The Scotts Miracle-Gro Co. has announced that board member Karen G. Mills has resigned, as she has been nominated by President Obama to serve as administrator of the Small Business Administration. Mrs. Mills, a board member since 1994, served as the lead independent director of the board. She was also a member of the audit committee and an interim member of the compensation and organization committee. “I would like to congratulate Karen on this exciting opportunity to further serve American business,” said Jim Hagedorn, Scotts chairman and CEO. “If small business is the engine of economic growth, then President Obama will be well-served to have Karen in this critical role. She has been a valued counselor to ScottsMiracle-Gro, particularly in helping us shape and strengthen our long-term growth strategy. We honor her service to the country and would welcome her back to our board in the future.”
Stephen Wilkinson, executive director of the International Zinc Association (IZA), has announced the appointment of Dr. Ray Hoyum as director, fertilizer and crop nutrition. IZA’s global zinc fertilizer program addresses zinc deficiency in soils, crops, and humans through the increased use of zinc in fertilizers. Prior to joining IZA, Dr. Hoyum was vice president, international market development, for The Mosaic Co. He has over 20 years of experience in the industry in global marketing and educational programs for agricultural products. In addition to serving on numerous national and international association boards and committees, Dr. Hoyum has authored more than 250 marketing and educational publications. He received his B.S. in Soil Science from the University of Wisconsin, and both his M.S. and Ph.D. in Agronomy from Auburn University.
The International Plant Nutrition Institute (IPNI) has named Dr. John Ryan of the International Center for Agricultural Research in Dry Areas (ICARDA) as the winner of the 2008 IPNI Science Award. Dr. Ryan is Soil Fertility Specialist/Principal Scientist/Consultant, located at Aleppo, Syria. He receives a special plaque plus a monetary award of US$5,000.00.
IPNI noted that Dr. Ryan has worked on five continents during his career and has bridged the gap between the developed and undeveloped world.
Dr. Ryan earned his B. Agr. Sc. in 1967 at University College Dublin and a Ph.D. in Soil Science at University College Dublin/National University of Ireland. Later, while serving as a post-doctoral researcher in soil science in the Soil and Water Science Department as a Fulbright Scholar at the University of Arizona, he earned his M.S. in Agricultural Education. In 1999, he was awarded a Doctor of Science degree by University College Dublin based on significant published work.
Before joining ICARDA, Dr. Ryan was Soil Fertility Specialist/Professor of Agronomy with the University of Nebraska, working with the USAID/MIAC-Maroc Project based at Aridoculture Center, Settat, Morocco, from 1987 to 1992. From 1975 to 1986, he was Professor of Soil Science at the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences, American University of Beirut, in Beirut, Lebanon. For more information see www.ipni.net.