Loxley, AL – Nursery industry veteran Todd Carnley is the new executive director of Plant Development Services, Inc. (PDSI), according to Greg Smith, company president. Carnley is also director of development for the new Southern Living Plant Collection, the result of an exclusive “Live Goods Licensing Agreement” between Plant Development Services, Inc. and Southern Living® magazine.
“During his 26 years in the nursery industry, Todd has played an active role in areas ranging from retail to landscaping to wholesale growing operations. Todd brings to Plant Development Services, Inc. sound market knowledge and insight, strategic vision and an ability to build strong teams,” commented Smith. “He is a natural to direct development of the Southern Living Plant Collection, given his experience and understanding of plant solutions for landscape challenges.”
Prior to joining Plant Development Services, Inc., Carnley served as sales manager for Flowerwood Nursery in Loxley, Alabama. He will continue in sales management team role at Flowerwood in addition to directing Plant Development Services, Inc. Carnley holds a BBA in Marketing and an MBA in Marketing and Entrepreneurship.
The Southern Living Plant Collection will be launched through a range of retail channels throughout the Southeastern United States in the spring of 2008 and will expand to the entire United States in upcoming seasons. The initial group of plants called “Basics for the Southern Landscape” as well as subsequent introductions will feature innovative new plants designed to solve specific landscape challenges in both the south and other regions of the country.
Plant categories in the comprehensive Southern Living Plant Collection will rapidly expand to include shrubs, trees, bedding plants, groundcovers, tropical plants, ornamental grasses, seasonals and related green goods, according to Carnley. Growers interested in the program and plant breeders with potential new cultivars should contact Plant Development Services, Inc. on the web at www.plantdevelopment.com or call (888) 922-7374.
Southern Living magazine is an internationally recognized source of lifestyle information, including Southern travel, home, food, gardening and wellness. The 7th largest consumer magazine in the U.S. (based on readership), it reaches nearly 16 million readers each month and has a circulation of about 2.8 million.
Plant Development Services, Inc., a leader in horticultural innovation, was founded in 1996 by Greg Smith in response to the need for an industry resource that could manage new plant introductions.
Of particular interest to Plant Development Services, Inc. are plants with unique performance attributes that can be patented, branded and successfully introduced to the consumer market. Plant Development Services, Inc. owns and/or licenses more than 50 patented plant properties, including the number one azalea brand in the world – Encore Azalea.
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Thursday January 10, 2008