Industry roundup: LMN makes move to new headquarters

LMN’s newly designed headquarters in Markham, Ontario, reflect a dynamic team culture. Photo: LMNLMN’s newly designed headquarters in Markham, Ontario, reflect a dynamic team culture.
Photo: LMN

LMN Inc., a landscape management software provider, recently expanded to a newly designed office in Markham, Ontario, that the company says reflects a strong team culture, further promotes workplace happiness and will serve to attract new talent.

The new headquarters will be located at 180 Enterprise Boulevard, in the heart of a growing business area and officially opened on June 3.

“These are exciting times for our team as this move signals a major milestone in LMN’s growth,” says Mark Bradley, CEO of LMN. “As the high-tech capital of Canada, Markham will give us access to an incredible pool of talent as we continue to grow. The office features dynamic workspaces, a lunchroom and plenty of sunshine and inspiration.”

Located on the 2nd floor of a commercial space adjacent to the Toronto Marriott Markham, LMN says its 6,500 square foot office was designed by Circle Design.

Since launching in 2009, the company says its software has been adopted by over 33,000 professionals. Through its cloud-based platform, training and support, LMN says companies can get rid of paperwork and inefficiencies to price work for profit using one system that delivers results in as little as seven days.

“This platform grew from our own challenges as owners of one of Canada’s largest landscape companies (TBG Landscape),” says Janna Bradley, COO of LMN. “When we couldn’t find a software solution to replace the stacks of papers and Excel files, we decided to develop our own and share it with the industry. Today, our customers have budgeted over $125 billion, priced over $25 billion in design/build, maintenance and snow contracts and recorded 37 million clock-ins using LMN.”

“The majority of landscape business owners run their business on gut instinct so LMN represents a huge change to the way they’re used to doing business, starting with building a budget,” says Jason Drews, senior client success manager at LMN. “Our customer service team is committed to guiding and supporting a customer’s transition from guesstimating to making decisions based on actual numbers through in-person and online training. The LMN Academy will be hosted in our state-of-the-art training facility, providing the education our Canadian and American customers need to grow sustainable businesses.”

Takeuchi US names Fred Hinton, Henry Lawson to newly appointed positions

Takeuchi US recently named Fred Hinton to a newly appointed position as technical trainer and content developer for the technical training group, effective immediately. The company says the position was added in response to keeping up with the market growth the company has experienced.

Fred HintonFred Hinton

Takeuchi says Hinton’s responsibilities will include helping the training group facilitate instructor-led technical training to the company’s dealers and customers both at the Pendergrass, Georgia, facility and regional locations.

Additionally, the company says he will use his instructional design background to develop content for future courses and help take the training program to the next level.

“We are very excited to have Fred as part of the Takeuchi family and we are already leveraging his expertise in instructional design with several of our instructor-led courses,” says David Steger, global training manager at Takeuchi. “His background in similar markets as ours has allowed him to quickly adapt to our industry, while bringing some industry leading practices to our team. He has already demonstrated his ability to connect learners of various levels and learning styles and generously shares his positive energy to those around him.”

With his background in instructional design, technical documentation and project management, the company says Hinton brings 13 years of experience in construction and related industries. He also recently earned an associates in theology degree from Sure Foundation Theological Institute in Seminole, Florida.

Takeuchi also recently introduced Henry Lawson as their national dealer sales manager, effective immediately. Based out of Takeuchi US headquarters in Pendergrass, Georgia, the company says Lawson will be responsible for all sales activity through the company’s North American dealer sales channel.

Henry LawsonHenry Lawson

The company says Lawson brings 35 years of rental and construction equipment sales experience to this position, and most recently he was a district manager for United Rentals and managed 10 locations in north Georgia and southern Tennessee.

Before working with United Rentals, the company says Lawson worked for Neff Rental LLC for 21 years, where he held several positions, and the most recent was as region VP, southeast region.

“We are excited to bring Henry aboard to the Takeuchi team, especially with a great deal of experience in our industry and equipment already,” says Clay Eubanks, president at Takeuchi US. “Henry has a great track record in recruiting, training and motivating teams to exceed sales and operational goals, in addition to year over year sales revenue growth. We have no doubt he will provide great leadership for our team.”

