Personnel News: BASF, DuPont, Doosan Infracore, Southland, Mauget and Others

BASF Turf & Ornamentals Hires FarmLinks Project Leader

BASF Turf & Ornamentals appointed Brian Thompson as FarmLinks Project Leader. Thompson will manage on-site BASF activities at the FarmLinks research facility based in Sylacauga, Alabama. In his new role, he will spearhead BASF’s cornerstone partnership with FarmLinks by supervising BASF field research and product testing, and enhancing turf professionals’ education and training opportunities during the Experience at FarmLinks.

Thompson was formerly a golf course superintendent at Sutton Bay Golf Club in Agar, South Dakota. Prior to that, he served as superintendent at Elcona Country Club in Elkhart, Indiana. He has also worked at the Inverness Club in Toledo, Ohio, and the Birck Boilermaker Golf Complex at Purdue University as a golf course construction foreman. Thompson is a Purdue graduate with a B.S. in Turf Management.

BASF entered into a marketing partnership with FarmLinks as a cornerstone partner in July 2007. As a cornerstone partner, BASF invites 400 turf professionals each year to FarmLinks, which has already begun using BASF solutions.

DuPont Expands Sales Team

DuPont Professional Products added new talent to its sales team as demand for its business solutions grows throughout the pest management, turf and golf industries.

Michael Kuflik joined as global account manager and will provide sales leadership to key U.S. and international accounts.  Kuflik is highly accomplished in identifying opportunities and growing relationships in both the manufacturer and distributor areas.  Building on his proven capabilities to create innovative sales programs, he will coordinate global account activities spanning across all markets – turf, golf and professional pest management. 

Karen Hartman joined the team as Northeast Turf & Ornamental sales representative. Hartman’s territory is Northern Virginia through Maine.  Bringing more than 20 years of experience in sales that span both manufacturing and distribution, Hartman will build on the wide-reaching customer relationships she has fostered throughout her career. One area of her focus will be introducing DuPont Acelepryn – DuPont’s new insecticide for controlling all key white grub species – to the northeastern golf and turf markets.

Doosan Infracore President Retires

Lawrence (Larry) Silber, president of Doosan Infracore Portable Power, formerly Ingersoll Rand Utility Equipment, announced his retirement effective June 1, after 30 years of service.

Silber is a graduate of Rutgers University, where he earned a degree in business administration. He began his career with Ingersoll Rand immediately after graduation, working as a sales trainee in the professional tools group.

He quickly moved into marketing and business management for that business unit, holding various positions such as regional sales manager and national sales manager. In 1989, Silber was promoted to vice president, holding that title in many capacities of the business: sales and worldwide marketing, automotive aftermarket and sales/distribution operations.

In 1997, Silber moved from the professional tools group to the construction and mining group, where he served as vice president of rental sales and strategic business development and then vice president of U.S. and Canadian sales.

In January 2000, Silber became president of Ingersoll Rand Equipment & Services Com., where he was responsible for all Ingersoll Rand stores and remarketing initiatives. In 2002, he took charge of sales relationships and the additional responsibility of developing its global remarketing business, turning it into a $100 million global business line for Ingersoll Rand. In 2006, Silber was named president of Ingersoll Rand Utility Equipment. Silber is a New Jersey native. He is married and is the father of three sons.

In November 2007 Doosan Infracore, an affiliate of Korean-based Doosan Group, acquired the Bobcat, Utility Equipment and Attachments businesses from Ingersoll Rand Company, Ltd. (NYSE: IR). Ingersoll Rand Utility Equipment became Doosan Infracore Portable Power.

Selection of a new president is under way.

Ewing Irrigation Hires Four New Sales Reps

To give customers more resources in a sulking economy, Ewing Irrigation appointed four sales people with 70 years of combined industry experience to assist with product selection, quoting, maintenance programs, installation and troubleshooting.

As a turf and agronomic sales representative, 22-year-veteran John Morgan will help Houston-area customers with troubleshooting turf problems and developing turf programs for successful grow-in and maintenance.

With 26 years of field experience, John Raines will serve residential and commercial professionals in Georgia with all-things landscape and irrigation. According to Raines, if a contractor has a problem out in the field, there is a good chance he has seen it before and knows a solution.

Kendall Chilek will serve as water management specialist for the San Antonio and Austin metropolitan areas, including College Station and the Rio Grande Valley. A trustee of the Texas Turf Irrigation Association, Chilek is well-versed in the latest irrigation technology on the market, and believes implementing proper water management products and practices can add credibility to any landscape business.

Damon Adams will offer his 20 years of industry experience to landscape companies and municipalities in the greater Seattle metropolitan area. With past service in both the distribution and contracting channels, Adams understands the level of service a distributor must bring in order to give the customer a positive buying experience.

Aquascape Names Sustainability Officer, Director of Product Marketing

Ed Beaulieu was recently promoted from his position as vice president of fieldresearch to chief sustainability officer for Aquascape in St. Charles, Ill. Beaulieu will oversee development and implementation of sustainable and environmental initiatives at Aquascape. Understanding the larger concepts of water quality, storage, and habitat allow unique applications to his many projects.

Beaulieu began his career with Aquascape in 1993 in the construction department.  His construction and biology background has proved beneficial in designing the Aquascape product line, and in particular, the prototype rainwater harvest storage system.  Beaulieu holds a B.S. in Zoology with an emphasis in Limnology, and concentrated his master’s studies in Marine Biology. 

