Profile® Products celebrated the work of several distributors at its annual awards banquet, which was held in early February during the International Erosion Control Association Conference.

“If it weren’t for our distributors’ hard work, innovation and commitment, our industry wouldn’t be where it is today,” said Wally Butman, vice president of international sales and key accounts for Profile. “These awards are just one way we can recognize the positive impact distributors have on projects and our communities.”

This year’s “Project of the Year” award recipient is Construction EcoServices for their work restoring Memorial Park Land Bridge in Houston, Texas. After decades of rapid growth and industrialization, a team of locals, scientists and other experts set a plan in place to restore the coastal plain habitat and improve the park’s ability to handle stormwater, hurricanes, floods and droughts. Construction EcoServices used Profile’s GreenArmor™ System, a reliable replacement for hard armor, and hydraulically applied ProGanics® Biotic Soil Media to reinforce root systems and replenish the soil. Almost a year after the application, soil tests were taken and showed a 116% increase in organic matter, a 148% increase in cation exchange capacity and a 423% increase in respiration.

Additionally, this year’s “International Project of the Year” award winner is Maccaferri Environmental Solutions for their work on the Chenab Railway in Jummu, India. As one of the world’s highest railway arch bridges, the complex topography and extreme weather conditions proved challenging not only to build the structure, but to revegetate the surrounding area. After using Profile’s Soil Solutions Software (PS3), the Maccaferri Environmental Solutions team employed Profile’s GreenArmor System with hydraulically applied ProGanics and Flexterra® HP-FGM®. They also applied JumpStart™ and BioPrime™ to accelerate germination.

The “Project of the Year” award winners are selected based on the size and scope of the project, the quantity and variety of Engineered Specified Products (ESPs) used, the effort required to write the specifications and the amount and severity of obstacles to overcome.

Other individuals and companies awarded for outstanding performance include:

• Rookie of the Year Award: the most outstanding effort by a new ESP distributor
  • Heritage Landscape Supply
• Fast Lane ESP Growth Award: the most rapid growth over the past year
  • Green Resource
• HydroStraw® Top Gun Award: for the most rapid growth of HydroStraw products over the prior year
  • Cascade Geosynthetics
• ESP All-Pro Team Award: the distributor sales representatives who exemplify outstanding promotion and sales of Profile ESPs
  • Tren Hagman, Granite Seed - Utah
  • Addison Cheek, Hanes Geo Components
  • Ari Ekstein, Quality Seeds
  • Jeff Foresberg, Hanes Geo Components
  • Mike Everhart, EJ Prescott
  • Patrick Goosen, Brock White Canada
  • Laura Finch, Triton Powered by Ferguson
• ProGanics Pro Distributor Award: the most rapid growth of sales and outstanding promotion of ProGanics from a distributor 
  • Domestic winner: GroGreen
  • International winners: PGG Wrightson and Centaur Singapore
• ProGanics Pro Individual Award: the most rapid growth of sales and outstanding promotion of ProGanics by an individual
  • Domestic winner: Tyler Faircloth, Geo Solutions
  • International winners: Pro International and Centaur Singapore
• President’s Club Award: the distributor who sustains excellence and growth over a period of years, while promoting all of Profile’s product categories
  • GroGreen
• Top Gun Award: the distributor who achieved the highest total sales in 2022
  • National: Hanes Geo Components
  • Regional: Ramy Turf
• Hydraulic Industry Icons Award
  • Don Sharp, Finn Corporation
  • Dean and Carlotta Myers, Bowie Industries
  • James Lincoln, Turfmaker Corporation

GreenArmor™ System installation on the Memorial Park Land Bridge.	Aerial photo of the Chenab Railway Bridge after erosion control solution completion.

Profile® Products is pleased to welcome Mark Wilson, Harman Gilbert and Matt Garrett to the horticulture team.

Wilson is Profile Horticulture’s new director of sales. A University of Florida graduate with more than 35 years in horticulture and commercial agriculture, Wilson will develop strategy and structure for sales integration and product introduction, and will also build talent and identify emerging markets. He previously held positions at Ball Seed Company, Fluence Bioengineering and Syngenta Flowers. 

Gilbert is Profile’s new technical services manager. A graduate of the University of Florida, Gilbert has held various roles in the horticulture industry, including grower, sales representative, product manager, technical manager and national sales manager. Before joining the Profile team, he worked at Florikan®, which is now a Profile Horticulture company, as well as Phormium and Bio Best.  

Garrett is Profile Horticulture’s new product manager. With eight years of experience at Corteva Agriscience, Garrett held various marketing roles and led the company’s specialty crop business managing nematicides, insecticides, fungicides and herbicides. Prior to Corteva, he worked at Cargill and helped launch a startup company and expand it to an international presence. Garrett earned a Master of Business Administration degree from Texas A&M University.

“We are thrilled to bring Mark, Harman and Matt’s diverse experiences to the Profile team,” said Wes Martin, Profile’s vice president of horticulture/lawn and garden. “Harman’s background with Florikan and Matt and Mark’s extensive agriscience experience will help us continue to provide the best customer support and product recommendations to our horticulture customers.”
 