The company says Lawson will reside in the Pendergrass, Georgia area and has a Bachelor of Science agricultural economics degree from the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia.

Vermont passes bill to reduce bee-killing pesticides

Friends of the Earth (FOE) says that a bill was signed into law on Friday, May 31, that will protect pollinators by reducing pesticides that are harmful to bees.

The bill (H.205) regulates neonicotinoid pesticides because of their particular toxicity to bees. FOE says neonicotinoid are systemic in nature, meaning that the chemicals make the entire plant, pollen and nectar toxic. FOE says neonicotinoids stay present in the environment months or years after application and even in small amounts, these pesticides can kill bees.

FOE says the bill classifies the neonicotinoid family of pesticides as “restricted use” in Vermont, restricting use to trained applicators.

“Beekeepers across Vermont are losing hives at an alarming rate,” says Shaina Kasper, Vermont and New Hampshire state director at Toxics Action Center.  “The least we can do is keep bee-killing pesticides out of our state. We need bees to keep our food system healthy. This law is an importing step to protecting them.”

“We applaud Vermont in adopting this bill to ban pollinator toxic pesticides,” says Tiffany Finck-Haynes, pesticides and pollinators program manager at Friends of the Earth. Given Trump’s EPA, Vermont’s action on this issue is more important than ever to help address the pollinator crisis.”

FOE says that Vermont beekeepers lost an average of 57 percent of their hives from 2017-2018, according to the Bee Informed Partnership, and the state’s rate is even higher than the national average of 40 percent loss over the same time period.

Tim Demerath to head sales for PBI-Gordon

Tim DemerathTim Demerath

The employee-owners of PBI-Gordon recently announced that Tim Demerath has joined the company’s Pest Management Business Unit, and in this role, the company says he will oversee the company’s four sales groups to maximize opportunities and grow market share.

The company says Demerath brings more than 15 years of sales experience to his role at PBI-Gordon, and he was most recently sales manager for the Western Iowa district of Bayer CropScience, where he led a team of 10 field representatives and posted significant market share increases. Before that, the company says he held other sales, marketing and commercial operations positions at Bayer.

“We are excited Tim Demerath is joining the PBI-Gordon team,” says Neil Cleveland, vice president and general manager of the PBI-Gordon Pest Management Business Unit. “Tim brings deep industry knowledge and a proven track record of sales success. He’ll be an integral part of our leadership team as we expand our product profile and earn market share growth into the future.”

Originally from Nebraska, Demerath holds a Bachelor of Science in business administration from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln – where he also played on the school’s 2001 Rose Bowl team and earned Big 12 academic honors.

Demerath and his family will be relocating to the Kansas City area in summer 2019.

Pine Hall Brick Company’s founding family honored

Fletcher Steele, president of Pine Hall Brick Company, was awarded a Family Business Award by the Triad Business Journal in recognition of longevity in business across four generations of his family.

Photo: From left, Preston Steele, VP and thin products manager; Fletcher Steele, president; and Walt Steele, VP and COO; who lead Pine Hall Brick Company, founded 97 years ago.Photo: From left, Preston Steele, VP and thin products manager; Fletcher Steele, president; and Walt Steele, VP and COO; who lead Pine Hall Brick Company, founded 97 years ago.

Steele’s great-grandfather J.C. Steele began Statesville-based J.C. Steele & Sons, which manufactured brick-making equipment, in 1889. J.C. Steele’s son, Flake Steele, purchased the dormant Consolidated Brick Company in Pine Hall, North Carolina, along with hundreds of acres of land that contained Triassic shale, a key ingredient in brick. Pine Hall Brick Company began operations in 1922.

The Steele family has been involved in Pine Hall Brick Company’s growth since its beginnings, which continues. Today, Fletcher Steele’s three sons are involved in the business: Walt Steele, vice president and chief operating officer; Preston Steele, VP and thin products manager; and Tyler Steele, who is a sales representative for a brick and masonry subsidiary company in Richmond, Virginia.

Notably, of the 15 family-owned companies that were honored by the Triad Business Journal, only Pine Hall Brick Company and one other firm, Schiffman’s Jewelers of Greensboro, were the longest to be held under family ownership, at four generations.

