Proudly serving the industry for which it was named for more than 50 years, Outdoor Power Equipment provides dealers who sell and service outdoor power equipment with valuable information to succeed in a competitive market.
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INDUSTRY NEWS 14 OCTOBER 2016 OUTDOOR POWER EQUIPMENT www.outdoorpowerequipment.com Stihl Inc. names director of information services EDA's EDF announces scholarship awards T he Equipment Dealers Foundation (EDF), the charitable organization of the Equipment Dealers Association (EDA), has selected 20 men and women to receive a scholarship for the 2016-17 academic year. EDF's objective is to support the education, training and advancement of current and potential employees in the equipment industry. Scholarships funds were awarded to qualifi ed students/trainees who were sponsored and recommended by equipment dealerships throughout the United States and Canada. Scholarships are available in each of EDA's nine regions. Including matching funds from sponsoring dealerships, the scholarships totaled $36,000. "The EDF Scholarship helps create long-term employees for dealerships by assisting with their education, training and advancement," said EDF Board Chairman Tom Nobbe, a dealership owner who understands the value of having employees with varied experience and education. "Students can use their funds for a variety of programs from individual classes to post- graduate degrees. Job opportunities within a dealership are diverse, and needs are changing constantly. We have to support and encourage education that will meet the needs of the industry now and into the future." Scholarships were awarded for degrees and training, ranging from two-year technician programs to four-year degrees in agribusiness management, economics and Spanish. Despite the wide variety of degrees sought, the goals of these students are essentially the same — to expand their knowledge in a fi eld they are passionate about, which will, in turn, help their employer to succeed. EDF's increased commitment to education and training requires a signifi cant need for additional funds to match the growth in applications submitted by current and future employees of dealer members. For more information about the EDF scholarship program or to make a tax-deductible contribution, visit www.equipmentdealer.org/ourFoundation. National TurfMutt Teacher Award announced T he Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI) announced August 16 that Scholastic is creating a National TurfMutt Teacher Award in conjunction with the program's annual "Be a Backyard Superhero" essay contest. The winning teacher will be awarded a trip to the National Science Teachers Association annual conference in Los Angeles March 30-April 2, 2017. The TurfMutt essay contest launches this fall. K-5 students will submit essays on how they are helping TurfMutt and the Outdoor Powers combat the environmental villains (Carbon Creep, Dust Demon, Dr. Runoff and Heat Freak). One winner will earn a $10,000 grant for his or her school to spruce up its grounds or put in an outdoor classroom. Watch www.TurfMutt. com for contest entry rules and deadlines. This fall, a new TurfMutt poster also will be sent to more than 80,000 schools, urging teachers, students and parents to "Know Your Climate Zone," and identify their climatic region so they can plant the right grass, shrubs, trees and fl owering plants appropriate for their area. But, not to rest on his laurels, TurfMutt, the spokesdog for OPEI's successful and ever-growing TurfMutt program, has been hard at work this summer, sharing his message about caring for living landscapes. He recently went on a "Paw it Forward" tour out West, where he visited the Equipment Dealers Association (EDA) and Sellers Expositions (GIE+EXPO's event management company), as well as fi lmed the fi rst of several episodes of the new season of CBS's "Lucky Dog" television show, airing on Saturday mornings. This summer, TurfMutt has also been sharing tips and holding giveaways during TurfMutt Tuesdays on his Facebook page. Visitors can win prizes for sharing how their own TurfMutts enjoy their green spaces, and how they are helping promote and care for their living landscapes. Watch for more details on new program developments, as well as TurfMutt's travels, contests and special announcements. S tihl Inc. has hired Tom Scott as the new director of information services. Scott will be responsible for all U.S. activities related to Information Technology (IT) — including business applications, system architecture and communication infrastructure support — for Stihl Inc., as well as its branches, distributors and servicing dealers. Scott brings more than 30 years of IT leadership to Stihl, most recently serving as the interim chief information offi cer for Dollar Tree Stores in Chesapeake, Va. Beyond IT, Scott has overseen distribution, customer service and human resources. As chief operating offi cer and chief information offi cer for Coldwater Creek, he helped transform the catalog-only business by launching Internet and retail channels. During his more than 30-year career, he has also been responsible for the construction or management of seven distribution centers and eight call centers. "Scott brings a wealth of knowledge in all aspects of information systems, from information technology to distribution to call centers," said Bjoern Fischer, president of Stihl Inc. "His experience contributes to delivering excellent service for Stihl customers, which is the core of our business." "I'm excited to join a company that focuses as much on its customers as its products," said Scott. "I look forward to delivering fi rst-rate, effi cient service to Stihl employees, branch distributors, dealers and customers."