Jasper Tractor has become a new Takeuchi dealer and will now carry the full line of Takeuchi equipment. Located in Jasper, Ga., Jasper Tractor currently sells and services various lines of agriculture and turf equipment. As a new Takeuchi dealer, Jasper Tractor will cover a territory that includes the Georgia cities of Whitfield, Murray, Gilmer, Gordon and Pickens.
“(Takeuchi has) been an innovator and leader in the compact equipment industry,” said Zach Cagle, vice president and general manager of Jasper Tractor. “Our goal is to take Takeuchi’s foundation of a quality product, deliver those products to our customers and then provide the best possible ownership experience. We look forward to continued growth in Jasper, Ga., and surrounding areas with Takeuchi.”
Drew Tutton, Jasper Tractor’s president and CEO, began his career in the automotive business, and he currently oversees and manages multiple automotive dealerships as well as an RV dealership in the Jasper area. Zach Cagle grew up on his family’s dairy farm where he developed a great passion for agriculture and equipment. In March 2023, Tutton and Cagle combined their expertise and interests to open Jasper Tractor with the shared goal of providing customers with exceptional equipment, parts and service, according to the company.
“Drew and Zach have done an outstanding job of establishing Jasper Tractor over the past two years,” said Eric Wenzel, Southeast regional business manager for Takeuchi-US. “They’ve already garnered a reputation for excellence in a short period of time. We’re pleased to have them representing the Takeuchi brand in north central Georgia, and we look forward to a long and successful partnership.”
Ruppert Landscape opens new Athens, Ga., branch
Ruppert Landscape opened a new branch in Athens, Ga., expanding its landscape maintenance operations and joining its existing locations in Alpharetta, Lilburn and Mableton.
“For the past 30 years, we have operated in Athens as a small satellite location, but with our move into a new facility and the expansion of our team, it has now become a full-fledged branch,” said Steve Faber, region manager. “We’re excited about this growth and the opportunity it provides to further serve the Athens community, which has played an important role in our success in the Atlanta region.”
This new branch will be led by Josh Mickey, who has been promoted to branch manager. In this role, he will oversee planning, budgeting, personnel development and focusing on customer service.
Mickey has been with Ruppert for 13 years, having joined as a field manager right after graduating from the University of Georgia, commuting from Athens to the Lilburn branch. After a few years, he transitioned to the Athens satellite operation where he was promoted to area manager in 2015 and associate branch manager in 2021.
“Josh has been a key driver of the growth in Athens over the past few years thanks to his exceptional customer relationships and unwavering work ethic,” said Faber. “He has built a strong, dedicated team in Athens, and we’re confident that under his leadership, the branch will continue to thrive.”
The Athens branch will provide a full range of commercial landscaping services, including design and landscape enhancements, turf care, irrigation system management, pond and lake management, arbor care and outdoor lighting and decor.
Weed Man expands into Bozeman, Mont.
A Weed Man franchise based in Billings, Mont., owned by husband-and-wife team Tyler and Beth Hollenbeck, is expanding into the Bozeman, Mont., area.
Since 2017, the Hollenbecks have been serving the community of Billings with lawn care services, including fertilization, weed control, aeration and more. This year, they’re bringing their services to Bozeman, but they’re also aiming to create new career opportunities for their employees through the expansion.
“We have a great team in place,” says general manager Kent Bennett. “Beth and Tyler don’t give themselves enough credit for the people they attract and the culture we have here. Now as we expand, we can take people and give them more opportunities for their future. We’re ready to build our team members up and help them reach their own goals.”
The teams at Weed Man Billings and Bozeman also run initiatives to support the local community they’re a part of. This fall, as a part of Weed Man’s brand-wide Grassroots Giving food drive, the Billings team partnered with customers to raise 1,502 pounds of food and household items for Tumbleweed Food Pantry, directly benefitting the community’s vulnerable and homeless youth. In April, the team participated in the local Bright n’ Beautiful Cleanup Day, where gathered trash bags and supported the volunteers.
According to the company, the sense of community is what the Hollenbecks hope to carry over to the new Bozeman location.
“For me, it’s about being able to grow our community in Bozeman,” said Beth Hollenbeck. “We have such great customers. They know what to expect from us. They know that if they have a question, they can just reach out to us and we’ll take care of it. They love to give us a shoutout online. If we can set that precedent in Bozeman too, it will be really, really cool.”
