Awards Packet Ready for Your Favorite Nominee

Thursday, 6 March 2013, by OCEAN Awards Committee

OCEAN is soliciting Award Nominations for presentation at CONNECT 2014. The deadline for submission is March 28, 2014 at 5:00 pm.

Download the 2014 awards packet

Please take the time to nominate an outstanding District employee, and to ensure your employees are recognized for their time with Districts. These nominations enable OCEAN to recognize the people that make Oregon conservation districts great.

Awards will also be presented at OACD’s Annual Meeting in the fall. OACD has its own awards program that recognizes districts and directors, but this is the only District sponsored award for Employee of the Year, so don’t miss your opportunity to nominate.

Thanks for helping us recognize outstanding district employees!

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OCEAN - CONNECT Sponsorship Opportunities

Wednesday, 15 January 2014, by OCEAN Sponsorship Committee

Showcase Your Company in the Oregon Conservation Community

CONNECT provides a statewide technical education and networking event that inspires and develops the highest level of professionalism of Soil and Water Conservation District and Watershed Council employees in the country by providing key resources that make these organizations effective in providing the best and most comprehensive conservation assistance. It also creates business opportunities for YOU!

There are many levels of partnership for your company to participate in while establishing your connection to the local conservation marketplace, building brand recognition, and opening up opportunities to generate sales. This conference is the largest of its kind in Oregon and draws conservation practitioners from both Soil and Water Conservation Districts and Watershed Councils in all 46 counties in Oregon.

Download the full proposal from the sponsorship page.

Conference Description

The Annual CONNECT Conference began as a 2 day technical training for SWCD’s each Spring in 2009 and has grown to include Watershed Councils and other on the ground conservation groups building on each other’s strengths and learning from each other’s experiences statewide. CONNECT 2014 will be our 6th conference and our theme this year is “Conserving Oregon.” OCEAN is excited to add additional partners and participants to this year’s conference. This conference brings together technical experts and local practitioners to present real life experiences and focus on the technical on the ground aspects of best management practices, compliance and contracting, sustainability, along with safety, risk management, and other topics of interest.

If you have any questions about our sponsorship opportunities, please contact:

sponsorship@oceanconnect.org
Kari Hollander
503-397-4555

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Josh Uriarte Named 2013 OCEAN Employee of the Year

Friday, 10 May 2013, by OCEAN Awards Committee

Josh Uriarte, Habitat Conservationist at Baker County Soil and Water Conservation Districts was named the OCEAN Employee of the Year at CONNECT 2013.

Josh has been with the Baker County SWCDs since 2008. He started as the Ag Tech and is now a Habitat Conservationist. Josh has a special ability to more projects from conceptual to completed according to his fellow conservation district colleagues.

Some of his other specialties include building successful partnerships with agencies, landowners, and schools/students. Josh leads the way in the Cooperative Conservation Partnership Initiative that addressed Sage Grouse habitat, Medusahead Rye and the juniper invasion on the rangelands of Baker County.

The multiple letters of recommendation for this award were very complimentary of our district colleague. Phrases such as having a knack with contractors, works superbly well with landowners, devotes a tremendous amount of his own time, cornerstone of the operation, a rare find, a keeper peppered the myriad of letters. Such high praise from so many people helped make Josh OCEAN’s 2013 of Employee of the Year.

In addition to working with landowners and agencies, there were many photos of him with children, both in the classroom and out in the field. The grins on their faces matched his own. Josh also donates his time to OCEAN as an at-large representative!

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CONNECT 2013 Sponsors

Friday, 22 March 2013, by the CONNECT 2013 Planning Team

OCEAN greatly appreciates the generous support of our sponsors for CONNECT 2013, without whom we couldn't make CONNECT the most comprehensive and strongly attended technical training for Oregon conservation districts. It is our honor to present these sponsors, and encourage attendees to thank those that are in attendence at the conference in April.

Event Sponsor - $5,000 or greater

Oregon Natural Resources Conservation Service
Oregon Association of Conservation Districts
Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board

Gold Sponsor - $1,000

Energy Trust of Oregon
Aquatic Contracting LLC

Silver Sponsor - $500

Pacific Bridge & Construction, Inc.
Special Districts Association of Oregon
Idaho Power
Save Water Save Energy Program
Herrera Environmental Consultants
Oregon Hop Commission
Landshaper LLC
Farmers Conservation Alliance
HD Supply Waterworks
Rainmaker Guzzlers
MeasureTek

Friend of OCEAN - $250

Anderson Perry & Associates, Inc.
Oregon Forestry Resource Institute
Inter-Fluve, Inc.