Everde Growers has announced several key changes in its sales management team. The restructure comes nearly four months after the strategic acquisition of La Verne Nursery.
Meredith McLeod was promoted to Vice President of Sales, Independent and Landscape, in which he will oversee national landscape and independent garden center customer sales channels. McLeod began his career with TreeTown USA in 2007, and over the past 15 years has been instrumental in the development of the sales team and many of the inventory and planning processes that Everde Growers uses today. He has worked in virtually every facet of the sales department, first solidifying business in the Texas region with National Accounts and most recently as Sales Director of the South Central region. McLeod participated in the inaugural class of the Texas Nursery & Landscape Association Leadership Bootcamp in 2021 where he further developed his unique leadership style.
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In conjunction with McLeod’s promotion, Andy Bristow was hired on October 1 as Director of Sales, South Central region. Bristow worked for Bonnie Plants for over 27 years, beginning his career in 1995 as a Regional Sales Representative, working his way up to National Sales Manager, and most recently serving as their Regional Operations Manager. He brings great experience in both sales and operations to the Everde Growers team. An Alabama native, Bristow attended Auburn University and currently lives outside of Dallas, Texas.
Rick Stiles, Director of Landscape Sales, Southwest region, retired as of October 1 after a 33-year career with Everde Growers and formerly Village Nurseries. Stiles began his career in 1989 in the sales department at Village Nurseries’ Puente location in Brea, California. Stiles rose to be one of the leading experts in the California nursery and landscape industry and was a trusted source of information for his team, customers, partners and competitors. Stiles played an integral role during the acquisition of Village Nurseries by TreeTown USA in 2017, growing business during the company’s rebrand to Everde Growers while maintaining core local business.
Following Stiles’ retirement, Spike Mitchell was assigned as Director of Landscape Sales, Southwest region. Mitchell is based in Southern California and was formerly Director of Sales at La Verne Nursery (now Everde Growers’ Piru, California farm). Mitchell has a great knowledge of the California nursery industry as well as independent garden centers and the landscape side of the business.