Bay Breeze

Beth Valdez, President

President’s Message – August

The San Jose Giants pulled out a win against the Modesto Nuts!
The SFBA Chapter enjoyed another great day at Excite Ballpark as the San Jose Giants took on the Modesto Nuts. The weather was perfect, the game was exciting, and members and guests enjoyed a delicious BBQ meal. This event continues to be a favorite for our partners, members, and guests—a time to relax and enjoy each other’s company.

As we hit the midpoint of 2025, it’s a great time to start looking at the bigger picture—our 2026 Board of Directors. It may feel early, but planning ahead helps ensure we have strong leadership in place to carry our chapter forward. We’re currently looking to fill the roles of Secretary and Treasurer, and we encourage anyone who’s passionate about supporting our industry and giving back to the chapter to consider stepping up.

These roles are a great opportunity to get more involved, build stronger relationships with peers, and help guide the events, programs, and direction of the SFBA Chapter. You’ll be supported by a fantastic group of fellow board members and a welcoming community of professionals who truly value what each person brings to the table.

If you’ve ever thought, “Maybe someday…”, maybe that someday is now! Let’s start the conversation—whether you’re ready to jump in or just curious about what’s involved, I would love to hear from you.

We’ve also seen a big increase in engagement at our events—and with that, we know we need to grow our committees too. Our Achievement Awards grew from 56 attendees to 125. Our Golf Tournament jumped from 74 golfers to 102. And our first-ever Meet & Greet brought out over 30 members and new faces. We added it to the calendar simply because we missed connecting with our members between our educational and board meetings—and what a great idea that turned out to be!

Looking ahead, Save the Date reminders will be coming out soon for our upcoming Golf Tournament. Start assembling your teams, get out and hit some balls, and let’s get ready for another amazing day on the greens.

We’re also excited to share that membership is steadily growing, and we’re seeing more members express interest in getting involved—whether through leadership, events, or becoming a Partner for Success. Our goal this year was to increase our partners by 12, and we’re well on our way. The momentum is strong, and the energy from both new and returning members has been incredible.

We’re doing some amazing things this year, and we’re excited to keep the momentum going!

Warmly,
Beth
The Davey Tree Expert Company