Personnel News

Officers for the 2014-2015 year include: OPEI Chairman Paul Mullet, President, Excel Industries; OPEI Vice Chair Lee Sowell, President, Outdoor Products at Techtronic Industries, N.A., Inc; and OPEI Secretary/Treasurer Tim Merrett, Vice President of A & T Global Platform and Turf & Utility, Deere & Company. Immediate past chair is Todd Teske, Chairman, President& CEO at Briggs & Stratton Corporation.

TWCA has announced the addition of Jack Karlin as Program Administrator.

Irrigation consultants Brian Vinchesi with Irrigation Consulting, Inc., in Pepperell, MA, and Brendan Lynch, with Lynch & Associates, LTD., in Annapolis, MD, were recently named ASIC Fellows at the American Society of Irrigation Consultants' annual conference in Portland, OR.

Eco Chemical Inc. recently announced the promotion of Zack Wrzeszcz to the newly created position of Marketing and Sales Coordinator, where he will be supporting the execution of marketing and sales programs for all of Eco Chemical business divisions.

Tyler Enterprises, a division of Masterblend International, is proud to announce the addition of Dennis Hamilton to their turf products sales team offering fertilizer products and services to and turf care professionals.

FMC Corporation continues to invest in the professional turf and ornamental industry by naming Bethwyn Todd to a newly created, expanded role and bringing in Pramod Thota to lead FMC Professional Solutions, the business unit within FMC Agricultural Solutions serving the pest, turf and ornamental industries.

Harrell's LLC, manufacturer and supplier of performance-based turf and ornamental products has resources devoted to Sports Turf Managers and now provides a dedicated Sports Turf Specialist in Florida.

Eco Chemical Company recently announced the promotion of Jeff Fisher to the newly created position of Business Division Manager for Eco TempLine Athletic Field Marking Systems. In this new role, Mr. Fisher will be responsible for all aspects of product management, business development, sales, and service for the division.

Brandon Horvath, an assistant professor in the Department of Plant Sciences at the University of Tennessee, has been named the 2014 Turf & Ornamental Communicators Association Environmental Communicator of the Year.

Toro Water Conservation Business Manager Jim Laiche was awarded the American Society of Irrigation Consultants 2014 Roy Williams Memorial Award at this year's annual conference in Portland, OR.