PlantAmerica NewsRoom

PlantAmerica, a rapidly expanding green industry technology firm, has named Todd Steadman, ASCA as Vice President of content. In this role, he will direct the company’s information and knowledge strategy as well as the look and feel of the various web sites. A licensed landscape architect, Todd has practical experience in all aspects of the green industry—from nursery work, to landscape contracting and maintenance, to landscape architecture. However, his most extensive background is in publishing as it relates to horticulture and landscape architecture. He is the former Senior Garden Editor for Southern Living magazine where he helped launch the Garden Annual and the Southern Living Garden Guide and authored the book Courtyard to Country Gardens. After leaving Southern Living and successfully starting his own marketing and design firm, he went on to create and launch Garden Gate magazine, where, as Editor in Chief, it grew to become one of the country’s largest circulation-based consumer gardening magazine. He then accepted a position as Publisher and Editor in Chief of Landscape Architecture magazine, the country’s premier and oldest publication for landscape architects and guided it through the centennial celebration of the founding of the profession and the 90th year of the magazine. Steadman is an award-winning author, receiving recognition from the Garden Writers Association of America, Bedding Plants International, and the American Society of Landscape Architecture. He most recently gained valuable Internet experience by helping launch an Atlanta-based consumer gardening site, “planetgarden.” There he served as their Editor in Chief and Vice-President and Director of Content. “Todd’s experience as a green industry editor, publisher, and independent industry businessperson will be a tremendous asset to our team,” said PlantAmerica Chairman Rick Webel, “He has demonstrated an ability to inform, educate, and innovate through both traditional and Internet communications, and his leadership will help provide PlantAmerica partners, customers—and their customers—with highly-relevant knowledge.” PlantAmerica focuses on helping the lawn and landscape industry work more effectively, boost sales, and increase customer loyalty. It was co-founded in 1995 by Rick Webel, managing partner of Innocenti and Webel. The company has become a key resource for horticulture, nursery and landscape professionals, by providing unique business tools, including easy-to-use Internet-based marketing tools, consulting services and exclusive CD-based plant references covering the works of Dr. Michael Dirr and Dr. Allan Armitage.