Leadership & Awards
Den Gardner:
GARDNER & GARDNER COMMUNICATIONS INC.
President, 1995-Present
Marketing communications consulting company specializing in the Green Industry, agriculture
and sports marketing.
Major Highlights:
Created Scholarship Program for retailers’ children.
Created charity golf tournament for Minnesota Literacy Council
Created ExCEL program for high school juniors
Created Scholarship Program for turf industry
CERES COMMUNICATIONS (WeberShandwick USA)
President, Ag/Turf Division, 1985-95
Major Highlights:
Created Environmental Stewardship Award for golf course industry;
Created Turf and Ornamental Communicators Association
Helped Ciba-Geigy grow turf revenue from $2 million to $24
million in seven years.
Created MAX Program with Successful Farming
Created ExCEL (Excellence in Conservation and Environmental Leadership) program for Syngenta
FARM INDUSTRY NEWS
Editor, 1980-85
Served as associate editor and, in 1994, editor of monthly magazine published for high-income growers/producers
Prior to 1980, worked on two daily newspapers in southern Minnesota and managed communications for a farm organization, based in St. Paul.
Other Relevent Information: Taught Entertainment and Sports Marketing in the MBA Program at the University of St. Thomas, Minneapolis -- 1992-1998
AWARDS:
Associated Press Sportwriting Award
Lawn & Landscape Leadership Award
Turf & Ormanmental Communicators Association Hall of Fame
Turf & Ornamental Communicators Association marketing awards (numerous over 25+ years)
Project EverGreen Vision Award
Green Media Most Influential People
National Agri-Marketing Association marketing awards (numerous over 30+ years)