SYCAMORE, Ill. – Proven Winners North America appointed Kevin Hurd to the position of new products director. Hurd eventually replace Rick Schoellhorn, Proven Winners’ current new products director, when Schoellhorn retires this coming September.
Hurd was most recently a Product Representative for Darwin Perennials / Ball FloraPlant. Prior to joining Ball, Hurd was a plant breeder and research horticulturist for Walters Gardens. While working with Walters Gardens, Hurd was instrumental along with Schoellhorn in the development of the Proven Winners Perennials partnership that was officially launched at Spring Trials in 2011, the company said.
Hurd’s key responsibilities with Proven Winners will be to find new plant varieties with strong consumer appeal that are profitable for growers and to develop and maintain mutually beneficial relationships with plant breeders. "This is an exciting time for Proven Winners as a company and for our industry," says Hurd. "Breeders worldwide are achieving remarkable breakthroughs in performance, color and habit. I'm excited to bring the best of those new plants to growers, retailers and North America's home gardeners."
Hurd will also serve as Proven Winners North America’s lead source of new product information to breeders, and will oversee the company's internal trialing processes. "We are delighted to have Hurd on the Proven Winners team", said Mark Broxon, executive director of Proven Winners North America. "Hurd brings the perfect combination of hands-on experience in research, breeding and working with plant breeders."