People and Events

People

• Michael Hess has joined Nexus Greenhouse Systems. Hess is responsible for the Southwest Region, covering Arkansas, Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Arizona. He will be working with commercial and retail. Michael graduated from Texas Tech University with a degree in business and continued his education at Western Texas College with an emphasis in the horticultural field.

• Arborjet has added two new team members, Srdjan Acimovic as Research and Development Plant Pathologist and Marianne Waindle who will serve as Technical Products Manager; as well as the formation of its Urban Forest Tech Teams.

• Mast Young Plants announces the addition of Shanna Tomlinson to its team as the sales and marketing manager. Shanna holds a degree in Horticulture from the University of Georgia, where she also worked at the UGA Trial and Research Garden under the direction of Allan Armitage. Shanna will focus on the MYP catalog, website, and social media programs.

• Marshall de Leon has joined Argos Software as enterprise specialist, and brings with him more than 20 years of experience in the horticultural world. His prior exposure to the industry includes ownership of two nurseries, in addition to being a published author of several horticultural articles, as well as monthly newsletters.

• Antonio Galindez, president and CEO of Dow AgroSciences, has retired from the company, effective May 1. Tim Hassinger, global commercial leader for Dow AgroSciences and global leader of Dow AgroSciences’ Crop Protection Global Business Unit, has been named as Galindez’ successor. Hassinger joined Dow in 1984, working in various sales, marketing and supply chain roles before being named global business leader in the Insecticides Global Business Unit in 2001. After serving as the regional commercial unit leader for Greater China, Hassinger returned to Indianapolis and became global leader for Europe, Latin America and Pacific. He assumed his current Crop Protection Global Business Unit global leader responsibilities in 2009 and added global commercial leadership responsibilities last year.

• AmericanHort has selected six students to serve as the year’s HortScholars. The application process identifies some of the industry’s brightest young professionals and helps to launch their careers in horticulture by providing education and networking opportunities. The goal of the HortScholars program is to provide students with an enriching professional development experience that increases their knowledge, industry awareness, and career enthusiasm.

2014 HortScholars:

• Marie Arnold, The Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute
• Nicholas Flax, Iowa State University
• Jessica Kivett, Kansas State University
• Justin Kondrat, Cornell University
• Katie Nickolaus, Michigan State University
• James Sacco, University of Massachusetts Amherst
   

• Escondido, Calif.-based The Pinery, a grower and nursery for container grown “living” Christmas trees, holiday topiaries, and plant specialties for the retail nursery trade, has introduced Eddie Yarberry as the latest addition to its sales team. In his new position, Eddie will manage key accounts in both supermarket and big boxes, and work to expand the business into other supermarket chains. He will also develop new niche programs for both holiday and non-holiday seasons.

• FMC Corp. continues to invest in the professional turf and ornamental industry by naming Bethwyn Todd to a newly created, expanded role and bringing in Pramod Thota to lead FMC Professional Solutions (FPS), the business unit within FMC Agricultural Solutions serving the pest, turf and ornamental industries. Todd’s role includes leadership of FMC’s new BioSolutions and Seed Treatment businesses while retaining executive oversight of FPS as global business director. Thota, transitioning from the company’s Corporate Development and Strategy Team, has been appointed director of FPS, focusing on long-term growth, strategic alliances and new product development.

Calendar

July

22-25, SNA, Atlanta, Ga., http://goo.gl/IPMkmx

28-Aug. 1, Perennial Plant Symposium, Cincinnati, Ohio, http://goo.gl/P2lrY8

28-Aug. 8, Michigan Garden Plant Tour, http://goo.gl/751hfe

30-31, PANTS, Pennsylvania Convention Center, Philadelphia, www.pantshow.com


August

5, Michigan State University Trial Garden Field Day, MSU Campus, East Lansing, Mich., http://planttour.hrt.msu.edu/fieldday/

5-7, IGC East, Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center, National Harbor, Md., www.igcshow.com

14-16, Nursery & Landscape Expo, Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, San Antonio, Texas, www.nurserylandscapeexpo.org

21-23, Farwest Trade Show, Portland, Ore., http://www.farwestshow.com/


September

22-24, Plug & Cutting Conference, Buena Vista Palace, Orlando, Fla., www.americanhort.org/plug

25-27, The Landscape Show, Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, Fla., www.fngla.org/thelandscapeshow
 

Please send your company announcements and upcoming events to Matt McClellan at mmcclellan@gie.net.