People on the Move: Hirings and promotions from Ruppert Landscape, Takeuchi, Toro and more

People on the Move: Hirings and promotions from Ruppert Landscape, Takeuchi, Toro and more

As a result of the company’s restructuring to shift from a service line-based division structure to a geographic division model, Ruppert Landscape promoted Fred Key and Jim Tuzzolino to division presidents in the company’s north and south divisions, respectively. In their new roles, Key and Tuzzolino will oversee all landscape maintenance and installation operations within their divisions, working closely with regional managers to influence operational decisions that better serve customers and team members. 

Fred Key

Fred Key

Key brings more than 30 years of industry experience and has been a vital part of Ruppert for 22 years, serving in various capacities including crewman, area manager, landscape construction production manager, branch manager, region manager, region vice president and more. Most recently, he served as chief operating officer for the maintenance division.

In 2009, Fred was honored with the Clyde Vadner Merit Award, one of the company’s top accolades, recognizing his consistent hard work and dedication. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business from Salisbury State University and is a graduate of the Owner/President Management (OPM) executive leadership program at Harvard Business School. As division president in the north, he will oversee all branches in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, DC and Virginia. 

Jim Tuzzolino

Jim Tuzzolino

Tuzzolino graduated from SUNY Cobleskill with a Bachelor of Science degree in wildlife management. He has more than 25 years of industry experience and has been a key player in Ruppert’s construction division for almost 20 years. Jim started his career at Ruppert as an intern and worked his way up through the ranks to assistant foreman, foreman and more until his most recent position as region vice president. Tuzzolino has been recognized with several awards, including the company’s Branch Impact Award in 2005, the Achievement Award in 2008 and the Clyde Vadner Merit Award in 2012. As division president in the south, he will oversee all branches in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee and Texas. 

“Fred and Jim have been instrumental in driving our company’s growth and success over the years,” said CEO Phil Key. “Their promotions are a testament to their leadership, dedication and the significant impact they’ve had on our team and operations. I’m confident that under their guidance, our divisions will continue to thrive and deliver exceptional service to our customers.” 

Jeffrey Ratliff joins Takeuchi as new director of sales and marketing

Takeuchi-US appointed Jeffrey Ratliff as its new director of sales and marketing, replacing Henry Lawson, who is retiring after six years with the compact equipment manufacturer.  

A resident of Buford, Ga., Ratliff will be responsible for dealer sales development and national account business and activity in North America. His role includes helping Takeuchi-US achieve company market share objectives, including dealer sales, budgeting, asset management and inventory audits. Ratliff will also direct and manage Takeuchi’s national rental accounts.   

“I’m very pleased to be with a company that’s so focused on delivering the best possible value to its customers,” Ratliff said. “All over our office, you see signs saying to ‘Do what’s right — the Takeuchi Way,’ and that’s the mindset our entire team embraces every day. Our motto for 2025 is ‘Make Our Best Better.’ We’re focused on continuous improvement, and that’s something I’m excited to be a part of.” 

Ratliff joins Takeuchi-US with nearly 25 years of experience helping teams deliver new products and services to the market while simultaneously driving revenue growth, margin improvement and market share growth.?Over the past two decades, Ratliff worked in the ag equipment industry, taking on increasing responsibilities in sales and product management, eventually becoming the marketing director for an international ag machinery manufacturer.  

Share This

Comments