Horticulture spans over a 40-year professional career. His vast experience in the turfgrass and landscape industry and as a water management consultant has given him a working knowledge of irrigation system design, operation, and management and a practical understanding of plant-water relationships.

As irrigation systems become more sophisticated and complex, maintenance for commercial properties is also evolving. The panel discussed current best practices for large landscapes and maintenance considerations after completing the project. 

CLIMATE PSYCHOLOGY CONSULTANT — lesliedavenport.com

Leslie Davenport works as a climate psychology educator, consultant, and therapist, exploring the intersectionality of climate, economics, education, policy, and social justice. Leslie helped shape the document: “Mental Health and Our Changing Climate: Impacts, Implications, and Guidance.”

“Emotional Resiliency: Addressing Eco-Anxiety & Grief in an Era of Environmental Crisis”

ReScape's 8 Principles speak to the whole systems foundation necessary for addressing the environmental challenges facing us. There is an emerging recognition that we must tend our “internal ecosystems” —thoughts, feelings, and accompanying physiological responses.

Leslie provided resources and tools to address the eco-anxiety, grief, and the range of feelings accompanying the climate crisis.

PRESIDENT — Martha Davis Consulting

Martha Davis was the former Assistant General Manager/Executive Manager for Policy Development at the Inland Empire Utilities Agency (IEUA), a municipal water district serving 830,000 people in the western portion of San Bernardino County. Martha consults on award-winning planning and green programs, including initiatives promoting water efficiency, renewable energy, stormwater capture, recycled water, and climate resiliency.

“Protect Water & Air: Laws Affecting Landscaping — Panel Discussion”

The Panel focused on how landscape professionals can incorporate regenerative landscaping practices to address new and existing State regulations to protect water and air through nature-based designs, water budgets, trees, and efficient equipment.

PRESIDENT — Dickson & Associates, Inc. Professional Irrigation Consultant

Marty is a professional irrigation consultant, designing and consulting for landscape projects of all types and sizes. He collaborates with landscape architects, design team members, contractors, municipalities, and owners to create landscape/irrigation projects that meet and exceed the requirements of water conservation ordinances, LEED, and other project rating systems.

“Commercial Irrigation: Big Changes & Emerging Issues”

As irrigation systems become more sophisticated and complex, maintenance for commercial properties is also evolving. Join us for a panel discussion of current best practices for large landscapes and maintenance considerations after the project is complete. Bring your commercial irrigation questions!

WATER CONSERVATION ADMINISTRATOR — City of Beverly Hills

Debby Dunn (Figoni) has enthusiastically educated over 10,000 residents and businesses about using water efficiently through various water-wise landscaping presentations and one-on-one meetings. As the Water Conservation Administrator for the City of Beverly Hills, she gets to help larger properties save larger amounts of water. Debby passionately teaches various Water Wise landscaping workshops, including irrigation, prep and design, and California Friendly plants.

“Water Waste Facts - Healthy Garden Tips”

Attendees learned how to maintain a healthy garden using water efficiently with easy-to-implement tips. They learned the truth about water waste in and outside the home (ex: How much water can one run toilet waste?). They gained knowledge on water and gardening they can share with their friends, family, and the stranger in line at the grocery store.

CONSERVATION AND EFFICIENCY SUPERVISOR — State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB)

Charlotte Ely supervises the State Water Resources Control Board’s Conservation Team, which leads the agency’s efforts to implement SB 606 and AB 1668. From 2006 to 2016, she worked for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Sustainable Water Infrastructure program, providing technical and financial support to increase water and energy efficiency in water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure.

“AB1668 & SB606: Making Water Conservation a California Way of Life: Outdoor Standards”

In this workshop, we discussed the State Water Board regulation, “Make Water Conservation a Way of Life,” as outlined in California bills AB 1668 & SB 606 (2018). The State Water Board is setting new standards for urban outdoor water use efficiency, both residential and commercial industrial institutional (CII). This workshop was facilitated by the State Water Board's Conservation Unit, which coordinated the water efficiency rulemaking and included an overview of the regulatory framework, current research on the impacts on landscapes, and related state climate initiatives.

SAN FRANCISCO BRANCH MANAGER — Gachina

Thirty-four years of professional landscape (CA landscape contractor C-27) and business experience in the San Francisco Bay area, the Pacific NW, and eastern British Columbia. Permaculture certification with 15 years of practice in design and implementation for urban, rural, ornamental, and food-centric landscapes.

“Save Water Roundtable: Regenerative Landscaping in a Changing California Climate”

The Save Water Roundtable featured California native plant and landscape maintenance experts for a lively discussion and Q & A about picking and caring for plants and trees in a time of climate change, new cultivars, healthy soils, smart tech & tips for landscape maintenance, and what’s in store for the future.

SENIOR LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT — Thuilot Associates

Sarah is a practicing landscape architect and ReScape Rater in the Bay Area. At Thuilot Associates, she is a project manager for several Silicon Valley commercial and multifamily housing organizations that own and maintain a portfolio of properties. At this scale, the design challenge is seeking the best long-term irrigation solutions for landscapes and finding maintenance companies with the technical skills to take advantage of exciting new irrigation systems and digital tools.

“BMP's for Compost: Landscaping Compliance with SB1383”

This information-packed presentation was a review of lesser-known requirements that are part of California's MWELO and the new regulations enacted as part of SB 1383, the Short-Lived Climate Pollutant Reduction Strategy. ReScape Rating helps designers and plan checkers comply.  A review of several projects that incorporated water-efficient landscaping and significant amounts of compost and mulch demonstrated how to apply these regulations to your projects.

CERTIFIED CALIFORNIA NATURALIST — California Native Plant Society

Bob has retired from a career in advertising to devote his life to volunteerism and biodiversity conservation. Bob is a certified California Naturalist and serves on the board of the California Native Plant Society, Yerba Buena Chapter, and the conservation committee of the Golden Gate Audubon Society.

“Enhancing Biodiversity with Native Landscape Plants”

Native landscape plants meet traditional landscaping needs while enhancing biodiversity, creating wildlife habitat, and contributing to wildlife corridor connections in urban, suburban, and rural landscapes. We discussed drought-tolerant Bay Area native plants, which contribute lovely landscape elements, including ground covers, hedges, ornamental trees, shade trees, windscreens, and erosion control.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR — Mycelium Youth Network

Lil Milagro Henriquez, M.A. (detribalized Nahuat Pipil descent), is a veteran of social justice organizing with 20+ years of experience. She founded Mycelium Youth Network, an organization dedicated to preparing and empowering frontline youth for climate change. Lil’s City of San Francisco TEDx talk illuminated the failures of conventional education to prepare youth for climate change.

“Engaging Youth in Climate Resilient Education”

Lil spoke to the failures of conventional schooling to practically prepare our younger generations for the realities of climate change. She shared lessons learned from working at the frontline of climate resilient education. Lil shared concrete strategies that planners, government officials, community organizers, and educators can use to speak to young people in a way that empowers and supports them without tokenizing them.

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST — CA State Water Resources Control Board

Karina Herrera is an Environmental Scientist with the State Water Board’s conservation team, the team managing the implementation of AB 1668 and SB 606.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR — Watershed Progressive

Regina Hirsch has over 20 years of experience delivering resilient water solutions to private, public, and commercial entities. These projects focus on applying site-specific best management practices such as Low Impact Development, water conservation techniques, and water reuse in public and commercial demonstration areas that solve critical management problems while rehydrating watersheds for multiple beneficial uses.

