PLANET |

Become a Registered Guest
Login Help
Lost Password?

Contact: Heather Finney
Phone: (800) 395-2522
E-mail: Heather Finney

For Immediate Release

PLANET NAMES NEW PRESIDENT

HERNDON, Va., May 1, 2009 — The Professional Landcare Network (PLANET) is pleased to announce the selection of William Hildebolt, Ph.D., CTP, CTP-CSL, as president of the association for 2009/2010. He will be sworn into office on June 24, 2009, at its Annual Membership Meeting during Summer Leadership in Stevenson, Washington. “It is both an honor and a privilege to be serving as president of PLANET, which represents more than 4,000 professionals who care for our green spaces and environment,” says Hildebolt.

A native of Eaton, Ohio, Hildebolt attended The Ohio State University where he received a B.S., an M.S., and a Ph.D. in Food Technology. Early on in his career, he worked for the Campbell Soup Co., where he helped develop and improve numerous domestic and international products, most notably those in the Prego Spaghetti Sauce line. Hildebolt later held several vice president positions with the Campbell Institute for Food Research and Technology before joining R.J. Reynolds Tobacco, where he was responsible for product and process development.

In 1994, Hildebolt leveraged his agricultural background, education, and job experience into a new venture, Nature’s Select. Today, his company employs upwards of 30 people providing lawn care, aerating, overseeding, and other services to customers in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. “My agricultural roots go very deep,” says Hildebolt. “My great, great grandfather was a farmer and the first settler in his township, and I’ve been involved in farming my entire life. In fact, there’s a great deal of synergy between my interest in agriculture and Nature’s Select where we focus on restoring a lawn’s natural life-cycle for our customers.”

Hildebolt has never been one to sit on the sidelines. Prior to his positions on the PLANET Board of Directors, he served on the board for the PLANET legacy group the Professional Lawn Care Association of America (PLCAA). While working in the food industry, he held several board positions and currently serves on the President’s Advisory Board for the College of Food, Agriculture, and Environmental Science. He also holds more than 20 patents in food process and food products.

“I have two keen areas of interest as PLANET president,” he relates. “The issue of professionalism is still a primary concern, and, even though the industry has come a long way over the years, our association needs to maintain its focus on providing the tools and resources necessary to continue to raise the level of professionalism among our members and within the entire green industry.

“Secondly, I would like to see PLANET expand the quality of life message to incorporate actual data about the positive impact our members and our industry have on the environment. We know that the services we provide take carbon out of the air, have a cooling effect, and reduce noise pollution in addition to having a wealth of other positive influences on our environment. Backing up what we already know with quantifiable data would add tremendous value to our quality of life message.”

For a photo of Hildebolt, please contact Heather Finney or call (800) 395-2522.

PLANET is the association of members who create and maintain the QUALITY OF LIFE in communities across America. With more than 4,000 member companies and affiliates, these firms and their employees represent more than 100,000 green industry professionals.