Harris Seeds appoints new CEO

Rochester, NY – April 5, 2016 – Harris Seeds, a provider of vegetables, ornamentals and horticultural supplies to both professional growers and home garden customers throughout the United States, 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 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,” says Byram Dickes, principal owner and chairman of the board of directors.

Chamberlin has served as president of Harris Seeds since 1987. He grew the business from a small home garden mail order marketing company to its present state. 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 a 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 expertise in data analytics and marketing methodologies.

"It's truly a privilege to have the opportunity to lead this historic company as it enters its 138th year in business," Wasnock says. "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."