Green people: LandCare preps for the spring season with equipment rodeo

Updated Mar 6, 2017
Employees competed to blow a tennis ball into a trash can. Photo: LandCareEmployees competed to blow a tennis ball into a trash can.
Photo: LandCare

LandCare branches from across the country are starting to hold their first safety/equipment rodeos of the year.

The Dallas West branch in Grand Prairie, Texas, trained employees on equipment uses, safety best practices, truck maintenance, irrigation and pesticide application.

However, it wasn’t all work and no play, as the branch brought an ice cream truck and vendor partners like Exmark and Horizon come in to strengthen their relationships.

“We have fun competitions within the branches,” said Mark Hopkins, regional vice president of LandCare. “It’s helpful to have vendor partners involved to be subject experts.

The rodeos serve as a way to train seasonal employees and refresh longtime team members. By starting off the spring season on the right foot, LandCare hopes to reduce accidents, injuries and equipment downtime and improve efficiency.

“Competitions usually involve the equipment: an obstacle course for mowers, a skill competition for blowers – this one had participants use the blower to get a tennis ball in a trash can. We’ve also had string trimmer competitions in the past where team members would have to trim around balloons.”

Ruppert Landscape promotes employee to controller

Jennifer Saah has been promoted to the position of controller at Ruppert Landscape’s corporate office.

Jennifer SaahJennifer Saah

She has been with the company for over a year, and working on tax and compliance and related party accounting while reporting directly to the controller of Ruppert Companies, the parent company of Ruppert Landscape.

Saah has a bachelor’s degree in accounting and economics from High Point University and is a Certified Public Accountant. She has 10 years of experience in general ledger accounting, financial reporting and corporate accounting management.

“Jen’s experience, attention to detail and desire to deliver great customer service make her the ideal person to lead our accounting team,” said James Thompson, CEO of Ruppert Landscape.

As controller, Saah will handle all daily, monthly and annual financial processes including payroll, accounts payable, accounts receivable and financial reporting. She will also responsible for producing a monthly income statement for all 30 branches and a consolidated statement for the overall company.

Altoz expands district sales manager’s territory

Zero-turn mower manufacturer Altoz has expanded the sales territory of Steve Goodman to include Southern Alabama and Southern Georgia in addition to Florida.

Steve GoodmanSteve Goodman

“For the past two years, Steve has been an integral part of the continued growth of the Altoz brand throughout the state of Florida,” said Dennis Brazier, Altoz’s CFO. “Steve’s relationships, experience and knowledge within the outdoor power equipment industry have been invaluable to the team.”

Before becoming district sales manager for Altos, Goodman was the territory sales & service manager for Power Distributors where he managed sales for central Florida.

“Working with the Altoz sales team has been a fantastic experience and pioneering a brand to this region has been extremely gratifying,” Goodman said. “Introducing the new TRX, the industry’s first tracked zero-turn mower, to dealers and end users has been really exciting.”

SipcamRotam adds personnel to support growth

Started as a joint venture between SipcamAdvan and Rotam North America, SipcamRotam has filled seven key positions to drive growth.

“Our goal has been to build a team for the future,” said Adam Burnhams, general manager. “We are excited to have these professionals join our effort to support and deliver value to our customers.”

Doug Phelps has been hired as vice president of value added solutions and will focus on biostimulants and biorationals. He has spent the past 16 years with Horizon Ag Products.

Sipcamrotam ColorAmy Frasier has been promoted to vice president of marketing and Marsha Fisher has been promoted to communications manager to support Frasier.

Bill Long and Reginald Young have both been added as account managers for crop protection sales. Long has 13 years of experience with DuPont Crop Protection as well as 12 years with Griffin Crop Sciences. Young has over 25 years of experience with DuPont Crop Protection.

Kelley Paris will take on customer service to support the additional sales staff. She has experience in customer service working for Wells Fargo and General Mills.

The account manager position for the Midwest and Mid Central U.S. for turf and ornamental sales has been filled by Sam Wineinger. He has 20 years of experience in the industry, including being a golf course superintendent.

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