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Meet This Year's OLCA Landscape Expo Speakers!
Artemio Morales Pacific Landscape Management, Regional Water Manager Artemio Morales has had a successful 28-year career in the landscape profession, spending the last 16 years at Pacific Landscape Management. Starting as an irrigation technician in 2001, he has risen to the role of water manager for Oregon and Washington, where he has led initiatives that saved millions of gallons of water through effective conservation strategies. millions of gallons of water in the region.
Bronzen Winters Shaw Industries, Shawgrass West Region Accounts Manager Bronzen Winters has been working with Shaw Industries Leading the Synthetic Turf Division on the West Coast for the last 4 years. Based in Southern California, he handles all sales and product development initiatives for AK, BC CAN, WA, OR, CA, NV, and HI. Coming from the island of Kauai, Bronzen has a passion for eco-friendly business practices, and has brought that energy with him into the synthetics west region division of Shawgrass. He has been tasked with locating strategic distribution and installation partners in his territory, and educating both partner and end user on what they are putting on the ground. Over the past four years, he has done countless educational presentations for contractors, HOAs, landscape architects, commercial builders, school districts etc. and he looks forward to sharing some of his expertise with the OR Landscape Contractors Association. Please come prepared with questions.
David Jones Keynote Speaker David Jones is a dynamic leadership speaker, consultant, and professional jazz musician whose message bridges inspiration, connection, and actionable growth. Through his organization, David Jones Leadership / Consulting (DJLC), he travels across the United States delivering interactive presentations that transform how people lead, communicate, and collaborate. Drawing on over three decades of experience in education, athletic coaching, and leadership development, David empowers audiences to strengthen personal accountability, team culture, and purpose-driven performance. His programs—focused on Leadership, Personal Development, and Team Culture—blend storytelling, humor, and participation, creating an environment where people don’t just listen but engage, reflect, and grow together. David’s approach is rooted in practical wisdom and human connection. Whether speaking to corporate teams, college athletic teams, schools, or community organizations, he tailors every session to the audience’s needs—helping leaders recognize their influence, build stronger relationships, and foster trust within their teams. His presentations, such as What I Learned From a Day With John Wooden, Leadership Radar, and 360 Degrees of Leadership, have inspired countless individuals to lead with greater clarity and intention. Outside of speaking, David brings a creative energy from his parallel career as a professional jazz musician. Having toured across the U.S. and opened for the legendary Aaron Neville, his music reflects the same rhythm, authenticity, and emotional resonance that define his leadership philosophy. His Pandora channel, David Jones (Jazz) Radio, continues to reach listeners worldwide with soulful, reflective sound. From classrooms to corporate boardrooms, David Jones has built a reputation as one of the most engaging connectors in the leadership space—a storyteller who doesn’t just entertain but transforms. His goal is simple yet profound: to inspire people and organizations to grow from the inside out, unlocking the best version of themselves through intentional leadership and personal growth.
David Sandrock Portland Community College, Instructor David is an instructor in the Landscape Technology Program at Portland Community College and has been teaching plant identification for over 20 years. He believes that plant identification is our street credit as landscape professionals and that it should be fun to maintain our knowledge through practice. When he is not teaching at PCC, David enjoys drawing, skateboarding, riding dirt bikes and working in his garden.
Deborah Jeffries, SHRM-CP, PHR, CPC HR Answers, Inc., Vice President Deborah Jeffries harbors a deep passion for people. With a diverse background spanning HR, Education, Service, Retail, Manufacturing, and Food Service, she has dedicated four decades to training others in Recruitment, Communication, Team Building, HR, Supervisory Skills, and beyond. As a consultant, trainer, and coach, she zeroes in on inventive yet practical strategies for the modern workplace, divulging her secrets for aiding and guiding others. She captivates, inspires, and propels participants towards personal growth and skill enhancement, all while fostering introspection. Her workshops are characterized as humorous, slightly eccentric, and immensely educational, offering excellent tools, applicable frameworks, and invaluable insights, coupled with compelling stories and pertinent experiences.
Emanuel Hernandez Western Interlock, Outside Sales Emanuel Hernandez has over 24 years working in various portions of Western Interlock to better serve the localized Hardscape industry. His primary focus is to service and assist contractors and distributors with the multiple aspects of the concrete materials he represents. This includes the installation practices that support longevity in the project, as well as how to help the distributor support their contractor clientele.
Gabriel Barajas Pacific Landscape Management This year Gabriel (Gabby) celebrated his 23rd year in the landscape profession and his 23rd anniversary with Pacific Landscape Management. Gabby joined Pacific as they were founded and has grown with the company through his career from laborer to foreman to field manager and now as director of training for their 5 Oregon and SW Washington branches. Gabby is an OLCA/NALP Landscape Industry Certified and an Oregon Certified Pesticide Applicator. He has attended countless industry-related seminars and classes. He currently organizes the field training for Pacific’s 300 field employees and has helped countless develop from laborer to foreman to field manager as he did. Gabby is passionate about operational perfection and efficiency as well as employee personal development. As an immigrant who has acclimated into American society and developed his professional skills as well as those around him, Gabby is excited to share his thoughts and wisdom with those who aspire to develop their skill and make the move from the field to supervision and management.
Este año, Gabriel (Gabby) celebró sus 23 años en la profesión del paisajismo y su 23º aniversario con Pacific Landscape Management. Gabby se unió a Pacific cuando se fundaron y ha crecido con la empresa a lo largo de su carrera, desde obrero hasta capataz, gerente de campo y ahora como director de capacitación para sus 5 sucursales de Oregón y SW Washington. Gabby es una Industria de Paisajismo Certificada por OLCA/NALP y una Aplicador de Pesticidas Certificada por Oregón. Ha asistido a innumerables seminarios y clases relacionados con la industria. Actualmente organiza la capacitación de campo para los 300 empleados de campo de Pacific y ha ayudado a innumerables personas a desarrollarse desde obrero hasta capataz y gerente de campo como él lo hizo. A Gabby le apasiona la perfección operativa y la eficiencia, así como el desarrollo personal de los empleados. Como inmigrante que se ha aclimatado a la sociedad estadounidense y ha desarrollado sus habilidades profesionales, así como las de quienes lo rodean, Gabi está emocionado de compartir sus pensamientos y sabiduría con aquellos que aspiran a desarrollar sus habilidades de pasar del campo a la supervisión y la administración.
George Urvari Oriole Landscaping George started Oriole Landscaping in 1986 with his business partner Peter. Over the past 38 years, they have dedicated themselves to promoting excellence in the industry, and have grown their business to become one of the top residential design/build firms in Toronto. Their company has grown beyond landscaping alone, and for over a decade they have also been providing high-end residential construction services through Solid Space Construction. Now George helps other construction and landscape businesses through his consulting firm, Knowledge Tree Consulting (KTC). By sharing the systems that he developed over a lifetime in business, KTC has been able to significantly improve the businesses and the lives of other entrepreneurs across the United States and Canada. Ultimately, the goal is to make sure that the journey to success in business is far less painful, and more enjoyable for everyone - from owners, to employees, to clients and the community.
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