McKhenzy Welch, CPESC, CEPSCI, has joined the Profile® Products team as market development manager.

As part of the environmental solutions team, Welch will be responsible for developing and driving business in the energy and civil construction restoration markets. 

Welch has extensive experience in environmental consulting, storm water compliance and enforcement, as well as erosion and sediment control design and implementation. He is a Certified Professional in Erosion and Sediment Control (CPESC) and Certified Erosion Prevention and Sediment Control Inspector (CEPSCI). Welch most recently worked for the city of Charlotte, North Carolina, in the land development and erosion control department. He is a graduate of North Carolina State University and earned a bachelor’s degree in environmental science.

“McKhenzy has a talent for creating strategic relationships between individuals and organizations,” said Steve MacShane, market development manager at Profile. “With his strong partnership-building skills and expertise, we’re excited to have him on the team.”

Dibble was awarded for his outstanding contributions to the erosion control industry

Pictured left to right: Jerry Sanders (IECA president), Adam Dibble (Profile Products) and Samantha Roe (IECA CEO).­ Photo courtesy of IECA.

Adam Dibble, CPESC, CESSWI, vice president of sales for environmental solutions at Profile® Products, recently received the Sustained Contributor Award from the International Erosion Control Association (IECA) at the 2023 awards ceremony.

The Sustained Contributor Award recognizes an IECA member who has made outstanding contributions to improve the erosion and sediment control industry for a sustained period of time. Recipients have provided distinguished service to the organization and industry through education, government involvement, research, establishment of standards or policies or the development of technology.

“Adam is an outstanding professional who goes above and beyond,” said Shane Porzio, president of Profile. “He has a passion for the industry, the people and the technology and that passion is manifested by Adam’s tireless efforts each and every day. As an active member of our team and IECA, he is propelling the industry forward.”  

Dibble is a regular contributor to industry publications, bringing new ideas, best management practices and emerging technologies to the forefront of conversation. Through this effort, Dibble opened up a new era of work for the industry that looked at soil as part of the solution, not the problem. Throughout his career, Dibble and his team have hosted hundreds of field days for professionals to show proper installation and application techniques of hydraulic materials and equipment use. During his time as IECA president (2019-2021), Dibble encouraged member engagement and recruitment of young professionals into the organization. 

Dibble was previously recognized as a Storm Water Solutions rising star and young pro, an IECA outstanding professional, and was in the 2019 Four Under 40 IECA class. He is the former president of IECA’s board of directors, the current chair of CPESC for EnviroCert International, a member of the Sports Turf Management Association and the American Marketing Association.

HydraFiber®, an advanced substrate manufactured by Profile® Products for use in commercial and consumer growing media, recently received the Recycled Content Environmental Claim Validation (ECV) from UL Solutions, a global leader in applied safety science. The validation, based on UL 2809 Environmental Claim Validation Procedure (ECVP) for Recycled Content, demonstrates that HydraFiber is a responsibly made, sustainable growing media substrate.

Close-up of HydraFiber® Advanced Substrate

The ECV process from UL Solutions is a widely recognized program that uses rigorous scientific analysis to determine the accuracy of manufacturers’ sustainability claims. Upon review process completion, Profile earned validation for nine HydraFiber SKUs, including its family of HydraFiber Ultra products, HydraFiber EZ Blend, and the HydraFiber Natural line. All products are eligible for yearly review and renewal. 

Because many environmental claims can be vague, UL Solutions Environmental Claim Validation programs are designed to provide clear and precise language for maximum relevance and clarity. The ECV Mark shows that products have been evaluated by an objective third party and independently validated in accordance with applicable standards. 

“ECV certification is additional confirmation of our commitment to improve the industry and the environment,” said Wes Martin, vice president of horticulture/lawn & garden at Profile Products. “We’re proud to recycle what would otherwise be waste by-products by turning it into an advanced substrate for growing plants.”

HydraFiber is a proprietary engineered fiber substrate manufactured with recycled Southern yellow pine wood chips designed to improve consistency, porosity and water availability for plants. The patented substrate has superior water-holding capacity, which stimulates better root development and healthier plants. All HydraFiber products are proven, top-performing, environmentally friendly amendments and alternatives to perlite, peat and coir. 

To learn more about HydraFiber products, please visit HydraFiber.com. 
To learn more about UL 2809 Recycled Content Validation visit: UL.com/ECV. 
 

Organization honors retirement of Jim Tanner as long-time leader who transitions to the board to support his successor Shane Porzio

Profile® Products, a leading developer and manufacturer of highly engineered specialty agriscience materials, today announced that Jim Tanner, Chief Executive Officer, will retire from his position as CEO effective March 31st, 2023. Shane Porzio, currently President, will succeed Jim as President & CEO and as a Director on the Board of Directors on April 1st, 2023. 

