CARLSBAD, Calif. - Century Rain Aid has announced the appointment of Jim Ross to vice president of marketing for the company. Ross will be based at the company's headquarters in Madison Heights, Michigan, and will direct all marketing, advertising and promotional activities nationwide for the 150-branch irrigation distributorship. "We consider Jim a valuable acquisition to our Century corporate staff," said Miller.

"He brings a new enthusiasm to our marketing department and has extensive knowledge of the landscape irrigation business. Jim is implementing a comprehensive agenda of strategic planning that will help us achieve our goals of continued growth and nationwide success," said Miller.

Ross has more than 20 years experience in the landscape irrigation industry. Most recently he owned True North Associates, a marketing and management consulting firm in Brighton, MI, where he developed programs for manufacturing companies and wholesalers.

Ross received a master's degree in business administration from St. Mary's University in Moraga, CA, and is a member of the American Marketing Association.

Century's coast-to-coast branches now serve 36 states, Canada and the Caribbean basin. Century is a subsidiary of Richton International. Richton was recently named one of the "200 Fastest Growing Companies in the United States" by Forbes magazine.