Your Local Team Corey Ogiba - Mount Juliet, Tennessee Belgard Sales Manager - TN/KY/WV 2015 Belgard Product Offering Corey has 10 years of experience with Belgard Hardscapes, and in the Hardscape Industry, working with landscape architects, architects, engineers, municipalities, builders, developers, dealers, homeowners, and contactors across Tennessee, Kentucky, New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, District of Columbia, West Virginia, and Delaware. Ben Howe - Hendersonville, Tennessee Belgard Territory Manager - TN/KY/WV Belgard Programs Ben Howe has been in the Hardscape Industry with Belgard for the past 11 years. He is currently the Belgard Territory Manager for Eastern Tennessee & Kentucky. He has also spent time in all other parts of Tennessee and Kentucky working with dealers, contractors, LA's, Architects, Engineers, etc. Ben is also an ICPI Certified Instructor. Jerry Livingston - Nolensville, Tennessee Belgard Territory Manager TN/KY Belgard Programs Jerry Livingston is a Belgard Territory Manager servicing Nashville, Western Tennessee and Kentucky. Prior to his current position, Jerry was Site Manager for the Belgard Design Center in Nashville, TN. He is also an Authorized Contractor Instructor for Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute (ICPI). Before his employment with Oldcastle Adams Products, Jerry was owner of a hardscape installation company in Middle Georgia for 10 years in which he was a Belgard Authorized Contractor and ICPI Certified. Starting out in the hardscape industry as a stone mason in Southern Colorado, Jerry has 14 years installation experience including landscape, grading, lighting, irrigation, swimming pools and outdoor structures.
Gary Ross - West Palm Beach, Florida Director of Sales Coaching, Oldcastle, Inc. How to Sell to a Homeoner, Planning & Organizing, & Compelling Offers Gary Ross is the Director of Sales Coaching and a Motivational Speaker for Oldcastle APG, Masonry & Hardscape Division. Gary is also a Certified Facilitator for Partners in Leadership Accountability Training. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Human Resource Management from Palm Beach Atlantic University, and earned his certificate in Supervisory Development from the University of Notre Dame. Prior to his role as Director of Sales Training, Gary was the Vice President of Sales & Marketing for Coastal, an Oldcastle Company based in Florida. He has over 36 years of sales experience including 13 years in Sales Management. Under his leadership, Coastal was able to outpace their sales budgets, and was recognized as the Oldcastle Company of the Year in 2012. Gary is an active member of the Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute (ICPI). He currently serves as the Vice Chair of the Marketing Committee, as well as a member of the Contractor Education Committee. Scott Vollmer, P.E. - Raleigh, North Carolina SRW Market Manager, Oldcastle, Inc. New Techniques with Segmental Retaining Walls & Free-Standing Walls Using Tandem Wall & Mega Tandem Wall Current position is Market Manager for Oldcastle Architectural South Region. Scott is on numerous National Concrete Masonry Association s SRW committees and task groups and regularly teaches the NCMA s Level I SRW Contractor Certification Course. Previous experience includes 12 years as the Region Manager for Keystone Retaining Wall Systems for the Southeastern US, over 2 years as Keystone C arolinas geosynthetics manager, 9 years as Contech Construction Product s geosynthetics specialist for the Mid-Atlantic region focusing soil reinforcement for retaining walls, reinforced slopes and subgrade stabilization. He also has 9 years experience as a geotechnical engineer for S&ME in Raleigh, NC and Law Engineering in Jacksonville, FL. He is a registered engineer and has a BS in civil engineering (1980) and a MCE in soil mechanics (1981) from N.C. State University.
