Hall Of Fame Inductees
The individuals nominated should have made a significant impact or positive influence that assures the future of our industry in the lives of generations to come.
Once nominated, an individual’s biography and photo are updated on the site, and he or she is placed in the polls for voting. At the end of the year the committee takes into consideration the votes and decides which candidates are inducted.
Those with a star (*) next to their name below were either inducted posthumously or have passed away since being inducted.
Nomination Qualifications
- Person with integrity and passion
- Minimum 20 years in industry
- Someone who has developed or invented new technology
- Has made contributions that resulted in change
- Contributed to mankind’s needs in his field
- Provided education and encouragement with self-sacrifice
- Changed the industry
Dr. Barry Cohen PhD
Barry Cohen obtained his Bachelor of Science in Ornamental Horticulture at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in 1968 before working for Watkins and Sibbalds Landscape. In 1970 he went on to become purchasing agent for Valley Crest Landscape, Northern California Division, before serving as Director of Landscape for Marriott Corporation, handling all phases of hotels and amusement parks throughout the United States, in 1973.
In 1975, he started BL Cohen Landscape Inc. Over the years, under the umbrella of the Celtis Group, the company evolved into four individual companies: Cohen Landscape Services, Diablo Landscape, Coast Landscape Maintenance and Maniglia Landscape. In 1994, he obtained his Masters Degree from Columbia Pacific University in Ornamental Horitculture-Agriculture before going for his PhD from the same university in Ornamental Horitculture-Agriculture in 2003.
About four years ago, the Celtis Group sold the maintenance division. Prior to sale of the maintenance division, they had 230 full-time employees. Today, they have two locations, in San Jose and Vallejo, with 80 employees and twelve office staff.
Dr. Barry L. Cohen, PhD has been a member of the California Landscape Contractors Association since 1974. He served as San Francisco Bay Area Chapter President in 1984, State President in 1988, was the Allegiance Award recipient for long-time achievement in 1990, Member of the Year in 1990 and was honored as a life member in 1999.
Dr. Cohen didn’t just serve CLCA and the Landscape Industry all these years, but other areas affecting the Green Industry community as well. Since 1984 he has served as trustee of CLCA’s Insurance Trust, now an independent entity known as Golden Oak Cooperative. Since 2001, he has served on the Advisory Board at Foothill College in Los Altos, CA. Since 2004, he has served on the Santa Clara Water Advisory Council and just last year, he started serving on the Cal Poly SLO Advisory Board.
“I love my industry even though it’s getting a little more complicated than it used to be!”