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

Eric Santos

 - CIT, CLIA, CGIA, CIC, CLWM, CID, CAIS, CLT-Irrigation

 

Growing up, Eric had great admiration for his grandfather, who was an irrigator, or a Zanjero, on an alfalfa farm in Northern Nevada. Following high school, Eric pursued a Bachelor of Science Degree in Agricultural Engineering, from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. While at Cal Poly, Eric had the fortune of having Dr. Charles Burt, Chairman of Cal Poly’s Irrigation Training and Research Center, as his Academic Advisor.

 

During his time in college, Eric spent his summer and winter breaks working for several large commercial irrigation contractors and water management service provider and after receiving his degree, Eric shifted from working part time to full time for WaterWise Systems, a division within ValleyCrest Companies, that had developed a proprietary ET Based controller with flow sensing for its maintenance customers.

 

A few years later, Eric was promoted to Service Line Manager for WaterWise, where he grew a multi-million dollar business that specialized in recycled water conversions for commercial properties in Silicon Valley.

 

In 2002, Eric was promoted to be the Division Irrigation Advisor for ValleyCrest Landscape Maintenance where, under Dave Hanson and Roger Zino, was responsible for developing a irrigation technician training program with a team of Regional Irrigation Managers that supported the company’s water management initiatives across the US.

 

Shortly after the merger between Brickman and ValleyCrest, Eric was named Vice President of Irrigation Services for the newly formed, BrightView Landscape Services.

 

In 2018, After serving as Chairman of the IA’s Education Foundation, Eric was elected to the Irrigation Associations Board of Directors. Coincidentally, that same year, he was also elected to be the State Director of Membership for the California Landscape Contractors Association. In 2020, Eric received the Member of the Year award from CLCA. Following his service on the IA and CLCA Board of Directors, Eric was elected to ReScape California’s Board of Directors where he continues to serve and teach to this day.

 

In 2023, after having spent nearly 30 years with the organization that is now known as BrightView, Eric started Epic Irrigation Service and Water Management, serving commercial and HOA customers.

 

In 2024, Eric received the Trail Blazer award from Hunter Industries and at the end of last year, Eric was asked to serve on the CLCA Board again as Director of Resource Management. 

 

In his spare time, Eric continues to teach three classes on Irrigation, Landscape Sustainability, and Landscape Construction at Las Positas College in Livermore, California and is blessed to be supported by his Father George, his wife Stephanie, and his 3 daughters, Emma, Grace and Ellery.