Supplier News

Source: www.TurfMagazine.com

Natural Technologies Launches Bee-Safe Dealer Network

Natural Technologies, Inc. has announced an initiative to help design and manage landscapes to make them more environmentally friendly, resource-efficient and safer. With the recent launch of the Bee-Safe brand, it now has a comprehensive program of sustainable/organic land care. The Bee-Safe Sustainable Land Care Dealer Network will allow landscape professionals the opportunity to expand their businesses by offering sustainable solutions. NTI also offers systems to help manage properties to reduce pollution and promote conservation of resources. Bee-Safe dealers get all of the advantages of brand name awareness, intensive training, proprietary products, proven application systems and continued technical support, while still maintaining their own, independently operated business. Learn more at www.naturaltechinc.comandwww.beesafelawns.com.

LandOpt Adds Team Lewis

The LandOpt Contractor Network continues to grow with the addition of Team Lewis Landscaping, Grantville, Pa. The central Pennsylvania contractor becomes the fifth Powered by LandOpt Contractor in the state. Team Lewis provides maintenance and design solutions for commercial and residential customers in the eastern regions of Harrisburg, Hershey and extending toward Lancaster. Seth Lewis, president and general manager, launched the business as a teenager.

Nyquist Celebrates 20 Years

Melinda Nyquist celebrated 20 years with Commercial Turf & Tractor last August. Hired immediately after college, she now controls the service/contracting side of the company, which performs deep-tine aeration, topdressing, seeding, drainage, synthetic turf cleaning, and complete athletic field and greens renovation. Commercial Turf & Tractor sells such product lines as Wiedenmann, Maredo, First Products, Rotadairon, Massey Ferguson, WaterWick and JRM replacement parts.

Lawn Dawg Acquires Capital Green

Lawn Dawg, Inc. announced the acquisition of Capital Green Lawn Care, Inc., Rochester, N.Y. Capital Green, owned and operated by Mark Zingaro, offers a classic five-step lawn care fertilization program and supplemental lawn care services, as well as a tree and shrub program. The company has provided services to thousands of homeowners in upstate New York since 2000.

Gogan Wins Fisher Plow

To celebrate the plowing industry in Maine, Fisher Engineering gave snowplow operators the opportunity to win a custom-painted “Plow Maine” Fisher XtremeV snowplow. The winner is Walter Gogan of Levant, Maine, owner of Walt’s Lawn Care, a landscaping and snow removal company.

Horizon Expands into Mid-Atlantic Market

Horizon Distributors, Inc. announced its expansion into the mid-Atlantic market with the acquisition of the G.L. Cornell Co. Based in Gaithersburg, Md., G.L. Cornell is a distributor of golf course equipment and irrigation products and a provider of equipment services, with sales throughout Maryland, Virginia and Delaware.

Kubota Partners with Compact Power

Kubota Tractor Corp. announced a strategic partnership with Compact Power Equipment Centers, allowing it to offer select construction equipment for rent within various locations of The Home Depot Tool Rental. Since 2008, CPEC has provided customers with towable rental equipment for a variety of projects. Kubota’s K008-3 excavator and BX25 tractor/loader-backhoe are currently available in about 100 Home Depot locations nationwide. CPEC hopes to place Kubota equipment in each of its 280 current locations, with a 2012 expansion goal of more than 400 additional locations.

IA Announces Leadership

The Irrigation Association welcomed new board leadership. The 2011-2012 board of directors includes president Phil Burkart, Toro Co., Riverside, Calif.; president-elect Bob Dobson, Middletown Sprinkler Co., Port Monmouth, N.J.; vice president Warren Thoma, Warren Thoma & Associates, Crystal Lake, Ill.; treasurer John Vikupitz, Netafim USA, Fresno, Calif.; and past president Mark Huntley, John Deere Water, San Diego, Calif. New board members include James Barrett, Warren Gorowitz, Robert Meaney, Jay Robbins and Diane Toth. Continuing board members are Tom Childers, Gregory Hunter, Dan Keppen, Todd Magatagan and Aric Olson.

SUPERthrive Inventor Passes Away

Dr. John Ansel Armstrong Thomson, inventor of SUPERthrive, passed away on November 28, 2011, five days after his 100th birthday. Thomson developed the SUPERthrive formula in 1939. Seventy-two years later, he was still engaged in the daily operations of his company, Vitamin Institute. As the new president, his daughter Patrisha Thomson will continue his legacy of improving horticultural and agricultural crops with the firm’s sole product. Thomson held a doctorate degree in biochemistry and received numerous awards throughout his career.

Sheffield and Curtis Sign Financing Agreement

Curtis Industries, LLC has signed an installment financing agreement with Sheffield Financial, a subsidiary of BB&T, effective September 1, 2011, through March 31, 2012. The agreement provides consumer financing to customers purchasing Sno-Pro snow and ice control products through authorized Sno-Pro and Curtis dealers, including truck and UTV plows, spreaders and loader blades.

Direct Solutions Launches Enhanced Branding Initiative

Direct Solutions, a division of Agrium Advanced Technologies, launched its new logo and tagline (“Committed to Growth”) as part of a larger strategic branding initiative unveiling. These elements support Direct Solutions’ customer-centric commitment and speak to the organization’s focus on growth in the green industry and other markets it serves. The decision to enhance the brand and logo stems from the acquisition and integration of Evergro in Canada, making Direct Solutions North America’s largest distributor of slow and controlled-release fertilizers, plant protection products, grass seed and micronutrients.