Takeuchi-US recently appointed Ian Aarsvold as its new Southwest region product manager. A current resident of Des Plaines, Ill., Aarsvold is relocating to the Dallas-Fort Worth area during Q1 2025 as he takes on his new role.
As the Southwest region product manager (RPM), Aarsvold will be responsible for supporting Takeuchi’s dealer and national rental accounts support within a multi-state territory. Aarsvold will also work with dealer sales teams and their customers to demonstrate, promote and support Takeuchi’s compact equipment product line. He will collaborate with other associates to develop and implement new product roadmaps and discover new opportunities within the construction equipment market segment.
“I’m very excited to join Takeuchi, because time and time again, when I spoke to dealers about the company, they consistently mentioned Takeuchi’s outstanding equipment and support,” Aarsvold said. “My personal interactions with the Takeuchi team at industry events confirmed they are simply top notch. As a new RPM, I’m looking forward to helping more customers discover the many benefits of Takeuchi equipment.”
A North Dakota native, Aarsvold holds a bachelor’s degree in general agriculture from North Dakota State University where he was also a member of the Agronomy Club. Aarsvold then worked on his family’s farm in Eastern North Dakota, operating and maintaining equipment.
“Ian is very passionate about making a positive impact in everything he does,” said Shay KIusmeyer, division sales manager for Takeuchi-US. “He offers a unique blend of agricultural expertise, business management skills and the ability to quickly create and grow relationships. We’re very pleased to have Ian join the Takeuchi family, and we look forward to his accomplishments in the Southwest region.”
Landscape Leadership promotes Chad Diller to CEO
Landscape Leadership, a digital marketing and sales agency specializing in the lawn and landscape industry since 2008, promoted Chad Diller to chief executive officer.
Having joined the company more than eight years ago, Diller has demonstrated exceptional leadership and innovation throughout his more than 25-year career in the green industry, according to the company. Taking over from founder Chris Heiler, who will move into an advisory role, Chad is set to steer the company with a fresh vision for growth and technological innovation.
“Chad is ready to lead the Landscape Leadership team to even greater heights. I’m personally looking forward to watching the company’s success in my new advisory position”, said Heiler.
According to the company, Chad has been instrumental in expanding the agency’s services during his tenure, creating an ideal client roster and further driving client satisfaction and team effectiveness.
“I’m extremely grateful to thrive as my roles have changed over the years”, Diller said. “My industry peers often talk about the abundant opportunities to passionately grow in the green industry. I’m living proof that if you embrace challenges and cultivate your passions, you can create a career you’ll absolutely love. Many thanks to Chris for being a big part of my story.”
Melissa Lilze becomes first female senior director of sales at Netafim USA
Netafim USA, a precision agriculture business of Orbia, promoted Melissa Lilze to the position of senior director of sales for the company. This milestone promotion stands out in the company’s history, as it represents the first woman to ever serve in this role at Netafim USA.
In this new position, Lilze will be the head of North American sales, overseeing all landscape, agricultural and specialty sales, including wastewater and mining.
With more than 15 years of experience in agricultural sales and business development, Lilze has built a remarkable career driving growth and innovation in agricultural sales, according to Netafim USA. In her previous roles at PureSense, Agrian and Netafim, she significantly expanded markets, scaled operations, implemented cutting-edge data-driven solutions and led strategic initiatives that revolutionized sustainable irrigation practices.
In addition, Lilze regularly shares her insights on leadership, innovation and sustainability through speaking engagements and social media channels.
Tim Johnson Landscaping promotes its first branch manager in company history
Tim Johnson Landscaping (TJL), a provider of landscaping maintenance and installation services in the Statesville and Charlotte, N.C. areas, is promoted Andrew ‘Jack’ Mullins as the first branch manager in the company’s history. This new leadership role represents a significant milestone as the company expands its operations.
“We are proud to name Jack Mullins as the first branch manager in Tim Johnson Landscaping’s history,” said Tim Johnson, founder and president of Tim Johnson Landscaping. “Jack’s leadership brings an attitude and skillset that embodies our core values to the table. His character and embodiment of our core values paves the way for Jack to lead not only our team but ensure TJL’s customer experience is second to none. We are excited to work alongside Jack as he leads our Statesville team into the future.”
Jack Mullins has been a dedicated member of the Tim Johnson Landscaping team for the past four years, most recently serving as the leader of the turf care team. In this role, he successfully ensured daily tasks and expectations were clearly communicated to fertilizer technicians while prioritizing safety, efficiency and productivity. Jack’s leadership included providing the team with the materials and equipment needed for success, and his commitment to operational excellence has earned him the respect and trust of both his colleagues and clients, according to the company.