After monitoring watershed health and water quality parameters at the Central Coast Regional Water Quality Board and the Morro Bay National Estuary Program, Regina founded a “design/build” firm, Watershed Progressive (WP), focusing on best management practices aimed at rehydrating watersheds and promoting outreach and education. Since 2010, Watershed Progressive has helped plan, design, install, and monitor Watershed parcel-based projects, which have restored acres of habitat and while increasing watershed recharge and reducing demand on critical resources. WP has projects stretching from Mono County west to the Bay Area, from San Bernardino County to Humboldt County.

Knowing what we do on our lands can make a cumulative difference in water management, Regina’s goal is to spread the word on good and appropriate decision-making regarding water, energy, plants, soils, and most of all, communities.

CLIMATE LEAD — CA State Water Resources Control Board

Chris Hyun has been the California State Water Board climate lead since 2020, tasked to ensure the State Water Board is doing all it can to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and help ecosystems and vulnerable communities adapt to climate change now and for future generations. He upholds, assesses, and ensures action on the State Water Board's Climate Resolution and contributes to statewide climate strategies, regional climate coordination efforts, and water conservation regulation. He studied development engineering in the Energy and Resources Group at the University of California, Berkeley, and environmental science at Banaras Hindu University.

SENIOR ASSOCIATE — PlaceWorks

Jesse is a landscape architect at PlaceWorks, overseeing many open space and public park projects. Jesse's work focuses on utilizing environmental analysis to make informed design decisions and resilient landscape spaces. Jesse is working on three shoreline projects on San Francisco Bay, including the Tidewater site at Martin Luther King Jr Regional Shoreline. At each site, the project team is planning for sea level rise thoughtfully and adaptively to create spaces that function today and in a future impacted by climate change.

OUTREACH CHAIR — California Native Plant Society Yerba Buena

Susan Karasoff gardens in San Francisco’s clay soil. Susan brings an “only the easiest plants survive” approach to gardening. Susan grows a buffet of colorful native edible and pollinator plants, specifically gardening to feed caterpillars, bees, hummingbirds, and people. Susan’s plant lists, including native landscape plants, are available on the California Native Plant Society - Yerba Buena (San Francisco) website on the biodiversity resources page.

OWNER — Douglas Kent + Associates

A specialist in Ecological Land Management. Master of Science in Regenerative Studies and Master of Landscape Architecture, both from California Polytechnic University, Pomona. Written eight books and all a success: one a bestseller. California Landscape Contractor for ten years. California gardener for 43 years.

Mr. Kent has been working to create fire-protected properties and communities since 1994. He has written the best-selling book on landscaping for fire protection (Firescaping) and has led educational efforts and landscape projects across California. He has written over 50 articles appearing in such publications as Fire Gardening, Los Angeles Times, and Sonoma Press Democrat. Mr. Kent also teaches land management courses at Cal Poly Pomona and USC and is the author of 7 other books, including California Friendly and Ocean Friendly Gardening.

OWNER — Lyngso Garden Materials

Lyngso Garden Materials is a family business and recently transitioning to an ESOP. Terry has been CEO of Lyngso since 1983. Forming community relationships through gardening has been a passion of Lyngso since its inception. When Terry learned about the relationship between the microbial community, plants, and soil, she dug in and began to learn that soil holds the answer to many of the problems we face today.

CEO/PRESIDENT — American Green Zone Alliance

Dan Mabe – Founder of the American Green Zone Alliance (AGZA), comes from the gas-powered landscape maintenance industry. Seeking a more sustainable path to operate lawn and garden tools, Dan has devoted nearly twenty years to developing and applying cleaner, less noisy battery technology for the landscape maintenance industry.

Dan created and implemented the American Green Zone Alliance “Green Zone” certification program to further the acceptance of cleaner low, impact technologies, including outreach, training, and impact reporting. AGZA works with Cities, Towns, Academia, Landscape Maintenance Companies, Contractors, and Air Quality Management Agencies, providing sustainable grounds maintenance education and consultation.

PRESIDENT — O'Cain Consulting, Inc.