Stihl celebrates the production of its 100 millionth unit at headquarters
Stihl celebrated the production of its 100 millionth unit at its U.S. headquarters in Virginia Beach, Va. The milestone unit, an FSA 57 battery-powered trimmer, reflects the company’s growth and underscores Stihl’s commitment to manufacturing investments in the U.S., according to the company.
“Reaching 100 million units during our 50th year of U.S. operations is a testament to our employees’ dedication, the strength of our dealer network and the trust of our customers,” said Chris Keffer, president and CEO of Stihl. “This milestone reflects the innovative spirit that has driven Stihl forward for five decades and our commitment to high-quality American manufacturing.”
Since establishing U.S. operations in 1974, Stihl has expanded from assembling a single chainsaw model in a 20,000-square-foot rented facility to producing over 100 models of gas and battery-powered tools in over 1.4 million square feet of operating space on the 150-acre Virginia Beach campus.
“Manufacturing Stihl’s 100 millionth unit is a milestone that fills me with pride. It highlights the craftsmanship and precision that goes into every product we create,” said Joseph Jacoutot, senior manager of battery assembly at Stihl. “Being part of Stihl’s legacy is truly inspiring, and it motivates me to continue contributing to our tradition of quality.”
Envu earns EcoVadis gold rating for a sustainable 2024
Envu has earned a EcoVadis gold rating for its sustainability achievements in 2024. With a score of 78/100, Envu ranks among the top 5 percent of more than 70,000 companies assessed globally by EcoVadis, a provider of business sustainability ratings. The gold rating recognizes Envu’s commitment to integrating environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles into its operations and value chain.
“This recognition underscores our dedication to being a trusted partner for our customers and stakeholders by doing our part to advance sustainability not only within our company, but also across our industry,” said Marine Sanouiller, head of ESG at Envu. “In collaboration with our customers and suppliers, we’re driving meaningful change at scale to create healthier environments for all.”
The EcoVadis gold rating highlights several accomplishments achieved by Envu in 2024, including:
- Implemented a systematic vetting process for suppliers and collaborated on custom improvement plans to elevate sustainability across the supply chain.
- Achieved “Great Place To Work” certification in the U.S., India and France.
- Prepared a Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi) to align its decarbonization goals with global climate objectives.
- Partnered with customers to advance their sustainability ambitions through nature-positive products and solutions.
- Joined the United Nations Global Compact, committing to principles of ethics, sustainability and social value creation throughout its operations and supply chain.
“This gold rating is a testament to the passion and purpose of our employees worldwide,” said Sanouiller. “While the Envu team is proud of what we’ve achieved, we know this is just the beginning of our journey toward a more sustainable future, and we are excited to continue building on this momentum in 2025 and beyond.”
Neighborly sees all 19 brands recognized on the Entrepreneur Franchise 500
Neighborly, a home services company, saw all 19 of its North American brands be recognized among the top 500 franchises in Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500. This marks the first time in Neighborly’s history that all its brands have been named to the list.
“What makes this achievement truly special is the collective success of all our brands earning this incredible recognition,” said Mike Davis, chief executive officer, Neighborly. “This milestone would not have been possible without the dedication, hard work and perseverance of our franchise owners. As we begin the new year, we celebrate this accomplishment together with them. I look forward to building on our momentum by continuing to enable and empower our franchise owners to deliver unparalleled service to our customers.”
Among noteworthy rankings for Neighborly brands on this year’s Franchise 500 are Mosquito Joe (No. 250), The Grounds Guys (No. 301) and Lawn Pride (No. 451). Seven total Neighborly brands earned the No. 1 spots on the list for their respective franchise categories.
The 2025 Franchise 500 ranks the following Neighborly brands based on their performance in areas including unit growth, financial strength and stability and brand power:
Real Property Management was the highest ranking Neighborly brand, taking spot No. 85 and ranking as No. 1 in its category.
“At Neighborly, we are dedicated to setting our franchise owners up for success through our proven franchise model, comprehensive training and support,” said Brad Stevenson, chief development officer, Neighborly. “This milestone is a testament to the strength of our system and the exceptional power of our brands.”
