The Edge September/October 2025

THE NALP EXPERIENCE Chuy Medrano Named 2025 Lifetime Leader of the Year

By Jill Odom

CHUY MEDRANO, THE LATE CO-FOUNDER AND OWNER OF COCAL Landscape Services, Inc., based in Denver, Colorado, embodied servant leadership, championed Hispanic voices in the industry, and impacted countless lives through mentorship, employment, and unwavering support.

of kindness. For many, they viewed him not only as their boss but as a father figure. A positive force in the landscape industry, he went out of his way to help others in any way he could, from donat ing time and resources to supporting an orphanage in his hometown. Medrano’s philanthropy was driven by his belief that true success is not about what you have but about what you give. Medrano even aided former employ ees in launching their own businesses by giving them work, providing advice and meeting with them to review systems that would support their long-term success. For Medrano, success was never a solo journey; it was a shared mission. Medrano founded the National His panic Landscape Alliance (NHLA) in 2011 and served as the first president, served on the NALP Foundation Board for sever al years, and was also an NALP Trailblazer. He was also a platinum scholarship ambassador of the NALP Foundation. Throughout his career, Medrano advo cated for the H-2B program as well as the importance of training up-and-coming leaders. “He took countless young profession als under his wing, nurturing their talents and instilling in them the values of hard work, respect, determination, dedication, resilience and community service,” says Pam Berrios with Infinity Group Consult ing. Known for his wisdom, kindness, and charisma, Medrano has left a permanent impact on those he met and the land scape industry as a whole. “Simply said, Chuy embodied the traits many aspire to but few ever achieve,” says Ron Kujawa, former owner of Kujawa Enterprises, Inc. “Not only was he the consummate professional and successful in our chosen industry, he was a devoted and dedicated family man, an inspiration to the young people, especially the Hispanic, but also a good and loyal friend, an all-around good guy.” Medrano will be recognized at ELE VATE in Phoenix, Arizona, on Nov. 2-5. TE

Born in Chihuahua, Mexico, Medrano was the oldest of eight siblings and only finished the third grade before he began working to help support his family. He eventually found work in the U.S. and discovered his passion for landscaping while in Denver. In 1991, Tom Fochtman approached Medrano about starting a landscape company. Fochtman says he told his wife he would not start the business without Medrano as his partner. When the two eventually decided to part ways, Medrano took the bold risk of buying Fochtman’s stock because he knew he wanted to continue the legacy of CoCal. Medrano had the Spanish motto of “Puro pa delante, para atras ni para agarrar vuelo,” which translates to “Keep moving forward; do not go back, not even to gain momentum.” Medrano cared deeply for both his family and his employees. “He was the voice of the field workers,” says Carlos Medrano, one of Chuy’s sons and a manager with CoCal. “He was the face of the people.” Mari Medrano, Chuy’s daughter and human resources director for CoCal, says her father was a kindhearted soul who would listen compassionately to his employees’ problems. He often described his employees as the pillars of his company. “He emphasized how vital their insights are in shaping improvements, driving efficiency, and maintaining safety in daily operations,” says Gabino Luna, landscape installation operations manag er for Woodlawns Landscape Company, Inc. “His respect for the labor force was profound, and he framed their contri butions in a way I had never considered before. It was clear that Chuy didn’t just lead; he uplifted.” His servant leadership fostered a culture where his employees learned the importance of integrity and the impact

For his legacy of uplifting others and keeping people at the heart of his work, Medrano was posthumously named the 2025 Lifetime Leader of the Year. “Chuy Medrano influenced the suc cess of the green industry by opening doors for Hispanic professionals and empowering them to envision greater possibilities,” says Pam Dooley, owner of Plants Creative. “He led with humility and gave generously mentoring others, investing in their growth, and inspiring both Latino and non-Latino leaders to work hard, lead with purpose, and believe in their potential.”

36 The Edge // September/October 2025