G3 Associate, Ramie Allard, and G3 Managing Member, Pamela Berstler, both members of the California Landscape Contractors’ Association (CLCA), met in Sacramento to participate in the Legislative Action Conference along with Susie Dowd Markarian, longtime CLCA and Association of Professional Landscape Designers (APLD) member. Over two days, CLCA staffer, Larry Rolfes, along with lobbyist, Parke Terry, and CLCA Legislative Committee Chair, Peter Dufau, opened the minds of attendees by opening the doors of some of the brightest minds in Sacramento. The event was a class act the whole way, from daily sessions with knowledgeable and engaging speakers to preparing for and taking the meetings with the lawmakers.
Susie Dowd Markarian and Pamela Berstler In Sacramento With CLCA
What is most striking about this conference is how CLCA makes it easy to talk to our legislators. Our assembly members and state senators and their staff need us to help them understand the real world business that we’re slogging through every day to make work for us, our families, our employees, and our other stakeholders. Stewardship of the environment through landscapes is an abstract concept to most of these lawmakers until they have the benefit of hearing us tell our story. Important topics like the underground economy and the needs of small businesses never have better traction than when we’re sitting at the table explaining how critical is their regulatory support. We’re able to give them facts on the ground, and in the California capitol, that is indeed extremely valuable capital.
Next year, we hope to see more APLD/CLCA members attending this important and empowering event. Thanks, CLCA, for putting on a great conference!
