Toro Water Conservation Business Manager Jim Laiche received the American Society of Irrigation Consultants 2014 Roy Williams Memorial Award at this year’s annual conference in Portland, Ore.
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Laiche, who grew up in south Louisiana, was introduced to irrigation working for a small landscape and irrigation company in Dallas. Armed with a horticulture degree from Louisiana State University and his Texas irrigator’s license, he started a local irrigation contracting company in Texas. He later earned his masters in landscape architecture from LSU.
Laiche joined The Toro Company in 1988 calling on contractors, consultants, distributors and golf courses. As regional sales manager, Laiche organized numerous Toro University training events and has taught hundreds of irrigation workshops at various national universities. He also has served Toro as a central control specialist, working with several large institutions to reduce irrigation water use, including Disney, University of Notre Dame, Baylor University, Central Park, General Mills, Yum Brands and Darden Restaurants.
“I’m honored to be recognized with the Roy Williams Award and be in the company of such great past recipients,” Laiche said. “I don’t see myself as anyone special. I can truly say that I love my job. When you feel that way, just doing what you do for a living is a privilege not a task.”
“Jim has dedicated the last 25 years of his career teaching the importance of – and improving the practice of – professional irrigation,” ASIC Executive Director Carol Colein said. “His guidance in applying irrigation design and central control in effecting critical water conservation principles represents in part the future of irrigation.”
Named after an ASIC founder and one of the original independent irrigation consultants 27 years ago, the Roy Williams Award is given for significant contributions to the irrigation industry by an individual, organization or business.
Formerly the ASIC Industry Achievement Award, the Roy Williams Award was renamed after the Society’s founder and first president in 1988. Recent winners include Dave Davis, Denne Goldstein, Bill Kubly and Dr. James Watson.
The Roy Williams Award is not an annual accolade. It is given to an individual or organization as the Society deems appropriate. Any member of the Society may submit nominations in industry areas that include irrigation design and application, water conservation, research, academia, manufacturing and all related fields. ASIC members and non-members are eligible for the award.
The American Society of Irrigation Consultants (ASIC) was formed in 1970. Its members are committed to representing the client in providing independent irrigation consulting services for the effective use and management of water and other natural resources.