Industry Update

Source: www.TurfMagazine.com

Venture Products Earns Business Growth Award

Venture Products, Inc. has been selected for the second year in a row as a Cascade Capital Corp. Business Growth Award honoree for 2009. The awards honor businesses in Summit, Medina, Portage, Wayne, Ashland and Holmes counties in Ohio that have increased sales over the previous five years.

Certification Recipients Honored

Ruppert Landscape, Laytonsville, Md., announced that three employees have received professional certifications. Nick Graves, a three-year employee of Ruppert Nurseries, and Adam Tankersley, a 10-year employee of Ruppert Nurseries, both received their Certified Professional Horticulturist certificates. Dan Trocher is a three-year employee of the maintenance division and has earned his Certified Landscape Technician certification.

Piscataqua Landscaping Marks Anniversary with Makeover

Piscataqua Landscaping, Eliot, Maine, held a contest for an Extreme Landscaping Makeover to mark its 30th anniversary. The Portsmouth, N.H., property of Lew Fournier will undergo a $30,000 transformation donated by the company and its partners, including Swenson Granite, Urban Tree Service, Four Seasons Fence, Millican Nurseries and Down East Turf Farms.

Bill Connolly, left, and Jason Frommer Duarte Cardoso

Promotions at Foley

Foley, Inc. promoted Bill Connolly to on-highway product support sales manager. Connolly joined Foley in 2000 and has also worked for Ring Power Corp. and Rozier Machinery.

Jason Frommer was promoted to on-highway product support sales representative. Prior to Foley, his work experience has ranged from service technician to fleet manager.

Duarte “Dewey” Cardoso was promoted to rental account manager. He joined Foley in 1995, and prior to that worked at Cruz Construction.

Yanmar Consolidates Operations

Yanmar America will relocate its industrial engine division and parts department from its current Buffalo Grove, Ill., location to its North American corporate headquarters in Adairsville, Ga. The transfer is expected to be completed by the third quarter of 2010. Sales, engineering and service groups will be maintained in Buffalo Grove.

Tony Brown

Brown Joins Kioti

Kioti has appointed Tony Brown to the position of national sales manager. He holds a business degree from Indian River State College and has a diverse range of managerial experience at both the dealer and manufacturing levels. Brown has worked for JCB, Brevard Tractor and Berggren Equipment Co.

Rittenhouse Chosen to Supply Sprayers to China

Rittenhouse’s sprayer division is in full production to supply high-height tree sprayers and root feeding components to China. The sprayers will be used to maintain public parks and gardens.

Garvin Named Interim President & CEO of TCIA

Mark Garvin, chief program officer, has been named interim president and chief executive officer of the Tree Care Industry Association. He succeeds Cynthia Mills, who notified the board of directors in September that she would be leaving to take a new position and manage family responsibilities. Garvin has served in various positions at TCIA since joining the organization in 1996. He was promoted to chief program officer in 2008 from vice president of public policy and communications.

Ken Rust

Rust Joins Kasco

Kasco Marine hired Ken Rust, whose duties will include sales and marketing assistance. His prior work experience includes over 15 years in both aquaculture and pond management. He graduated from Louisiana State University with a bachelor’s degree in animal science and a master’s in fisheries.

King Announces Contest Winners

King Innovation announced the winners of its Connect and Collect Promotion: Joe DiBlasi, Centennial, Colo.; Steve Terviel, Osage Beach, Mo.; and John Goiangios, Hartford, Conn. Each will receive one year’s worth of free DryConn Wire Connectors. The online promotion was held in conjunction with the kickoff of King’s new Web site.

Leif Ringstad

News from Maruyama

Maruyama U.S. Inc. announced that Vice President and General Manager Thomas R. Glaze has left the company to pursue other opportunities. He was with the company for more than 20 years.

Leif Ringstad has been promoted to the position of general manager. He joined Maruyama in 2008 as national sales manager.

The company hosted its 2009 Distributor Kickoff Meeting at the Gaylord Texas resort in Dallas, Texas. The two-day event drew 18 principals representing 11 distributorships in North America. The 2010 Sales Program and several incentive plans were introduced.

