Jake Doskocil, PhD (right) and Laurence Mudge (center) talking with a Bayer customer (left) in the field at the Bayer Research and Education Facility in Clayton, North Carolina.Photo: Bayer
The Research and Educational facility of Bayer Environmental Science, a Business Unit of Bayer Crop Science, was selected for the 2018 Best of Clayton Award in the laboratory category.
Bayer says each year the Clayton Award Program recognizes companies that have achieved exceptional success through service to their customers and the community.
“The research and development efforts at the Clayton facility are fundamental to the discovery of new solutions and cutting-edge expertise for our customers across the globe,” says Jake Doskocil, Ph.D., Bayer Clayton site manager and principal scientist. “It’s an honor to have been recognized by the Clayton Award Program, and we are grateful to be part of an impressive community that generates important work not only for this community but for the broader turf and ornamentals industry.”
Bayer says its Clayton, North Carolina, research facility hosts more than 50 events every year and welcomes more than 1,000 customers, university experts and other industry professionals as part of its ongoing commitment to customer centricity, sustainability, stewardship and product development.
In 2018, Bayer says the Clayton facility’s development staff conducted more than 160 biology-based trials in the facility’s laboratory, greenhouse and field to test and measure the efficacy of insect, disease and weed management technologies.
Toro presents new Z Master with MyRIDE to GIE+EXPO prize winner
Andrew Schroeder of Schroeder’s Outdoor Services LLC in Gibsonburg, Ohio, was named winner of Toro‘s 2018 GIE+EXPO giveaway. Schroeder picked up his new Toro Z Master 3000 Series zero-turn mower equipped with the MyRIDE suspension system from his local Toro dealer, Willie’s Sales and Service in Fremont, Ohio.
Andrew Schroeder of Schroeder’s Outdoor Services LLC, Toro’s 2018 GIE+EXPO prize winner takes delivery of his new Toro Z Master 3000 Series zero-turn mower with MyRIDE from Willie’s Sales and Service.Photo: Toro
“We already run a lot of Toro mowers, so I was very excited to learn that I had been selected as the prize winner and can add this Z Master to our fleet,” says Schroeder. “I’m really looking forward to putting this new mower to the test in the spring.”
Toro says Schroeder’s new mower is powered by a 25-horsepower Kawasaki FX 708cc engine, and the company adds that it features Toro’s Turbo Force cutting deck with heat-treated high-strength steel blades and a patented adjustable discharge chute. Toro says the MyRIDE suspension system also offers the operator up to 3.6 inches of travel and is designed to reduce impacts, bumps and vibrations to the operator. Toro adds that the operator can also easily adjust the rear shock ride settings to account for their personal ride preference without the use of tools.
“We’re thrilled that Andrew has taken delivery of his brand new Z Master zero-turn mower,” says Chris Vogtman, Toro senior marketing manager. “All of our products are designed to be there for our customers every step of the way, from start to finish, and the 3000 Series with MyRIDE is no exception. We wish Andrew many productive and comfortable mowing sessions with his new MyRIDE-equipped machine.”
NALP to host Industry Workforce Summit, names newest class of Trailblazers
The National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP) announced that they will host their first national Workforce Summit, which they say will bring together business leaders to strategize ways to deal with the industry’s crippling workforce shortage.
Organized through the association’s Industry Growth Initiative (IGI), NALP says this two-day summit held outside Washington D.C., in Alexandria, Virginia, Feb. 12-13, will identify solutions for the green industry to compete in the tight national labor market. NALP says guest speakers and peer-led discussions will round out the agenda for the event.
“The Workforce Summit is unlike any meeting we have ever held,” says NALP CEO Sabeena Hickman. “We must come together as an industry to tackle the workforce crisis. No one company can solve this problem, no matter how large they are or how creative their recruiting practices are. The industry needs to explore new business models; we need to examine how we can compete against industries already united in trying to attract the same workers we need. And in short, we need to identify actionable items to impact the industry’s future.”
NALP says the event also includes time for networking, and attendees are encouraged to bring their families and key staff for a few days of team building and skills development.
For more information or to register, call the NALP office at 800-395-2522 or click here.
NALP has also announced its newest Trailblazers, who are individuals nominated by their peers for making significant and long-term contributions to the landscape industry. NALP adds that Trailblazers mentor other landscape professionals through the Trailblazer program.
NALP says Trailblazers are selected because of their excellence and achievement in the areas of lawn care, design/build/installation, interior plantscaping, irrigation and water management and landscape management.
