FOR RELEASE:  January 9, 2008
MEDIA CONTACT: Georgene Thompson, 717-243-1349, georgenethompson@comcast.net

ITODA Announces 2008 Leadership Team

Ned Herod, President of Herod Seeds, Inc. in Richmond, VA, has been elected the new president of the Independent Turf and Ornamental Distributors Association (ITODA) with his term beginning on January 1.   Herod’s election was preceded by two terms as ITODA Vice-President and he has been a board member since 2004.  He succeeds Brian Feury of The Terre Company of New Jersey, Clifton, NJ, who will continue his service as past president.

Also elected as officers for 2008 are Vice President Brian Smith, Arizona Sports Turf, Scottsdale, AZ and Secretary/Treasurer Chris Petersen, Tom Irwin, Inc., Burlington, MA.

Newly elected to the Board of Directors during the group’s annual Fall Conference are independent distributor David Shields of Supreme Turf Products, Fenton, MA and Don Spier of Precision Laboratories, Inc. in Waukegan, IL, who was chosen by the Associate Members to be their representative for a two-year term. 

The Board will be completed by Don Naumann of Sierra Pacific Turf Supply, Inc., Campbell, CA serving a Board appointment for a one-year term and Sheree Scarbrough from Excell Minerals, Sarver, PA continuing her term as the second Associate Director through 2008.

During the Annual Membership meeting in October, outgoing President Brian Feury thanked Kevin Connelly of Landscape Supply, Inc. and Associate Director Art Assad of Agrisel USA, Inc. for their dedicated service as they completed their terms on the Board of Directors.

ITODA is a national organization representing independently-owned businesses who sell to the turf and landscape industry. It includes the suppliers and manufacturers who sell to them. ITODA’s mission is to strengthen the independent distributors’ marketing position in the golf course, lawn care, landscape and ornamental horticulture plant protection markets through education, training, and communication.