Hire & Recruitment News: Green Industry Roll Call

Leadership Transition at STIHL Inc.

Lorraine Amesbury HolderSTIHL Inc.STIHL Inc. announced leadership changes as Chris Keffer, STIHL Inc. President and CEO has departed the company, effective February 5, 2026. To ensure continuity of the business in the interim, Lorraine Amesbury Holder, SVP of Operations, and Uwe Hirsch, SVP of Finance, IT, Purchasing, and Quality will assume responsibility for overseeing the President’s duties. Terry Horan will continue serving as the Chairman and Sole Director of the STIHL Inc. Board of Directors. Together, they will work closely with STIHL leadership teams to maintain alignment on strategic priorities and support STIHL Inc. and STIHL Dealers through this transition. 

Keffer joined STIHL Inc. in 2022 as the Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing. In August of 2023 he was appointed President and CEO.  

Uwe HirschSTIHL Inc.“We thank Chris for his leadership and many contributions during his four years with STIHL. His efforts helped move several key initiatives forward, and we wish him every success in his next chapter,” said Michael Traub, Chairman, STIHL Executive Board.  “STIHL remains firmly committed to the U.S. market, where we proudly employ more than 2,300 people and support over 10,000 independent STIHL Dealers across the country. As we move forward in our search for new leadership, our dedication to U.S. production, dealer support, and serving customers nationwide will remain unwavering.” 

Landscaping Company Transitions Into Trust

Mainscape Inc., a Fishers, Indiana–based landscape and maintenance services company founded in 1981, has begun a phased transition into the newly established Mainscape Jubilee Trust (MJT) — a perpetual purpose trust created to protect the company’s purpose, invest in its people, and ensure shared prosperity for generations to come. Over time, the MJT will become the permanent steward of the entire company.

The MJT represents a new approach for landscaping companies seeking continuity without compromising culture. By prioritizing people and purpose, this model offers a long‑term ownership path for companies that want to remain independent while rewarding the employees who make success possible.

‘The MJT is more than a financial structure—it’s a living promise to our people and our future,’ said Dave Mazanowski, Founder of Mainscape. ‘Together, we will continue to create great landscaping experiences while building a company that feels like your own.’

Advanced Turf Solutions Arrives on Long Island

Advanced Turf Solutions, Inc., an independent and key employee-owned distributor of turf and ornamental products, has reached an agreement to acquire substantially all assets of Nassau Suffolk Turf (NST) Services, Inc. In addition to embodying the service-oriented traits ATS values, NST has a track record of selling many of the product lines ATS promotes, including Foliar-Pak and ArmorTech, as well as equipment from Steel Green Manufacturing.

The transaction is scheduled to close in early 2026, at which time ATS will welcome the entire NST team into the fold.

The acquisition marks Advanced Turf Solutions’ third major expansion in the Northeast in recent years, following the acquisitions of two other distributors, Valley Green, Inc. and Atlantic Golf and Turf LLC, in 2022 and 2025, respectively.

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