LandCare appoints Jennifer Burnett to executive committee

Landcare announced that Jennifer Burnett will serve on the executive committee as the newly appointed executive vice president of organizational development. As a member of the committee, she will play an essential part in steering the company’s direction and goal-achieving strategy.

“I’m proud to be a part of a group of leaders who are dedicated to maintaining our company culture and developing initiatives that drive positive change within the organization,” Burnett said.

Since joining LandCare in 2015, Burnett has played a critical role in establishing LandCare’s financial planning and reporting tools and processes, led its ERP implementation, and been involved with acquisition diligence and integration. Burnett is currently leading organizational development, LandCare’s training and education programs that drive their talent development initiatives. “Jennifer’s core value alignment, willingness to contribute to any challenge and desire to grow outside her comfort zone has created a well-rounded leader that will help drive LandCare’s evolution in the years ahead,” said Mike Bogan, LandCare’s CEO. “She has been integral to the most important changes that have driven LandCare’s successful turnaround, growth and expansion and she makes our strong leadership team even better.”

Weed Man, Turfbot name new COOs

Mike Richard and Erica Knapp earned promotions with their respective companies.

Weed man has named mike richard, the company's former national marketing director, as chief operating officer.

Over the last 15 years, Richard has helped franchisees grow in their marketing pursuits through the National Sales Analysis Program, which includes weekly conference calls, regular macro sales summaries and franchise system benchmarks.

Prior to his role at head office, Richard has seen the brand through a variety of positions from lawn care technician, sales manager to eventually shareholder and general manager. He also ran a large multi-unit operation in Canada for nearly 10 years.

“Mike’s grown alongside Weed Man, and has always given his all to franchisees and the people within the company,” said Jennifer Lemcke, CEO of Weed Man. “Due to his tenure, experience, and high-level performance, it’s evident that he is the perfect fit for the COO role.”

In addition to Richard’s promotion, Erica Knapp, Weed Man’s digital & communications director, has been named the COO of TurfBot, a robotic mowing concept and sub-brand of Weed Man. Knapp has over 10 years of communications and digital marketing experience.

Weed Man has also restructured its digital marketing and communications department, promoting Tawnya Pappin to digital marketing and events manager and Crystal Shane to digital marketing strategist. The company will continue to add additional team members to accommodate the accelerated growth.

“As an organization, we’ve always focused on growth and opportunity for our people and believe in the power of promoting within,” Richard said. “Our franchisees do the same within their businesses, as they’re committed to expansion to keep upward mobility available for their existing team members, while acquiring new talent who want to grow with them.”

BrightView CFO Feenan to retire in September

John Feenan will be replaced by Brett Urban effective Oct. 1.

Brightview holdings has announced that John A. Feenan, executive vice president and chief financial officer, will retire from his position effective Sep. 30. Brett Urban has been selected by the company’s board of directors to succeed Feenan as CFO, effective Oct. 1.

Feenan is expected to remain at the company as a non-executive employee for a period of time after Sept. 30 to ensure a smooth transition.

Feenan and BrightView expect to enter into a Separation and Transition Services Agreement.

The company also expects to enter into a letter agreement with Urban on terms consistent with the company’s other executive officers.

Urban joined BrightView in 2016 as vice president of finance and was promoted to senior vice president of finance in 2017.

He currently serves in the lead finance role in the company’s maintenance services segment, representing approximately 75 percent of the company’s consolidated results.

“More than six years ago we were excited to bring John to BrightView to lead our finance team," said President and CEO Andrew Masterman.“He played a key role in transforming the company from two great family businesses to the creation of an industry-leading public company. He’s led our finance, accounting, investor relations, tax, treasury, and M&A teams, and has been an invaluable source of counsel for our Board, our management team, and to me.

“Brett Urban’s deep experience at BrightView and background with leading organizations makes him well positioned to continue to drive results and value for our shareholders,” Masterman said. “As CFO of our Maintenance business, Brett has helped to accelerate growth and lead the execution of more than 30 strategic acquisitions since 2017. We’re confident that the momentum and leadership he has instilled across the organization to date and now, with his promotion to chief financial officer, will help BrightView continue to achieve and exceed its goals.”

The National Association of Landscape Professionals has announced its board of directors for 2022-2023.

Mike Bogan, CEO of LandCare, will serve as association president. New members of the board include Jennifer Jorge, Chris Lee and J.T. Price. Terms will officially begin Sept. 18.

Officers:

• President - Mike Bogan, LIC, LandCare

• President-Elect - Brandon Sheppard, Weed Man

• Secretary/Treasurer - Pam Dooley, Plants Creative Landscapes

• Immediate Past President - Bob Grover, LIC, Pacific Landscape Management

Directors:

• Bruce Allentuck, Allentuck Landscaping Co.

• Maurice Dowell, LIC, Dowco Enterprises Inc.

• Lisa Fiore, LandscapeHub, Inc.

• Paul Fraynd, LIC, Sun Valley Landscaping

• Ivan Giraldo, Clean Scapes

• Claire Goldman, R&R Landscaping

• John Guth, Green Lawn Fertilizing, LLC

• Jennifer Jorge, King Green

• Phil Key, Ruppert Landscape

• Roscoe Klausing, LIC, Klausing Group, Inc.

• Chris Lee, Earthworks, Inc.

• William MacMurdo, Bayer

• Tim Portland, LIC, Yellowstone Landscape

• J.T. Price, Landscape Workshop

• Chris Senske, Senske Services

AriensCo purchases Thomas Equipment

This will expand the company’s product offerings, with five Gravely branded mini-skid loaders coming this fall.

