The team from award-winning landscaper Stay Green Inc. spent May 14 in a celebratory mood, for the company’s 8th annual Employee Appreciation Picnic, held at Dr. Richard H. Rioux Memorial Park in Stevenson Ranch.

Stay Green holds the picnic every spring to bring its employees from throughout the Southern California region together for an afternoon of food and games, prizes and awards for employees celebrating anniversaries. This year’s picnic saw the best turnout yet, with nearly 500 employees and their families in attendance. Highlights of the day included a mariachi band, a taco bar, games and face painting for kids, and raffle prizes including a 40-inch TV and a Los Angeles Dodgers baseball package worth $500.

“Stay Green was started 46 years ago as a family business, and despite our growth through the years it still feels very much like a family,” Stay Green President and CEO Chris Angelo said. “Our annual picnic is always a great time of enjoying a day together and thanking our team members for their dedication and quality work.”

Stay Green’s 8th annual Employee Appreciation Picnic also included face painting and games for kids, in addition to raffle prizes and awards.

The company was founded by Richard Angelo in 1970 as a one-man operation, and has grown into an award-winning provider of landscape services throughout Los Angeles and Ventura counties, specializing in landscape maintenance, plant health care, tree care, water management and landscape design/build services. Through constant training opportunities and appreciation events, the company focuses on investing in employees’ development and morale.

The annual picnic is also a time to present milestone awards for employees who have been with the company for a significant number of years. This year, Stay Green had 11 employees celebrating five years, six celebrating 10 years, three celebrating 15 years and two celebrating 35 years. Those last two, Juan Perez and Jose Pelayo Guzman, have worked loyally with Stay Green founder Richard Angelo since the company was still a small operation.

“It’s difficult to overstate how much we value the loyalty and dedication of our employees,” Richard Angelo said. “Their commitment to excellence has helped make Stay Green what it is today. This company has flourished in ways I never imagined when I started the business.”

This year’s picnic set another record, with more than $10,000 in sponsorships from Stay Green’s partners for equipment and services. This year’s sponsors included Bishop Co.; BOSS; Bruce Wilson & Company; Dubbs Technology; Enterprise Fleet Services; Ewing Irrigation; Harris Office Products; Hunter; Hydro-Scape Products, Inc.; Lockton; Mellady Direct Marketing; PDQ Rentals; Poole & Shaffery, LLP; Sol Print Solutions; Stern, Kory, Sreden & Morgan; Stotz Equipment; and Village Nurseries.

“We couldn’t do the work we do without excellent partners,” Chris Angelo said, “and we really appreciate all they do to support us as well as their support that takes our annual picnics to the next level.”

A gallery of photos from the picnic is viewable at www.staygreen.com/gallery.

About Stay Green
Founded in 1970, Stay Green Inc. (www.staygreen.com) provides award-winning landscape maintenance, tree care, and plant health care services for premiere residential, commercial and industrial properties throughout Southern California. Stay Green serves clients throughout Southern California, and exercises environmental stewardship through its Sustainability Practices, which are applied across all service lines to help customers protect the environment as well as the bottom line. Stay Green Inc. is recognized as a leading provider of high-quality landscape services, having achieved a 95 percent customer retention rate, along with receiving the industry’s most prestigious awards.

Longtime Stay Green Inc. employee Jose Pelayo Guzman received recognition for 35 years with the company. Guzman was one of 22 Stay Green employees commemorating anniversaries ranging from five to 35 years with the company. Also pictured are Stay Green founder Richard Angelo (left) and Stay Green President/CEO Chris Angelo (right).