PRESIDENT’S TURF The Importance of Relationships
2022 TPI Board of Trustees
Officers Jim Keeven
Since the passing of my Mom, Vivienne, on July 3, and her visitation and funeral, I’ve been thinking a lot about the whole concept of relationships, and the importance of them, in both personal and professional life. Te outreach to our family was exceptional, a tribute to the many people that Mom and Dad touched during their lives and an outpouring of support and love that touched our hearts. Words don’t begin to express how much it meant to us during this time. It’s those relationships that help you through the difficult times and the very good times, too.
Mom and Dad formed strong relationships, as they developed and ran their business, and throughout the community. During their retirement they continued connecting with people, both here in the Midwest and around their second home in Florida. We’re a family with eight kids, yet there was always room for more. Mom always welcomed our friends, not only while we were growing up, but throughout her life. During the visitation, many long-time friends came to connect with us and share their memories of special times with Mom and Dad.
It’s all been nostalgic for me. I’ve been thinking about all the people that I’ve met through TPI and how those relationships have grown over the years, and how much I cherish them. Te TPI connection has deep roots for our family, going back to the early days of the Association. (Ed Keeven Sod Co., Inc., O’Fallon, Missouri, is on the list of the American Sod Producers Association Charter Members in the ASPA Archives, dated March 27, 1968.) Dad and Mom attended many meetings over the years, making life-long relationships. And, of course, they took us kids with them, and we started our own relationships. Ten with Tommy and then Eddie serving on the Board and as president, their relationships grew. Being on the Board, and now being president, I’m getting to meet even more people. With the third generation now active in our businesses, a whole new set of relationships are being formed. Te number of TPI members that sent messages and that showed up at Mom’s visitation was so incredible. What an organization this is that I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to build those relationships.
Te TPI Board has long recognized the worth of relationships. At our last meeting, we decided to bring back the regional representation that helped the association grow in its early days. A state representative serves as an ambassador to reach out to the other sod producers in their state. Tese groups meet for a couple hours at each Conference to discuss what is going on in their state— and build relationships. Now we will extend this worldwide, with a country representative to keep the whole international connection strong. If you are interested in serving as a state or country representative, please contact me, or any of the Board, or TPI staff members. Let’s keep those relationships growing.
Warmest Regards,
President Jim Keeven SelecTurf Inc. – U.S.A. +1-573-634-3444
jim@selecturfsod.com
Vice President Bob McCurdy McCurdy Farms - U.S.A. +1-731-692-3515
mccurdysodfarms@gmail.com
Secretary-Treasurer Diane Mischel DeBuck’s Sod Farm, Inc. – U.S.A. +1-810-653-2201
office@debucksodfarm.com
Past President Steve Griffen Saratoga Sod Farm, Inc. – U.S.A. +1-518-664-5038
steve@saratogasod.com
Executive Director Casey Reynolds, PhD Turfgrass Producers International – U.S.A. +1-847-649-5555
creynolds@TurfGrassSod.org
Trustees Daniel Huggett Columbus Turf Nursery – U.S.A. +1-740-983-6580
danielh@columbus-turf.com
Albrecht Knigge Rasenland – GERMANY 495 101 915361
knigge@rasenland.de
Larry LeMay A-G Sod Farms, Inc. – U.S.A. +1-559-289-2302
llemay@agsod.com
Lindy Murff Murff Turf Farm, Inc. – U.S.A. +1-281-328-2812
lmurff@murffturf.com
Ron Schiedel Greenhorizons Group – CANADA +1-519-778-7500
ron@greenhorizonssod.com
Cliff Stewart STEC Equipment, Inc. +1-864-225-3666
cliff@stecequipment.com
Wade Wilbur Sod Shop – U.S.A. +1-913-814-0044
wade@sodshops.com
2
TPI Turf News September/October 2022
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84
