New Year, New President, New Board

Lindsay Ono, QWEL, sworn in as 2025 President of the California Landscape Contractors Association

Joining Ono on the association’s 2025 Board of Directors are:

  • President-Elect Alex Salazar, Groundcare Landscape Company
  • Immediate Past President Tom Sweeney, CWM, Landscape Care Company
  • Secretary-Treasurer Paul Hansen, Southwest Landscape, Inc.
  • Director of Education Kristin Gallego, Artistic Landscape
  • Director of Events Ana Cooper, Frank and Grossman Landscape Contractors, Inc.
  • Director of Legislation Megan Rios, Rios Design Studio, LLC
  • Director of Membership Sal Hernandez, MBA, ICPI, GroXmart Solutions
  • Director of Resource Management Eric Santos, Epic Irrigation Service and Management, Inc.
  • Chapter Presidents Council Co-Chair (North) Andrew Johnson, Johnson’s Tree & Garden Service, LLC
  • Chapter Presidents Council Co-Chair (South) William Valdez, Free Flow Products, LLC
  • Associate Member Director Jeff Calhoun, Hunter Industries/FX Luminaire
  • CLCA Executive Director Sandra Giarde, CAE

Ono and the board were sworn into office during the association’s annual Leadership Conference, which was held in Sacramento January 14-15, 2025.

Ono, a dedicated horticulturist and educator, has a life-long passion for plants, starting from his early years as the son of a landscaper. With over 45 years of experience in the horticultural field, he worked in various roles, as a nurseryman and landscape contractor to an agricultural research technician, before transitioning into education.

Lindsay currently serves as the Agriculture Department Chair and Professor of Ornamental Horticulture at Bakersfield College, where he has taught since 2005. In addition to his teaching, he leads several impactful campus projects, including the Peace Gardens, BC Arboretum, Garden Fest and the Edible Education Garden.

His commitment to education extends beyond the classroom, as he previously served as the Director of Education for CLCA and continues to be an executive board member and technical advisor for the Tree Foundation of Kern, a local non-profit focused on urban reforestation.

Known as “The Plant Professor” from his time as a radio talk show host, Lindsay is passionate about sharing his horticultural knowledge and engaging the public with the joys of gardening.

The California Landscape Contractors Association is a non-profit trade organization of licensed landscape contractors and others related to the landscape industry. The association’s core goal is to support CLCA members as they create beautiful, enduring landscapes that improve the quality of life. Although formally incorporated in 1952, CLCA has been meeting as an association since 1937.

“We work in an industry that continually evolves due to changes in technology, environmental concerns, governmental regulations and consumer preferences. Our association must adapt and evolve with a dynamic, ever-changing business climate to promote our landscape professionals.”

-Lindsay Ono, QWEL
President

CLCA’s 2025 Board of Directors

CLCA 2025 President Lindsay Ono, QWEL (pictured fourth from left) and the association’s 2025 Board of Directors (pictured left to right): Chapter Presidents Council Co-Chair (North) Andrew Johnson; Director of Education Kristin Gallego; Immediate Past President Tom Sweeney, CWM; President Ono; President-Elect Alex Salazar; Chapter Presidents Council Co-Chair (South) William Valdez; Director of Resource Management Eric Santos; Director of Events Ana Cooper; Secretary-Treasurer Paul Hansen and Associate Member Director Jeff Calhoun. Not pictured: Director of Legislation Megan Rios; Director of Membership Sal Hernandez, MBA, ICPI; and CLCA Executive Director Sandra Giarde, CAE