Toro Acquires Assets of TYCROP

The Toro Co. has acquired certain assets from TYCROP Mfg. Ltd., Rosedale, B.C., which manufactures topdressing and material handling equipment. TYCROP products will be marketed under the Toro brand and sold through Toro’s distribution channel in the U.S. and international markets.

Ariens Acquires Parker

Ariens Co. has acquired the assets of Parker Co., Inc., Phoenix, Ariz. Ariens will continue to sell Parker products through two-step distribution channels in the outdoor power equipment market. The products will also be made available as brands sold directly to the independent dealer channel for the fall 2010 cleanup season. Ariens will produce the Parker products at its manufacturing facility in Auburn, Neb.

Helac Promotes Power

Helac Corp. promoted Bill Power from chief operating officer to president. He joined Helac in 2007 and has 30 years of experience in the fluid handling industry.

Underhill Signs Warren Thoma & Associates

Underhill International announced a new rep relationship with Warren Thoma & Associates. Thoma is based in Crystal Lake, Ill., and will represent Underhill products in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, North and South Carolina, North and South Dakota, Nebraska, Ohio, western Pennsylvania, eastern Tennessee and Wisconsin.

Hanson Adds Environmental Paving Option

Hanson Hardscapes is one of the first in its industry to offer TX Active, a self-cleaning and pollutant-reducing cement, for all of its face mix pavers in Florida. TX Active technology is used as a catalyst to naturally break down organic and inorganic pollutants and maintain aesthetic appeal by preventing buildup.

TrynEx Launches Electronic Warranty System

TrynEx International introduced an electronic warranty system for its SnowEx product division. The program enables dealers to quickly register products, view warranty information and track a claim’s status online.

JCB Light Equipment Makes North American Debut

JCB is further expanding its North American equipment range with the addition of JCB Light Equipment. The new product line features 32 models representing three categories: Light Compaction, Hydraulic Power Packs and Hydraulic Hand Tools.

VAST Wins Tekne Awards

VAST Enterprises, LLC received two 2009 Tekne Awards from the Minnesota High Tech Association. The awards honor companies and individuals for innovation and leadership in technology. VAST received the Cleantech Award, which goes to a manufacturer of environmentally sound products that reduce costs, inputs, energy consumption, waste or pollution. It also earned the Innovative Collaboration of the Year Award in partnership with Fabcon, Inc. for demonstrated leadership, dedication and excellence in delivering innovation to the marketplace.

Gary Morgan

Morgan Travels for “Grass Routes” Effort

Gary A. Morgan, president of Dixie Chopper, spent five weeks on the road in a “grass routes” effort designed to demonstrate the company’s commitment to a successful 2010. He started in Greencastle, Ind., and attended 22 meetings with dealers in 17 states.

Aquascape Launches Seminar Tour

Aquascape, Inc. announced its Green Community Makeover Movement seminar tour, scheduled to hit 20 cities in three North American countries this winter. Focused on presenting sustainable landscape solutions, the tour is designed to help professionals network while exploring the latest technologies and marketing practices. For more information about the movement and seminar tour, visit www.aquascapeinc.com/contractors/gcmm.

Personnel Changes at Omaha Standard-Palfinger

Mark Whaley was named executive vice president at Omaha Standard-Palfinger. He joined the company in 2008 as vice president of marketing and sales. Whaley has over 30 years of experience in the truck equipment industry.

Darren Luebke has joined Omaha Standard-Palfinger as a project engineer. Previously, he worked for Carlson Systems Engineering. He holds a degree in agricultural engineering from South Dakota State University.

Jim Brown was named product manager over all Omaha Standard-Palfinger branded products. He joined the company in 2000 as an inside sales representative.

Sellick Partners with EWS

Equipment Web Services is the exclusive Internet marketing services provider for the Sellick Equipment Ltd. dealer network. As a Sellick partner, EWS provides participating Sellick dealers with a Web site and the ability to track leads, gauge increases in awareness and monitor sales growth. The Web-based marketing solution is designed to facilitate and improve communication between dealers and their prospective buyers and to convert Web site traffic into new customers.