The Kentucky Humane Society (KHS) honored its partnership with the TurfMutt Foundation by awarding foundation president and CEO Kris Kiser the 2024 Excellence in Philanthropy Humane Hero Award. The KHS presented the award to Kiser at its annual Tuxes and Tails fundraising event, which was held at the Louisville Marriott Downtown. Kiser is also president and CEO of the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI) and its massive trade show, Equip Exposition.
“Tuxes and Tails is an incredible event, and each year I look forward to attending to celebrate the achievements of KHS, which does so much good for the animals in need in our community,” said Kiser. “I’m honored to receive this award on behalf of the TurfMutt Foundation. We look forward to continuing to collaborate with KHS, which is recognized as a national leader in animal welfare.”
The TurfMutt Foundation, which is celebrating 15 years of advocating for the care and use of yards, parks and other green spaces, first partnered with KHS six years ago to launch the Mutt Madness pet adoption event at Equip Exposition, the international landscape, outdoor living and equipment exposition. Since then, Mulligan’s Mutt Madness has matched over 60 dogs with Equip Exposition attendees. In 2019, Kiser adopted Mulligan the TurfMutt at Mutt Madness, and she has now become the “spokesdog” of the organization.
Each year at Mutt Madness, the TurfMutt Foundation also presents KHS with a cash donation. Mulligan’s 5K Fun Run & Walk, which is held on opening day of Equip Exposition each year, is another TurfMutt fundraiser that benefits KHS and its mission.
“We just love Kris, and he’s always looking for creative and innovative ways to help our organization and animals in need,” said Alisa Gray, president and CEO of KHS. “Kris is part of our team and what we do on a regular basis.”
The 2024 Mulligan’s Mutt Madness pet adoption event will be held at Equip Exposition on Thursday, Oct. 17, and is available to attendees of the show.
Bobcat celebrates $3.26M renovation at Georgia facility
Bobcat recently brought material handling into the Bobcat brand, transitioning from Doosan Industrial Vehicle to Bobcat in early 2024.
The investment in the Buford, Ga., facility modernized conference rooms, break rooms and office spaces, improved the interior design, finishing and furnishing to align with other Bobcat locations, and updated exterior signage. Featuring open seating and no cubicles, the enhanced spaces support cross-functional teamwork and engagement.
“Investing in our facilities and operations to create collaborative, inspiring workplaces is one of many ways that Bobcat supports our employees,” said Mike Ballweber, president, Doosan Bobcat North America. “Fostering our company’s success alongside the dedicated team in Buford is a priority for us. We are thrilled to provide them with a work environment that encourages collaboration and drives innovation.”
The 200,000-square-foot Buford facility houses a parts operation which supplies more than 30,000 line items to support its affiliate groups. Additionally, the material handling product line includes 179 separate models with a full range of diesel, gas, liquid propane gas and electric forklifts, with capacities ranging from 3,000 to 55,000 pounds.
“The growth of the Bobcat brand into the material handling industry allows us to provide even more solutions to help our customers accomplish more,” said Jarrod Steck, Bobcat vice president of material handling products. “Our Buford team has grown by 40 percent in the last year and is still growing. Bobcat’s investment in both people and facility illustrate our level of commitment to growing Bobcat’s presence in this important market.”
Shultz + Associates Architects supported the architecture plans, while Omega Construction served as the general contractor of the facility renovations.
NGB-AAS releases annual report
National Garden Bureau (NGB) recently released the first Annual Report for the newly combined organizations that highlights the varied programs and promotions the organization has accomplished in the past year. The NGB-AAS Annual Report is designed to give insights on the organization’s trial activities, marketing efforts, promotional efforts and accomplishments, as well as the current financial standing.
Highlights from this year’s report include:
- A successful merger
- The newly revised and updated Strategic Plan
- Reports from each Program Committee
- AAS Trials
- AAS Display Gardens
- AAS Combined Judges
- Non-Plant Promotions
- “Year of the”
- AAS Winners and New Plants
- Membership and Member Benefits
- National Garden Bureau’s 2025 “Year of the” crops
- A summary of the recent Summer Summits
- An invitation and Save the Date for the 2025 International Plant Trialing Conference
OTR launches new website features
OTR Engineered Solutions (OTR) has recently launched a Tracks Selection tool and Dealer Locator for its website.
