Two new TPI Board of Trustees members were elected at the last TPI annual meeting and they officially took office on July 1. We are pleased to provide some background information on each of these gentlemen.

INTRODUCING YOUR NEW TPI BOARD OF TRUSTEE MEMBERS TIM WOLLESEN

Tim is the President/Owner of Sales Midwest, Inc. and Diversified Asset Solutions in Olathe, Kansas. Tim was raised on a farm and went into farming straight out of high school. Prior to starting Sales Midwest in 1996 (this year marks their 20th anniversary), Tim was in the lumber industry. It was during this early part of his career that he became familiar with the Donkey Truck Carried Forklift and developed a lifelong relationship with Ken Ensor of Quality Corporation. To hear Tim tell it, he was planning to leave the lumber business and start a new venture in equipment sales and service. Ken invited him to see turf equipment at TPI’s 1995 Summer Field Day at Todd Valley Farms in Mead, Nebraska. “Being a farm boy, but not knowing anything about the sod industry at the time, I wondered how big could the show really be and how much equipment could it possibly take to just grow grass?” Tim says

that going to that first TPI show gave him a real education. When Sales Midwest, Inc. began its business, Donkey Forklift was their first line of equipment; it was soon followed by Brouwer/Kesmac, Progressive Mowers, Brillion Seeders, First Products, Master Craft Forklifts and TAMANET. Te company also carries a wide range of parts for the products they sell and they ship new equipment and used equipment all over the world. In 2010 Tim became a certified auctioneer and started Diversified Asset Solutions/Assetbids.com. Te company, unlike many auction sites, specializes in serving the turf industry. Tim is quick to point out that with the exception of a few TPI shows that were outside the U.S., he has attended every one since becoming a member in 1997. As for volunteer work, Tim stated, “Probably the most rewarding volunteer work I have done was as a pilot volunteering my plane and time to fly missions for Angel Flight which is a non-profit organization that arranges humanitarian and medical flights for adults and children in need. Trough Angel Flight I became a First Responder for Homeland Security and was one of the first pilots in New Orleans when hurricane Katrina hit. I would fly medical supplies in and patients out. During that time I also flew dignitaries up and down the coast to access damage. Tat was a very tense time frame as you just can't imagine the amount of devastation and chaos that was going on.” Tim’s wife Dawn and his son Colton are his life and he enjoys any time they can spend together traveling, going to the lake or hunting.

MARK H. TRIBBETT Mark is the President/Farm Manager of JB Instant Lawn, Inc., in Silverton, Oregon, that also has a second location in Redmond, Washington. Te company was founded in 1967 by Paul and Marie Jensen. Te farm has been a TPI member since 1970. JB Instant Lawn is headquartered in the heart of Oregon's Willamette Valley. JB farms grows nearly 1200 acres of sod and seed, in Oregon and Washington. In addition to growing turfgrass they do big roll installations. Te company also grows and sells hazelnuts to a local coop/packer and blueberries for another local packer. Tey also sell packaged seed under their own label to wholesale and retail markets. Mark got into the turfgrass business when he married his wife of 27 years, Anne-Marie and he has been actively

involved ever since. In addition to managing the farm, Mark is also a member of the board of directors of Tee-2-Green, and the Hazelnut Growers of Oregon. He has been a trustee at his community church for the past 5 years. Mark and Anne-Marie are the proud parents of two daughters, Teresa and Lena, and two boys, Paul and David. Mark enjoys spending time with his family, participating in outdoor activities, hunting and working on classic cars.

12 TPI Turf News July/August 2016