producers are my bread and butter; selling to them is how I make a living. If TPI and the turfgrass producers are not successful, we as vendors will not be successful.”
Tim was elected to the TPI Board of Trustees and officially began his three-year term on July 1, 2016. “I have served on several different boards, and I’ve never seen any as dedicated as the TPI Board. I have the greatest respect for each of them. Everyone brings their own unique perspective to each issue discussed, but we all have a common goal for the association to succeed and grow. We’re all dedicated to listening to the ideas and concerns of our members and addressing them.”
Tim understands the challenges facing the industry, and the need for a proactive approach to addressing them. As well as the plastic grass, ever-more-stringent governmental oversight and regulations, and the inaccurate news spread by environmental activists, there’s the shortage of qualified employees. All those factors impact vendors as well as sod producers. He says, “We need to be united in making our voices heard, and TPI is working on that. I truly believe TPI is on the right path to achieve long-term success.”
Family is Number One Dawn and Tim were not looking for a long-term relationship when they met. Each of them was out with friends who just happened to choose the same spot to gather that evening. Tim says, “I like to say that I rescued her. She was the beautiful blond lady out on the dance floor surrounded by a crowd of guys that all wanted to dance with her. I stepped in and the two of us had a great time and danced the night away.”
Te next night, with no preplanning, both groups of friends decided to go out again—and to the same place— which neither group usually did. “We spent the night dancing again,” says Tim. “And that time, we planned our next meeting. Dawn is the love of my life, my wife, my soul mate. We think alike; we like the same things; we’ve never had an argument.”
Dawn has always worked in marketing. She’s currently the digital marketing manager at Bunzl Processor Division/ Koch Supplies, an international distribution company for food and meat processing and packing supplies, working on the website and social media portals.
Tim says, “We don’t work together, and we don’t talk shop. All my travel could be hard on our marriage, but she understands that sales is all about relationships and knows how important it is for me to establish and maintain those personal connections. Dawn loves to fly and she took a ‘Pitch Hitters’ course so, in case of an emergency in the air, she’d be able to get us back to the ground safely.”
Tim and Colton Wollesen pose for a photo during a pheasant shoot hunt- ing trip.
Tim jokes that he’s the pilot and the flight attendant when he and Dawn take off for the lake on weekends. He’ll have a cocktail and peanuts ready for her to enjoy on the trip, while he’s doing the flying.
Tim says, “Our son, Colton, turned 25 on March 31. We have only one child, so life has, and does, revolve around him.” Tim, Dawn and Colton all love the outdoors and have taken numerous trips together for hunting, skiing, snowmobiling and summers at the lake. “Te three of us have a great relationship.”
Tim is a little jealous though, because he says Colton will call Dawn more than him when he just wants to talk. “So, if I want to spend some quality time with him, I’d better be dressed in camo,” says Tim. “And ready for Colton’s call on where we’re headed.”
Colton graduated from Pittsburg State University in May with a business degree, and a major in marketing. He’s accepted a position with Excel, Inc., a marketing firm in Kansas City. Tim agrees it’s a great opportunity for him, but he can’t help hoping that, over time, when Colton has had some experience with what work is like in the “real world,” he’ll see even greater opportunities with Sales Midwest. Time will tell.
Suz Trusty is co-editor of Turf News. All photos courtesy of Tim Wollesen.
34 TPI Turf News May/June 2018
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