Personnel News - Bayer, RedMax, Hortica

Eric Kalasz Named Southern Golf Regional Manager for Bayer Environmental Science

Eric Kalasz was recently named southern regional manager for the golf sales group of Bayer Environmental Science, a business group of Bayer CropScience LP.

In his new role, Kalasz will manage the golf sales activities in eight Southern states, from Florida north to Virginia and west through Mississippi and Tennessee. He will manage a team of six regional sales representatives.
 
Previously, Kalasz was vector business manager for Bayer, as well as professional pest management national accounts manager. Prior to that, he was fungicide business manager and golf market lead for the Chipco Professional Products group for more than two years.
 
Kalasz brings almost 12 years of industry experience to his new position, having worked in sales for several turf product companies. A native of Illinois, he holds a bachelor’s degree in agribusiness from Illinois State University and a Master’s degree in business administration from the University of Sarasota in Tampa, Fla.

RedMax Names New Service and Compliance Manager

Matthew Wilson has been promoted to service and compliance manager at RedMax/Komatsu Zenoah America. In the newly created position, Wilson will be responsible for the company’s service, warranty and emissions compliance.

Wilson joined Red Max in 2005 as production compliance safety manager with responsibility for engine emissions compliance. He brought to RedMax more than 15 years of technical experience in the outdoor power equipment business at both the dealer and manufacturer levels. Wilson also has been active in the EETC since its formation in 1997.

RedMax/Komatsu Zenoah America is headquartered at 4344 Shackleford Road, Norcross, GA 30093. The telephone number is 800-291-8251; the fax is 770-381-5150; and the company's Web site is www.redmax.com.

Hortica Announces New and Retiring Board Members

Hortica, insurance specialists for the horticultural industry announced its board of directors has two new members:  John A. Baisch, president of Baisch & Skinner Wholesale Florists; and Thomas B. Kearney, chief marketing officer of Insight Catastrophe Solutions. The new appointees will replace retiring board members Thomas D. Doak and John S. Guenther.

Baisch, president of St. Louis-based Baisch & Skinner Wholesale Florists, is a member of the Society of American Florists and the Wholesale Florists & Floral Suppliers of America. He holds a bachelor’s degree in horticulture from the University of Missouri and an associate’s degree in farm operations from the University of Iowa.

Kearney, chief marketing officer of Insight Catastrophe Solutions, is the first Hortica board member from an insurance background rather than a horticultural background. Kearney has more than 25 years experience in the insurance industry and serves on the board of the Insurance Education Foundation, St. John’s University’s School of Risk Management and Childcare Learning Centers.  He holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from University of Hartford.

Thomas D. Doak, former president and CEO of Yoder Brothers, Inc., and John S. Guenther, former senior vice president of Ball Horticultural Company, recently retired from the Board of Directors of Hortica. Doak, who joined the board in 2000, and Guenther, who joined in 2003, were recognized for their years of service at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders on February 28, 2006 at the company’s Edwardsville, Ill. Headquarters.

Hortica Insurance is a mutual insurance company that specializes in insuring horticultural businesses. Since 1887, Hortica (formerly Florist’s Mutual Insurance Company) has grown its customer base to include all businesses in the horticultural industry.  Hortica currently writes more than $100 million in business annually.

Hortica is a member of various state and national industry associations including the Society of American Florists, American Nursery & Landscape Association, Oregon Association of Nurseries and Washington State Nursery & Landscape Association. 

For more information, call 800-851-7740 or visit www.hortica-insurance.com.