Published in the Jan. 8, 2014 issue of Morgan Hill Life
Recology General Manager Phil Couchee’s help at Taste of Morgan Hill is vital to event’s success
By Robert Airoldi
Ten years ago, Phil Couchee found a home at Recology South Valley, and Recology found an employee with a passion for the community. Couchee has led Recology’s South Valley Division for a decade now, but it’s his work in the community that earned him the Morgan Hill Chamber of Commerce’s 2014 Volunteer of the Year honor.
Photo by Marty Cheek
Phil Couchee, general manager of Recology South Valley, is the Chamber of Commerce’s 2014 Volunteer of the Year.
Last month, members of the chamber staff and board met Couchee at his office with the announcement. As they did with the other five award winners (man, woman, business, educator and student) they caught the award winner off guard.
“John (Horner) said he’s coming for an interview for the newsletter, but they were all there,” Couchee said. “It was a surprise.”
Former board member Lorraine Welk nominated Couchee, who graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara with a degree in business economics for the honor and said he’s well deserving.
“Donations of his time, expertise and energy have made a notable difference in the efficiency of our financial reports, as well as accountability of the finance for the Taste of Morgan Hill,” Welk said. “When Phil sees a need, he fills it without any expectation of recognition.”
Couchee said volunteering has always been something he’s enjoyed. He served eight years as a Los Gatos Union School District board member, is a Gilroy Rotarian and is now in the third year of his first term on the Morgan Hill Chamber of Commerce board of directors. And, it helps that Recology is a community-minded corporate partner.
“Recology is good at providing financial donations as well as in-kind contributions,” Couchee said.
He worked in other large corporations that weren’t as involved in their communities. But when he got to Recology, he discovered the garbage company let him do what he enjoyed – getting involved in the community and forging Chamber of Commerce relationships.
The company’s biggest event was a volunteer day at Community Park where about 160 employees, family and friends spruced up the park. They spread 500 cubic yards of mulch and wood chips, painted backstops and curbs, planted trees and set out decorative rocks at the park’s entrance.
As general manager of Recology, Couchee also brings to the Morgan Hill Chamber board a depth of knowledge in financial management, he provides the chamber with services that it simply could not afford such as street sweeping after the Taste of Morgan Hill and recharging fire extinguishers.
“Phil Couchee has been a terrific volunteer for the Morgan Hill Chamber of Commerce,” said President and CEO Horner. “Among his many accomplishments, his effort leading the internal ‘bank’ during this past year’s Taste of Morgan Hill. He led a team of multiple volunteers from Union Bank who kept all of the change funds and bank deposits running smoothly and efficiently throughout a very long and hot weekend. As always, Phil did the job with a combination of hard work, calm demeanor and camaraderie. Phil not only gets things done with a smile, but brings a sense of order and good cheer to any team working with him.”
Couchee said he’s enjoyed the people he’s volunteered with at the chamber the past three years, but one of his greatest joys was handing his daughter her eighth grade diploma while serving on the Los Gatos school board. “I really enjoyed that,” he said.
Married to Kim for 28 years, the couple has two kids. His daughter, now 20, is studying construction management at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, and a 26-year-old son works for a tech start-up in Mountain View.
Couchee’s brother Mike was an exceptional athlete, who pitched for the San Diego Padres against the San Francisco Giants on opening day in 1983 at Candlestick Park. He was hurt that season and never made it back to the big leagues, but is still in the game, working now for the San Jose Giants.
Phil Couchee understands the vagaries of life, and how easily things can change. “I really enjoy being a part of the community,” he said. “It’s been a wonderful experience the past 10 years.”
