Carlos Guerrero 
Operations Manager

Carlos manages day-to-day operations, material processing and product quality control. He has more than ten years of experience in the industry. Carlos enjoys spending down time working on his home and landscape in Mexico creating a fun and friendly environment. He loves Valley’s Best when gardening “because it’s organic!”

Craig M. Kolodge Ph.D.
Business Development and Sustainability

Dr. Kolodge (aka Dr. K) is the former academic advisor, field plant pathologist and county director for the University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) in Santa Clara county. He also served as the superintendent of the UC Bay Area Research and Extension Center (BAREC) and was instrumental in developing the City of San Jose’s green waste utilization program focused on re-purposing recycled organics to deliver agricultural and ecosystem benefits. Dr. K served as statewide chairman of the U.C. Small Farm Program and was a founding member of the UC Sustainable Agriculture Working Group where he promoted the principles of regenerative agriculture and soil health.

Dr. K currently serves on the Board of Directors for California’s Association of Compost Producers (ACP). He is a US Composting Council (USCC) Certified Compost Operator, a Certified Professional in Erosion and Sediment Control (CPESC) and a Trainer of Record (ToR) for California’s Storm Water Industrial General Permit and the Qualified Industrial Stormwater Practitioner (QISP) certification.

Dr. K resides in San Diego county and is available for compost demonstration site development and consulting on the practical application of compost-based Sustainable Management Practices (SMP’s) including Sustainable Landscaping installations for watershed protection, urban regenerative agriculture, construction storm water management, post-wildfire damage mitigation, and land conservation/restoration.

Val Streicher
Office Manager

Val manages the scalehouse and is the administrative task master that gets stuff done around the office. She has been with SPVS for three years, really likes the work environment and enjoys helping customers with sales transactions and customer service. Val likes to plant flowers (especially tulips and lilies) and her favorite SPVS product is the 50/50 amended topsoil because “it is perfect to use in any area of my yard and is extremely multi-functional!”

Alex Lopez
Lead Equipment Operator

Alex is responsible for operating and maintaining equipment, material processing, loading trucks and assisting with process and product quality control. He has been with SPVS for four years and looks forward to many more. In his free time, he loves drawing pictures of landscapes, people and cartoons, and is an amazing artist! When gardening, he appreciates the Raised Garden Bed Mix because “You can use it on anything.” Even his succulents thrive in it.