CORE Professional Landscape Equipment Voucher Program

Principal CEO at Gardenland Power Equipment & Co-Founder and CEO of Towa Industries Inc.

Richard Ogawa, a seasoned serial entrepreneur with over 20 years of C-Suite and entrepreneurial expertise, is a market-leader in the OPE space. Growing up in his family’s Outdoor Power Equipment store, he fused his entrepreneurial drive with a commitment to empowering the industry with high-quality products, technology, and service. Under his tenure, Richard has grown Gardenland Power Equipment into a $13 million business as the #1 Rated Outdoor Power Equipment Retailer in Northern California.

Richard’s passion for innovation led him to co-found Towa Industries Inc., where he is pioneering transformative battery and power management technology, from on-site & mobile charging solutions to gas-to-battery conversion products, enabling landscapers to shift toward sustainable practices with battery-powered products.

Roger Phelps joined STIHL Inc. in 2001 and is currently the Corporate Communications Manager. In that position he is responsible for creating and telling the STIHL story through integrated event marketing, strategic partnerships, sponsorships, and digital and social media with the goal of increasing the visibility of and affinity for the STIHL brand and over 10,000 STIHL dealers. He attended the U.S. Naval Academy and served 10 years in the U.S. Navy attaining the rank of Lieutenant Commander. He has serves on the National Association of Landscape Professionals Foundation Board of Directors, the National Association of State Park Directors Leadership School Board of Regents, and the Professional Grounds Management Society Board of Directors.