People and Events

People

Kevin Hurd will take over as Proven Winners North America LLC’s new products director this September. He will be responsible for finding new plant varieties with strong consumer appeal that are profitable for growers, and to develop and maintain beneficial relationships with breeders. Prior to joining Proven Winners he was a product representative for Darwin Perennials/Ball FloraPlant and a plant breeder and research horticulturalist for Walters Gardens.

Tom Carruth, the award-winning rose hybridizer, is now the new E.L. and Ruth B. Shannon Curator of the Rose Collection at The Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens. He replaces Claire Martin, who held the position for 28 years. Prior to this position he was the director of research, marketing and licensing at Weeks Roses in Wasco and Pomona, Calif., where he led the company’s hybridizing efforts since 1998. Carruth has introduced more than 100 rose hybrids and has been involved in the California rose industry since 1975.

Louis Kester joins Schoneveld Breeding as commercial director. A graduate of Wageningen University, he worked for FloraHolland and Javadoplant for several years, and held various managerial positions at the latter. Schoneveld Breeding says that with the addition of Kester, it will be able to continue to develop its policy of building long-term partnerships and providing support in the form of in-store promotion and by strengthening brand and shelf positions.

BFG Supply Co. appointed Chris Chmura central region sales manager. With more than 10 years of sales experience, Chmura was recently the sales executive-account for Kohler Inc. A graduate of Bowling Green University, he will oversee sales and sales reps in the East and Central regions.

In recognition of her commitment to botanical pursuits that has further enriched the greater Charleston horticultural community, Linda Guy, co-owner of Plants Nouveau LLC, was presented with the 1830 Award by the Charleston Horticultural Society. She was nominated by fellow horticulturist Kari Whitley of Scout Horticultural Consulting. The award honors exemplary horticultural service and creative vision in the Lowcountry.

Richard Smith has now assumed the office of president and Charles Germano will fill the dual roles of treasurer and vice president for the North American Horticultural Supply Association (NAHSA). Smith will begin serving his full one-year term during the annual meeting in June and Germano will assume the office of vice president. The board will elect a new treasurer at that time.
 

Calendar

June
3-5,
North American Horticulture Supply Association annual meeting,
Fort Lauderdale, Fla.,
www.nahsa.org/

21,
Darwin Perennials Day,
Chicago,
www.darwinperennials.com

27,
Dallas Arboretum Plant Trials Field Day,
www.dallasplanttrials.org
 

July
14-17,
OFA Short Course,
Columbus, Ohio,
www.ofa.org


August
14-16,
Plantscape Industry Expo,
Las Vegas,
www.piagrows.org


September
10-12, OFA Perennial Production Conference,
Grand Rapids, Mich.,
www.ofaconferences.org

16-19, International Trials Conference,
London,
www.rhs.org.uk


November
7-8, Northeast Greenhouse Conference and Expo,
Worchester, Mass.,
www.negreenhouse.org