Kim O’Cain is President of O’Cain Consulting, Inc., a water conservation consulting firm in Santa Monica, CA. Kim has twenty years of experience developing and implementing water conservation and efficiency programs, policies, and outreach to public agencies and businesses. Before starting her consulting firm in 2017, she managed the City of Santa Monica’s water conservation unit. She co-wrote the local water efficient landscape ordinance and standards, performed plan checks and inspections in addition to developing and implementing a variety of rebates, including sustainable landscape retrofits, and taught sustainable landscaping courses. Kim is also an Adjunct Professor at Santa Monica College, teaching water and sustainability courses. Kim loves boogie boarding, hiking, and reading.

OWNER — Garden Enlightenment

Landscape Architect, Contractor, Arborist, Commercial Sites Rater, Water Efficient Landscaper, Master Gardener, Irrigation Auditor, Regenerative Firescaper, Soil Worshipper, Tree Hugger, etc.

I've been in the landscape industry since the mid-80s. I have degrees in Landscape Architecture and Horticulture, Licenses in Landscape Architecture and Contracting, and I've been Certified as a Landscape Technician, a Bay-Friendly Commercial Sites Rater, an Arborist, a Water Efficient Landscaper, an Irrigation Auditor, a Master Gardener, a Rescape Regenerative Firescaper... you might say I have a landscaping problem.

I've been at the forefront of organic gardening and regenerative landscaping practices for decades with my own landscape company, working with a large corporate landscape company, teaching landscape topics for various agencies, associations, and non-profits, consulting, and running my landscape architectural firm.

I LOVE to enlighten others with what I've learned along the way and what I'm currently learning. Nothing is more satisfying than leading folks down the Garden Path and seeing them reap the benefits of a garden lifestyle. I firmly believe that gardens and landscapes done right can make a huge positive impact on our communities, our ecologies and help promote well-being and happiness in the world.

My landscape architectural business, Garden Enlightenment, specializes in WELO compliance and providing beautiful, functional, and ecologically responsible spaces people love to experience.

In my spare time, (surprise!) I enjoy spending my time gardening!

CO-FOUNDER — Pollinator Posse

Certificate in Parks Maintenance Management school, Ornamental Horticulture Merritt College, American Public Works Supervisor certificate.

Tora Rocha is an expert in Landscape design and maintenance with over 40 years of experience. She worked 37 years for the City of Oakland, maintaining parks and as Parks Supervisor for the Lake Merritt and Downtown districts. She is passionate about healthy ecosystems and how landscape practices are harming them. Tora Recently won the Jefferson Award for public service for her work.

• 8 PRINCIPLES COVERED BY TORA: Protect Water & Air, Create Habitat

SENIOR TRANSPORTATION ENGINEER — California Department of Transportation

Brian Rowley, P.E. is a civil engineer with over 20 years of experience working on public and private sector projects, with 15 years focused on green stormwater infrastructure. Brian brings this expertise to his role as Senior Transportation Engineer with the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), where his collaborative design approach focuses on integrating practical green stormwater solutions into civil infrastructure projects to meet the needs of project team members and stakeholders. Lastly, Brian enjoys mentoring young professionals and is a Board Member of Rescape.

• 8 PRINCIPLES COVERED BY BRIAN: Act Local, Protect Water & Air, Nurture Soil, Save Water

PESTICIDE PROGRAM SPECIALIST — Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation

PRINCIPAL — Landfour Landscape Architecture

Cielo Sichi is the owner of Landfour Landscape Architecture. He has been professionally designing and building landscapes focusing on sustainability since 2003. He has extensive experience with landscapes of all sizes and types, including single and multifamily residential, commercial, institutional, and recreational projects. PLA #5643

Cielo holds a BS in Environmental Horticultural Science from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. Cielo is a ReScape Lead Instructor and the Chair of the Horticulture Department at American River College, where he teaches landscape and irrigation design and construction courses.

