Joe Heath, a man many of our readers know, or are familiar with, retired from his position as Executive Director of the California State Board of Landscape Architects at the end of August.

In his ten years with the Board, Joe influenced and enhanced the lives of Landscape Architects nationwide through his tireless efforts to improve the stature of the profession, and the enforcement of its regulations.

According to Bob Hablitzel, President of the California State Board, ?EUR??,,????'??Joe has been a valuable asset to this profession. The stability of his presence in Sacramento has been a worthwhile benefit. Every time I would visit either the Department of Consumer Affairs or the state capitol on Board business, I could always count on Joe to know just about everyone or accomplish anything, from passing in the hall to eliminating some hang up in state bureaucracy.?EUR??,,????'??

Bob continued, ?EUR??,,????'??No matter how many times a problem would arise, no matter how great the concern over the potential problem, Joe would take the situation calmly. In December of 1986 when we first heard of the first sunset legislation introduced by Senator Daniel Boatwright, I was, of course, quite worried, as was the rest of the Board. Joe just said ?EUR??,,????'??No concern Bob, we have been through this before, and it won?EUR??,,????'???t be the last time the Board is attacked.?EUR??,,????'??? But he added, with probably an indication of future activities his career would lead him to, ?EUR??,,????'??but, say a prayer tonight, just to get a little extra help.?EUR??,,????'????EUR??,,????'??

?EUR??,,????'??With the longevity that Joe has had with this Board, he knew not only the California Landscape Architect, but the profession throughout the nation with this Boards involvement with the Council of Landscape Architectural Registration Board (CLARB). If an Executive Officer from another state had a problem, nine out of ten times they would contact Joe first to see how he handled the same situation in California. This same working relationship allowed the Board to benefit from this state Board network, to gather strength in time of similar trouble,?EUR??,,????'?? Hablitzel concluded.

After receiving his Ph.D. from the University of Utah in 1962, Joe joined the United States Air Force, which began his long career working with, and for, the government. In 1970, he became a partner in the firm of Governmental Relations Associated, a limited partnership established to represent clients desiring representations with governmental agencies. It was during this time that Joe honed his skills as a lobbyist and made his acquaintances in Sacramento which would serve him so well when he became involved with the California State Board.

His many accomplishments working with the State Board, which are to numerous to list in these pages, have included: Streamlining and improving the administration of the Landscape Architectural Examination, and participating in the orderly transition to the Uniform National Examination, now the standard in many parts of the country. Joe has aided to the defensibility of Landscape Architectural Boards nationwide through his efforts to improve the UNE and his work with CLARB. During his tenure with the Board, Joe has ordered studies done researching the effectiveness of the UNE and what could be done to improve the exam to make it more defensible. He has improved the organization and efficiency of the headquarters operation making it much more effective in dealing with all matters pertaining to licensure, from enforcement to testing.

According to Dick Pryor, landscape architect for the State of California (Cal Trans), ?EUR??,,????'??Joe has always had a deep appreciation for landscape architecture and has been in the forefront to have a licensing exam that is responsive to the profession in California. By encouraging interaction between the Board and the profession, Joe has promoted the establishment of subcommittees on education, legislation, enforcement, irrigation and public relations. He has earned the deep respect of the Board, his peers, staff, landscape professionals, industry leaders and, above all, consumer interests.?EUR??,,????'??

Don Roberts, FASLA, commented, ?EUR??,,????'??Joe has maintained a good, but objective relationship with the profession of landscape architecture. His two greatest contributions have been his work to make the Uniform National Examination more defensible, and his work in license enforcement. He has been quite influential creating enforcement effectiveness through the Board, by promoting legislation to cite unlicensed individuals practicing landscape architecture and investigating instances of unlicensed activity. The availability of endorsement methods are now much greater than when Joe began working with the Board. California is now one of the leading states, if not the leading state, in licensing enforcement. I will miss working with and talking to Joe.?EUR??,,????'??

Upon completion of his duties as Executive Director, Joe will take up the direction he was headed in before becoming involved in government. Through his church he will be doing missionary work in Japan and India for the next few years. Upon returning home, he will become associate pastor of his church. In so doing, he will accomplish a calling that has been with him for a number of years. Though Joe will be missed, the benefit he will provide to the world will, no doubt, be of even greater impact than that he has had in the world of landscape architecture.

On behalf of the profession, thank you, Joe, for everything. MS