Several former Plant Health Care, Inc. sales, marketing and business professionals have joined LebanonTurf as part of its acquisition of PHC’s U.S. Horticultural and Turf division, according to Dave Heegard, general manager of LebanonTurf.
Sales representatives Allen Ball, Kevin Spiller and Stephen Camp will reinforce LebanonTurf’s national coverage for bionutritional products. In addition, Cheryl Eberle joins LebanonTurf’s marketing team and Dr. Michael Kernan, research and development scientist, will add his experience to the company’s technical support group.
Lebanon Seaboard Corp., parent company of LebanonTurf, earlier announced the acquisition of the company widely regarded as a pioneer among manufacturers of biologically based products for the green industry. Among other areas, PHC is highly respected for its research applied to fertility products incorporating beneficial microbes, mycorrhizal fungi and other soil nutrients.
The acquisition reinforces LebanonTurf’s commitment to the growing field of biological plant nutrition and complements the 2009 acquisition of Novozymes’ turf and landscape business, including the Roots products and technologies; and its 2008 acquisition of the Emerald Isle line of foliar and granular fertilizer products.
Heegard said the addition of the PHC professionals expands LebanonTurf’s biofertility offering beyond turf and lawn care into arborist and horticultural segments. “The addition of PHC brands, along with the experience and knowledge these individuals represent, adds to our ability to offer comprehensive solutions to distributors and end-users.”
Terms of the agreement between privately held Lebanon Seaboard, whose LebanonTurf division focuses on the professional turf industry; and PHC, a public company with global headquarters in Pittsburgh were not disclosed.