Stuart EyringThe board of directors has chosen Stuart Eyring to be the president of Orbit Irrigation Products as KC Ericksen retired from the role yesterday.
Ericksen will continue to serve on Pro-Mark Inc.’s board of directors, the holding company of Orbit and Hydro-Rain. Eyring will continue to serve as president of Hydro-Rain as well, a position he has been in since 2006.
Eyring was previously the Chief Operation Officer of Orbit at the time of his appointment as president. Orbit hired Eyring back in 2005 as executive vice president of product development and marketing and became COO in 2014.
He helped drive growth with product innovations such as the B-hyve Wi-Fi smart sprinkler timers for residential and commercial customers. It allows remote management of irrigation systems with smartphones or Amazon’s Alexa.
Eyring previously spent over a decade with the Ford Motor Company as member of the marketing leadership team where he served throughout the world, including the U.S., Asia and South America. He has an MBA from the Wharton School and a Bachelor of Science in finance and Japanese from Brigham Young University.
“Orbit is well positioned for future success with an incredible product portfolio, a remarkable network of partner relationships and an innovative engine that is second to none,” Eyring said. “I look forward to continuing both Orbit’s and Hydro-Rain’s traditions of product and business innovation and extending our global influence in conservation through the application of smart technologies.”
Orbit’s former president, Ericksen, had led the company since 1985 and helped expand the business to five continents and 40 countries.
“There are not adequate words to express our appreciation for all that KC has done to make Orbit a known and respected company throughout the world,” said David Beck, chairman of Pro-Mark’s board of directors. “The board is highly confident in the abilities of Stuart and the leadership team to accelerate the company’s momentum and begin writing the next exciting chapter of the Orbit story.”
Bayer appoints new head of marketing for Environmental Science North America
Burgess Perry has been named the head of marketing for Environmental Science North America, a business unit of the Crop Science division of Bayer.
Perry will be responsible for leading marketing initiatives in the United States and Canada, focusing on the markets it serves including turf & ornamentals, vegetation management, professional pest management and vector control.
Burgess PerryHe previously was the director of marketing excellence for crop protection and seeds in North America. He has served Bayer for more than 27 years and has worked across regional and global teams to identify customer insights.
“Successful marketing strategies come from truly understanding the needs of our customers,” Perry said. “I’m energized to be taking on this role as we continue to enhance the ways we connect with and serve our customers as part of the Bayer mission of Science For A Better Life. These insights inform the decisions that will shape the future of the industries we serve.”
Prior to Bayer, Perry worked for Aventis and Rhone-Poulenc Ag Company. He earned his Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering from North Carolina State University and also has a MBA from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri.
“Burgess joins the Environmental Science team with exceptional marketing experience and industry expertise,” said Mark Schneid, head of Environmental Science North America. “He will play a critical role in sharpening our focus on the evolving needs of our customers so that we can continue to deliver the kinds of solutions and information they need to excel in their jobs. With his leadership, we will advance the best-in-class solutions and partnerships our customers have come to expect from Bayer.”
Go Green Synthetic Lawn Solutions announces commitment to sustainability
The artificial turf manufacturer, Go Green Synthetic Lawn Solutions, is conducting a major shift in its focus to create more sustainable and environmentally friendly products.
The first example of this shift is the integration of a soy-based backing system of its artificial grass products. Universal Textile Technologies, which invented BioCel, is providing Go Green with a backing system that provides a better option for consumers.
Platinum HeatMaxx 65 with BioCelPhoto: Go Green Synthetic Lawn Solutions
The BioCel system uses plant-based polyols from natural oils to replace a majority of the petroleum-based polymers normally used. This helps reduce the usage of foreign fossil fuels while replacing them with polyols from soybeans.
“As the synthetic turf industry continues to grow as the needs expand, we want to look at our options closely and make the right decisions,” said Michelle Balicki, vice president of sales and marketing for Go Green. “Utilizing BioCel technology means we not only lower our carbon footprint, but we offer a better value to our customers as well.”
Some of the other benefits of the system include better turf bind, improved moisture barrier, lower VOC’s and overall extended life of the turf.
“The benefits were compelling to us from a performance standpoint, but because we can offer a better system without an increased cost to the consumer, this was an easy choice for us,” said Kim Gordon, director of operations for Go Green.
