Personnel News: BASF, Carson Industries, Harper Industries, NaturaLawn and Watts

Joe Schuh Joins BASF Specialty Products Division as Technical Manager

BASF announced that Joe Schuh, Ph.D., has been named the new technical manager for the BASF Specialty Products Division. This is a promotion for Schuh, who most recently served as the regional technical service manager for BASF’s Diversified Crops Region. 

“Joe’s done a remarkable job as a regional technical service manager, leading 13 technical service representatives that operate across 40 different states” says Steve Briggs, SPD director. “For the past six years, he has managed technical training programs, worked with university cooperators to develop research programs and helped deliver new products to market.”

Working with SPD, Schuh will lead a U.S. technical team of 12 market development specialists presiding over the Turf and Ornamental, Pest Control and Professional Vegetation Management businesses. He and his team will help launch new products, lead field research projects, plan technical trainings and develop technical information for the businesses.

His team of market development specialists works primarily with university cooperators on research programs to test and analyze herbicides, insecticides and fungicides. Together they test and develop technical specifications, rates and usage recommendations to help end users use products effectively.

Schuh started his career in Nebraska as a post-doctoral scientist at American Cyanamid Company. He conducted crop research in South Dakota and Iowa for six years as a field research agriculturist. He was promoted three times within the company and began working as a regional technical service manager when BASF purchased Cyanamid in 2000.  

Schuh is a member of a number of industry organizations, including the American Phytopathological Society, the Weed Science Society of America and the American Society of Agronomy. He earned his Master’s and Doctorate degrees in agronomy from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1990 and conducted extensive research on woolly cupgrass during his school and work career. He currently lives with his wife and their four children near Denver, Colo., but will be relocating to Raleigh, N.C.

Kerrie Gross Moves from Rain Bird to Carson Industries 

Carson Industries announced that Kerrie Gross has joined the company as customer service manager. Kerrie comes to Carson from Rain Bird, where she had a distinguished 30-year career and was Customer Service Manager since 1987. She will lead Carson’s Customer Service Team that supports all of the company’s businesses and reports to Leo Lovato, vice president of Sales and Marketing.

Harper Industries Announces New National Sales Manager

Harper Industries in Harper, Kan. announced that Roger Maisch has joined the company in the role of vice president, sales & marketing. Maisch is a native of Paola, Kan. He has served in various Sales and Marketing management roles within the Ag and Outdoor Power Industry and has extensive experience directing the development of new products and new markets.

Maisch and his wife Linda will be relocating to Harper County in the next six months from their current residence in Blue Springs, Mo.

Harper Industries is a manufacturer of agricultural, hydraulic and commercial turf equipment based in Harper, Kan. It manufacturers and markets products under the DewEze, Goossen and Harper trade names.

NaturaLawn Employs Business Expert

Stephen Sheppard has joined NaturaLawn of America’s corporate headquarters in Frederick, Md. as the central regional operations manager. 

Sheppard has 14 years experience in franchise and dealer support and previously served as the senior franchise support specialist for Dynamark Security Centers, overseeing their training centers.  In addition, he was also the vice president of relationship management for Galaxy Control Systems, which involved the support of 150 dealer locations nationwide.

Sheppard served in the U.S. Marine Corps where he was assigned to the Presidential Helicopter Squadron HMX-1. 

For more information about NaturaLawn of America, call 800/989-5444 or visit www.nl-amer.com.

Bob Bilodeau Joins Watts Water Technologies as National Marketing Manager-Watts Wholesale Marketing

Watts Water Technologies announced that Bob Bilodeau has joined Watts in the position of national marketing manager-Watts Wholesale Marketing. Bilodeau will have all marketing and product management responsibilities for Watts branded water pressure reducing valves, water hammer arrestors, trap primers and dielectric unions.

Bilodeau has had extensive involvement with valves and valve automation from a project management perspective with his former employers at Worcester Controls and Dresser Flow Solutions. He received his MBA from Nichols College in Dudley, Mass. Bilodaeu will be based out of Watts Water Technologies’ corporate headquarters in North Andover, Mass.