Posing with the company’s Achievement Award recipient are, from left, Phil Key, president; Tom Barry, vice president of Ruppert’s landscape management division; Bob Jones, president of the landscape construction division; Doug Halsey, regional vice president, landscape management division; the award recipient, Tony Youngblood, field manager, Georgia landscape construction branch; Craig Ruppert, chief executive officer; Jack Jones, region manager, landscape management division; and Chuck Whealton, region manager, landscape management division.Photo: Ruppert Landscape
Twenty-one Ruppert Landscape employees were honored recently at the company’s annual awards banquet, which was held this year at the Hunt Valley Inn in Hunt Valley, Maryland.
“These awards highlight exceptional individuals whose superior efforts and skills have benefited our customers and our employees,” said company President Phil Key. “We are truly proud of each of these individuals and what they’ve accomplished.”
Ruppert’s Clyde Vadner Merit Award – one of the company’s top two honors – recognizes the individual who has contributed continuous, consistent, long-term hard work, dedication and job skill that has helped to shape the company. This year’s award went to Kevin Hazelgrove, Ruppert’s branch manager in Richmond, Virginia. A resident of Mechanicsville, Virginia, Hazelgrove has been with Ruppert for more than five years.
The company’s other top honor, the Achievement Award, recognizes an employee who made a significant contribution in 2015 through outstanding job execution and high-quality results. The award was presented to Tony Youngblood, field manager in Ruppert’s Georgia landscape construction branch. Youngblood is a resident of Sparks, Georgia, and has been with the company for more than five years.
The company also presented 19 Impact Awards at the recent banquet. The awards recognize outstanding dedication and contributions to the company’s success. Recipients were as follows:
- Josh Araujo of Woodbridge, Virginia.
- Rob Horton of Damascus, Maryland.
- Tito Caceres of Charlotte, North Carolina.
- Emil Saweros of Frederick, Maryland.
- George Brown of Annapolis, Maryland.
- Stacie Kackley of Lusby, Maryland.
- John Holtzinger of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.
- Michael Skidgel of Warrenton, Virginia.
- Stacy Smith of Lawrenceville, Georgia.
- Perry Greto of Folsom, Pennsylvania.
- Chris Bixler of Bethesda, Maryland.
- Chris Gramley of Suwanee, Georgia.
- James Watson of Monroe, Georgia.
- Adam Bennett of Rockville, Maryland.
- Jonathon Leonard of Cary, North Carolina.
- Brett Lineberry of Clayton, North Carolina.
- Paula Grady of North Chesterfield, Virginia.
- Ariana Rizzo of Chads Ford, Pennsylvania.
- Kurt Siemon of Herndon, Virginia.
Ruppert Landscape, a family and employee-owned business, provides commercial landscape construction and management services. The company’s 18 branches serve seven primary markets in Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, Richmond, Raleigh, Charlotte and Atlanta.
Takeuchi appoints new Southeast product manager
Takeuchi-US, a manufacturer of compact equipment, has appointed Dean Hoffman to the role of Southeast product manager. Hoffman will be responsible for all development and activity for dealer sales staff, assisting with equipment demonstrations, interaction with end users, and supporting efforts in retailing, training and growing the Takeuchi business in his territory.
Dean HoffmanThe move for Hoffman is part of a restructuring process at Takeuchi following the creation of a new U.S. region designated as the “Mid-Atlantic Region.” Hoffman has been with Takeuchi for six years as a regional service manager and was assigned to the Southwest region during that time. He has held several positions with other companies in field sales.
“This restructuring is a result of our increase in volume, market share, growth in our dealer network and our continued desire to provide a high level of service to our dealers,” says Kim Robinson, Takeuchi-US director of sales.
Rhodeside & Harwell promotes landscape designers
Landscape architecture and planning firm Rhodeside & Harwell has promoted Melissa Rainer and Drew Taylor to senior associate. Both of the landscape architects and project managers work in the firm’s Alexandria, Virginia, office.
Melissa RainerRainer joined Rhodeside & Harwell in 2005 and has 15 years of experience in landscape architecture. She has completed a wide range of projects, including restoration of historic urban parks and design of educational campuses and residential gardens. Rainer also has contributed to a number of restoration projects at Essex County Branch Brook Park in Newark, New Jersey.
Rainer holds a master’s degree in landscape architecture from the University of Georgia and a bachelor’s degree in economics from Randolph-Macon Woman’s College.
Drew TaylorTaylor joined Rhodeside & Harwell in 2008 and has 17 years of experience in landscape architecture. He has worked extensively on urban and infill design projects, urban residential communities and parks. His experience includes designing and monitoring the construction of landscape improvements at the Supreme Court of the United States in Washington, the Westover Apartments in Arlington, Virginia, and the Regional Health Professions Center at Tidewater Community College in Virginia Beach.
Taylor has also contributed to the landscape design of several U.S. embassies, including facilities in Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan, Equatorial Guinea and Papua New Guinea.
He earned his bachelor’s degree in landscape architecture at Pennsylvania State University.
Ox Bodies names new territory manager
Ox Bodies announced recently the appointment of Charlie Mann to the newly created role of territory manager for Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina.
Ox Bodies is a brand of Truck Bodies and Equipment International Inc. (TBEI).
Charlie Mann“Charlie’s 15 years of experience in the industry, doing everything from sales and marketing to purchasing steels, make him an extremely valuable asset to Ox Bodies,” said Henry Bell, TBEI vice president of sales and marketing. “Ox Bodies continues to grow throughout the country …”
Mann is a graduate of Valdosta State University and previously worked in sales, marketing and purchasing roles with Ryder Transportation, All-Star International, MHC-Kenworth, Blaze Recycling & Metals and Nextran Truck Center.
Since 1972, Ox Bodies has been a designer, manufacturer and installer of medium and heavy-duty dump bodies and trailers, platforms, trash bodies and related accessories.
TBEI’s other brands include Crysteel, Rugby, DuraClass and J-Craft.
Heaviland Landscape Management hires 2 managers
Heaviland Landscape Management announced recently the hiring of two new members of its leadership and sales teams.
John GerhardJohn Gelhard joins the company to focus on new business development and Sharlin Kissinger has stepped into a regional account manager role.
Headquartered in Vista, California, the commercial landscape management company services more than 350 properties throughout San Diego County. Its services include landscape design, installation, maintenance and resource management.
“John and Sharlin bring a tremendous wealth of knowledge and experience to our company,” said Tom Heaviland, president of Heaviland Landscape Management, who was recently named a 2016 finalist for the San Diego Business Journal’s Most Admired CEO Award. “We expect them to be important contributors to a successful year of business growth.”
Gelhard has more than 20 years of sales, sales management and marketing experience. At Heaviland, he will concentrate on
Sharlin Kissingeracquiring larger corporate, office complex and HOA accounts. He will also manage the company’s website and online marketing efforts. A former college track and cross country standout, he holds a degree in business administration from Ursinus College in Pennsylvania.
Kissinger entered the landscape business as a teenager, working on her father’s nursery in production and customer service roles. A graduate of California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, she holds experience in both retail nurseries and commercial landscape management.
As a regional account manager, Kissinger will maintain a portfolio of commercial landscape maintenance accounts and pursue opportunities to grow each contract.
Heaviland Landscape Management serves all of San Diego County from its three locations in Vista, Miramar and South Bay.
