Kris Kiser Receives First-Ever Louisville Tourism Impact Award
Kris Kiser, (pictured above) the president and CEO of Equip Exposition, the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute and the TurfMutt Foundation, was presented with the first-ever Louisville Tourism Impact Award in recognition of his outstanding dedication to the city. The award was presented to Kiser during the official corporate kick-off of the 2025 Kentucky Derby Festival, the 69th annual They’re Off!.
“It’s a true honor to be the first recipient of this award,” says Kiser. “Louisville is now home for me, and I’m proud to be part of its continued momentum as one of the country’s most vibrant cities.”
Kiser’s ties to Louisville run deep. A native of the region and a graduate of the University of Louisville School of Law, he relocated from Washington DC to Louisville in 2022. He brought the management of award-winning Equip Exposition in-house, immediately establishing its offices in downtown Louisville, a key step in strengthening the partnership between the city and the organization he leads.
“We’re always looking for ways to promote the city,” adds Kiser. That support includes a recent $1 million contribution from the TurfMutt Foundation to Waterfront Park, now home to the newly-named TurfMutt Great Lawn. The Foundation has been a leading advocate for green space and outdoor learning for over 15 years, and both the Foundation and OPEI now also have an office presence in Louisville.
Last year, the Kentucky Humane Society (KHS) honored Kiser with the 2024 Excellence in Philanthropy Humane Hero Award for his long-term support of the organization and for animal rescue and rehabilitation. Kiser also serves on the Waterfront Development Corporation Board of Directors and Kentucky Venues Advisory Board.
More than 1,000 supporters and community members gathered for the awards luncheon at The Galt House Hotel’s Grand Ballroom to launch the Derby season.
Mark McCarel Joins EnP as Northeast Territory Sales Manager
Mark McCarel
“My golf experience will be most relevant to this role, but my time at UgMO Technologies allowed me to learn and hone other business skills relating to sales, marketing, product development, and customer success,” said McCarel. “My experience over the last 30 years will help me guide customers on how best to value and position the Foliar-Pak product line to their end users—to deliver the promised results and ensure their success.”
McCarel’s hands-on experience and passion for turf make him a strong addition to the EnP team. “We’re very excited to bring Mark on board,” said George Murray, EnP President. “He has a deep understanding of what turf professionals need to succeed, and we’re confident that his expertise will help us strengthen our presence in the Northeast.”
McCarel is already looking forward to what’s ahead. “I’m really energized to be part of the EnP team,” said McCarel. “Talking turf again during the interview process reminded me how much I missed this industry. Everyone I’ve met so far has been fantastic, and the feedback I’ve heard from folks I trust in the field about the Foliar-Pak line has been overwhelmingly positive.”
SiteOne Hires Dan Carrothers as VP, Agronomic Business Development
Daniel Carrothers
Carrothers is excited about SiteOne’s deep expertise, product selection, and its potential to help different types of customers as they grow and develop their businesses. “SiteOne has virtually everything,” said Carrothers. “No other distributor out there can bring that vast array of potential solutions to landscaping professionals like SiteOne.”
Carrothers brings 35 years of industry experience, driving growth across a wide range of products and customers. Prior to joining SiteOne, he was the Director of Global Special Solutions for FMC.
He plans to enhance SiteOne’s relationships with customers who use agronomic and erosion control products throughout their lifecycle. “A small customer can walk into a SiteOne branch and get everything they need. As they grow, their needs will change, and we will be focused on customizing our products and services for them to continue to exceed their expectations. The whole idea is to grow stronger together. I am excited to be part of a company that has that vision of growth with its customers.”
Carrothers has held positions in sales and marketing with Emery Oleochemicals, BASF, Bayer and Monsanto. Carrothers served on the boards of directors of Responsible Industry for a Sustainable Environment (RISE), National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP) and Project Evergreen. Additionally, Carrothers also helped start one of the largest Weedman franchises in North America, and served as the COO of a data analytics company.
Carrothers has a bachelor’s degree in Agriculture from the University of Guelph, Ontario and an Executive MBA from Queens University, Ontario.