Ariensco has purchased Thomas Equipment from A-L Parts. This allows AriensCo to offer a new four-season product line under the Gravely brand to reach into the rental and construction markets.

Thomas Equipment has been a manufacturer of outdoor equipment for 79 years based in Beechwood, New Brunswick, Canada. Started in 1943 by the Thomas Brothers as an agricultural repair business, Thomas Equipment quickly expanded into manufacturing equipment for agricultural purposes, namely potato harvesting and handling. In 1969, the company introduced the world’s first hydrostatic drive skid-loader. Thomas Equipment was purchased by A-L Parts Inc. in 2013.

AriensCo is partnering with Al Downy and Leon Butterfield, owners of A-L Parts to launch the production of the Gravely branded Mini Skid-Steer line in their Canadian facility.

“We think this is a perfect extension of our Gravely product line,” said Dan Ariens, chairman and CEO of AriensCo. “This multi-tool piece of equipment is great for hardscape work with accessories like a tree auger, stump grinder, pallet forks, etc. It’s a big tool but is small and compact so it can fit through a gate and can be hauled on a trailer with other mowers. We think it will be a great offering for commercial landscapers.”

AriensCo is providing management support for the production ramp.

“The AriensCo Team is professional, pleasant, easy and comfortable,” said Leon Butterfield. “We met with many other companies, but it just never felt right. When we spoke with Larry (Weyers, AriensCo president & COO) that first time, we hit it off immediately. There was just something about them, something driving the conversation that was far more genuine than we had experienced.”

“We knew right then, this company’s core values are what they embody and live by, not just words … and it’s been like that with everyone we have met and worked with throughout this entire process. Words cannot express how excited I am to get this going,” Al Downy added.

Five Gravely branded Mini-Skid Loaders (3 diesel and 2 gas powered models) are planned for this fall.

Albaugh closes on acquisition of Rotam

The acquisition creates a global crop protection company with total sales exceeding $2 billion worldwide.

Albaugh of Ankeny, Iowa, has announced that the delisting of Rotam Global AgroSciences Limited from the Taiwan stock exchange having been completed, the acquisition of Rotam has been successfully closed.

The acquisition creates a global crop protection company with total sales exceeding $2 billion in all regions of the world and a strong manufacturing base comprising plants in the U.S., Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Slovenia, China, Taiwan and India.

Albaugh was advised in the transaction by J.P. Morgan, with HSBC serving as co-advisor and legal support from Jones Day and Collas Crill.

Scapes Environmental Design promotes Sullivan to EVP

Rachel Sullivan joined the company in 2010.

Scapes Environmental Design has promoted Rachel Sullivan as the company’s executive vice president. As EVP, Sullivan will help the company grow even more, with a focus on customer service and technology.

“I’m so excited to start a new chapter at Scapes,” Sullivan said. “I love working with customers to ensure they have the best experience possible, and this position allows me to put an even stronger focus on that.”

Since joining Scapes in 2010, Sullivan has played a critical role in separating Scapes from its competitors. She joined the company with a front-office role, ensuring customer satisfaction and handling requests and quotes. Sullivan quickly took on more responsibilities, including accounting and adding cutting edge digital systems that allowed Scapes to service more customers more efficiently. She made such an impact that President and CEO Jason Core knew he had to move her up the ranks of executive leadership.

“Rachel’s drive, initiative and organizational skills are second to none,” Core said. “She has proven time and again that she can easily use her wide range of skills and her vision to make Scapes the leader in landscape design and maintenance. We are fortunate to have her in this role and look forward to more great things.”

Robin Autopilot and Lawn Buddy launch new solution

The Robin Autopilot fleet management system for robotic mowers will now be fully integrated with Lawn Buddy’s app.

Robin Autopilot, a robotic mowing and robots-as-a-service (RaaS) company, has teamed up with Lawn Buddy to launch a new offering that integrates RaaS with Lawn Buddy’s lawn and landscaping business management software. The Robin Autopilot fleet management system for robotic mowers will now be fully integrated with Lawn Buddy’s app allowing users to track robo mowers on the job, monitor robo ware, and connect business owners to their Lawn Shop, where users can access wholesale pricing on parts needed for repair.

The combination of Lawn Buddy’s web and mobile-based software with Robin Autopilot’s multi-manufacturer platform, which includes RaaS hardware and software, proprietary products such as robotic doors, and total-solution financing, marketing, training and other support, will enhance the ability of landscape service providers to have everything they need to run a profitable and growing RaaS business.

“This is a milestone for the advancement of robots-as-a-service in the lawn maintenance and landscaping industry,” said Logan Fahey, chief executive officer of Robin Autopilot. “Now, our users will be able to take advantage of the benefits of Lawn Buddy technology to virtually manage their crews in the field, simplify the invoicing process, and improve customer relationship management.

We are pleased to offer these additional benefits to our users as we continue to expand and help landscapers throughout the US grow their businesses by providing complete, eco-friendly solutions.”

“At Lawn Buddy, our mission is to provide business owners the advanced tools and technology to spend less time managing and more time working to build their businesses,” said Steven Werner, chief executive officer of Lawn Buddy. “We are proud to join with Robin Autopilot in their efforts to bring the benefits of innovative business management software and robotic mowing solutions to a growing number of lawn and landscaping professionals across the U.S.”