7/27/2015
On The Move
Jennifer Zurko
Ball Seed
Brenda Bliss-Cooling has joined the Ball Seed sales team and will be taking over the eastern part of the Niagara Peninsula in Ontario, Canada. Brenda comes to Ball from Fafard et Freres, Ltd., a Quebec-based soil mix company, recently acquired by Scotts/Miracle Gro. Prior to this, Brenda spent a couple of years at Vanhof & Blokker, a perennial distributor in Ontario. Besides this more recent sales background, Brenda also has production experience working for Epic Plant Company, a 1 million sq. ft.-operation producing perennials, shrubs, clematis and aquatic plants. Earlier in her career, Brenda also had seasonal experiences working at two different garden centers in Ontario.
Illumitex Inc.
Illumitex, maker of LED lighting products, announced the addition of Paul Hardej and Mathieu van de Sande to its team of horticulture lighting experts.
As VP of Turnkey Lighting Solutions, Paul will apply his experience in developing and managing vertical farms to a new turnkey lighting solutions program for Illumitex. A co-founder of FarmedHere LLC, Paul served as Chief Technology and Development Officer at the Chicago-area vertical farm. He developed the first organic-certified, indoor vertical aquaponic farm in the U.S., designing multi-level indoor aquaponic and hydroponic grow systems with LED grow lights. He’ll bring this broad background to Illumitex customers, as they seek turnkey solutions in horticulture lighting for developing controlled environment agriculture systems.
Mathieu’s two decades of greenhouse experience will serve him well as Illumitex’s Greenhouse Horticulture Sales Manager with his understanding of the day-to-day operational challenges of multi-acre greenhouse operations.
Schaefer Ventilation
Schaefer Ventilation Equipment, manufacturer of ventilation and thermal comfort, announced the hiring of Rico Garay to Schaefer’s Agricultural and Horticultural Division. His primary focus is expanding the Latin American markets in agriculture and horticulture, while working to support the already established business in these areas.
SePRO Corporation
SePRO, a life science company located in Carmel, Indiana, announced the promotions of Dr. Tyler Koschnick to Vice President of Sales and Research, and Sam Barrick to Vice President of Marketing.
Dr. Koschnick began his career with SePRO in 1995 in a sales role and later returned after acquiring his Ph.D. from The University of Florida to lead the Research & Regulatory division.
As Vice President of Marketing, Sam will be leveraging his career in sales, marketing and leadership to lead the marketing efforts and branding of SePRO’s entire solutions portfolio.
In addition to the above organizational changes, Troy Bettner, Director of SePRO’s Turf & Ornamental business, will be taking on a new challenge as SePRO’s Director of Business Development. Troy will be focused on identifying and developing new markets and product opportunities both domestically and internationally.
GT