happen in straight lines.” Alec says, “I’d not heard that, but it’s so helpful to know. If damage is in a straight line, an operator did it, so we need to find out how, why, and stop it from happening again.”
Te best part of the Italy trip was spending time with the cohort classmates and their spouses, reports Alec. “Te trip helped Victoria understand the industry and what I do, and how great the people are. So now she’ll also look forward to reconnecting with friends at TPI Conferences.”
Alec will join the cohort’s Washington, DC, trip. “We’ll meet some key people and get an intimate look into the guts of our nation’s capital. I’m looking forward to learning more about how our government operates and how it impacts our businesses—and seeing the sights will be great, too.”
Alec appreciates how Nathan Whitaker always asks for
feedback from the cohort. “Listening to my classmates’ questions and contributions on everything from inventory control to managing employees has been a great opportunity for me, as a young farm manager, to learn from others. Te zoom session about setting boundaries for ourselves and our employees every day was something I needed to hear; it’s so easy to get wrapped up in our jobs.”
Alec would encourage others to take part in the Future Leaders Fellowship Program. “Te most obvious thing for me is the networking. Having that base of friends within your profession that you can reach out to, learn from, and rely on is so valuable.”
Haley Gavranovic Alford Horizon Turf Grass, Inc.
Haley Gavranovic Alford, a third-generation member of the family business, is on the sales team of Horizon Turf Grass, Inc., based at the company’s main location in Wharton, Texas. Horizon also has farms in Somerville and Cameron. Haley says, “I help sell and distribute sod to our customers. We target the Dallas/Fort Worth and Houston metro areas and ship throughout the state. I’ve augmented my inside sales efforts with site visits to new projects to connect directly with contractors, and we’re developing a team-wide strategy to increase those outside sales. I’m in charge of our Cameron farm, managing it remotely with twice-a-month in-person visits to work with our farm manager, Juan. I also help with marketing and farm communications.”
Haley exhibits the same high energy on the personal side. Tough growing up in neighboring towns, Haley met her future husband, Everett, at Texas A&M, while both were students, she in entomology and he was in vet medicine. After graduating from A&M, they moved to Oklahoma for four years while Everett completed vet school. Tree of those years, Haley was working in her current position, mostly remotely, with trips to the Texas farms twice a month. Teir first child, daughter Landry, was born in April. Haley says, “I never took maternity leave. Even at the hospital, I was on the phone at 7:00 am, talking to my customers and taking orders.”
Te Alfords moved back to Texas in May, living on the Gavranovic family farm. “I’m five minutes from the office, and Everett is eight minutes from his job at the Wharton Veterinary Clinic, so he can get there quickly in an emergency. With both jobs, both families in the area, and Landry growing like a weed, we’re just figuring out how to coordinate it all.”
Tat drive is a family trait. Haley is the granddaughter of company founder Willie Gavranovic. Her Dad is William, Jr. Haley says, “Dad wants all his kids to follow our hearts and gain some experience. If coming back to the family business is what we want, he’s open to it—if we can do the job. While entomology was my undergraduate major, I find the business world equally interesting. So, when a sales position opened at the family farm, I asked Dad if I should apply, and he encouraged me to, even though I had no sales experience. Tey took a chance on me, and I was able to step into it.”
Haley applied for the Future Leaders Fellowship program as an opportunity to learn more about the industry and become more involved in it. Te program has exceeded her expectations. Kelsey Sandbothe, a third-generation member of SelecTurf in Missouri, is her first cohort mentor. Tey connected by phone and during TPI conferences. Wade Wilbur is her TPI Board member mentor. Haley drove from Oklahoma to Wade’s Sod Shop for the cohort’s in-person meeting in Kansas City. “Wade
12 TPI Turf News September/October 2025
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