People roundup: Ditch Witch, John Deere and Ruppert Landscape

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Brent Goodman was awarded the Top HDD Guidance System Salesman Award. Photo: Ditch WitchBrent Goodman was awarded the Top HDD Guidance System Salesman Award.
Photo: Ditch Witch

At the annual Ditch Witch Sales Conference held in Orlando, Florida, Brent Goodman of Ditch Witch Georgia and Troy Kynaston of Ditch Witch of the Rockies were both recognized with the Substitute Electronics Top Salesman Awards.

“These awards recognize the outstanding efforts of Brent and Troy,” said John Lamerton, global sales manager for Subsite Electronics. “Both are passionate about meeting their customers’ needs and were able to demonstrate Subsite solutions that will help their customers operate more efficiently and safely on the job site.”

Kynaston earned the Top Utility Locator Sales Award and Goodman was awarded the Top HDD Guidance System Salesman Award. Substitute Electronics is a Charles Machine Works Company.

John Deere honors Everglades Farm Equipment for milestone sales

Everglades Farm Equipment was honored for this achievement by John Deere in November. Since 2013, Everglades Farm Equipment says it has strived to meet the 1,000-unit sales mark goal, and it aims to exceed that goal again in 2017. Photo: John DeereEverglades Farm Equipment was honored for this achievement by John Deere in November. Since 2013, Everglades Farm Equipment says it has strived to meet the 1,000-unit sales mark goal, and it aims to exceed that goal again in 2017.
Photo: John Deere

Everglades Farm Equipment, a John Deere dealer, celebrated a milestone in 2016 after selling more than 1,000 commercial ZTrak mower units; this is the second year in a row they have hit that mark, selling more than 1,000 machines in 2015.

Everglades Farm Equipment has 12 locations across central and southern Florida.

Everglades Farm Equipment was honored for this achievement by John Deere in November. Since 2013, Everglades Farm Equipment says it has strived to meet the 1,000-unit sales mark goal, and it aims to exceed that goal again in 2017.

The dealership additionally provides a variety of programs like the John Deere Parts OnSite and NeverStop Mowing Loaner Guarantee programs.

“We’ve been working with professional landscape contractors since we’ve been in business, striving to provide customers with everything they need for success,” said Josh Coffman, CCE/CWP sales manager. “The equipment is just the beginning of the dealer relationship with a customer.”

Ruppert Landscape honors employees at annual awards banquet

At their recent annual awards banquet held in the National Conference Center in Leesburg, Virginia, 23 Ruppert Landscape employees were honored.

“These awards highlight exceptional individuals whose superior efforts and skills have benefited our customers and our employees,” said Phil Key, company president.  “We are truly proud of each of these individuals and what they’ve accomplished.”

Clyde Vadner Merit Award

Chuck Whealton was named this year’s recipient for the Clyde Vadner Merit Award. Photo: Ruppert LandscapeChuck Whealton was named this year’s recipient for the Clyde Vadner Merit Award.
Photo: Ruppert Landscape

Recognizing the individual who has contributed continuous, consistent, long-term hard work, dedication and job skill that helped to shape the company, the Clyde Vadner Merit Award is one of the company’s top two honors. Chuck Whealton was named this year’s recipient and is the regional manager of the landscape management division.

“Chuck has contributed greatly to the success of the company during his tenure and continues to help push us in the right direction,” said Tom Barry, vice president of the landscape management division. “In the past year, Chuck has taken on a new role which has him overseeing special projects that have led to material improvements in our operational efficiency. Chuck is a hard worker with a wealth of knowledge and a keen willingness to help others.”

Whealton resides in Sykesville, Maryland, and has been with Ruppert for over 15 years.

Achievement Award

Mike Felts was named this year’s recipient for the Achievement Award. Photo: Ruppert LandscapeMike Felts was named this year’s recipient for the Achievement Award.
Photo: Ruppert Landscape

The Achievement Award is also one of the company’s top two honors, which recognizes the employee who has made a significant contribution in 2016 through outstanding job execution and high-quality results. Mike Felts was named this year’s recipient and is the branch manager in the Maryland landscape construction branch.

“Mike has led his branch through its most successful year ever, breaking division sales records and completing some extremely large and challenging projects including Clarksburg Premium Outlets and Sagamore Spirit Distillery, the Rec Pier hotel in Baltimore and MGM National Harbor,” said Bob Jones, president of the landscape construction division. “On top of that, his branch had almost zero turnover this past year, which I think says a lot about Mike’s management abilities.”

Felts resides in Laytonsville, Maryland, and has been with Ruppert for over six years.

Distinction Award

Dave Sanders is this year’s recipient of the Distinction Award. Photo: Ruppert LandscapeDave Sanders is this year’s recipient of the Distinction Award.
Photo: Ruppert Landscape

This year’s recipient for the Distinction Award, Dave Sanders, is given in recognition of exceptional dedication to the principles and ideals of the company and outstanding safety performance. Sanders is the safety and loss prevention manager and resides in Fayetteville, Pennsylvania; he has been with Ruppert for over eight years.

