New Faces and New Roles at Midwest Groundcovers, Jiffy, and Sollum Technologies
March 1, 2024 
Nikki Melin
Midwest Groundcovers recently announced the promotion of Nikki Melin to the position of Vice President of Sales and Marketing. With an illustrious career spanning more than 15 years at Midwest Groundcovers, Melin has seamlessly navigated various facets of the company operations, excelling in customer service, distribution, and outside sales. Her most recent role as the Sales Operations Manager underscored her exceptional leadership and strategic prowess.
Melin holds a Bachelors of Horticulture with an emphasis in Urban Forestry from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, and she further fortified her expertise with a Master of Business Administration from the Gies College of Business, University of Illinois, in 2020. In her new role as Vice President of Sales & Marketing, she assumes responsibility for spearheading strategic and tactical plans to enhance customer service, expand market share, and explore new markets. Her overarching goal is to align sales and marketing strategies, promoting, recommending, and driving sales for diverse product and service offerings while maximizing market exposure.
“Nikki’s combination of horticultural passion with business acumen consistently delivers exceptional results. Her active participation in ILCA, including a role on the Board of Directors, reflects her commitment to industry growth,” says Paul Pirkle, President of Midwest Groundcovers. “I look forward to collaborating closely with Nikki to execute our strategic initiatives and solidify our position as the first choice for customers and partners throughout the Midwest.”
Midwest Groundcovers is a provider of horticultural products and solutions based in the Midwest region. Its diverse product portfolio includes an extensive selection of groundcovers, shrubs, perennials, native plants, and ornamental grasses, serving a wide range of customers including landscape professionals, garden centers, and municipalities.
Jiffy Announces Strategic Hires to Drive Growth and Enhance Customer Experience
In a significant move to strengthen its leadership team and to further show Jiffy’s commitment to innovation and customer focus, the company announces the appointment and promotion of several key individuals. These strategic hires underscore Jiffy’s dedication to expanding Jiffy’s Preforma product line and enhance its operational capabilities, particularly with the upcoming launch of a new factory on the West Coast.
“With our North American business growing, we’re excited to introduce several strategic changes, including the expansion of our Preforma line,” says Kent Carrell, North American Sales Manager at Jiffy. “The new factory in Oregon, set to open in summer 2024, will significantly enhance our operational capacity, allowing us to better serve the West Coast and Latin America with the quality and efficiency our customers expect with great support from our team.”
- Matt Miller steps into the new role of Strategic Accounts Manager for North America. Matt will focus on enhancing service levels and deepening customer relationships across strategic grower and distributor accounts.
- Nathan Keil joins as Territory Account Manager for the Northeast U.S. sales region. With a solid background in horticulture and account sales, Nathan is poised to contribute to Jiffy’s growth in this key sales area.
- Nick McHenry takes on the role of Western Regional Sales Manager for North America (NA). Nick has been instrumental in developing the business in the Pacific Northwest and will now lead sales efforts across the Western region.
- Pilar Galvis assumes the role of Eastern Regional Sales Manager NA. Pilar’s proven track record in business development and team leadership is expected to drive significant growth in her new role, in addition to her responsibilities in Latin America (LATAM).
- Rick Mast has been appointed as the Product Manager for Preforma NA/LATAM. Bringing more than 25 years of industry experience, Rick joins Jiffy to lead portfolio management and business development for the Preforma product line.
- Will Reid has been welcomed to the Jiffy sales team as Account Manager for the Pacific Northwest U.S. With a rich background in the horticultural industry, including sales innovation in the fruit industry and research and development for alternative crops and technologies.
Sollum Technologies Expands Sales Team Across North America
Sollum Technologies, a leader in dynamic LED grow light solutions, has expanded its sales team in North America. The company is poised, more than ever, to meet the growing demand for supplemental lighting in controlled environment agriculture with advanced, intuitive, and fully customizable dynamic LED lighting solutions.
Sollum is welcoming three proven leaders to support the strategic growth of the company, including:
- Mauricio Manotas, Director Global Business Development – With two decades of horticulture industry experience, Mauricio held key positions across the Americas, including his impactful tenure as Chief Revenue Officer at ecoation. He has a proven track record in driving sales growth and assembling robust sales teams.
- Matthew Bonavita, Senior Director of Sales for the U.S. market – Matthew brings a wealth of leadership and industry knowledge from his time as General Manager/President at Ludvig Svensson, a company specializing in agricultural and horticultural climate solutions.
- Tim Gilpatrick, Sales Manager for the U.S. market – Tim brings a unique blend of experience, having worked in horticultural research and hydroponic farming operations. In line with Sollum’s mission, he excels in applying innovative solutions that enhance agricultural efficiency and sustainability.
Kassim Tremblay, recently appointed as VP, Global Sales Operations, continues his journey with Sollum, having significantly contributed to its growth since 2020.
Nick Occhionero will continue in his current role as Senior Director of Sales for the Canadian market. He remains a pivotal figure in Canada, contributing invaluable strategies and market insights furthering Sollum’s ongoing success.
In a move underscoring its growth and commitment, Sollum Technologies is also proud to announce the opening of an office in Leamington, Ontario, where a key hub of market leaders maintains operations in the area and across the border. This expansion not only strengthens our presence in North America but also aligns with our ambition to be a global leader in the horticulture industry.
“As we usher in a new chapter with our expanded team and regional efforts, our commitment to lead the change in the horticulture industry remains steadfast,” says Louis Brun, CEO of Sollum Technologies. “The opening of our new office and the strategic growth of our sales force are more than just milestones; they represent our unwavering faith in our unique technology and our dedication to innovation and excellence.”
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