Engle to retire
Laurie Engle, Felling Trailers’ inside trailer sales consultant, has spent 32 years in the trailer business. Beginning in fall of 1991; Merle and Kathy Felling, the founders of Felling Trailers, were in the midst of an office expansion. Engle started off assisting with the expansion before being brought on to work in the parts room, selling axles, brakes, sheet steel and more.
“That was the best thing he ever did! Within six months, I sold my first trailer to Landscape Designs out of Alexandria, Minn., and when I was asked about the components on the trailer, I had the answers right away with my experience in parts sales,” said Engle.
In the early 90’s, Felling Trailers did not have the extensive dealer network it does today; with a few dealers in the upper Midwest, Felling sold directly to end users.
“We also sold livestock/horse and enclosed cargo trailers at that time. We were very busy; my phone was ringing off the hook. I’ve never looked back. Over the years, our product line grew dramatically; we now have 240 plus trailer models compared to the 8-10 different models we once offered. We never turned down a trailer deal, though; if a customer/dealer wanted something longer, shorter, taller or different material, we’d make it happen,“ said Engle.
Through the years, Engle built many working relationships with dealers and customers, solving transport problems other manufacturers said were unsolvable. Felling’s Trailer experts (sales team) work with dealers and customers to configure a trailer to meet the desired specifications and provide a custom solution.
“Laurie has been a fixture of Felling Trailers for a long time. Her experience and customer service skills will be sorely missed. Felling Trailers is a better place because of Laurie Engle!“ said Pat Jennissen, vice president of sales and marketing.
Laurie will hang up her headset for the last time as a trailer sales consultant in late May.
“After 32 years of dedicated service in the trailer manufacturing and sales industry, the time has come for me to embark on a new chapter in my life as I transition into retirement. While I am excited for the opportunities ahead, I am also grateful for the incredible journey we have shared,” said Engle.
New leadership for Bartlett Tree Experts operations in Florida
Jim Dossett has been promoted to division manager and will now oversee Bartlett Tree Experts’ (No. 5 on the 2023 LM150 list) operations in Florida.
Dossett earned a bachelor of science degree in Political Science from the College of Charleston. He holds the following professional credentials: ISA Certified Arborist, ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualification (TRAQ), Certified Treecare Safety Professional (CTSP) and Safety Management Specialist (SMS) and has held many different positions in his nearly 19 years with Bartlett.
In 2005, he joined the Company as an arborist ground person in the Charleston, S.C., office. In 2006, Dossett became an arborist climber and then crew leader and local office safety coordinator in Springfield, Va. In 2008, he became a safety and training coordinator in Austin, Texas.
In 2021, Dossett was named regional safety manager. In that role, he was instrumental in the planned reorganization of Bartlett’s safety program. He helped create Bartlett’s driver safety and drop zone management training programs.
“Jim has become an integral teammate and leader – he has had a hand in just about every safety initiative we have launched as a company,” said Jim Ingram, president and chief operating officer.
In his new role, Dossett was selected by Ingram to manage the company’s operations in Florida, including office locations in Oakland Park, Naples and Tallahassee.
“One of the things I love most about Bartlett is the close connections we share with each other as a team,“ said Dossett. “I am looking forward to building our Bartlett team in Florida with a focus on safety, while continuing to deliver the best scientific tree and shrub care solutions in the industry.”
Altoz promotes Karl Bjorkman
Altoz promoted Karl Bjorkman from sales and marketing director to vice president of sales and revenue. The newly created position will allow Bjorkman, who has worked for the company for over 12 years, to focus on increasing the company’s sales and revenue.
Bjorkman has more than 30 years of sales and marketing experience.
“This promotion reflects Karl’s strong strategic insight, and his leadership qualities and work ethic will be instrumental in our continued growth of the brand,” said CEO Dennis Brazier.
In this new role, Bjorkman will be responsible for global sales, product positioning, creating go-to-market strategies and increasing market share and revenue.
Growmark reveals 2024 scholarship winners
Growmark, an agricultural cooperative that provides agronomy, energy, facility engineering and construction and logistics products and services, as well as grain marketing and risk management services, selected fifty-four students to receive scholarships totaling $2,000 each through the Growmark Foundation. Nearly 500 students from across the United States and Ontario, Canada, applied for the scholarships. Students who received the scholarships will have those funds available for the fall 2024 semester.
“As a diverse wholesale agricultural cooperative, Growmark sees value in supporting students who are pursuing careers in agriculture as well as any business-related field. We’re excited to be able to help these students achieve their academic goals while also showing them that our industry is full of opportunities including working for Growmark or an FS company after they graduate,” the company said in a statement.
Scholarship recipients are divided into three categories:
