Irrigation Association Welcomes New President, Search is on for New Executive Director

At the 26th Annual International Irrigation Show, held last month in Phoenix, Ariz., outgoing Irrigation Association (IA) President David Zoldoske passed the leadership baton to Ken Mills who will take on the position for 2006. Additionally, long-time IA Executive Director Tom Kimmell announced his retirement, effective February 2007. All three gentlemen shared their thoughts on the industry during the association’s Keynote Breakfast on Nov. 7.

“I’m very thankful to the membership for allowing me to hold the president position,” Zoldoske said during the breakfast, at which Lawn & Landscape was in attendance. “Having the opportunity to work with the level of professionals that this industry has is like getting an MBA. This has been a true learning experience and what I’ve learned the most is that this association has a great ability to attack and solve problems as a team.”

Zoldoske joked that he’ll now take on the next best position in the organization – past president – as he welcomed his successor, Ken Mills, general manager of the contractor division for Rain Bird, to the stage. Mills thanked the association for the opportunity to lead and says he’s looking forward to the upcoming year.

“As users of water, it’s our duty to make sure it’s used efficiently,” Mills said. “Right now, we have all the water we’re ever going to have. We’ve done a good job, to date, of managing that resource with smart water technologies and other programs, and this work must continue.”

Mills said education of both the industry and its customers will be key in continuing a successful era of water management, and he hopes to see more industry professionals take advantage of the IA. “The Irrigation Association’s role is to serve the industry with programs and certification opportunities, and I’d like to see more contractors become IA members and take advantage of those opportunities,” he said. “Without those professionals, it will be more difficult to reach our goals as an association.”

Among Mills’ new leadership responsibilities will be heading a search for a new IA executive director to fill the shoes of Tom Kimmell. Kimmell announced at the Keynote Breakfast that he will be retiring from the organization effective Feb. 2007 at which time he will have served as executive director for 13 years.

“Time passes quickly,” Kimmell mused in his comments to the association. “This is the 26th International Irrigation Show and I’ve been to all of them – 12 as executive director. When I took this job, I thought it would be a good career move and it has turned into the best job I’ve ever had. The Irrigation Association has a cause you can believe in and I’ve truly enjoyed being your executive director and thank you for letting me hold this position.”

In speaking to a packed ballroom, Kimmell encouraged “the boldest among you” in the industry to apply to fill his position. A job description is available on the IA Web site. Anyone interested in the executive director position may submit their resume by e-mail only to iasearchcommittee@irrigation.org.

Kimmell, with a bachelor's degree in economics from the University of Dayton, spent 15 years in sales management at Hardie Irrigation, and three at Olson Irrigation before taking over management of the IA. He also served as president of the Florida Irrigation Society in 1979. Kimmell served on the Advisory Council to the National Agricultural Statistics Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, from 1995 to 2001.