Akehurst Landscape Service, a full-service landscape company headquartered in Joppa, Md., is recognizing two employees celebrating their 25th anniversaries with the firm. David Guzman started working in the firm as a laborer and is currently serving as field supervisor overseeing six crews. Jose Herrera joined the company in 1992 as a laborer. He now holds the position of Team Leader, overseeing a grounds maintenance crew. The company designated March 7 as David Guzman Day at the Joppa, Md., location and March 8 as Jose Herrera Day at the Pikesville, Md., location.
The Aspire Software Co. added Julie Hudson as product specialist and Rob Galloway as marketing coordinator. Hudson previously worked for AEP River Operations. Galloway comes from the human resources communications department at Express Scripts, a pharmacy benefit provider.
K-Rain, a manufacturer of irrigation products, appointed Tom Rivers to director of brand management and business development. Rivers has more than 35 years of experience in the irrigation industry, previously managing business development, market research, sales and more with large retail chains, professional distribution and end-user market segments, like contractors.
Davey Tree Expert Co.’s North Pittsburgh Residential/Commercial office promoted Matt Fromm to district manager. Fromm started with Davey in 2009 as a tree climber and plant health care technician. He was promoted to sales representative in 2012 in the South Pittsburgh office. He’s a 2011 graduate of the Davey Institute of Tree Sciences.
Davey Tree Expert Co.’s North Chicago Residential/Commercial operating group promoted Brian O’Niel to market manager. O’Niel joined Davey in 1995, when the company acquired Wilhelm Tree and Lawn Care. He was promoted to assistant district manager of Davey’s Denver Residential/Commercial office and to district manager of the Boulder, Colo., Residential/Commercial office in 2003. In 1995, he graduated from the Davey Institue of Tree Sciences. He also holds an associate’s degree in forestry from Cabrillo College.
Davey Tree Expert Co.’s Boulder, Colo., Residential/Commercial office promoted David Kalyan to district manager. Kalyan started in 2003 as part of Davey’s acquisition of Boulder Tree & Landscape Co., where he had worked for 22 years. He was promoted to assistant district manager in 2016. Kalyan holds an associate’s degree in forestry from Paul Smith’s College.
Ruppert Landscape’s Construction Division promoted Patrick Luzier, Mike Ward and Adam Bennett.
Luzier, who brings three decades of industry experience, was promoted to the position of southern regional vice president. He studied psychology and history at California State University at San Bernardino. He started at Ruppert in 1995, rejoined the company in 2003 and has since served as branch manager of the Georgia landscape construction branch.
Ward, who started with Ruppert as a crewman, was promoted to the position of branch manager in the company’s Texas landscape construction branch. Since 1990, he’s held positions such as foreman, estimator, purchaser, contract administrator, project manager, business development manager and, most recently, director of preconstruction services and estimator.
Bennett was promoted to the position of branch manager in the company’s Georgia landscape construction branch. He graduated from The Ohio State University in 2001 with a bachelor’s in turfgrass management and landscape contracting. He started his career working in enhancements and light construction. He joined Ruppert in 2015 as a field manager and was promoted to production manager in the Maryland landscape construction branch.
