Industry Update

Source: www.TurfMagazine.com

Husqvarna Integrates RedMax Division

The RedMax organization of Husqvarna became part of Husqvarna Professional Products, Inc., which is headed by Dave Zerfoss and also includes the Husqvarna, Yazoo Kees, Dixon and BlueBird brands. The integration of RedMax will create additional operational efficiencies for Husqvarna and create value for its customers through improved customer support and service.

The company will continue to have separate dealer and distributor sales forces for individual brands, but with an integrated leadership approach.

Reihe Joins IBD

Irrigation by Design, Plymouth, Minn., announced that Robert Reihe has joined the firm as a sales representative. Previously, he was irrigation manager at Noble Irrigation. Reihe is an Irrigation Association-certified irrigation contractor and an EPA WaterSense Partner.

Lawn Care Business Helps the Homeless

Eddie Rapp, who is the director of the Fairfield County (Ohio) Emergency Shelter, started Fairhaven Lawn Care to help those who are homeless regain their independence via a steady job. It is run like any other business—applicants must interview for the jobs, and workers are paid every two weeks. Those who are not hired are given help to improve their interviewing skills.

The Greenwood Group and volunteerscreated New Melle’s first public park.

Greenwood Dedicates Public Park

As part of the Professional Landcare Network’s Day of Service, The Greenwood Group, LLC created and dedicated a new public green space in New Melle, Mo. Greenwood donated all the labor, material and ongoing maintenance for Greenwood Park, located next to city hall. The company also installed two rain gardens at city hall to help reduce stormwater runoff.

St. Louis Entrepreneur Launches Go Green!

Martin Ewell has launched Go Green!, a full-service property management company in St. Louis, Mo., dedicated to an environmentally friendly approach. The company uses biodiesel-powered mowers, noise-reducing electric and manual equipment and fertilizers that improve water retention and soil health.

Pro-Lawns Revamps Web Site

Pro-Lawns, Inc., St. Louis, Mo., announced the relaunch of its Web site at http://www.pro-lawnsinc.com. The site now offers informational resources to help clients understand what they need to manage their properties.

Above left: From left, Will Wolverton; Bryan Wood; Nancy Russell, Commercial Turf &Tractor; Steve Russell, Commercial Turf & Tractor; Jurgen Wiedenmann; and Mike Colgan,Commercial Turf & Tractor.Above right: Al Hicks.

Wiedenmann Honors Salesman, Dealer of the Year

At Wiedenmann North America, LLC’s annual Dealer Appreciation Meeting, Will Wolverton, general manager, and Jurgen Wiedenmann, owner, presented awards. Al Hicks, territory manager for ShowTurf, was the 2008 Salesman of the Year. The 2008 Dealer of the Year was Commercial Turf & Tractor, Chillicothe, Miss., owned and operated by Bryan Wood.

Landscapers Pitch In to Clean Up Park

Landscapers with MirrorScapes Lawn & Landscaping, Lancaster, Ohio, celebrated Earth Day by donating time and materials to help clean up and cultivate Lockville Park in Bloom Township, Ohio. They picked up trash, raked, mowed, mulched, installed plants and repaired picnic tables as part of the Professional Landcare Network’s Day of Service.

Dealerships Earn NAEDA’s Power Pro Designation

Several dealerships have earned Power Pro accreditation from the North American Equipment Dealers Association by meeting industry standards related to operational performance and customer commitment. They are Dan’s Turf & Contractors Equipment, Adrian, Mich.; Prairie Ag Supply, Inc., Prairie City, Iowa; and Wm. Nobbe & Co., Jackson, Mo., and Jerseyville, Steelville and Waterloo, Ill.

Stens donated an ambulanceto Mercy & Sharing.

Stens Donates Ambulance

Stens donated an ambulance to Mercy & Sharing, an organization dedicated to helping feed, educate and provide medical care for children and widows in Haiti. Mark Salter, the Stens vendor who approached the company about the donation, is the program director of Mercy & Sharing.

Wright Names Sales Rep of the Year

Wright Mfg. presented its Sales Representative of the Year Award to John Franke of PACE, Inc. PACE, based in Plymouth, Mich., earned Wright’s Market Expansion Award and Sales Representative of the Year Award in 2007 and was Wright’s 2006 and 2008 Distributor of the Year.

Aurora Offers Drawing Library

Aurora Bearing Co., Montgomery, Ill., has made its complete engineering drawing library available as individual, downloadable drawings at its Web site, www.aurorabearing.com, and on its free product catalog CD. These technically correct drawings are compatible with all popular engineering drawing programs.