lifetime Achievement Award

Rick Robinson, Stillwater Landscape Mangement, LLC

For Rick Robinson, a 30 year career in the landscape industry was definitely not the original plan.  Beginning with irrigation system installation, he worked landscaping jobs throughout college for extra money as he earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Geology from Colorado State University, and then his Master’s Degree in Geology/Geochemistry from the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology.  For Rick, however, what started out as a part time college job would become a lifelong passion.

After a stint as a Geologist working in precious metal exploration throughout the southwestern United States, Rick returned to the landscape industry upon moving his family to the Phoenix area in 1988.  He co-founded DLC Resources the following year, and served as the company’s President and qualifying party for all required state licenses for the next 20 years.  Beginning with just a few trucks and employees, Rick oversaw DLC’s growth into one of the largest landscape maintenance contractors in the Valley.

In 2010, Rick left DLC to found Stillwater Landscape Management, where he serves as President to this day.  Over the past five years Rick and his partners have worked diligently grow Stillwater to over 140 employees, providing landscape maintenance and enhancement services to community associations throughout the greater Phoenix Area.  Many of Stillwater’s clients have been with them since the inception of the company.

Throughout Rick’s career and to this day, he has volunteered his time and knowledge for numerous organizations.  He’s been active in ALCA, teaching many classes on Sustainable Landscape Management.  He is also an active member of the ACTC (Arizona Community Tree Council), helping with the organization of many events, including the annual conference just last month.  Rick also teaches resident education courses for many local community management companies, sharing his extensive knowledge with community residents and managers alike.  He is a qualifying party with the Arizona Registrar of Contractors and the Arizona Office of Pest Management; he is a Certified Arborist with the International Society of Arboriculture, a Certified Landscape Irrigation Auditor, and a Certified Sustainable Landscape Management Professional. 

While Rick has an undeniable passion for landscaping, his first priority has always been his love for his family.  Rick met his wife Carol in high school, and they have been happily married since college.  They have two sons, James and Ben, as well as a beautiful daughter-in-law, Clarissa; but most importantly, they have two precious grandchildren, Alexis and Jase, who they spoil like any good grandparents should.

It is a privilege to honor Richard Robinson and ALCA’s 2015 Lifetime Achievement Award recipient.    

Associate member of the year

Joe Carranza, Sunrise Nursery, LLC

Joe Carranza oversees the sale department at Sunrise Nursery a family owned business. He is a long-time nurseryman and works out of the Surprise office covering Arizona, Las Vegas, Southern California, Texas, and New Mexico.

Joe began his career in 1981 when he and his bothers started Peacock Landscaping, a residential and commercial landscaping company in Sun City West, Arizona. A few years later with Joe’s foresight and innovation, they started their 2.5 acre nursery to help supplement plant material for their jobs.

Today, he manages the sales of 200 acres of nursery stock with future expansion of another 160 acres. Sunrise Nursery supplies plant material for residential and contractors, growing for large commercial projects.

With the generosity of Joe, Sunrise Nursery is a proud Platinum Sponsor of ALCA and a familiar face at all of the ALCA events.

Joe has been happily married to his wife Marcia for 39 years. They have two daughters, two sons and 12 grandchildren. They presently reside in Surprise, Arizona.

Congratulations to Joe Carranza, ALCA’s 2016 Outstanding Associate Member of the Year.

outstanding customer service Award

Scott Hayes, SiteOne Landscape Supply

Scott Hayes was first introduced into the Green Industry in 1990. Scott has worked both as a contractor and on the distribution side of the industry. Scott’s current role as a Branch Manager for SiteOne Landscape Supply affords him many opportunities to interact with a wide range of customers.

One of the many attributes that sets Scott apart is his passionate approach towards customer service.  He has earned the reputation as someone that will work relentlessly to find a solution to any issues that a contractor may come across.  This ability and desire to help contractors succeed truly sets him apart from the rest.

Scott’s dedication and commitment to all customers makes him an example of excellence within the Green Industry.

Congratulations on this well-deserved honor, Scott Hayes, ALCA’s Outstanding Customer Service of the Year Award.

landscape contractor of the year

Rob Kater, Native Resources Int'l, INC

For over 35 years, Rob Kater has designed and installed both residential and commercial landscape and irrigation systems.  Rob graduated from Wake Forest University in 1970 with a BA degree in Political Science.  In 1974 Rob founded Environments by Rob Kater and upon completion of his MBA in 1994 from Thunderbird the American Graduate School of International Management; he helped found Native Resources International and currently serves as the CEO.

Last year, Rob was instrumental in the fight again House Bill 2570, a law that would have affected salvaging native plants and would have changed the face of the landscape industry in Arizona for generations to come.  Representing ALCA, Rob met with sponsors of the bill to discuss the ramifications of the language.  Rob helped fashion letters to state representatives in Mesa, Phoenix, Scottsdale and Peoria, as well as those planning and development departments, to make certain that the municipalities understood the dramatic effect the law could do to the landscape industry.  Eventually the bill was delayed but Rob, members of Native Resources and ALCA’s Government Affairs committee continue to prepare for the opening of the 2016 legislature.

Rob continues to focus on Native Resources sustainable revegetation services on utilizing permaculture principals, such as water harvesting and new irrigation water saving technology.  Rob is currently an adjunct professor for the Urban Horticulture Department at Mesa Community College, focusing on helping students understand entrepreneurial concepts for the Green Industry.

Congratulations, Rob Kater, as the award recipient of ALCA’s 2015 Outstanding Contractor of the Year.

budding contractor of the year Award

Dave London, Back to Nature Landcare

Starting out at the young age of 11 pushing a lawn mower for several neighbors, Dave Londen got bit by the landscape bug.  After cutting lawns, planting plants, pruning rose gardens and creating flower beds at this young age, he knew this is what he loved to do and told his dad, “I want to be a landscaper”.

In 1983, a day after graduating from high school, Dave went right to work for Copperstate Landscaping, where he learned the trade by starting on a maintenance crew.  Over the first few years, he started taking classes at AZ Extension service, working on install crews, becoming an irrigation tech and working his way into design and management positions.  Within that time, he worked on large industrial projects such as Motorola and Intel Facilities plus.  Dave also received ALCA awards in 1988 and 1989 for flower design in annual beds for commercial buildings at Koll Business Park and The Dial Building while at Copperstate Landscaping.

Dave later went to work for Coy Landscaping for six years where he learned all about the HOA, apartments and larger scale commercial facilities. 

Building relationships and friendships over the years to present day made Dave a strong landscaper and manager.

While later working at other companies, Dave continued his education and desire to learn more about turf, trees and plants.  Throughout the years, he received additional ALCA awards on several projects working with golf courses and professional sports fields.  Recently, Dave continued his landscape education through ALCA, becoming certified in SLM and an AZ Certified Landscape Professional.

Now, as an owner of Back to Nature Landcare Inc., Dave shares his knowledge of sustainable landscaping with his 60 plus employees and to building the company into a strong and well respected business.  In the past 2 ½ years, he has elped grow Back to Nature from 4 commercial crews to 17 crews; while continuing to utilize and promote his ALCA sustainable landscape knowledge.

As that kid pushing a mower for a couple of people in his north Phoenix neighborhood, Dave never thought he would be so blessed to have served the landscape industry and have meet some of the greatest people in the world from employers, colleagues to vendors and competitors.

There is no other career that could have served him better; landscaping is his passion and his love.  Congratulations, Dave Londen, as the award recipient of ALCA’s 2015 Budding Contractor of the Year.