“OTR is investing heavily in technologies that make our customers’ lives easier, and these website features are just the latest examples of this ongoing effort,” said Tom Rizzi, president and CEO of OTR.
The new online tracks selection tool complements OTR’s recent expansion into offering a full line of tracks for compact track loaders and mini excavators. It guides customers through the selection process, narrowing down thousands of track options to one ideal solution for the customer’s equipment make, model and application. When finished, customers can view product pricing and real-time inventory across OTR’s national network of distribution centers for convenient shipping.
For customers who wish to purchase tracks, tires and other products through a local dealer instead of OTR’s online ordering portal, the new dealer locator simplifies the process. Users can enter their zip code for a map view and list of nearby authorized dealers.
”OTR has been an innovator in off-the-road tire and wheel technologies since 1987, and one of our main areas of focus is to enhance the way customers can find and buy our products,” said Mitch Mittlestadt, general manager/aftermarket. “We’re doing this by creating tools to make things easier. We recently launched otrb2b.com for convenient online ordering and the additions of the new tracks selection tool and dealer locator is just the next logical step in utilizing technology to strengthen our connection with customers.”
CMHA relaunches workforce development site
The Concrete Masonry & Hardscapes Association (CMHA) has relaunched its HardscapingIs.com website, a comprehensive initiative designed to foster workforce development within the hardscape industry. The updated site offers an array of resources aimed at individuals seeking to enter or advance in the hardscaping field.
As the construction landscape continues to evolve, the demand for skilled professionals in hardscaping is higher than ever. CMHA is committed to investing in the cultivation of a well-trained workforce, ensuring that the industry continues to deliver high-quality craftsmanship, integrate new technologies and meet the evolving demands of the construction landscape.
HardscapingIs.com features a range of new content, including:
- Career Path Pages: Detailed descriptions of various career paths within hardscaping, from design and engineering to hands-on installation and marketing.
- In-Depth Profiles: Personal stories and profiles of individuals currently thriving in the hardscaping industry, offering real-world insights and inspiration.
- Expert Video Interviews: Exclusive interviews with industry leaders discussing their career journeys, challenges and successes in the hardscaping field.
Additionally, CMHA will continue to expand the site with more career path pages, profiles and video interviews to provide even more valuable insights and resources for job seekers and industry professionals alike.
“We are thrilled to relaunch HardscapingIs.com as a central hub for workforce development in our industry,” said Robert Thomas, president and CEO of CMHA. “Our goal is to elevate the standard of excellence within hardscaping by providing the tools and resources necessary to cultivate a skilled and innovative workforce. Through this initiative, we not only secure a prosperous future for our industry but also contribute to the economic growth of the communities we serve.”
Application period open for Unilock scholarship
Unilock recently opened the application process for its Paving the Future Scholarship.
The company has awarded $175,000 to 35 students since 2022 and is looking for the next group of recipients.
“We introduced the Paving the Future Scholarship in 2022 to commemorate our 50th anniversary, and we have seen a strong response in applications for the past two years,” said Diane Williams, vice president of marketing at Unilock. “The landscape design and construction industry is a growing field, and we are proud to continue to support this growth by recognizing the future innovators and thought leaders in the landscape profession.”
To enter, students within the landscape construction or landscape architecture fields of study must submit an application, including answering questions describing why they are passionate about a career in landscape construction or landscape architecture and how they intend to actively contribute to the overall industry. Applicants may access the application online for landscape construction or landscape architecture.
Key dates for students include:
- Application deadline: Sept. 16, 2024
- Winners notified: Oct. 11, 2024
To be eligible, applicants must:
- Be a permanent resident of the USA or Ontario, Canada.
- Be enrolled in their final year of a full-time, post-secondary undergraduate or graduate program within landscape management, landscape construction, horticulture landscaping, turf grass management or related field at a vocational school, community college or university; students in an apprenticeship program are also eligible.
- Demonstrate academic excellence, maintaining a minimum cumulative average letter grade of B and show a desire to pursue a career in their field of study.
- Demonstrate leadership and an ongoing commitment to their community.
