Laylah VanBibber, Director of Marketing for PBI/Gordon Corporation, Kansas City, MO will be retiring after 25 years in the industry June 1.

“Support Autism Speaks” says PBI/Gordon outgoing marketing director

Laylah VanBibber, Director of Marketing for PBI/Gordon Corporation, Kansas City, Missouri, has announced that she will be retiring from the industry June 1, 2011. Laylah celebrated her 25th anniversary with the company February 6th of this year. 


“Working in the turf and ornamental industry has been such fun,” says Laylah.  “There are so many great people in the industry; I have some wonderful memories to take with me.”  


April Allenbrand, who has been with the company since April 2010, will be assuming Laylah’s current marketing and communications responsibilities.  Mary Ellen Scheib will remain the key contact for the turf and ornamental industry.


Laylah’s early retirement will allow her to be more involved in her granddaughter’s care and treatment for bipolar disorder and Asperger’s syndrome.  These disorders pose sometimes insurmountable challenges for families.  And they are on the rise.  Currently, an average of one in 110 children in the United States suffer from autism spectrum disorders, including Asperger’s syndrome.  An alarming 13% of children in the U.S. have a disability, ranging from mild learning problems to disabilities that severely disrupt cognitive functions. Bipolar disorder, only recently identified in children, is the sixth leading cause of disability in the world.


“Support your local chapters of Autism Speaks, or any organization working with families dealing with these difficult neurological disorders,” requests Laylah.   “I am so lucky to have worked for a company with a strong past and projected growth,” she said.  “I don’t know how I could manage with my granddaughter without the option to take this early retirement.”  


“It is difficult for me to imagine how my life will be without PBI/Gordon.  After 25 years, this has become a home away from home and a great extended family with which I have met challenges and shared successes,” says VanBibber.  “I want to thank everyone at PBI/Gordon and in the industry for making the last 25 years a great experience and ‘a hell of a ride!’”


PBI/Gordon Corporation is best known for their professional herbicide brands, Trimec®, SpeedZone®, Surge® and Q4®, although they offer a full line of quality products for the turf and ornamental industry.  PBI/Gordon also markets ag specialty, consumer lawn and garden and animal health and grooming products.  For additional information, visit pbigordon.com.