Harris Seeds/Garden Trends Inc. Announces Appointment of New CEO

Rochester, NY, April 6, 2016 (Newswire.com) - Harris Seeds, a leading provider of vegetables, ornamentals and horticultural supplies to both professional growers and home garden customers throughout the United States, today announced that the Board of Directors has unanimously elected Ken Wasnock as Chief Executive Officer effective April 4th, 2016. Wasnock will also become a member of the Board. Wasnock succeeds current President Dick Chamberlin who will be retiring after almost 29 years of continuous service to the company. Wasnock will assume the title of President upon Chamberlin’s retirement on June 30th 2016. Chamberlin will continue to provide leadership as a member of the Company’s Board of Directors.

“The management team is the critical ingredient for the success of any company, and the Harris Seeds team is particularly important to the Dickes family who are absentee owners. Dick Chamberlin has been an effective leader, and has built a knowledgeable efficient management team over the past 29 years.” said Byram Dickes, Principal owner and Chairman of the Board of Directors.

Dickes added, “While we will all miss Dick, the company is most fortunate to have found Ken Wasnock.  Not only has Ken founded and built successfully several small companies, he knows the Harris Seed products well, having worked on a family owned and operated farm in Western New York.   Under Ken’s leadership, Harris Seeds will continue to build on its historical success.”

Wasnock succeeds Chamberlin, who has served as president of Harris Seeds since 1987. He grew the company from a small home garden mail order marketing to its present success. With close to 40 years of industry experience, he also served in several industry leadership roles, including president of the Mail Order Marketing Association, and on several boards and committees.

Wasnock brings to Harris Seeds an exceptional track record of entrepreneurial leadership in the development and execution of business optimization strategies that drive top and bottom-line growth. As the founder and former CEO of two Inc. 500 marketing services companies, Wasnock has significant expertise in data analytics and marketing methodologies.

"It's truly a privilege to have the opportunity to lead this historic company as it enters 138th year in business. Dick has built a world class organization defined by a talented group of people who are passionate about delivering exemplary customer service and outstanding products to their loyal customers. I look forward to working with the Harris Seeds team and our customers as we write the next chapter of the company’s long continuum of success"  Ken Wasnock said.

About Harris Seeds 

The Harris Seeds Company began in 1879 in the fertile Genesee Valley of Western New York, and developed into a leader in the distribution of flowers and vegetables for the home garden and professional grower marketplace. Located in Rochester, New York, the company specializes in high quality vegetable and flower seeds, plants and growing supplies. The company has a solid catalog and web presence, serving the home gardener and professional grower with the finest products available, coupled with exception service.