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

Mike Baron

The Toro Company

 

Mike is well known in the turf and landscape irrigation industry with 34 years of experience in product development, marketing and sales in both residential and light commercial turf and landscape drip markets. As Toro’s National Specifications Manager for Water Management Products, Mike champions Precision™ Irrigation technologies by working with Toro irrigation sales, marketing and engineering. Working with distributors across the U.S., Mike conducts training seminars, does field evaluations of existing systems and stays on top of water legislation in California and the rest of the country.

Prior to coming to Toro in the summer of 2007, Mike spent 20 years at Rain Bird, two years at Weathermatic and five years with the Walla Walla Sprinkler Company – the company that developed and introduced the MP Rotator. His most recent contributions to improving irrigation efficiency include work on the award winning Toro Precision™ Series Spray nozzles and Toro Precision Series Rotating nozzles.

Mike is a member of the Irrigation Association (IA), American Society of Irrigation Consultants (ASIC) and of the California Landscape Contractors Association (CLCA) – where he served as Chair of the State Resource Management Committee for three years. He served as the President of the Los Angeles/San Gabriel Valley CLCA Chapter from 2004 through 2006. In 2008, Mike was named CLCA’s Associate Member of the Year for his work on water conservation and CLCA’s Water Management Certification Program. From 2008 through 2010, Mike was also trustee for the IA’s Education Foundation – which is now known as the Irrigation Foundation.

Mike earned his undergraduate degree in Economics at Stanford University and his MBA at UCLA’s Graduate School of Management.  He resides in Glendora, CA with his wife of 32 years, Sara. They are proud parents of three adult daughters and one very charming 18-month old grandson.