Longtime Farm, Nursery Managers to Retire

The Huntley College of Agriculture celebrates the achievements of two impactful employees.

Dave Matias, director of farm operations, and Monica Salembier, greenhouse and nursery coordinator, are retiring at the end of February.

“Dave and Monica have been an important part of our college for a long time, first as students and then as key employees overseeing our growing operations and mentoring students,” Interim Dean Lisa Kessler said. “We will miss them very much, but we wish them well in their retirement and their new endeavors.”

Matias, who will travel and spend time with his family, said he was proudest of “having the honor of helping students grow and succeed.”

For her part, Salembier is proudest of her “development of the (nursery’s) online store and our proactive response to the COVID-19 pandemic.” She plans to move to Northern California, travel and grow more plants.

As director of farm operations, Matias oversees Spadra Farm and specialty crops on campus, Westwind Ranch in Chino, and Pine Tree Ranch in Santa Paula, scheduling planting and harvesting by the university farm crew at each site. The campus farming operations include the three campus vineyards that produce grapes that Horsehill Vineyards uses to make wine.

In addition, Matias is responsible for overseeing farm equipment maintenance, safety training, pesticide application, and food safety, handling, and storage.

Salembier oversees the retail and online Cal Poly Pomona nurseries and the plant science greenhouses at AGRIscapes. She created the Tomatozania, Pepperzania, Ultimate Pepper Plant, Tutti Fruitie and poinsettia plant sales events, and developed the nursery’s online sales portal.

Matias grew up in Hacienda Heights and originally planned to become an engineer, before deciding he wanted a career working outdoors.  

After earning an associate’s degree in forest technology at Mt. San Antonio College, Matias enrolled at Cal Poly Pomona, where he collected for and maintained the school’s insect collection and beehives. He graduated in 1977 with a bachelor’s degree in agricultural biology.

During his long career, Matias has worked as an orchard technician nurseryman with the Irvine Co. He also was a farm manager, landscape contractor, plant and pest consultant, arborist and technical services manager at a nursery.

Matias returned to Cal Poly Pomona as farm supervisor in 2012 and was later named director of farm operations.

Salembier grew up in Minnesota before moving to California. She became hooked on agriculture when her kindergarten teacher put her in charge of watering the pussy willow cuttings in the classroom and they began to grow.

She graduated from Cal Poly Pomona in 1984 in ornamental horticulture, nursery management. Salembier owned a residential landscaping business and worked at Cal State San Bernardino before returning to Cal Poly Pomona in the early 1990s.

The college will hold a virtual event later this month for Matias and Salembier to celebrate their retirement.