People roundup: Prescription Landscape acquires Peerless Lawn Care

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peerless lawn care owner and founder, Aaron Haakonson
Aaron Haakonson
Photo: Prescription Landscape, Inc.

Prescription Landscape, Inc. recently announced the acquisition of Peerless Lawn Care, Inc. Peerless is a specialty landscape service provider for select homeowner and commercial sites in St. Cloud and surrounding communities. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. 

“This addition to the Prescription portfolio will help us strengthen our presence in the St Cloud market,” says Prescription’s chief executive officer, Ryan Foudray. “We admire the quality of Peerless’ work and the passion and integrity of its owner, Aaron Haakonson; they enjoy admirable customer loyalty as a result. We are privileged to welcome Aaron, his team and their clients to our company.” 

“We have worked very hard to build our reputation and we are gratified that Prescription recognizes our passion for our clients, employees and the industry,” says Peerless owner and founder, Aaron Haakonson. “Our companies share many of the same values, and in a true show of commitment to client services, I and my team members will continue on with Prescription.” 

The company says Haakonson will take over as the branch manager for Peerless as it becomes a division of Prescription Landscape. The company says it will operate as Peerless Lawn Care, a division of Prescription Landscape, Inc.  

Takeuchi adds new technical trainer, training coordinator

Takeuchi-US announced that it is preparing for the opening of the new Takeuchi Training Center with the addition of Ashleigh Gross as a technical trainer and Megan McFarlane as training center coordinator. Megan McFarlane, training center coordinator for Takeuchi-USMegan McFarlanePhoto: Takeuchi-US

“Providing our salespeople, dealer principals, dealer technicians and corporate dealer trainers with the best possible training is extremely important to Takeuchi’s ongoing success,” says Keith Kramlich, Takeuchi’s national product and training manager. “By opening a new training center and adding Ashleigh and Megan to our staff, we’re truly taking our sales and technical instruction to the next level. Our new training center will have larger classrooms, and with the addition of Ashleigh, we now have the staff to increase class capacity and add more service training classes in the coming months.”

As Takeuchi’s new technical trainer, the company says Gross will be responsible for conducting all types of training for their dealer’s technicians as well as their own staff.

The company says she will be developing training materials and maintaining training equipment, tools and supplies. Gross comes to Takeuchi from Alban CAT in Myersville, Maryland, where she served as a technical training instructor, creating curricula, documentation and training courses while increasing efficiency and exceeding training goals.

Takeuchi says her past positions include operations management, heavy equipment operation and more than two years with Johnston Community College in Smithfield, North Carolina, as an adjunct instructor on engines, hydraulics, basic electricity, industrial maintenance and transmissions.

Gross holds a master’s degree in trade education from Oswego State University in Oswego, New York, and a bachelor’s degree in technology management from Morrisville State College in Morrisville, New York.Ashleigh Gross, technical trainer at Takeuchi-USAshleigh GrossPhoto: Takeuchi-US

The company says McFarlane will manage training inquiries and coordinate service and sales training schedules. She will also be responsible for registration requests, event planning, billing and customer communication.

McFarlane comes to Takeuchi from her former position as a business development representative for Lockstep Technology Group in Duluth, Georgia, where she supported the sales team with new prospect lead generation, webinar creation, special events and customer relationship management. The company says McFarlane has a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a minor in sociology from Georgia State University in Atlanta.

The Takeuchi Training Center is located in a facility next door to the company’s headquarters in Pendergrass, Georgia. Courses that will be offered weekly include instructor-led, intermediate-level technical trainings for both compact track loaders and compact excavators with simultaneous classes starting in May 2021.

The company says these classes cover general machine layout, electrical and hydraulic component location and function, general engine controls and exhaust after-treatment systems on all products. Soon, Takeuchi says it will also offer quarterly sales training for dealers as well as advanced technical training. Beginner-level courses will be offered online via Takeuchi’s Learning Management System.

“Providing top-notch training to our employees and dealer partners helps us ensure that our customers will get the kind of support that they expect and deserve from Takeuchi,” says Kramlich. “We’re extremely pleased to welcome Ashleigh and Megan to our team, and we’re looking forward to their contributions as we continue to enhance and grow our training program.”

Curb Roller Manufacturing appoints new general manager

Curb Roller Manufacturing recently announced Jesse Smith as its new general manager.

Jesse Smith, general manager for curb roller manufacturingJesse SmithPhoto: Curb Roller ManufacturingThe company says Smith will be responsible for ensuring Curb Roller Manufacturing runs smoothly and effectively, from overseeing the day-to-day operations to helping drive production goals.

“Jesse shares our family values in business, and his experience has given him great insight into the needs of our core customers,” says Seth Ulmer, Curb Roller Manufacturing sales manager. “He has an outstanding track record in coordinating both internal and external logistics and will be a valuable asset to our customers as we begin the new year.”

The company says Smith has 15 years of management experience in the agricultural industry where he was most recently an operations manager for a large farmer’s cooperative. In that role, Smith was responsible for overseeing operational efficiency, personnel logistics, managing large scale construction projects and ensuring compliance with safety regulations.

“I’m excited to be part of Curb Roller Manufacturing,” says Smith. “Not only do they make quality, innovative products for the concrete market, but they’re a hometown company that’s built here in Kansas and dedicated to their customers’ success. They’re right in line with my values.”

Smith graduated from Fort Hays State University, located in Hays, Kansas, with a bachelor’s in agriculture business. He resides in Holton, Kansas, with his wife and three children.

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