12/17/2025 - By Harrell's

We are pleased to announce Lee Simpson of the Turf Coastal Plains team as our 2025 Sales Professional of the Year. The Sales Professional of the Year (SPOTY) is the most prestigious award a Territory Manager can receive at Harrell's.

Harrell’s 2025 Sales Professional of the Year Award

The criteria to receive the award come from 15 individually evaluated categories, including sales performance, application of Harrell’s Core Values (Serve, Honor, and Glorify God, Take Care of People, and Grow our Financial Strength), and demonstration of Harrell’s Four Pillars (Humility, Gratitude, Intentionality, and Accountability). On December 10th, 2025, at Harrell’s National Sales Meeting, President & CEO Jack Harrell, III, announced Simpson as Harrell’s 2025 Salesperson of the Year.

Lee Simpson joined the Harrell’s family and the Turf Coastal Plains team 22 years ago (2003) with passion, a relentless work ethic, and determination to help his customers and colleagues succeed. Lee is recognized for his expert product and industry knowledge, as well as his ability to leverage key relationships to elevate his customers to new levels of success. Lee was nominated for the award this year by Sales Director Matt Gregg.

“Throughout 2025, Lee delivered a career-best performance. Despite facing significant challenges at the start of the year following the unexpected loss of his brother in December of 2024, Lee remained focused, tuned out distractions, and demonstrated remarkable perseverance,” said Matt Gregg.

Congratulations are also extended to eleven additional nominees for the Salesperson of the Year award:

• Bob Cross, Ph.D. – Turf Southeast

• Clint Neely – Turf South Central

• David Plunkett – Turf Florida

• Doug Johanningsmeier – Turf Midwest

• Eric Trevino – Specialty Ag Florida

• George Peterson – Turf West

• Josh Kopera – Turf Mid-Atlantic

• Mike Hall – Hort North

• Pablo Perez – Hort South

• Scott Renfro – Hort West

• Tom Hoffer – Turf Northeast

Harrell’s 2025 Rookie of the Year Award

In addition to Salesperson of the Year, Harrell’s recognizes one new salesperson as the Rookie of the Year and announces this annually for exemplary performance. To be eligible for Rookie of the Year, Harrell’s Territory Managers must be employed for less than two years and demonstrate performance beyond expectations. This year, the Rookie of the Year award was presented to Cole McNally.

Cole started at Harrell’s in June of 2024, becoming an integral part of the Turf Florida team. Cole quickly gained 23 customers in his first 6 months and an additional 17 over the next year, giving him a current and steady book of 40 customers that he grew organically. He has taken on his role with positivity and drive that only comes from someone with true passion for their customers and the industry as a whole. Cole was nominated for the award by Sales Director, Adam Ellison.

“For those of you who do not know or who have never met Cole, look for the guy in the room who is always smiling. His cheerful outlook is contagious. Talk to him about his journey, and you quickly realize why he fits the Harrell’s culture. Cole exemplifies every characteristic Harrell’s looks for in an employee-owner,” said Adam Ellison.

Congratulations are also extended to the six additional nominees for Rookie of the Year:

• Aaron Hayes – Turf South Central

• Josh Guffey – Turf Southeast

• Lance Blass – Turf Northeast

• Nick Adams – Turf Mid-Atlantic

• Nick Spardy, Jr. – Turf West

• Travis Stein – Turf Coastal Plains

About Harrell’s, LLC- In addition to being the nation’s largest distributor of branded fungicides, herbicides, and insecticides, Harrell’s produces top-quality, custom-blended fertilizers, specialty liquids, and wetting agents. Harrell’s guarantees stringent quality control procedures, tight manufacturing specifications, and careful selection of raw materials for each product that carries the Harrell’s name. Additionally, Harrell’s is proud to be the exclusive United States owner, formulator, and distributor of all POLYON® branded products.

For more information about Harrell’s, including the company’s core values to serve, honor, and glorify God, take care of people, and grow in financial strength, visit www.harrells.com.