Allegiance Award Winners
Chuck Carr Wins 2025 Allegiance Award
In recognition of his years of service and leadership, the California Landscape Contractors Association presented Chuck Carr with its Allegiance Award, the association’s most prestigious honor.
The award, which is given only to a green industry professional who has been a member of the association for a minimum of 15 years and who has had a significant effect on the industry, was presented during the association’s 2026 Leadership Conference, held January 20-21 in Santa Ana.
Each Allegiance Award winner has served on at least three of the association’s committees, task forces or boards for a total of 10 years. They are the driving force of many of the association’s most innovative and substantial programs and efforts.
“Chuck is a model of what it means to give back to the landscape industry with heart, vision and steadfast commitment.”
Previous Winners
2024
Bill Schnetz
2023
Regan Barry
2022
Heath Bedal
Steve Jacobs
2021
Elizabeth Burns
Javier Lesaca
2020
Frank Niccoli
Tom Noonan
2019
Jerrie Beard
2018
Mike Baron
2017
Marianne Estournes
Eric Watanabe
2016
Wendy Emeterio
Chris McNairy
2015
Henry Buder
2014
Dave Norred
Pete Dufau
2013
Barbara Alvarez
2012
Jon Singley
2011
Robert Crudup
2010
Scott McGilvray
Gary Vallen
2009
Gordon Larson
2008
Peter Estournes
2007
Allen Chariton
Tom Ellington
2006
Dave Penry
Cindy Strauss
2005
Jay Tripathi
2004
Fred Hanker
2003
Jon Alsdorf
2002
Anthony Bertotti
Mary Cohen
2001
John Redmond, Jr.
Awarded posthumously
2000
Charles Nunley
1999
Lebo Newman
1998
Richard Cohen
1995
Timothy Nord
1994
Richard Angelo clt
1993
Herbert S. Frank
Awarded posthumously
1992
Mickey Strauss
1990
Barry Cohen
Nelson Colvin
Roger Fiske
When nominated, colleagues described Chuck as “a great leader and a distinguished gentleman.”
Chuck has been a passionate, engaged member since 1993. He shared the moment that started it all:
“I was sent to Lake Tahoe to pick up a state Trophy Award for maintenance. I liked the guys I met there because I was still new to the industry and they were willing to sit down with me and tell me what they knew. The next year I got involved. Then when I started my own business, the first two checks I wrote were for my CLCA membership and my workers’ comp insurance. In those days, a lot of people joined just for the insurance. Once you get in, you realize the value of networking and referrals.”
That spark turned into decades of leadership and service. A CLCA Life Member, Chuck was a chapter president and a member of the state Communications Committee. He went on to serve as the Director of Communications, and then co-chaired the Chapter Presidents’ Council. In 2014, he served as CLCA’s president, After completing his service at the highest level, he joined the CLCA Insurance Solutions Board of Trustees, where his insight has been vital to the program’s success.
Another nominator wrote: “He was a forward thinker for the CLCA, recognizing early on that social media would be essential for our visibility. At a time when CLCA had almost no online presence, he pushed for the association to invest in it.”
“Individuals like him — courageous enough to develop ideas and execute them — deserve to be recognized,” CLCA President Alex Salazar said while presenting the award.