Beaulieu has designed and installed hundreds of water features throughout the country. His work has been featured in numerous publications including Architectural Digest, and Better Homes & Gardens special interest publications.  Beaulieu has appeared on several HGTV and DIY cable network shows.  For 6 years, Ed has been the project manager for water feature installation for the International Flower & Garden Festival “Water Garden Wonders” highlight at Epcot Center. 

Beaulieu recently launched his environmental blog at http://www.aquascapeinc.com/blog/in_eds_head.  

In addition, Scott Rhodes recently joined Aquascape as director of product marketing.  Rhodes has over 17 years of sales, marketing, management and product development experience in the aquarist and water gardening industries, having most recently served as Global Category Manager – Water Gardening at Rolf C. Hagen, an international manufacturer and distributor of quality pet supplies and water gardening products.

Rhodes will be responsible for developing and implementing strategic product plans for Aquascape, including the management of products and services through their lifecycles.  In addition, Rhodes will identify target markets, perform competitive analysis, and identify product service, benefits, and positioning in the marketplace. 

In addition to his product development and marketing background, Rhodes has served as a public speaker and technical trainer. He’s the author of numerous articles that appeared in publications including Plant & Garden and Harrowsmith. Rhodes has also appeared as technical expert for numerous radio and television interviews, and is a current member of the World Aquaculture Society.

Ethanol Council Names Deputy Director
 
Robert White was promoted to Deputy Director of the Omaha-based Ethanol Promotion and Information Council (EPIC).

White joined EPIC in 2006 as Director of Operations. He has played a major role in the expansion of E85 across the country. White also spearheaded the effort for a uniform labeling effort at the pump. From city to city, block to block, consumers who are seeking ethanol blends can now look to the EPIC “e” logo in 30 states. His latest accomplishment is the start of a blender pump program for the industry.

Prior to joining EPIC, White was the Deputy Director of the National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition (NEVC). He has served on various boards and advisory committees, and has worked in the corn and sorghum industries on ethanol affairs. A U.S. Army veteran, he served in Asia and Eastern Europe. His last tour of duty was as Director of Operations for the Office of Defense Cooperation at the American Embassy in Warsaw, Poland. White is a graduate of Kansas State University.

“The industry has made great strides over the past several years,” White says. “We will continue to stay focused on our goals of driving consumer awareness of ethanol and clearing the air about the homegrown renewable fuel.”

Netafim Adds to Sales Team

Netafim USA, a manufacturer of drip/micro-irrigation systems, appointed J.T. Kidwell as a new district sales manager joining the Landscape and Turf Division. Kidwell, resides in Indianapolis, Indiana and will be responsible for sales and marketing development activities throughout the eleven state regions around the Great Lakes, as well as the Ontario Province of Canada.

With more than 16 years in the landscape and turf industry, Kidwell brings an in-depth understanding about the needs of the customer and marketplace. Kidwell’s experience ranges from commercial contracting to distributor salesman and sales management in the manufacturing sector.

Southland Employee Earns ICPI Certification

Pablo Catala of Southland’s Eastern South Carolina Operations has earned his certification with the Interlocking Concrete Pavers Institute.

Catala’s new certification gives him Level 1 Concrete Paver status. He joins David Schwartz, Vice President and General Manager of Eastern SC Operations as Southland’s certified members of ICPI.

ICPI was founded in 1993 and is the North American trade association for professionals in the interlocking concrete paving industry. The organization is a developer and distributor of technical information for design professionals and contractors and has more than 800 members.

Mauget Adds Marketing Communications Manager Position

The J.J. Mauget Co. announced the promotion of Mary Peters to the newly created position of marketing communications manager.

Hired at Mauget in 2004, Peters has been an integral part of the company�s marketing direction and strategies.

In addition to her role as a liaison to the company's creative, marketing and Web design agencies, Peters will be responsible for developing literature and trade show materials. Peters will also coordinate all local and national trade shows, and create and edit a quarterly newsletter.

Peters received her bachelor's degree in motion picture, recording and television arts from Florida State University and worked in the entertainment industry, both on-set and in production offices, prior to joining Mauget.

Geith Names OEM Sales Manager

Geith added Allen Mowry to its sales team as OEM sales manager. 

In his new role, Mowry is responsible for attachment sales to strategic OEM, rental and Northeastern accounts. Mowry joins Geith with more than 10 years of attachment sales experience. He has held previous sales management positions with other major attachments manufacturers.

Growth Products Adds Sales Representative

Growth Products added Mark White to its staff of technical sales representatives. White's hiring is effective immediately, and his sales territory encompasses the state of Florida. 

White graduated from Florida Southern College with a bachelor's degree in citrus and business. Prior to his hiring at Growth Products, White worked in citrus production for over 24 years and six years were spent  on the East Coast working in the Indian River District while the remaining years were spent in the Gulf Coast Citrus Producing Area.  He possesses knowledge of topics that include soil citrus grove production and management, including crop nutrition with relation to soil fertility and fruit procurement.

BioSafe Systems Expands Professional Sales Team

BioSafe Systems hired Kurt Nieminen as its new Horticulture inside sales and marketing assistant. Nieminen will be supporting customer relationships, new distribution channels, and product sales to garden centers, landscapers, and the distributors that service these retail venues.

Nieminen has a background in customer relations. He has a bachelor's degree in animal science and agriculture resource economics and five years hands-on experience.