The following are the new 2018 Trailblazers:
- Barry Schneider, president, Surrounds Inc. of Sterling, Virginia
- John Puryear, president, Puryear Farms, Gallatin, Tennessee
- Michael Prokopchak, president, Walnut Hill Landscape Company of Annapolis, Maryland
- Alan Richmond, vice president, Southern Botanical of Dallas, Texas
- Brian Edward, manager, Colorburst, of Brentwood, Tennessee
- Marc Funderburk, president, LandPatterns Inc. of Dallas, Texas
PBI-Gordon corporation opens new headquarters
PBI-Gordon Corporation recently announced that it has officially moved its new corporate headquarters, located at Shawnee Crossings office building, 22701 West 68th Terrace in Shawnee, Kansas.
Currently, the company says it employs more than 400 nationally in facilities in Kansas, Missouri, Illinois and Florida.
PBI-Gordon says it has been headquartered in the Kansas City metro area since its founding in 1947. The company recently moved from its former headquarters at 1217 W. 12th Street in Kansas City, Missouri’s West Bottoms, where it had been since 1981.
According to Don Chew, president and CEO of PBI-Gordon Corporation, “PBI-Gordon has had steady growth through the years attributed to launching new products and increasing market share across all customer segments. Our new headquarters at Shawnee Crossing will give us room to accommodate this growth, provide a modern and interactive environment for our employee-owners and continue to be part of the fabric of the greater Kansas City community.”
“We couldn’t be happier to have PBI-Gordon in Shawnee Crossings,” says Shawnee Mayor Michelle Distler. “They’re not just bringing 100 jobs to our city, they’re also bringing a rich history of 70 years of success. That kind of stability will be great for Shawnee and for the state.”
SiteOne launches new e-commerce website
SiteOne Landscape Supply recently launched a mobile-friendly e-commerce website that they say allows customers to place orders from anywhere at any time.
SiteOne says customers can search product availability, get access to their specific pricing and place orders for pickup or delivery on the website 24/7, and through Dec. 31, SiteOne says customers can get five percent off their first order placed through the new website with the offer code SAVE. SiteOne says the offer is valid once per customer on a non-agency product.
Photo: SiteOne“The new SiteOne.com is a major step forward in customer convenience,” says Doug Black, CEO of SiteOne. “We’ve completely redesigned the online capabilities for our customers to save them time and make ordering easier than ever before. In addition to finding product availability and pricing, they can also create custom lists to help organize their needs for particular jobs or seasonal purchasing during the year. Additionally, a local SiteOne associate will review orders when they are placed on the site to make sure customers get what they need, when they need it. We are very excited to deliver this new level of service to our customers.”
To take full advantage the new site’s features, SiteOne says users must set up an online account. Once they are registered, SiteOne says customers will be able to place orders, manage their account and access other new features.
The company says that along with the site’s enhanced e-commerce abilities, the site provides resources such as video tutorials, business tips, product category specific articles, green industry event information and more.
James Martin Associates awards scholarships to Vernon High School graduate
James Martin Associates (JMA) recently awarded six scholarships to the children of current associates, including local Vernon High School graduate Jake McElroy.
Photo: James Martin Associates (JMA)JMA says McElroy recently earned his Certified Flight Instructor License, which allows him to teach students how to fly different kinds of airplanes; he is now a full-time instructor at Skill Aviation at Waukegan Airport.
Born and raised in Vernon Hills, JMA says McElroy attended the College of Lake County and obtained an associate’s degree in arts. He is continuing his education at Colombia College of Missouri studying psychology, and JMA says he is expected to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in April of 2019.
JMA says McElroy’s father, Larry McElroy, is a retired airline pilot who flew for 33 years with American Airlines. Growing up, McElroy says they would travel around the world together every summer, and over the years they have visited 89 countries on six continents.
JMA says McElroy earned his Private Pilot’s License in 2016 and has since acquired his instrument and multi-engine ratings, his Commercial Pilot’s License, his Ground Instructor’s License and his Certified Flight Instructor’s License.
“Having a dad that has flown for 33 years, aviation has always been in my blood,” says McElroy. “Luckily, I chose a career path that combines my two passions, travel and aviation.”
McElroy was awarded the Shari Dalziel Scholarship at James Martin Associates’ 40th anniversary celebration dinner. JMA says his mother, Beth McElroy, has worked for the company for 20 years.
“I’ve known Jake his entire life, and I was especially glad that James Martin Associates was able to contribute to his ongoing education,” says Jim Martin, JMA president. “I look forward to him being the pilot on one of my future trips.”
Jack and Nick GeatiPhoto: James Martin Associates (JMA)
Hugo Acosta-MartinezPhoto: James Martin Associates (JMA)
Valentine PoggiPhoto: James Martin Associates (JMA)
