Source: www.TurfMagazine.com
New Mexico Project Chosen for Pilot Program
Rios Clementi Hale Studios’ renovation and reimagining of the landscape for the Pete V. Domenici United States Courthouse in Albuquerque, N.M., has been selected as a representative project for an international pilot program by the Sustainable Sites Initiative (SITES). The renovation will restore native habit, conserve water and reintroduce a welcoming park-like environment to the 4.5-acre site. Sustainable elements to be implemented include planting drought-tolerant xeriscape to replace Kentucky bluegrass lawns and non-native plants, removing and reusing excessive hardscape, installing a rainwater collection and reuse system, and employing photovoltaics to supply the site’s energy needs. The program, which is adapted to the climate and hydrology of New Mexico’s Rio Grande basin, will also improve access to a historic sculpture on the grounds.
GIE Workshops to Include Hardscape Topics
The workshop schedule for the 2010 GIE+EXPO has been announced. The trade show will be held at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville, October 28-30. The workshops will include “Adding Hardscape Installation to Your Company’s Success” with Pat McCrindle of MW Hardscapes, Inc.; “Xtreme Service = Xtreme Profits” with Ed Laflamme of The Harvest Group; “Growing Revenues in a Crowded/Price-Driven Market” with Kevin Kehoe of Three Point Group, Inc.; and “27 Tips to Making Some Sales RIGHT NOW!” with Marty Grunder of Marty Grunder, Inc.
Wiedenmann Presents Dealer of the Year Awards
Wiedenmann North America, LLC presented awards to its outstanding dealers at the North American Sales and Training Meeting, which was held at the headquarters in Savannah, Ga. Will Wolverton, general manager, was joined by owner Jürgen Wiedenmann during the awards presentation. The 2010 winners are Mike Colgan of Commercial Turf & Tractor, Salesman of the Year; Storr Tractor, East Coast Dealer of the Year; Commercial Turf & Tractor, Midwest Dealer of the Year; and Colorado Turf, West Coast Dealer of the Year.
Ewing Appoints New Division Leader
Steve Ramsey will lead Ewing’s expanded industrial and agricultural irrigation division as national product sales manager. He will work to further extend Ewing’s product and service offering to industrial and agricultural customers.
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Kioti Promotes Boucher
Kioti Tractor promoted Michael Boucher to senior director of finance and chief financial officer. He has been with Kioti since 2006 and most recently served as director of finance. Boucher holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Michigan State and a master’s in business administration from the University of Michigan.
Pierre Partners with DPR
Pierre Sprinkler & Landscape partnered with DPR Construction in the annual National Rebuilding Day. The beneficiary of this year’s project was the Boys and Girls Club of Pomona, Calif. The project included a complete renovation of current facilities and the installation of a new garden.
News from John Deere
John Deere will participate in a new program testing the nation’s first rating system for sustainable landscape design, construction and maintenance. Deere will join more than 150 other projects from 34 states as well as from Canada, Iceland and Spain as part of an international pilot project program to evaluate the SITES rating system.
The company announced renewed plans to build a marketing and sales center in Olathe, Kan. The 126,150-square-foot facility will house up to 500 marketing professionals who will provide support and service to John Deere sales branches and agriculture and turf dealerships in the U.S., Canada, Australia and New Zealand. It will meet the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Green Building Certification at the Gold Level. Construction is expected to be complete in August 2011.
Environmental Turf Wins Marketing Awards
Environmental Turf won eight national marketing awards at the 21st annual Turf & Ornamental Communicators Association award ceremony and conference. The company won four first-place awards and three merit awards. Of those, Environmental Turf swept the “Writing for Electronic Newsletter” category, winning both the first-place and merit awards. President Stacie Zinn was honored with the Gardner Award, which recognizes the best in writing/marketing communications for the year.
Ariens Purchases Majority Shareholding of Countax
Ariens Co. purchased a majority shareholding of Countax Ltd., a ride-on mower manufacturer based in Oxfordshire, United Kingdom. The agreement was reached with Harry Handkammer, who will remain as managing director of the company. Countax will continue to manufacture its ranges of mowers and maintain distribution of the Echo, Bear Cat and Shindaiwa brands in the U.K.
Seven to Chair PLANET Committee
Nanette Seven, vice president of Include Software, was appointed to chair the Suppliers Committee of the Professional Landcare Network. Her three-year term will expire in 2013. Seven plans to redefine how the committee operates and will place a Supplier Committee member on each of the other committees within PLANET to improve coordination.
Pilot Projects Put Rating System Into Action
The Sustainable Sites Initiative has selected pilot projects to test a national rating system for sustainable landscape design, construction and maintenance. The Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History & Culture, New Orleans’ Lower Ninth Ward Sustainable Infrastructure Project and the Indianapolis Super Bowl Village join more than 150 others that include educational centers, transportation corridors, industrial complexes and private residences in employing cutting-edge guidelines and performance benchmarks outlined in the SITES Rating System. Pilot project locations and descriptions can be found at www.sustainablesites.org/pilot.
Launched in 2005, SITES represents a partnership of the American Society of Landscape Architects, the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center and the United States Botanic Garden to fill a critical gap in green design, construction and maintenance by creating voluntary guidelines and benchmarks for sustainable landscapes of all kinds, with or without buildings.
Toro Extends Partnership with U.S. Soccer Foundation
Toro announced that it has renewed its agreement with the U.S. Soccer Foundation. Toro will continue to be a member of the foundation’s Partners Resource Center as the official supporter for turfgrass maintenance equipment. The company will support the foundation’s mission to provide children in economically disadvantaged communities with easy and affordable access to quality soccer programs.
Aquatrols Launches New Web Site
Aquatrols has launched a new Web site at www.aquatrols.com. The site has a clean, uncluttered design and easy-to-find market differentiation, as well as video, podcasts and access to a search portal. The company has also developed profiles on Facebook and YouTube.
Saunders Joins E-Z-GO
Paul Saunders has joined E-Z-GO, a Textron company, as vice president of information technology. He will also serve in that capacity for Greenlee, another Textron company. Previously, he worked at Textron Information Services, most recently serving as director of service delivery. Saunders holds a bachelor’s degree from Middlesex University in London and a master’s degree in computer information systems from the University of Phoenix.
Gravely Announces Winner of Mower
Jeremy Fitzpatrick is the winner of a new Gravely Pro-Turn 200 XDZ zero-turn mower, selected at the conclusion of the Gravely “Take Your Turn” promotion. Contractors had the opportunity to test-drive a new Pro-Turn 200 mower and enter to win one. The mower is available in four models.
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