Rainbow Companies taps Krogstad, Bernick for exec roles

Rainbow Companies has appointed Greg Krogstad as chief executive officer and Shawn Bernick as chief operations officer, a move that was made effective earlier this year.

Former CEO Tom Prosser continues in his role as chairman of the board of the employee-owned company.

Krogstad began his career in arboriculture. Krogstad joined Rainbow after graduating in forestry in 1999 and he worked as a crew leader, in sales and operational management and eventually found executive leadership. In his new role as CEO, Krogstad will lead the company in the markets of tree care, lawn care, pest control, utility vegetation management, research, and product development.

“It is an exciting time in the green industry with new technologies and new opportunities, but it is always going to be a people-driven business. I am privileged to lead an employee-owned company dedicated to its culture and values, investing in people who are committed to leaving the world in a better place,” Krogstad says.

“There is no one better to lead this next era,” Prosser says. “It is an honor to entrust Greg with this responsibility.” 

Bernick, who has a degree in plant pathology, joined the company in 2003. Bernick has been a lead researcher on hundreds of field trials. Bernick took his passion for discovery from science to leadership when he took over the role of general manager of Rainbow Ecoscience (formerly Rainbow Treecare Scientific Advancements) in 2014.

“Rainbow is a unique company with some of the most dedicated and committed people in the industry,” Bernick says. “We see the positive impact our work makes on the world, and it drives us to continually improve.”

“Shawn is the exceptional blend of scientific thinker and driven entrepreneur,” Prosser says. “He is a perfect fit for leading these businesses into the future.” 

“When we became an ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plan) it was always my dream to give this company over to the employees who helped build it,” Prosser adds. “Knowing the next era of the company will be led by Greg and Shawn gives me the greatest satisfaction of my career. We have built something special here and I know that we will continues to fulfill our intent of healthy and thriving ecosystems.”

The transition will allow Prosser to focus on developing strategies for professional and personal projects. “Tom is a visionary like no other in the industry,” Krogstad says. “He started a company that impacts millions of plants and, in turn, impacts millions of people’s lives for the better. We are honored to be the owners and stewards of this vision into the future.”