Ashlee Parker-Osborne has joined PBI-Gordon Corp.’s marketing and communications (MarCom) department as its new senior corporate communications manager.

In addition to directing and coaching the PBI-Gordon MarCom team, Parker-Osborne will manage corporate-driven marketing materials and employee-owner communications.

Parker-Osborne brings 20 years of professional communications experience to PBI-Gordon, including at not-for-profit and financial service organizations and a Fortune 100 company. She earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Missouri-Columbia and is currently working toward her Master of Science in integrated marketing and communications at the University of Kansas.

“We are thrilled to have Ashlee on the PBI-Gordon MarCom team,” said Carrie Bergman, PBI-Gordon’s senior director of marketing. “Her exceptional experience and proven leadership skills will have an immediate impact on how we serve our customers and industry partners.”

Grunder Landscaping Co. (GLC) promoted Seth Pflum to COO.

Pflum’s extensive managerial experience, combined with his tenure with GLC as a landscape designer, group leader and general manager, ensures his success in this new role, said the company.

“Seth is a talented leader with a keen eye for systems. His talent for combining and leveraging technology, systems and people is setting us up for success at Grunder Landscaping Co. and putting us on a path to grow,” said President and CEO Marty Grunder. “We think the future of landscaping companies is bright and we wish to be one of the leaders.”

Anuvia Plant Nutrients added Shawn Semones, Ph.D., as vice president of research and development (R&D).

In this position, he will focus on establishing rapid innovative development of new microbial and biological technologies which align with the company’s current sustainable biobased products.

“This is a great opportunity to help move Anuvia’s products to the next level and examine opportunities for new products and formulations,” Semones says. “I look forward to meeting the challenges and being a part of this dynamic and aggressive Anuvia team.”

Semones’ career in agriculture R&D spans more than 20 years. He most recently served as executive vice president of R&D and CTO for Concentric Ag. In this role, he was responsible for all aspects of R&D, regulatory, manufacturing of biological products, as well as business development efforts. Previously, he worked at Novozymes Biologicals, where he helped build its BioAg R&D Application Division.

Semones holds a doctorate in biology – plant physiology/mycology from Virginia Tech and a Master of Science degree in biology – plant physiological ecology from Virginia Commonwealth University.

Brandon Brown, an ISA Certified Arborist and former president of Schneider Shrub and Tree Care, will join SavATree to lead its business expansion into the Florida market.

Brown graduated from Clemson University where he studied trees. In his role as a district manager with SavATree, Brown will be building an expert team, opening new branches, identifying potential partners and participating in a variety of industry related associations.

“We have long admired Brandon for his contributions to the industry and are delighted to have him on the team. His deep knowledge of tree care and experience recruiting, coaching, training and building teams dovetail precisely with what we look for in a strong leader,” said Daniel van Starrenburg, executive chairman.

Arborjet named Korey Lofy regional technical manager for the Rocky Mountain and Great Plain states, including Utah, Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, Colorado, Nebraska and Arizona.

“I look forward to growing and maintaining relationships with distributors and end users of Arborjet products and equipment. I also want to keep expanding my knowledge of the industry and educate others about the many innovative products Arborjet brings to the marketplace,” Lofy said. “Helping folks build businesses and save trees is something I’ve always been proud of.”

Lofy is an ISA Certified Arborist with a Pesticide Applicator’s license in four states. He has been involved in the green industry for 20 years. He began his career working in a greenhouse at the age of 13 and went on to start his own landscaping company to help pay for university. He successfully graduated from the University of Wisconsin at Stevens Point with a triple major in urban forestry, forest recreation and interpersonal communications.

“We are always happy to bring on new talent like Korey to assure continued success and growth,” said Russ Davis, Arborjet president and CEO. “I’m proud to say that Arborjet continues its legacy of providing the highest quality products and services in the industry. We are abiding by our mission to develop the latest technology and offer top notch service, now in our 20th year – keeping people and planet in mind.”