Michael Haumersen - Racine, Wisconsin Director of Sales Manager-Belgard Elements Outdoor Living Trends Michael Haumersen is the Product Manager for the Belgard Element product line nationally and has been since the acquisition of Harmony Outdoor Living in March of 2013. Michael was the Vice President of Sales for Harmony Outdoor Living for 6 years and has over 30 years of experience in the Landscape and Building industry and served a 5 year tour with the US Marine Corps. Troy Respass - Greenville, South Carolina SE Sales Manager - Alliance Designer Products CSI - Cleaning & Sealing Troy has been in the construction industry for more than 20 years. For the last 6 years he s been focused on the hardscape industry and helping contractors understand the importance of installing their projects correctly. He has taught numerous product training and installation classes throughout the Southeast and has a passion for helping others succeed in an industry he loves. He currently is employed by Alliance Designer Products out of Montreal, CA and is their Southeast Sales Manager. Roger Van Alst - Los Gatos, California Owner & CEO - Black Diamond Paver Stones & Landscaping, Inc. Using Financing to Maximize Projects Roger Van Alst is the President & CEO of Black Diamond Paver Stones & Landscape, Inc, in Northern California. Black Diamond has been in business since 2004, and is a Belgard Master Craftsman with an exemplary reputation of being the leader in the paving & landscaping industry throughout Northern California. Black Diamond is currently leading North America in Belgard Preferred Payment Loan Amounts and is looking to share his success with the Program.
Andrew Piper - Albany, New York Sales Representative - Richards Paints Belgard Sealers & Cleaners Andrew Piper has worked in the construction field since he was old enough to use a shovel. He has worked in almost all phases, from laborer to estimator and designer to sales and product training. In College Drew became a certified Draftsman and Rendering design professional certified by AutoDesk. Drew then moved over and has been working for 4 years in the Type 2 side of the hardscape industry. He has trained hundreds of installers and installed Several Hundred thousand sq' of sealer and appropriate cleaner. He continues to boost the confidence of installers who at first are nervous with the Protection side of the business by serving as a direct contact for any and all technical or installation questions and concerns. Steve Butler - Chicago, Illinois National Account Manager - Chicago Brick Oven How to Build a Brick Oven Steve Butler is the National Account Manager for Chicago Brick Oven. He is dedicated solely to the Belgard Hardscapes across the country. He is responsible for increasing sales of Chicago Brick Ovens through Belgard s network of sales reps, landscape architects, contractors and installers. Steve has over 25+ years in sales in roles including account executive, sales manager, VP of sales and now National Account Manager. He worked with architects to gain specification of USG s extensive portfolio of products. He s worked with distributors and contractors to make sure they had their product on time as well answered any technical questions they may have with the products. Franklin Wagner - Mooresville, North Carolina SE Regional Sales Manager - iq Power Tools Safety First - Benefits to Using a Dust Control Saw Franklin Wagner is the South East Regional Sales Manager for iq Power Tools. iq Power Tools is a company that makes dustless, dry-cut masonry saws. Franklin covers from Delaware to Florida, and has been with iq for less than a year. However, Franklin has been in and around the building industry since 1995. He is very familiar with all aspects of construction and hardscaping, from manufacturing to install ation on the job site. Franklin has a Bachelor s of Business Administration with a concentration in Management from Catawba College in Salisbury, NC.
Key-Note Speaker Biography Chuck Bowen - Cleveland, Ohio Editor & Publisher - Lawn & Landscape Magazine The State of the Landscape Industry Chuck Bowen will be our Key-Note Speaker to kick-off The Belgards Awards Dinner. Chuck is the editor and associate publisher of Lawn & Landscape magazine. He s a recognized authority on what s going on right now in the landscape industry, and what s going to happen in the next few years. Under his leadership, Lawn & Landscape magazine has grown into the largest and best read publication serving the landscape industry, and it continues to be a leader in breaking news, market research and technology for contractors. Chuck is responsible for the development and execution of Lawn & Landscape s marquee research projects like the annual State of the Industry Report, Benchmarking Your Business Report and Top 100 list. Before joining GIE Media, Chuck spent several years as a newspaper reporter and magazine freelancer in the Midwest. His work has appeared in the New York Times, the Indianapolis Star and Cleveland Magazine.