Alliance Tire Americas announces line expansion

Alliance Tire Americas, Inc. (ATA) recently announced that it is continuing to expand its Galaxy Garden Pro line of tires.

The company says the line is specifically built for compact tractors operating on turf, soft soil and grasses, and for roading on hard surfaces and snow. The company says the Garden Pro has a unique multipurpose tread pattern and radial construction to maximize performance, rider comfort and longevity.

Photo: Alliance Tire Americas Garden Pro 15.Photo: Alliance Tire Americas Garden Pro 15.

According to Nick Phillippi, product manager of the turf segment at Alliance Tire Americas, the radial construction and unique tread design of the Galaxy Garden Pro allow it to excel in a variety of applications.

“With more than four years and thousands of operating hours behind us now, our experience is that the Garden Pro provides years of service and performance and a comfortable ride, all while protecting soil from damage,” he says.

Because of the specific needs of compact tractors operating in vineyards, on produce small acreage farms and a wide variety of other applications, the company says the Galaxy Garden Pro is designed to distinguish itself in purpose and performance from the typical R-1, R-3 or R-4 tire.

With its specially engineered block-type directional traction tread and rounded corners, ATA says it offers traction when needed in soft soil; long, even wear on hard surfaces; and gives protection to turf and more delicate surfaces.

Currently available in 20 sizes with an additional 12 sizes on the way, ATA says the Galaxy Garden Pro is original equipment on John Deere’s 2-series compact tractors.  The company says it is the most complete line of multipurpose tires designed exclusively for compact tractors and is covered by ATA’s industry-leading, seven-year agricultural tire warranty.

ICIP announces 2019 HNA Awards information

The Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute (ICPI) has announced 2019 Hardscape North America (HNA) Awards categories, judging criteria and key submission dates.

The HNA Awards recognize residential and commercial hardscape projects in the United States and Canada, including walkways, patios, driveways and commercial plazas, parking lots, streets and more.

Winning and honorable mention awards in 18 categories will be given to hardscape installation contractors. Designers and product manufacturers of winning and honorable mention projects will also be recognized at the 2019 Hardscape North America trade show during the HNA Awards Recognition Presentation and will be featured in Interlock Design magazine, the HNA website, social media, a press release and other industry publications.Hna Logo

The 2019 HNA Awards online submissions system is now open. Entries will be accepted through Thursday, September 5. Projects entered by Monday, August 12, receive a discount of $40.

Members of ICPI, the National Concrete Masonry Association (NCMA) and Brick Industry Association (BIA) receive additional discounts for submissions.

The 2019 HNA Awards categories are:

  • Concrete paver residential (less than 3,000 sf.)
  • Concrete paver residential (more than 3,000 sf.)
  • Concrete paver commercial (less than 15,000 sf.)
  • Concrete paver commercial (more than 15,000 sf.)
  • Concrete paver permeable residential or commercial (all sizes)
  • Segmental retaining walls residential (all sizes)
  • Segmental retaining walls commercial (all sizes)
  • Clay brick residential (all sizes)
  • Clay brick commercial (all sizes)
  • Clay brick permeable residential or commercial (all sizes)
  • Porcelain paver residential (all sizes)
  • Porcelain paver commercial (all sizes)
  • Combination of hardscape products residential (less than 4,000 sf.)
  • Combination of hardscape products residential (more than 4,000 sf.)
  • Combination of hardscape products commercial (all sizes)
  • Natural stone residential or commercial projects (all sizes)
  • Outdoor living features residential or commercial projects (all sizes)
  • Vintage installation for residential or commercial projects installed before 2008 (all sizes)

Awards submissions will be judged on five criteria:

  • Design (including use of color, shape, texture and pattern)
  • Quality of Construction and Craftsmanship
  • Compatibility with related construction materials and systems
  • Construction innovation
  • Overall excellence

Entrants will be asked to submit five photos and written descriptions of the completed projects that address the five judging criteria.

Produced by ICPI, the HNA Awards are endorsed by the NCMA and BIA. The HNA Awards program is sponsored by Belgard and Keystone Hardscapes.

To submit a project or for more information, visit https://hna.secure-platform.com/a.

For more information about 2018 HNA Award winners and honorable mentions, click here.

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