Seminar Dates: September 20, 2023 8:00 AM
Seminar Cost: $45 Register for Seminar
Seminar Description:
During this seminar we will discuss the benefits of using Smart Controller technology in our landscape and the benefits to both you and your clients. How these systems help conserve water by automatically adjusting irrigation schedules based on real-time weather data, soil moisture levels, and other factors, all of this resulting in more efficient water usage and lower water bills. Additionally, we will show how it minimizes the manual labor requirements, reducing the need for regular on-site monitoring and adjustments.
We will discuss all of the latest features, benefits, and gadgets in today’s commercial irrigation controllers. We’ll show how these enhancements will help to make todays irrigation systems much more efficient while providing better tools to make our jobs easier in both the field and back in the office. Some examples of these enhancements include forecast weather, system mapping, OTA (over the air) firmware updates just to name a few.
Finally, we will also discuss the detailed procedures that are required today here in California to obtain available Smart Controller rebates making these retrofits more desirable to your clientele.
Learning Objectives:
1). Discuss the value and benefits of Smart Controllers in todays landscape.
2). Discuss the latest features that manufacturers have added to their systems over the last few years.
3). Discuss the procedures to obtain smart controller rebates here in California.
Mark Pedicone
Mark Pedicone has been in the landscape irrigation industry in Southern California for over 40 years. After attending Fullerton College, Mark graduated from Cal Poly Pomona with a B.S. in Ornamental Horticulture. He had a short stint managing a retail nursery. Mark entered the landscape irrigation field and he was hired by the Irrometer Company to be their landscape irrigation specialist. In the three years that Mark worked for Irrometer, he had a chance to experience many aspects of the landscape irrigation trade in Southern California. He got to work with the leaders in landscape architecture, irrigation design, distribution, and with many irrigation manufacturers. During this time Mark was one of the original founding members of the Southern California Xeriscape Committee and served with that group for many years.
Shortly thereafter, Mark was hired away from Irrometer to become the Southern California District Sales Manager for Rain Bird, where he managed the largest irrigation market in the country. During his time as D.M. for Rain Bird, he was awarded their District Manager of the Year award. Mark also served during this time as the President of the Southern California Turfgrass Council, an organization of landscape professionals involved in the turfgrass industry.
After serving for over 5 years in this capacity he went on to become their commercial product manager in charge of development of all turf commercial products. He worked on such products as Maxicom, PE valves, Backflow, RainCad and IDA, 1800’s and VAN nozzles just to name a few. After serving as product manager for 6 years, Mark left Rain Bird and worked as a Water Conservation Specialist working with numerous HOA’s and Property Management groups in Southern California helping them to develop water conservation plans and irrigation retrofit programs.
Mark then went to work for Hydro-Scape Products, where he started their Hydro-Safe/Specification division. He was directly responsible for the sales of some of the largest central control systems in this market including the City of Walnut, City of Irvine, La Dera Ranch, and Los Flores to name a few. He was then promoted to General Sales Manager and served in that capacity managing a sales force of nearly 20 outside salesmen.
From 2009 to 2016 Mark worked to help ET Water become one of the leaders in smart irrigation control systems as their Regional Sales Manager, Marketing Assistant, local Sales and Sales Support, and helped to develop their distribution business for the company.
From 2016 to present Mark has been employed by Imperial Sprinkler Supply company and works within the Imperial Technical Services department as liaison between the division and manufacturers, as their business development sales person working with cities, municipalities, HOA’s and others.
