Management changes at Walters Gardens

ZEELAND, Mich. -- Walters Gardens, Inc. has announced that Vice President of Sales Niles Riese will be leaving the company at the end of this year.

Riese has worked in the green industry since 1978 for companies like Goldsmith, Benary, Sluis & Groot (now Syngenta), and Glass Corner. In the last five years at Walters Gardens, he has helped to build new relationships with key large growers, was instrumental in forming a successful partnership with Proven Winners, and helped to build the company’s sales. If you wish to contact Niles after Dec. 21, please contact the new Vice President of Sales, Darren Barshaw, for more information.

Barshaw has been promoted to vice president of sales, a position in which his focus will be on broker relationships, mass merchant sales, and key house accounts. He has spent nearly 30 years in the green industry as a broker sales representative for Vandenberg Bulb and EHR, and has worked in sales at Walters Gardens for the past year. Barshaw’s mission is to provide his customers and broker representatives with solutions to help them grow their business.

Company president Evan Elenbaas is shifting his focus to back to sales. Elenbaas is now responsible for managing relationships with the direct sales force and building business with key house accounts. He will also manage and grow the Proven Winners Perennials program which began in Fall 2010. Elenbaas has worked in the green industry since 1982, including the last 20 years at Walters Gardens.

Walters Gardens has also recently hired a new office manager. Julie Zylstra will manage a staff of 10 customer service representatives who have a sterling reputation for being helpful, knowledgeable, and friendly with customers. She will work to maximize the productivity and efficiency of the office staff. Zylstra comes to Walters Gardens from Pell Greenhouses where she previously worked as the Young Plant Program Manager.