Effective April 14, Anna Christine Sgro has been appointed president of Yanmar Compact Equipment’s North American region. In her new role, Sgro will focus on enhancing organizational integration, improving financial performance and driving customer success through product and service development, according to the company.
Sgro brings with her a wealth of relevant construction and industrial experience spanning general and product management, aftermarket support, digital transformation and strategy. In her most recent role, she served as president of Reesink Canada Holdings where she led strategic growth initiatives in the agriculture, construction and complementary equipment sectors. Her earlier career included senior executive roles at prominent global organizations such as Volvo Financial Services, Volvo Construction Equipment and more.
Sgro joins Yanmar CE’s global leadership team, reporting to José Cuadrado, the company’s Global CEO.
“I am honored to join a company with Yanmar CE’s rich heritage and reputation,” Sgro said. “The values of product quality and innovation that have made Yanmar CE globally respected will remain central to our mission in North America. As always, we will focus on delivering value to our customers and dealers.”
José Cuadrado, global CEO of Yanmar Compact Equipment, said, “North America is a vital driver of our global business, and I am confident that under Anna’s leadership, Yanmar CE will have a positive catalyst for change, supporting the interests of customers, dealers, suppliers, employees and the wider community.”
Sgro holds a degree in economics with a minor in political science from York University in Toronto, Canada, and post-graduate studies at Northwestern University, Kellogg School of Management, in the U.S.
Massey Services’ COO retires
Massey Services’ chief operating officer (COO), Ed Dougherty, recently retired from the Orlando, Fla.-based company. He joined Massey in 1992 and has more than 40 years of experience in the pest control industry.
Dougherty’s history at Massey
- Joined as a manager trainee in Tampa, Fla., in 1992.
- Was promoted to general manager of the company’s Orlando Commercial service center in 1994.
- Held a variety of leadership positions in operations, including division manager of Massey’s commercial division and regional manager over South Florida, Central Florida, Georgia and The Villages.
- In 2009, Dougherty was promoted to vice president, GreenUP Landscape Services, overseeing the entire landscape division.
- In 2010 he was promoted to executive vice president (EVP) of consumer services and was responsible for all residential service center operations.
- He was promoted to EVP of operations in 2011 and to COO in 2016.
“Ed’s leadership and vision have been an integral part of our company’s growth,” said Tony Massey, president and CEO of Massey Services. “He has led our operations team with compassion and empathy, demonstrating a profound dedication to our team members and our customers.”
Dougherty began his career in the pest management industry after receiving his bachelor’s degree in marketing from Eastern Michigan University, and he completed the Harvard Business School OPM Key Executives Program in 2004.
In the interim, Tony Massey will lead the operations team at Massey Services (No. 31 on the LM150) to ensure a smooth transition, according to the company.
Davey Tree makes two vice presidential promotions
The Davey Tree Expert Company, No. 2 on the LM150, made two key promotions with Kevin Bauer becoming vice president, Eastern Utility, business operations and Johnny Page becoming vice president, Eastern Utility, southern operations.
“Kevin and Johnny are strong, reliable assets who bring years of experience in strategic business initiatives and operations to their respective teams,” said Mike Mittiga, vice president and general manager, Eastern Utility. “Kevin has continued to improve the quality of our earnings by aligning ourselves with business partners who share the same values as Davey. Under Johnny’s leadership, we have experienced significant growth in our business portfolio that have provided vital opportunities for Davey in the southeast. We are excited for them to continue delivering safe and efficient results for clients and shareholders.”
Bauer began his career with Davey in 2004 as an operations administrator and served in a variety of managerial positions in the Eastern Utility service line. In 2019, he was promoted to his most recent role as director of utility operations, finance and strategy. Bauer earned bachelor’s degrees in finance and marketing from Miami University in 2003 and a Master of Business Administration degree from Cleveland State University in 2006. He is an International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) certified arborist and Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA) certified treecare safety professional (CTSP).
Page joined Davey in 1996 as a groundsperson on the Tampa, Fla., electric account. After a series of promotions, he was promoted in 2021 to his most recent role as regional vice president, gulf region. Page is an ISA certified arborist and TCIA CTSP. He also holds a Pesticide Applicator license in the state of Florida.
