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New England Blade – The Turf Zone Interview

How long have you been a NESTMA member? I have been a member for a little over six years. I am also a member of STMA, PGMS, NEGCSA, and GCSAA.

Where did you go to school? I went to Penn State where I received a degree in Turfgrass Science and Management.

What was your first job in the industry?  My first job was on the Grounds Staff at a local golf course (Shaker Hills Golf Club). It was here that I really developed my love for turf and all things plant-related.

Who was your mentor when you first started out?  The first Superintendent that I worked for, Glenn Misiaszek (now at Cohasset Golf Club), had the greatest impact on my career. It is hard to show someone at an early age what a career or a life can be, but he managed to get it through to a young meathead like me. I also gained great mentorship from Drew Cummins who I worked for at Red Tail Golf Club during school. Drew put a lot of faith in me. While some lessons were hard-learned by my own mistakes, they helped me grow into the person I am today.

What’s the best business advice you’ve ever received? To never be afraid of trying something new of different. As our industry continues to develop, there are always new technologies, practices, and science coming out. Getting stuck in a rut of performing the same agronomic or cultural practices can be detrimental to both the areas that you manage and to your morale and attitude as a whole.

What advice would you share with people starting out today? The best piece of advice that was given to me early in my career was to see as many things as possible and to learn from as many people as possible. Having all of your experience based on one individual property or micro climate can hinder your growth, in the way that you will only learn how to manage a plant right there in the conditions common to that environment. There is a fine balance between moving around too much and not at all, but don’t be afraid to switch things up and try something new or learn from someone new. Do this early in your career, because it gets exponentially more difficult to do as you get older.

Since the beginning of your career, what is the biggest change you’ve seen in the sports turf industry? When I was first coming up in the Golf Course Industry, social media was nonexistent and the internet was in the stone ages. The amount of resources literally at hand is something that we all take for granted. Whether it’s checking weather maps and forecasts, managing irrigation systems through my phone, or being able to double check pesticide rates while my spray tech is filling up; what we have gained as managers couldn’t have been imagined by the people that came before us — it sure beats trying to stuff a bunch of books, planners, and other junk into the dash of an already crowded truck.

What’s your favorite/most useful:

Equipment? One of the most valuable pieces of equipment is my sprayer. I currently use a Z-Spray Maxx. The areas that I manage can be unique in size and access and the Z-Spray cannot be beat. Coverage, rates, and dependability have me recommending it to my peers constantly.

Product? Turface Pro League Red. The surface that it helps to provide and the lasting color that I get out of it is far beyond other comparable products I have tried. The positive feedback I get from coaches and players helps to justify the cost.

Technology? The advancement in Irrigation Central Controllers and the ability to control all aspects of their operation and management remotely through a smartphone makes my time that much more efficient.

What have you enjoyed most about being a NESTMA member? Networking with peers is often overlooked, but it is crucial for so many aspects of our jobs. Developing relationships helps on a daily basis, even if it is something as small as giving someone a call to brainstorm or asking for advice. More people could use a bit of an ego check, in that it is not saying anything bad about yourself when you ask for advice.

Can you share a bit about your family life and what you enjoy doing in your free time? I have been happily married to my wife and best friend Christine going on six years now. We, along with our two dogs, are extremely active in the outdoors. I grew up surfing, snowboarding, cycling, and hiking, all of which I still participate in regularly. My wife loves all of these sports as well, leaving us pretty much no down time at all!

Is there anything else you’d like to share with your fellow NESTMA members? There is a balance between work and life. Enjoy your life! I have seen far too many burn themselves out by self-inflicted expectations. While it gives us the eye we need for the work we do, we are our own worst critics. Cut yourself some slack. A professor once told me, “you are going to lose turf, it is just a plant and you can get it back.”