People on the Move: Promotions and recognitions from Ewing and the Building Industry Association

Tom Childers (Photo: Ewing Irrigation & Landscape Supply)

Ewing Irrigation & Landscape Supply appointed Tom Childers as the executive vice president of Sales & Marketing.

Previously, Childers served as the Eastern Division vice president and has been instrumental in the growth and development of Ewing in the east.

“Tom has been invaluable within our executive team as a division leader, and with his extensive experience in sales and marketing within the green industry, I’m looking forward to seeing Tom in his new role and the positive impact it’ll have at Ewing,” said Douglas W. York, Ewing’s president and CEO.

Childers joined Ewing in early 2018, bringing nearly 30 years of sales and marketing experience in the green industry. Previously, Childers was the co-founder and president of Landscape Today, a sales and marketing agency serving green industry manufacturers, for nearly four years. Prior to that, he was the senior vice president of marketing at John Deere Landscapes for nearly 13 years. He also held leadership roles with Toro and Turf Care Products. Childers earned a Master of Business Administration in marketing from Kennesaw State University in Georgia and a Bachelor of Science in finance from Auburn University in Alabama.

At the San Bernardino Water Conference, the Building Industry Association (BIA) awarded Robb Starr with the Lifetime Achievement Award.

“The Building Industry Association Southern California Baldy View Chapter is pleased to recognize Rob Starr for his distinguished career at Toro and previous contributions on our Board of Directors,” said CEO Carlos Rodriguez. “Over the years, Rob has collaborated with us and helped the annual San Bernardino County Water Conference emerge into one of the premier policy forum discussions in our state. We are grateful to Rob for sharing his invaluable insights, his technical attributes and volunteering countless hours to the betterment of our industry.”

One of Starr’s efforts in water conservation is The Water Zone radio show. With sponsorship and support from The Toro Co., The Water Zone began in 2015 in response to the water crisis that impacted much of the western U.S. Its purpose was to keep listeners in the Southern California region informed and updated about the drought and ways to conserve in business and at home. Since then, he and co-host Chris Davey have grown the show to become a forum for industry experts, government leaders, authors, environmentalists and others to discuss issues and opportunities for water conservation across the country.