Retirements Announced

Summer 2015 Edition (Volume 19, Issue 2)

Retirements

John Kabashima's personal note on his retirement: June 26th, 2015 marks the end of my 27 year career as the University of California Cooperative Extension Environmental Horticulture Advisor in Orange and Los Angeles County. I never thought in my lifetime that I would see the dramatic changes that have occurred during my career.  I have seen agriculture and nurseries survive droughts, recessions, and benefit from science based research, mechanization and the rapid changes of the computer and robot revolution. However, changes in marketing, public opinion, regulatory and political pressures will impose new challenges for the industry.  I am optimistic that just as the industry has survived past insurmountable challenges, it will survive future challenges by adapting and forming new alliances and partnerships to continue to provide the plant material that provides important aesthetic and environmental benefits to the world around us.

Linda Dodge, Staff Research Associate, UC Davis: Since 2009, Linda has been the essential organizational glue that kept the UCNFA programs and newsletter running smoothly. Linda has a long history working on research with UC too. Beginning her career with UC in 1988, she worked with various researchers in the Environmental Horticulture Department including Drs. Richard Evans, Michael Reid, and most recently Loren Oki. She was the program representative for the Saratoga Horticultural Research Endowment and the Elvenia J. Slosson Ornamental Horticulture Research Endowment. Linda Dodge will be greatly missed by the UC educational and research team.