Burlingham Seeds makes new hire after veteran retires
Burlingham Seeds hired Mike Billman as general manager for the company, effective as of April 7.
Billman brings nearly 30 years of seed industry experience to Burlingham, and he previously held management positions for Zajac Performance Seeds, S&S Seeds, Seed Research of Oregon and DLF USA. Based in Oregon, the Burlingham name has been a fixture in the domestic and international seed trade since 1911, according to the company.
“The addition of Mike Billman to Burlingham Seeds is a perfect match,” said Pat McClain, CEO of Burlingham Seeds LLC. “Mike has proven skills and relationships in the seed industry. We are excited for the opportunities he brings to the organization, both on the export and the domestic side. We at Burlingham Seeds are confident Mike will continue the company legacy of quality seed and excellent service in the industry marketplace.”
Burlingham Seeds is also announcing the pending retirement of McClain at the end of the year.
McClain has been a principal in Burlingham for the past 25 years. McClain began his career in the Oregon seed industry in 1985 when he joined the original E.F. Burlingham and Sons. McClain will continue with the company as a consultant upon his retirement.
Billman will assume responsibility for the management of all day-to-day operations from McClain upon his retirement.
Kawasaki Engines appoints new general manager in milestone promotion
Kawasaki Motors appointed Fumihiro “Clint” Ono as the new general manager of the company’s worldwide General Purpose Engines (GPE) Division. Based at Kawasaki’s global headquarters in Akashi, Japan, Ono now leads all GPE operations across North America, Europe and Asia.
Ono brings more than 32 years of experience with Kawasaki to this role, including a significant 16-year tenure in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where he served as senior vice president and general manager of Kawasaki Motors’ Engines Division. His promotion marks a milestone: he is the first leader from the U.S. Engines Division to rise to the top position of the GPE Division, according to the company.
“This is a significant moment not only for Clint Ono but for the entire Kawasaki organization,” said Nelson Wilner, senior vice president and general manager of the Engines Division. “Ono-san has a deep and experienced understanding of the worldwide market for Kawasaki engines, especially in the USA. He is deeply dedicated to our customers, and his long experience in the U.S. will serve our global customers very well. Ono-san is also a creative visionary for the future.”
During his time in the U.S., Ono became a well-known and respected figure among both OEM and dealer partners. Unlike many of his peers, whose overseas assignments typically last about five years, Ono’s extended stay in the U.S. reflects his strong commitment and connection to the North American market, according to the company.
In his new role, Ono is responsible for continuing Kawasaki’s goal of providing trusted service to OEM and dealer customers while expanding the company’s portfolio of new product offerings in the general-purpose engine sector.
PBI-Gordon makes two promotions to Executive Leadership Team
The employee-owners of PBI-Gordon Companies promoted Gilbert “Gib” Bourk and Eric Bur to the Executive Leadership Team.
Bourk has been promoted to vice president and general counsel for PBI and its subsidiaries, PBI-Gordon Corporation, Pegasus Laboratories and Pet-Ag. Bourk joined PBI in 2019 as the senior director of the PBI legal department and reports directly to Steve Clifford, president and CEO of PBI-Gordon Companies.
Bourk holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Kansas State University and a Juris Doctor from Washburn University School of Law. He is a member of the Association of Corporate Counsel, Mid-America Chapter; and The CropLife America Law Committee.
Bur was promoted to vice president and chief financial officer for PBI and its subsidiaries, PBI-Gordon Corporation, Pegasus Laboratories and Pet-Ag. He oversees all aspects of the financial planning, accounting and IT functions for PBI. He joined PBI in 2019 as the senior director of finance and reports directly to Steve Clifford.
Bur holds a Bachelor of Science in accounting from the University of Kansas and serves on the Accounting Advisory Board for The University of Kansas. He has also held board positions at Rose Brooks Center in Kansas City and the University of Kansas Center for Entrepreneurship.
“PBI-Gordon has experienced tremendous success and growth over the last several years thanks in large part to our investments in key leadership positions,” said Clifford. “With that in mind, I am thrilled to announce the promotions of Gib and Eric and congratulate each of them on a job well done. Both of them are highly experienced and well-respected, and we are fortunate to have them as part of our team of employee-owners. We value their leadership and the world-class expertise they bring to work every day.”
