TURF INDUSTRY NEWS

Ross previously worked as a regulatory engineer for handheld lawn and garden equipment for MTD Southwest, Inc. He was the truck and traffic manager for concrete mixers and pumpers at SCHWING and the senior business manager for mixers and refuse vehicles at McNeilus. He was a project engineer for electric and fueled utility vehicles at Cushman and the engineering manager for tracked vehicles at LMC. Kris Kiser, president and CEO of OPEI, said standards and regulations work is ongoing and of high importance to OPEI members. “We’ll continue to tap into the best industry experience available as OPEI continues to progress its technical, regulatory and compliance areas.”

New NALP Board of Directors Take Office

National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP) new Board of Directors' term began May 1. Brett Lemcke, Landscape Industry Certified, vice president of R.M. Landscape, Hilton, New York, is the new president. President-Elect is John Cundiff, Landscape Industry Certified, Weed Man-Kansas City, Lees Summit, Missouri. Te Secretary/Treasurer is Jeff Buhler, Massey Services, Orlando, Florida. Immediate Past President is Scott Jamieson, Landscape Industry Certified, Bartlett Tree Experts, Grayslake, Illinois. 2016-2017 Directors-At-Large include: Jason Becker, Landscape Industry Certified, Caterpillar, Cary, North Carolina; Mike Bogan, Landscape Industry Certified, LandCare, Frederick, Maryland; Jim Campanella, Landscape Industry Certified, Lawn Dawg, Nashua, New Hampshire; Joy Diaz, Landscape Industry Certified, Land Care Inc., Las Vegas, Nevada; Pete Farno, Bayer, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina; Tom Fochtman, Landscape Industry Certified, Ceibass Venture Partners, Arvada, Colorado; Zach Johnson, Landscape Industry Certified, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado; Paul McDonough, Landscape Industry Certified, KOCH Agronomic Services, Wichita, Kansas; Frank Mariani, Mariani Landscapes, Lake Bluff, Illinois; Shayne Newman, Landscape Industry Certified, YardApes, New Milford, Connecticut; Barb Stropko, Landscape Industry Certified, New Desert Gallery, Inc., Tucson, Arizona; and Andrew Ziehler, Landscape Industry Certified, Ziehler Lawn and Tree Care, Centerville, Ohio. Bogan, Farno and Mariani are new to the Board this year.

Project EverGreen’s “Healthy Turf. Healthy Kids.”™ Creates Disk Golf Course for Minnesota Park

Project EverGreen, a national non-profit promoting the value of preserving and revitalizing managed green spaces, brought its “Healthy Turf. Healthy Kids.”™ Initiative to Court Square Park in Belle Plaine, Minnesota on April 23. Working in partnership with the Belle Plaine Park Board and City Council, Belle Plaine Chamber of Commerce, Belle Plaine High School FFA, Project EverGreen and industry volunteers provided the materials and labor to repurpose and renovate 150,000 sq. ft. of existing turf in Belle Plain’s Court Square Park into a useable, safe, six-hole disk golf course. Te new course will capitalize on the growing popularity of the sport which uses a Frisbee instead of a golf ball and challenges players of all ages to hit targets – either a basket or object target – to complete a hole. Te transformed green space renovations, which are valued at more than $4,000, will provide a new, more inclusive outdoor recreation option and foster a greater sense of community for Belle Plaine’s 6,000 plus residents. Project EverGreen’s “Healthy Turf. Healthy Kids.” is a nationwide initiative to renovate and revitalize parks and athletic fields to ensure children have access to safe managed green spaces on which to play and exercise. Yards, parks and athletic fields not only promote a healthier lifestyle but contribute to economic growth, community development and benefit the environment. For more information on how you can start a revitalization project in your community, visit www.ProjectEverGreen.org or call 877.758.4835.

Ken Edwards Named President of Deep South Turf Expo

Te Deep South Turf Expo will return to Biloxi this year on October 11-13 with Ken Edwards as President. Edwards is Sports Field Manager for the Gulfport Sportsplex, a large municipal multi-use sports complex in Gulfport, MS. He has been an integral part of the complex since its construction in 1999. Last year's inaugural Expo proved a great success with support from throughout the Southeast. Tis year's schedule has been tweaked to maximize exposure of the Exhibitors and again provide an outstanding educational line-up for attendees. Te Expo will offer breakout sessions in Professional Development, Professional Pesticide Usage and Safety, Soil and Water Management, Golf Turf, Sports Turf and Lawn Care, Landscape and Sod Production.

68

TPI Turf News July/August 2016