Shane Porzio

Jim Tanner

Shane Porzio brings extensive executive experience to Profile Products. Alongside Jim Tanner as CEO, Porzio has been acting President of Profile Products since 2021. Prior to that appointment, he was Senior Vice President and Global Head of the Food and Performance Materials divisions for Vantage Specialty Chemicals. He also spent 22 years with BASF in positions of increasing responsibility, with the last 11 years of his career there in various senior executive roles responsible for leading growth in emerging markets and throughout the world. Shane received his Ph.D. in Polymer Science from The University of Akron, an MBA from Wake Forest, and his undergraduate degree in Chemistry and Anthropology from Beloit College.

“I want to thank Jim for all he has done as CEO, growing Profile into the company it is today, and positioning it so well for growth in years to come. I am honored and excited to have the opportunity to lead this outstanding organization as we build on a strong foundation,” Shane commented.  “My focus will be on continuing to execute on the strategy we have in place to deliver best in class products while maintaining our long history of innovation focused on advancing sustainability. I look forward to working closely with our leadership team and employees to serve our customers.” 

As President and CEO of Profile Products, Porzio will continue to drive the company’s winning culture, market leadership and profitable growth, while deploying the structure and process needed to sustain growth at an exemplary pace. 

Jim has held leadership roles with Profile since 1991. Jim has held a variety of positions over his three decades at the company beginning in the marketing department and rising to lead the executive team. Under his guidance, Jim has nurtured the entrepreneurial culture that Profile Products thrives on to this day. Through organic growth and acquisition, Tanner’s tenure is marked by exponential growth, innovation, and global expansion of the business.

“We started with a small clay business and, together, we have built an incredible company.  It has been my pleasure to work with each of you and to help enable the success of our company.  It is because of our culture 
and our commitment to each other that we have experienced unprecedented growth.” Tanner shared in announcement of his retirement. I have so many wonderful memories of serving alongside each member of the team, thank you. I have tremendous confidence that Shane will continue to lead the growth of our great company into the future. I am excited to see what this team and Shane will accomplish together.”

In retirement, Jim Tanner will join the board of directors of Profile Products to further advise the Profile Products team and pursue other personal endeavors. 
 

The facility will expand the company’s wood fiber production capacity by 50%

Profile® Products, a global agriscience technology manufacturer, celebrated the grand opening of its new manufacturing plant in Monticello, Georgia, on December 14, 2022. 

Pictured left to right: John Schwartz, Greg Heisler, Jamal Diallo, Jim Tanner and Gary Bowers cutting the ribbon during the grand opening ceremony.

The new facility features state-of-the-art technology to manufacture sustainable wood fiber technology.

The investment will expand the company’s wood fiber production capacity by 50% while initially creating 80 new local jobs. This comes less than two years after a plant expansion in Conover, North Carolina, which doubled Profile's wood fiber production at that time. 

The new Monticello facility will feature state-of-the-art technology, improve logistics and enhance safety and quality control systems for Profile’s product lines. The location will produce wood-based erosion control technologies as well as Profile’s flagship horticulture product, HydraFiber® advanced substrate.

“We are excited to open this facility to not only ensure readily available, environmentally friendly products for customers, but to also create jobs and give back to the Jasper County community where we live, work and play,” Profile CEO Jim Tanner said. “This facility investment coupled with the community’s dedicated workforce is a great step toward achieving our long-term goal of sustainable technologies while meeting our customers’ needs.” 

The ribbon cutting ceremony also commemorated long-time employee Gary Bowers, who has been instrumental in Profile’s operational excellence and multiple plant expansions during his nearly 20-year career with the company, by naming the facility after him. 

The expansion builds on Profile’s commitment to environmental stewardship. Through its manufacturing efforts, Profile has already recycled more than 5 billion pounds of wood and paper, and the new wood fiber processing plant will continue to divert those resources from the waste stream and reintroduce them into the environment as sustainable products. 

Rebecca Young has joined the Profile® Products team as chief human resources officer. 

Ms. Young will be responsible for all human resource activities across Profile, including employee attraction and retention, organization and talent development, as well as compensation, benefits, and recognition programs. Additionally, Young will focus on key initiatives supporting Profile’s ESG platform. 

“We are thrilled to bring Rebecca onto the Profile team,” Shane Porzio, president of Profile, said. “With her extensive HR experience as well as employee-centric approach and affable demeanor, she will excel in this position and support our employees at all levels. Rebecca will continue to build upon the positive employee culture with new initiatives that drive engagement and recognition.”

Young holds more than 22 years of human resources experience, including seventeen years at General Electric. During her tenure at GE, Young held Human Resource roles of increasing responsibility in four different GE business units, including Aviation, NBC Universal, GE Power and Water, and GE Appliances. Young also spent four years in HR Leadership roles with global medical device company, Smith and Nephew. Most recently Young was the Vice President of HR Business Operations at Bright Spring Health Services. Rebecca began her career HR career in GE’s prestigious Human Resources Leadership Program. She holds a master’s degree in human resource management and bachelor’s degree in psychology, both from Purdue University.