Industry Update

image_pdf

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.

Ecological Laboratories Receives Award

Ecological Laboratories, Inc., Cape Coral, Fla., received the 2009 Manufacturer of the Year Award in the Horizon Council’s Industry Appreciation Awards. Matthew Richter, vice president of marketing, and Nick Simone, vice president of manufacturing and distribution, represented the company at the awards luncheon.

Horizon to Distribute ET Water in Texas

Horizon Distributors, Inc. has partnered with ET Water Systems, Inc. to become the exclusive distributor of the ET Water online irrigation management system in Texas. The system combines the convenience of weather-based ET data with automatic irrigation scheduling for remote monitoring and management of multiple irrigation sites.

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.

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.

Rayco Adds New Dealer

Rayco Mfg., Inc. has added a new dealer, Ditch Witch of East Texas. Located in Tyler, Texas, DWET has been serving the east Texas area for over 37 years.

Trees Plus Hires Sammons

Trees Plus, Navarre, Fla., hired Derrick Sammons as director of landscaping. Previously, Sammons worked at a number of golf courses. He holds a bachelor’s degree in agronomy with an emphasis in golf and sports turf management from Mississippi State University.

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.

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.

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.