“Dave has competently and successfully managed and grown our safety program to keep pace with the company’s expansion,” said Jay Long, vice president of human resources. “He has helped us to significantly reduce the number and severity of incidents, and presided over a substantial reduction in the company’s MOD rating. He sweats the details of safety and has gotten our leadership team, and the company as a whole, to do the same.”

Branch Impact Awards

This year, 20 recipients were awarded the Branch Impact Award. Pictured are, front row from left to right, Lisa Horton, April Rose, James Wood, Theresa West,Patty Pescrille, Patrick Shelley, Rey Valle, Melanie Haynes, Michael Vispi and John Oubre. Pictured are, back row from left to right, Perry Greto, Francisco Umanzor, Patty Steadman, Kyle Meissner, Ethan Brown, Chris Southworth, Tim Schofield, Zac Czapko, Donavon Stout and Excequiel Morales. Photo: Ruppert LandscapeThis year, 20 recipients were awarded the Branch Impact Award. Pictured are, front row from left to right, Lisa Horton, April Rose, James Wood, Theresa West,Patty Pescrille, Patrick Shelley, Rey Valle, Melanie Haynes, Michael Vispi and John Oubre. Pictured are, back row from left to right, Perry Greto, Francisco Umanzor, Patty Steadman, Kyle Meissner, Ethan Brown, Chris Southworth, Tim Schofield, Zac Czapko, Donavon Stout and Excequiel Morales. 
Photo: Ruppert Landscape

The Branch Impact Awards are given to the employees whose outstanding dedication and contributions have made a positive impact on their individual branch; there were 20 recipients this year.

  • Ethan Brown is an area manager, a one-year Ruppert employee from Falls Church, Virginia, and received the honor for the Alexandria, Virginia landscape management branch.
  • Zac Czapko is an operations manager, a 13-year Ruppert employee from Dacula, Georgia, and received the honor for the Georgia landscape construction branch.
  • Perry Greto is an enhancement manager, an eight-year Ruppert employee from Folsom, Pennsylvania, and received the honor for the King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, landscape management branch.
  • Melanie Haynes is a branch administrator, a four-year Ruppert employee from Milford, Virginia, and received the honor for the Richmond, Virginia, landscape management branch.
  • Lisa Horton is an executive assistant, a six-year Ruppert employee from Mount Airy, Maryland, and received the honor for the corporate office.
  • Kyle Meissner is an area manager, a three-year Ruppert employee from Marriottsville, Maryland, and received the honor for the D.C. landscape management branch.
  • Excequiel Morales is a field manager, a four-year Ruppert employee from Durham, North Carolina, and received the honor for the Raleigh, North Carolina landscape management branch.
  • John Oubre is an area manager, a nine-year Ruppert employee from Lilburn, Georgia, and received the honor for the Mableton, Georgia, landscape management branch.
  • Patty Pescrille is a business developer, an eight-year Ruppert employee from Joppa, Maryland, and received the honor for the Baltimore, Maryland, landscape management branch.
  • April Rose is a project manager, an eight-year Ruppert employee from Front Royal, Virginia, and received the honor for the Virginia landscape construction branch.
  • Tim Schofield is an area manager, a two-year Ruppert employee from Arlington, Virginia, and received the honor for the Laytonsville, Maryland, landscape management branch.
  • Patrick Shelley is a field manager, a two-year Ruppert employee from Charlotte, North Carolina, and received the honor for the Charlotte, North Carolina, landscape management branch.
  • Chris Southworth is a business developer, a five-year Ruppert employee from Houston, Texas, and received the honor for the Texas landscape construction branch.
  • Patty Steadman is a field manager, a two-year Ruppert employee from New Carrollton, Maryland, and received the honor for the Forestville, Maryland, landscape management branch.
  • Donavon Stout is an area manager, a 14-year Ruppert employee from Wilmington, Delaware, and received the honor for the Toughkenamon, Pennsylvania, landscape management branch.
  • Francisco Umanzor is a field manager, a three-year Ruppert employee from Manassas, Virginia, and received the honor for the Gainesville, Virginia, landscape management branch.
  • Rey Valle is a field manager, a three-year Ruppert employee from Germantown, Maryland, and received the honor for the Maryland landscape construction branch.
  • Michael Vispi is an area manager, a 13-year Ruppert employee from Buford, Georgia, and received the honor for the Lilburn, Georgia, landscape management branch.
  • Theresa West is a business developer, a two-year Ruppert employee from New Windsor, Maryland, and received the honor for the Frederick, Maryland, landscape management branch.
  • James Wood is a project manager, a one-year Ruppert employee from Raleigh, North Carolina, and received the honor for the North Carolina landscape construction branch.
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