PBI-Gordon adds two to team

The employee-owners of PBI-Gordon Corporation announced two hires this week: Geoff Smith joined the company’s sales team as national key account manager, and  Lyndsie Balstad is the new product manager for the marketing team.

As national key account manager, Smith is responsible for enhancing customer intimacy with key account decision-makers within the golf and professional lawn care markets. He will also help identify new opportunities for product placement and work to enhance the PBI-Gordon existing product portfolio. 

Smith was formulator sales territory manager for Gowan USA, for whom he implemented an acquisition plan to deliver $25 million in new formulator business. He also previously worked with The Scotts Company for several years, eventually rising to manager of global active ingredient sourcing.

He earned a bachelor’s degree from Ohio State University and earned his MBA from Ashland University.

“We are excited to welcome Geoff to the PBI-Gordon team of employee-owners,” said Jason Manz, senior director of national accounts. “Geoff’s deep understanding of the formulation business, and his focus on innovative customer solutions, will be a huge asset as we grow the PBI-Gordon portfolio.”

Balstad will focus on the herbicide portfolio by supporting product life cycle management and driving innovation to bring new products to the market.

Before joining PBI-Gordon, she worked with Corteva, where she most recently served as sales effectiveness manager for the Pioneer Seed brand. Previously, she served as Corteva’s U.S. corn herbicides product manager, where she was responsible for the launch of Resicore herbicide and streamlining corn herbicide products and pricing programs during the merger of DuPont and Dow AgroSciences.

She earned a bachelor’s degree of science in applied economics from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. 

PBI-Gordon SVP Neil Cleveland said the company is, “excited about the insights and contributions Lyndsie will bring to our team. Ultimately, her deep knowledge of product and program management will benefit PBI-Gordon customers as we continue to deliver innovative solutions for the golf, professional lawn care, sports turf and consumer markets.”