New England Blade – NESTMA and The TurfZone.com

* NESTMA member for 30 years
* Past President of NESTMA
* Past STMA Board Member
* Chair of STMA Environmental Committee
* Chair of STMA BMP Task Force
* Undergraduate Degree Ornamental Horticulture: Penn State University
* Graduate Degree Plant Pathology/Entomology: University of Rhode Island

What was your first job in the industry?
When I graduated from URI, I worked as a sales representative for Lofts Seed, Inc. and handled retail and professional accounts for Southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
Where did you go from there?
I moved away from my regional sales position and became more involved in the professional turf division, providing technical agronomic support for distributors, as well as national lawn care, sod, sports turf, and golf accounts. I also served as the agronomist that worked with the advertising agency to develop marketing pieces for the professional turf division. The company was sold and became a part of a larger turf seed/forage company. In that new company, I continued in my role as the agronomist for the company’s marketing support and handled sales training for the landscape and sports turf markets. After that company folded, I joined Turf Seed/ Tee to Green as an agronomist/sales rep covering distributor support for the northeast states and eastern Canada, eventually I went back to a regional sales role with Valley Green, Inc. for a couple of years before joining the faculty at UConn. I have been at UConn for 10 years, coordinating sustainable turf/landscape programs.
Who was your mentor when you were first starting out in the business, and why?
There were 2 people that definitely supported me early in my career: Dr. Richard Hurley, the Director of Research for Lofts Seed, and Dr. Noel Jackson at URI.
I met Rich the summer between my sophomore and junior year in college, when I applied for a summer position to work at the Lofts’ research facility. The following summer, he recommended me to work as an intern in Holland with Barenburg Seed, one of Lofts’ European seed partners. He encouraged me to pursue a graduate degree and career in turf.
Noel Jackson was a preeminent turf pathologist and my major professor at URI. I learned a lot from him while pursuing my graduate studies. And, I can acknowledge, he was instrumental in my meeting my future husband.
What’s the best business advice you’ve ever received?
If you are asked a question and don’t know the answer, don’t make something up. Get the answer and follow up with the person that asked the question.
Always try to treat people the way you would like to be treated. Be honest and respectful to those you work with and you should expect to be treated in the same fashion.
What advice would you share with people starting out in sports turf management today?
Two pieces of advice:
To quote a person that was one of my dearest friends, the former sports turf manager at University of Tennessee and past president of STMA, Bobby Campbell, “This in an industry where, if we do our jobs correctly, we help create memories. As professionals and caretakers of the fields, it is our responsibility to remember that as we complete our tasks. We do not want that memory to be based on a bad playing field. We need to pay attention to every detail in everything that we do.”
To professionals starting in the sports turf industry… this industry is a great industry in which to be involved. I have met sports turf managers from across the country and if anyone asks for help to solve a problem, or share equipment or recommended practice, every one of the sports turf managers I have met will not hesitate to take the time to help their fellow sports turf professional. So, make an effort to get to know others in our profession, attend the NESTMA Field Days or Workshops,