The National Association of Landscape Professionals unveiled the recipients of its 2024 Leadership Awards. NALP will present the awards on Nov. 4 in Charlotte, N.C., during its annual Elevate conference.
“The NALP Leadership Awards recognize the incredible dedication of these outstanding individuals who have made lasting contributions to our industry,” said Britt Wood, CEO of NALP. “Each of these professionals — Jeff Buhler, Brigitte Orrick, Nick Brummel and Nate Farley — exemplify what it means to innovate, advocate and inspire others within the landscape profession. We are grateful for their commitment and leadership.”
Jeff Buhler – 2024 Lifetime Leadership Award
Jeff Buhler, senior vice president of customer service at Massey Services, receives NALP’s Lifetime Leadership Award for his enduring dedication to NALP and the industry. Buhler’s career is highlighted by his commitment to serving on NALP’s board as its president and leading numerous non-profit organizations. With a passion for developing company culture and leveraging technology to enhance customer experiences, Buhler has played a vital role in the success of Massey Services and sharing that knowledge with the industry.
Brigitte Orrick – 2024 Woman Leader of the Year Award
Brigitte Orrick, director of talent development at The Davey Tree Expert Co. — No. 2 on the 2024 LM150 list — is the recipient of NALP’s Woman Leader of the Year Award. Orrick’s passion for talent development and her advocacy for women and other minorities in the landscape, lawn care and tree care industries have been instrumental in promoting diversity and inclusion. She has spearheaded initiatives like JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion) at Davey Tree, creating a supportive environment for all employees. She continues to mentor and inspire the next generation of female leaders in the field.
Nick Brummel – 2024 Advocate of the Year Award
Nick Brummel, owner of Brummel Lawn & Landscape, receives NALP’s Advocate of the Year Award for his passionate advocacy of the landscape industry. Brummel has been a vocal supporter of the H-2B visa program and pesticide protection. He has dedicated himself to educating clients, employees and lawmakers on the importance of these issues to the industry.
Nate Farley – 2024 Young Professional of the Year Award
Nate Farley, founder of NationScapes, is the recipient of the 2024 Young Professional of the Year for his unique and transformative journey in the landscape industry. Starting his career as a CPA, Farley transitioned into the landscape business by acquiring and building a successful irrigation company. He is known for his innovative approach to employee care, including offering annual salaries with benefits, which has helped retain and engage talent.
Bobcat wins Red Dot Award for concept loader
Bobcat Co. has been selected as a Red Dot Award: Design Concept winner for its RogueX2, an all-electric, fully autonomous concept loader.
The Red Dot Design Award is one of the most respected design awards in the world. Its Design Concept category identifies and celebrates new design concepts and innovations as the precursors of tomorrow’s great products.
“We are honored to win the world-renowned Red Dot Award for Design Concept in recognition of the groundbreaking design of the RogueX2,” said Joel Honeyman, vice president of global innovation at Doosan Bobcat. “This award is a testament to the dedication of the Bobcat teams who are passionate about pushing design limits and advancing innovation to redefine the machines of tomorrow.”
Key to the machine’s development was the Bobcat Global Design Studio, which supported the project in collaboration with the Bobcat Global Innovation team.
On display at CES 2024, the RogueX2 is a powerful, smart machine that produces zero emissions and features a lithium-ion battery, electric drive actuated lift and tilt kinematics with no hydraulics.
Specifically designed and built without a cab, RogueX2 explores the idea of how work machines of the future can be designed and optimized for new technologies and enable an entirely new work experience. Designed with wheels to optimize the electric battery run time, the RogueX2 features axial flux motors, which give the machine incredible tractive effort.
The RogueX2 was built as a proving ground to advance Bobcat’s innovation leadership and has garnered many new patents pending.
“To build a smarter, more sustainable and connected future, we must ask the questions no one else has thought to ask before and invent new solutions that previously did not exist,” continued Honeyman.
In the research and development stage, the award-winning RogueX2 is not commercially available.
Kioti partners with Huntington Distribution Finance
Kioti Tractor, a division of Daedong-USA, entered an agreement with Huntington Distribution Finance (HDF) to provide dealer floor plan lending solutions. Through this agreement, HDF will offer proven, efficient floorplan financing options to Kioti dealers in the United States. This partnership will streamline the floor planning and dealer onboarding processes, enabling Kioti to deliver more value to its expansive and growing dealer network.
