60 Years and Growing

This year marks a major milestone in the life of the Arizona Landscape Contractors’ Association as we celebrate its 60th Anniversary.

F.J. MacDonald had the vision and saw the need for representation and camaraderie in the landscape industry and accepted the role as ALCA’s first President in 1963. On October 18, 1985, under the leadership of Ron Mark, Sharon Dewey, Richard Underwood, Jack Hasbrouck, and Bob Underwood, ALCA became incorporated as a Non-Profit Corporation and established its 501 (c) (6) status by the IRS.

The first ALCA-GRAM on file was published in March, 1988, with notices that the Executive Director’s position was open, and Sharon Dewey became the Interim ED.

The first Professional Landscape exam (later named ACLP) drew 38 participants. There was a General Member’s “Hoedown” night at Old Tucson sponsored by Arid Zone Trees, Desert Trees, Ditch Witch, and Sprinkler World, all of which are still active supporters today. The first annual golf tournament was held at Rio Rico at a cost of $45 a person and a chance to win a brand new 1989 Buick Regal.

Western Sod hosted ALCA Field Day ’89 with over 450 people in attendance. The winner of ALCA’s Truck Raffle was Tom Jones of Western Tree Company who passed the 1989 F150 Ford pickup truck to his brother, Bill who was in an accident that left him without a vehicle. In that same year, Bob Hawkins at Western Tree donated an electric typewriter to the ALCA office.

The 1991 Board Planning Session was held in Prescott with a traditional softball game competition. I wonder if Bob & Rick Underwood, Tom Marshall, Kent Miller, Bud Stephenson, John Harlow, Bill Carls, Bill Keim, Bill Sandercock, Paul Bessey, C.C. Willis, Marc Shockley, Stan McKeown, and Sharon Dewey are ready for a rematch????

This Bud’s for you….Bud Stephenson (Caretaker Landscape & Tree Management) that is. He was installed as ALCA’s President in 1993. ALCA established Platinum, Gold and Bronze Sponsorships with Platinum sponsors including Turf Irrigation, Mesa Sprinkler, Ewing Irrigation and Garden West.

In 1995, Bill Rademacher lead the Board as President, and Don Keeton and Susan Stephenson were Co-Chairs of the Awards Ceremony. Stevie Hann and John Flori purchased a “1st class table top display” to be used at various trade shows.

Sadly, the display expired as of last year.

In 1996, ALCA advanced technologically and began accepting credit card payments and set up the Fax network. An article in the ALCA-Gram explained “How the Landscape Industry Can Benefit from the World Wide Web”.

In 1998, Glenn Fahringer passed the reigns over to John Flori who thought he was getting “Presents,” not “the Presidency.” The ALCAGram was renamed Land Marks. The Presidential Award in the Excellence in Landscaping awards program went to Arterra, Inc. and Earth Care “For All That’s Green”, Inc. for the Cave Creek medians. The Xeriscape Award was presented to AAA Landscape-Tucson for the Dove Mountain Road Project, while Dr. Jimmy Tipton was the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award.

In April 1999, the AOS Group became the management company to handle the daily management of ALCA and moved its office to 234 N Central, Phoenix. ALCA prepared for Y2K.

Big changes were in store for ALCA in 2002 as Michael Rockwell with Azul Verde Design Group turned over the reign of Presidency to Barbara Stropko with New Desert Gallery. That same year, Dale Micetic of Terrain Systems was named as a finalist for Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year. Land Marks was renamed The ALCA Influence. The ALCA membership was at 89 companies and FX Luminaire and Hunter Industries were the Platinum Sponsors.

In 2003, all of ALCA’s Past Presidents were honored at the Excellence in Landscaping awards program, and Kent Miller was honored as the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Fast forward 20 years and… ALCA stands proud and strong with over 400 members representing over 30,000 employees. The Board of Directors team and myself will continue to guide and govern the operations of ALCA. Robin Franklin with Sun Country Landscape presides over ALCA’s Board of Trustees. The Trustee’s review the scholarship applications and the long-range goals of the association, providing guidance and their infinite wisdom to the Board of Directors.

Congratulations to ALCA and all of its loyal members. To take a stroll down memory lane, please visit the ALCA.org/video-gallery. Don’t forget to “like” us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn to watch our continued growth.

Respectfully submitted, Cheers to all of you and to 2023!

Nickie Velten

2023 Calendar of Events