Hydroponics Businessmen from Advanced Nutrients Become Knights in European Holy Order

Michael Straumietis, Eugene Yordanov and Robert C. Higgins of Advanced Nutrients Inducted Into Order of St. Michael

VANCOUVER, British Columbia--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Michael Straumietis, Eugene Yordanov, and Robert C. Higgins, the founders of the world's leading hydroponics nutrients company Advanced Nutrients (www.advancednutrients.com), received a huge honor from a legendary European religious organization that dates back to 1149 A.D.

Robert C. Higgins, Eugene "Gino" Yordanov, and Michael Straumietis founded Advanced Nutrients in 2001. The thriving hydroponics nutrients company is based near Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, and is still run by Higgins, Yordanov and Straumietis.

Advanced Nutrients is known worldwide as the leading manufacturer of dozens of highly rated specialty formulas for commercial farmers and amateur gardeners who use hydroponics, greenhouses and soil systems.

In a solemn ceremony that's been part of European tradition for centuries, Robert Higgins, Eugene Yordanov and Michael Straumietis were inducted as knights in the Order of St. Michael during a business visit to Bulgaria in late 2007.

The Order is an exclusive organization that has existed for nearly 1,000 years. Many Knights are highly placed government officials, captains of industry, sports heroes, and civic leaders. The only way to get into the Order is by being born into it, or invited.

According to Advanced Nutrients co-founder Robert C. Higgins, the Order first learned about Advanced Nutrients because company co-founder Eugene "Gino" Yordanov is a native Bulgarian.

Yordanov explains that Advanced Nutrients creates jobs for Bulgarian scientists and researchers.

"Bulgaria has highly respected scientists, researchers and technicians who keep our research and development at the highest level," Eugene Yordanov explains. "We're funding agricultural research and manufacturing. It's a large contribution to the Bulgarian economy."

But that's not the only reason the Order inducted Gino Yordanov, Robert C. Higgins and Michael Straumietis.

"Gino helped us find ways to charitably assist disadvantaged people in his home country," says company co-founder Michael Straumietis. "And when he learned that many Bulgarian churches and art were damaged during World War II and by communists after the war, he organized Advanced Nutrients' help to repair these valuable historic and religious artifacts. This came to the attention of the Order so they asked us if the three of us wanted to be knighted."

Straumietis, Higgins and Yordanov say that becoming members of the Order is the most meaningful honor they've ever received.

 
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