“At Kioti, we are committed to innovation that not only strengthens our business, but also arms our dealer partners with necessary resources to foster sustainable growth,” said Jun Bahk, president and CEO of Daedong-USA, Kioti Tractor Division. “Our agreement with HDF builds on our solution-oriented approach to seamlessly streamline processes for dealer success.”
HDF provides custom inventory finance solutions to dealers, distributors and manufacturers across North America. Focusing on industry expertise, exceptional service and optimizing the dealer onboarding experience, the company is committed to supporting business growth. HDF enables its partners to succeed by offering comprehensive tools and services.
“The strategic alliance will focus on creating simple, tailored solutions to support dealers’ growth goals — big or small,” Chiwhan Yoon, Deputy CEO and CFO, said. “Additionally, this exclusive agreement will enhance the onboarding process for new dealers, making it even easier to integrate Kioti equipment into their dealership. With satisfaction and efficiency at the forefront, Kioti and HDF will offer floorplan financing improvements including flexibility, scalability and direct access to dealer resources. This change will build on the existing financial strength of Daedong-USA and Daedong Corporation.”
PanAmerican Seed donates to the National MS Society
PanAmerican Seed presented a donation check to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society during the organization’s local “Dinner of Champions” event on Sept. 13 in Chicago, Ill. The donation was the result of seed sales of the company’s Beacon series of Impatiens walleriana, monetary support through branded apparel sales and participation in BikeMS fundraising.
“Dinner of Champions” is an annual fundraising event of the MS Society that brings together supporters and people living with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). The Chicago event was decorated with Beacon Impatiens tablescapes and supportive branded signage donated by PanAmerican Seed.
A featured speaker at the event was Todd Frauendorfer, treasurer for Ball Horticultural Company. His life goal was to drive donations to $1 million over the course of his MS diagnosis. Beacon Impatiens‘ involvement in 2024 helped him reach his goal, and the milestone was celebrated on stage.
“It was a privilege to be part of such an amazing night and especially to be a part of Todd’s journey all year long,” said Sarah Makiejus, global marketing manager for PanAmerican Seed. “It was a true team effort, and we continue to be pleased with the impact Beacon Impatiens has on the industry, as well as how its annual charitable giving continues to make a difference in so many lives.”
Massey Services donates to Helene relief fund
Massey Services — No. 31 on the 2024 LM150 list — made a $15,000 donation to the American Red Cross relief efforts for Hurricane Helene.
The company has previously made similar Red Cross donations to several other hurricane relief efforts throughout the years. In addition to the donation, Massey Services, which has several service centers in the devastated areas, has been covering hotel costs for current team members whose homes were destroyed by the storm.
“The impact this storm has had on so many areas in the Southeast has been tragic,” said Tony Massey, president and CEO of Massey Services. “We are happy that as a company we are able to make a contribution to these communities in their time of need. We also want to offer our sincere appreciation to the Red Cross and all other volunteers who have donated countless hours to help the affected regions.”
Diamond Mowers unveils new website
Diamond Mowers, a manufacturer of vegetation management attachments for tractors, skid-steers and excavators, has launched a new website and expanded its resources to better serve its customers and dealers.
The brand evolution introduces the tagline, “Attachments that Work as Hard as You Do,” shifting the focus from product features to customer empowerment. It highlights Diamond’s role as a trusted partner, offering innovative solutions and expert support to ensure the success of both customers and dealers in tackling their toughest challenges.
“These enhancements represent our ongoing commitment to our customers and dealers,” said Dan Stachel, executive vice president of Diamond Mowers. “We’re focused on providing the resources and support they need to succeed in their work.”
The new Diamond website showcases the company’s product offerings and is a hub for industry expertise and customer support. Designed with the user in mind, the site offers tools to assist in identifying the right equipment for the job, ensuring attachments are compatible with customer carriers, and providing transparency around MSRP to support the buying process.
The new site features:
- Enhanced resources to help dealers serve end-users more effectively.
- Expanded industry resources and educational content to support customers.
- Real-world customer success stories and testimonials.
- A refreshed visual identity reflecting the determination of Diamond’s customers.
“These new tools and resources are designed to make our customers’ and dealers’ jobs easier,” said Stachel. “We’re committed to providing not just attachments but the support needed to maximize productivity in the field.”
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