CO-FOUNDER & CEO — Earth Foundries, Inc.

Roger is the co-founder & ceo of Earth Foundries. He has spent 30 years in the technology world in a variety of product development, marketing and business development roles. He earned a BSEE from Cornell University and an MBA from Santa Clara University.

CO-FOUNDER & CHAIRWOMAN — Earth Foundries Inc.

Dede is the co-founder and chairwoman of Earth Foundries. Her career took her through multiple roles in public planning at a range of Bay Area cities, counties, and private consulting firms. She has recently led the Santa Clara County FireSafe Council as the Board President. She earned a BS in Environmental Policy and Planning from U.C. Davis.

FOUNDER — Water Efficient Gardens

Expert Native Garden Designer. Shelkie Tao is a landscape designer and founder of Water Efficient Gardens, an online landscape design business that excels in low-water and native garden designs.

Shelkie Tao is a sustainability and innovation-driven entrepreneur committed to developing water-efficient, biodiversity-boosting, and ecosystem-friendly solutions. Before Water Efficient Gardens, she worked for 15 years in the high-tech industry in Silicon Valley. She received her Certificate of Achievement in Environmental Horticulture and Design from Foothill College and her MBA from the Anderson School at UCLA.

PRINCIPAL — Elder Creek Landscapes

Rick has spent the last 25 years weaving ecological literacy into the landscape profession through practical, cutting-edge solutions. His desire to transform the influence from extractive to regenerative has led to the creation of the Landscape Carbon Calculator. His decades of experience in landscape design and construction have deeply influenced the efficacy of the Landscape Carbon Calculator.

Originally founded as a small landscape design/build/maintain contracting business, his firm, Elder Creek Landscapes inc. has led the SF Bay Area in practical and visionary approaches to sustainability.

He has taught and spoken at countless industry events, created curriculum, and held a lead instructor position with Sonoma State University's Sustainable Landscape Professional Certificate Program and the Ecological Landscape Immersion Program at the Permaculture Skills Center. In this role, he helped train future professionals to merge ecology, design, professionalism, and economics to build a career rooted in the right livelihood.

In addition to his ecological work, Rick serves as a facilitator and collective member for Sonoma County Men Evolving Non-violently (M.E.N.), a volunteer organization working to end domestic violence by working directly with men committing these acts. He also speaks publicly on Male Violence to a variety of audiences.

CHIEF HORTICULTURIST — Devil Mountain Wholesale Nursery

David Teuschler is the Chief Horticulturist for Devil Mountain Wholesale Nursery. He established the nursery’s propagation program and currently directs the propagation and inventory teams for the company’s sixteen locations across California. David has worked in the nursery industry for three decades, including many years at Valley Crest Tree Company. While there, he served as Plant Health Care Manager for the Specimen Tree Division, Account Manager in the Estate Gardens Division, and, most notably, Chief Arborist for the Apple contract grow, responsible for growing over 7,000 trees – half from seed – for installation at the Apple campus in Cupertino, CA. David is a Certified Arborist and a member of the Western Chapter of the I.S.A. and the I.P.P.S. He is a 3rd generation Californian with a BS in Ornamental Horticulture from California State University, Fresno.

FOUNDER — Refuse Refuse SF

He started cleaning his block with his two daughters (aged 5 and 7). Then he discovered others already picking up trash and spread the word to neighbors from all over the city who had joined the Refuse Refuse movement to keep the city clean. He soon discovered that cleaning up San Francisco was his greatest passion.

FOUNDER — Re-Up Refills

Matt has been in the waste reduction and ecologically building world for the past decade. As a builder, designer, and engineer, he has built state-of-the-art aquaponics systems, campus-wide greywater installations, nutritive cycling systems, and implemented farm efficiency programs. He currently heads operations, marketing, product, and strategy for the waste reduction organization Re-Up Refills in Oakland.