New England Blade – Julie Holt, Content Director, TheTurfZone.com
Ryan Bjorn, Field Superintendent, Gillette Stadium / Kraft Sports LLC in Foxboro, MA
Education

* Vermont Technical College: Landscape Design and Ornamental Horticulture
* Stockbridge School of Agriculture: Turfgrass Management
* UMass Amherst: Plant and Soil Science

How did you get started in the sports turf industry?
I worked at Fenway Park from 2007-2010 while I was in school at UMass. (I also worked one summer at the Wainwright Complex in South Portland, Maine). After the Red Sox season finished in 2010, I joined Jon Bengtson at Gillette and worked there until I was offered a position as Assistant Turf Manager in training at the Maryland SoccerPlex in March of 2011. While there, I worked my way up and eventually took over as Director of Grounds in 2014. In August of 2019, I accepted the job of Field Superintendent here at Gillette Stadium.
Who were your mentors?
I have been extremely lucky to have learned from some of the best in the industry throughout my career. From Dave Mellor, Jason Griffeth (now at Daytona International Speedway) and Weston Appelfeller (now at Austin FC in the MLS) while at Fenway Park; to my brief time working with Jon Bengtson at Gillette, and also Jerad Minnick at the Maryland SoccerPlex, I am forever grateful for all of the lessons I learned from these professionals.
What’s the best business advice you’ve ever received?
It was probably when I was deciding whether to “make the leap,” pack up my entire life and move to Maryland for my first full-time job. It meant getting outside of my comfort zone and living away from friends and family, but a colleague gave me the courage to take the chance. If I hadn’t listened, I don’t think I would be where I am today.
What is the next “game-changer” you see on the horizon?
The next thing to make a major difference will be data-driven decision making. It has already started to be used and some great researchers/universities/industry professionals have really started to dig into what is possible when you use data to drive your agronomics, cultural practices, wear patterns, etc. The improvements in efficiency that can be made are really exciting and I hope that people in this industry embrace the change instead of sticking to “we have always done it this way and it has worked just fine.”
Can you share a bit about your family life and what you enjoy doing in your free time?
My incredible wife gave up everything in Maryland to allow me to pursue my dream job here in Massachusetts. I will be forever grateful to her for supporting me throughout the process! We have the best dog anyone could ask for, Boyd, and love having our moments to relax and unwind whenever we can get a break from the grind – especially when that means heading up to southern Maine for a weekend at the beach or lake.
What advice would you share with people starting out in sports turf management today?
Never be afraid to step out of your comfort zone. I think that a lot of us, as sports turf managers, fall back on certain practices/strategies that we are comfortable with, but that don’t necessarily advance ourselves or our industry as a whole. We need fresh ideas to help us tackle new challenges!
What have you enjoyed most about being a NESTMA member?
I would absolutely not be in the position I am today, if it wasn’t for being involved with NESTMA while at UMass. The network I was able to build (and maintain while living in Maryland), the great people that make up the membership and their willingness to help one-another, it truly is a great organization. I am happy to be back in New England and be a member again!