Source: www.TurfMagazine.com
Border Magic/Boulder Designs – Recognized Among Top Franchises
Eldean Bergman, owner/developer of Border Magic/ Boulder Designs.
For the fourth time in five years, Border Magic/Boulder Designs has been recognized in Entrepreneurs Annual Franchise 500 with a present ranking of No. 261 overall, and made the top 100 list of best home-based franchises in 2011, coming in at No. 79. The company, based in Rantoul, Ill., was franchised in 2008 and has grown to 32 units in the continental U.S.
Compact Power Launches New Website
Compact Power, Fort Mill, S.C., has released a new website, www.cpiequipment.com, to bring all three of its divisions, sales, rental, parts and service, into a single repository of information. Compact Power is comprised of three components: Compact Power Equipment Centers, Compact Power Services and CPECdirect.com.
Richard Hunter received the Irrigation Association’s Industry Achievement Award.
Hunter CEO Receives IA Award
Richard Hunter, chief executive officer of Hunter Industries, received the Irrigation Association’s highest honor, the Industry Achievement Award. The association chose Hunter because of his contributions to advancing irrigation practices, technologies and the industry at large. He helped his father, brother and sister build Hunter Industries from the ground up, becoming president and CEO in 1994. He also served as president of the Irrigation Association in 1989.
Exmark Helps Complete Habitat for Humanity Project
Exmark Mfg. donated $1,000 to help complete a Habitat for Humanity project for Neva and Ernest Jantzen in Gage County, Neb. The Toro Giving Program, the community outreach arm of Toro, Exmark’s parent company, donated a new lawn mower to the couple. The project included a partial renovation of the Jantzens’ home to provide easy access for a power chair and walker.
Rubbertrax Celebrates 10th Anniversary
January 2011 marked the 10th anniversary for Rubbertrax, Inc. Larry Griffeth, owner and operator, founded the company in 2001 to fulfill a need for aftermarket rubber tracks and undercarriage parts.
News from Ariens
Ariens Co. has invested $3.8 million to expand its office and research and development facilities at 655 West Ryan St., Brillion, Wis. The project includes the addition of a geothermal heating and cooling system. The Plant 1 upgrade will include increased workstation capacity, a new employee “kaizen” learning center, a new food services area, new product development and testing labs, and a revamped main entrance.
Economist Brian Beaulieu has accepted a position on the Ariens board of directors. He is a principal and CEO of the Institute for Trend Research, where his focus is research into using business cycle analysis and forecasts to increase business profits. He is also a principal and managing partner of ITR Capital Partners and chief economist for Vistage International.
Western Launches New Website
Western Products launched a new website at www.westernplows.com that provides snow and ice control professionals with access to a variety of resources, making it easier to find the ideal snowplow. Western’s online experience features the QuickMatch plow selection system, virtual showroom with images and videos, and an extensive dealer locator.
Scotts Professional Seed signed an exclusive agreement with Beijing Clover & Turf Co.
Scotts Sells Global Professional, Enters Agreement
The Scotts Miracle-Gro Co. announced that it has received a binding offer from ICL to acquire the shares and substantially all the assets of the company’s Global Professional business for $270 million, subject to certain adjustments at closing. The Global Professional business markets professional products to commercial nurseries and greenhouses for ornamental horticulture; sports fields, golf courses and public parks for professional turf applications; and specialty agriculture in North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Latin America and Asia-Pacific. The U.S. professional seed business is not included in the offer.
Scotts Professional Seed announced an agreement with Beijing Clover Seed & Turf Co. that provides the Beijing-based seed distributor with exclusive rights to market and distribute Sea Spray seeded seashore paspalum throughout China, as well as Hainan Island. Beijing Clover also distributes Midnight II, Prosperity and Moonlight SLT on behalf of Scotts.
Terex Distribution Center Begins Operation
Terex Aerial Work Platforms announced that it is now distributing Genie parts and Terex utilities parts from the new Terex Distribution Center East. This 500,000-square-foot distribution center is located in Southaven, Miss., and serves as a key supplier for the eastern and southern parts of the country.
Ohno Assumes Top Position at Kawasaki Division
Fumihiro Ohno has been named to assume the position of general manager of Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A.’s Engines and Power Products Division, based in Grand Rapids, Mich. He replaces Yoshiteru Ueda, who will return to the General Purpose Engine Division in Japan. Ohno, who was promoted to the position of deputy general manager of the division in October 2008, joined Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. in 1993 and initially worked for the company’s parts and materials sourcing. He also spent several years in marketing and sales, including involvement with Kawasaki’s OEM engine business in the U.S.
Briggs & Stratton presented its Distributor of the Year award to Sedco.
Briggs Recognizes Sedco, Wins Award
Briggs & Stratton Corp. awarded Distributor of the Year to Sedco, Inc. of Pendergrass, Ga. Bill Reitman, senior vice president of sales and service for Briggs & Stratton, presented the award to Frank Manno, president of Sedco.
Briggs & Stratton Commercial Power’s Vanguard single-cylinder engines with the TransportGuard system were named the 2010 Innovative Product by RER magazine in its engines/power sourcing category. Competing against the other 10 category award winners, Briggs & Stratton’s newest engine series also received the magazine’s Silver award.
TIC Hosts New Digital Archive Sites
The Turfgrass Information Center has completed two more digital archive sites for turfgrass publications: from Spain comes GreenKeepers (including C<0x00E9>sped Deportivo) and out of New York is CUTT. GreenKeepers is the first digital archive site constructed entirely in a language other than English; in this case, it is in Spanish. It is a cooperative project between the Asociaci<0x00F3>n Espa<0x00F1>ola de Greenkeepers and the Michigan State University Libraries. CUTT (Cornell University Turfgrass Times) is a quarterly newsletter, and the archive site is a cooperative project between the Cornell University Turfgrass Program and the MSU Libraries.
Mid-Am Student Career Center Builds Relationships
The relationship-building Student Career Center at the 2011 Mid-America Horticultural Trade Show was held at the show’s new location, Navy Pier in Chicago, Ill. The Student Career Center attracts more than 600 horticulture students from throughout the Midwest who meet with prospective industry employers to ask questions, learn more about their companies and make important connections. Invitations were distributed to more than 250 colleges, universities and trade/technical schools that have horticultural education programs.
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