Movers & Shakers

Faith E. Baum

Kenneth A. Douglas

Faith E. Baum, IALD, LC and Kenneth A. Douglas, IALD, LC, have formed Illumination Arts LLC, an architectural lighting design firm. Following several years as a theatrical lighting designer, Baum spent over 19 years with the Mintz Lighting Group, a prominent architectural lighting design firm.

Jeff Lavalley is the grand prize-winner of more than 40,000 in outdoor power equipment from Husqvarna’s “Feel the Power” Landscaper Sweepstakes. Lavalley is owner of La Sprinklers, Centerburg, Ohio.

The Erosion Control Technology Council (ECTC) recently elected its officers for 2004. Tim Lancaster, North American Green, Inc. was elected chairman, Deron Austin, SI Geosolutions, was elected vice chairman and Mark Myrowich, ErosionControlBlanket.com, was elected treasurer.

Selected as at-large board members were Tony Johnson, American Excelsior Co. and Kevin Spittle, Profile Products LLC.

Kurt Kluznik

This February, the Associated Landscape Contractors of America swore in its new board of directors for 2004; president, Kurt Kluznik, CCLP, Yardmaster Inc.; president elect, Dan Foley, CLP, D. Foley Landscape Inc.; secretary/treasurer, Maria Candler, CLP, James River Grounds Management Inc.; and immediate past president, Michael Byrne, CLP, Byrne Brothers Landscaping.

Jim Campanella is president of the Professional Lawn Care Association of America. Campanella, co-founded The Lawn Dawg, a lawn-care company with five locations in four states. Campanella also served as president of the Massachusetts Association of Lawn Care Professionals in 2003.

J. Boyce, owner of Boyce Landscape Inc. is the winner of the Arizona Landscape Contractor’s Association’s prestigious Landscape Contractor of the Year Award for outstanding service to the association and the industry.?????EUR??,,?EUR The award was sponsored by FX Luminaire. Presenting the award is Greg Redlawsk.

Michael Hartman is landscape designer and project estimator with Green Earth Landscaping & Design Inc. Hartman graduated from SUNY Cobbleskill with a bachelor’s of technology in landscape development, He’s an ALCA certified landscape technician and certified systems auditor by the Irrigation Association.

Bayer Environmental Science will be a sponsor for the Sports Turf Managers Association annual Field of the Year program in 2004. Bayer is expanding and repositioning its sales and marketing resources within Chipco Professional Products. Position changes include: Neil Cleveland, now regional sales manager, lawn care and landscape; Jim Davis now golf northern sales manager; Marc McNulty now key accounts specialist.

James Owens is Caterpillar’s new vice-chairman, chairman-elect and chief executive officer-elect. He replaces Glen Barton, who will retire this month after nearly 43 years of Caterpillar service and five years as chairman and chief executive officer.

Amy Reidt

Amy Reidt is the new marketing manager for Focus Industries, manufacturer of landscape lighting.

Joe Traficano joins West Coast Turf’s sales team. Traficano most recently served as superintendent at Desert Mountain Golf Club in Scottsdale.

Sandra Perez

Sandra Perez is now marketing projects manager for Vista Professional Outdoor Lighting. Perez has a bachelor’s degree in marketing from California State University, Northridge. Aaron Krakora is now district trainer for Vista’s Orange and San Diego counties in California.

Michael N. Vanatta is new international sales director and Stacie Zinn is new marketing director for Environmental Turf.

Frank Petersen is general sales manager for Maruyama U.S., a worldwide leader in the design and manufacture of commercial power equipment. Petersen is a graduate of North Carolina State where he studied horticulture science.

Perry Romano

Perry Romano, previously vice president of the Varon Outdoor Group, is promoted to president of Varon Lighting Inc. Varon Lighting is a parent organization to manufacturers of indoor and outdoor commercial and residential light fixtures.

Tom Breier is Midwest sales and operations manager for Simplot Partners, a major distributor of fertilizer, turf grass seed and chemical products nationwide. Breier will be responsible for locations in Downers Grove, Ill., and Roseville, Minn.

Ryan Hanley

Ryan Hanley is new account manager for the direct sales division of John Deere Landscapes. Hanley graduated from California State Polytechnic University in Pomona with a degree in ornamental horticulture.

Stuart Bryan is new president of Schiller-Pfeiffer, manufacturer of Little Wonder and Mantis Landscaping & Gardening Power Equipment. Bryan has an MBA from Harvard University.

Jarchem Industries celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. The company deals in acetate salts, de-icers and other chemicals in a wide variety of markets.