September/October 2014
Volume 38, Number 5
PGMS is Heading to The Ville
Same city, new agenda! PGMS is heading back to our stomping grounds in Louisville, but this year brings a fresh new lineup of education, sites to see, people to meet and more! Highlights include: a pre-conference field trip to Cave Hill Cemetery, a PGMS Welcoming Reception, 19 acres of outdoor demonstrations, 750 exhibits inside the Kentucky Exposition Center, three free nights of concerts, announcement of the 2014 Green Star Awards and installation of the 2014-15 PGMS Board of Directors.
Read more details on page three! Photo source: www.flickr.com/photos/gieexpo/11207971364/in/set-72157638352203065
Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ProfessionalGroundsManagementSociety. Link up with us at www.linkedin.com/groups/Professional-Grounds-Management-Society-4173565. Watch us on YouTube at www.youtube.com/user/PGMSheadquarters.
Walt Bonvell, CGM President’s Message
The Forum Newsletter is published six times a year by the Professional Grounds Management Society 720 Light Street Baltimore, MD 21230 410-223-2861 / Fax 410-752-8295 E-mail: pgms@assnhqtrs.com pgms.org Board of Directors: President Walter Bonvell, CGM President-Elect John Burns, CGM Vice Pres. John Doiron Treasurer Marion Bolick, CGM Past President John Van Etten, CGM Directors Cary Avery, CGM Diana Bramble Gerry Dobbs, CGM Mark Feist Ted Heywood, CGM Ron Hostick, CGM, CSFM Gerald Landby Joe Payne, CGM Susanne Woodell, CGM Staff Thomas C. Shaner, CAE Executive Director Stephanie Dodd Associate Director Monica Shaner Financial Manager Molly Baldwin-Abbott Director of Communications Meghan Brady Assistant Director of Communications Opinions expressed in PGMS Forum are the opinions of the authors and do not necessarily express the opinions or policies of the PGMS Board and its membership. No part of this newsletter may be reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission.
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A Year in Review
Fall is nipping at our heels. That means that the School of Grounds Management & GIE+EXPO is right around the corner. Louisville is once again looking forward to hosting one of the greatest trade shows in the world. Registration is at its best and I look forward to seeing everyone. In my part of the country, winter is inevitably right around the corner. It’s a wind down time for the mowing crews and personally, I’m already feeling the pre-winter blues. Sometimes I long to work where the climate is mild all year. But, I’m sure that brings its own set of unique challenges - at least that’s what I tell myself! As Certified Grounds Managers, no matter our geographical location, managing those challenges is what we do best. Fall is also a time of change within the PGMS community as October will begin a new term for the executive cabinet, including a newly elected President. Therefore, for me, it is a time of reflection. Over the past year, PGMS has been active in hosting two great Regionals. We have also completed the development and implementation of the Landscape Management and Operations Accreditation Program. It has had a tremendously successful launch and is proving to be a program unlike any other in the industry. Visit the PGMS website to see all the benefits this program offers. The trip to Arlington National Cemetery to volunteer, in partnership with PLANET, for Renewal and Remembrance was one of the highlights of my term. The opportunity to participate was truly an honor. PGMS will continue working with PLANET on this project. I’m happy to report that enrollment in our CGM and CGT program is at its highest. That, along with significant increases in our general membership, makes us a growing organization. Also new this year, the application process for the Green Star Awards went online. It is now easier than ever to apply! If you have never sought a Green Star Award, I encourage you to start thinking about it for next year. The time to apply will be here before you know it.
Although my presidency nears an end, rest assured I am not going away. I will continue to be very active with the new Board of Directors in the role of Past President. For 17 years, PGMS has been a very large part of my life and that will not end. I take great pleasure networking with members, meeting professionals from around the country, visiting Grand and Honor sites, and working with our Partners in Professionalism. Most of all, I am grateful for the friendships that I have encountered along my journey. There are countless people (too many to name here) to thank for the mentoring and guidance they have provided me over the years. But, above all, I want to thank all members for their participation and support. You have made PGMS what it is today. I look forward to seeing you in Louisville.
Walt Bonvell, CGM PGMS President
Event Spotlight: Show
Highlights
Saturday Speaker Breakfast PGMS Welcoming Reception
750 Exhibits
Industry Expert Guest Speakers
Awards and Board Installation Dinner
Details and registration available at pgms.org! 3
his new job: “I found out about the position opening when I was contacted as the Southwest Regional Director by California Polytechnic at San Luis Obispo requesting information about advertising through PGMS for candidates. After forwarding the PGMS online job information, I applied myself. I’m not sure I would have even known the job was open if not for my association with PGMS!”
PGMS members are on the move and doing big things with their careers! We interviewed several members who have made career moves within the past few years to see how PGMS played a role in their decision, challenges they have faced, favorite aspects of their new job, how being a PGMS Certified Grounds Manager (CGM) helped them land the position and so much more. Read along to hear career advice and tips from Marion Bolick, CGM, Gerald Dobbs, CGM, Ron Hostick, CGM, Gerald Landby, Ellen Newell, CGM and Jared Rudy, CGM. Let’s first meet the grounds professionals who graciously gave PGMS their time and input! Marion headed south from South Carolina to Naples, Fla. to be the Manager of Pelican Bay Services Division (PBSD) for Collier County. Gerald D. moved from Michigan all the way to California to be the Park Services Superintendent of Cordova Recreation and Park District (CRPD). Ron traveled up the California coast from San Diego to take on his new position as the Manager of Landscape Services at California Polytechnic at San Luis Obispo. Gerald L. decided to head home to his roots in Minnesota to be closer to his family and cabin they love when he took a job as the Landscape Services and Arboretum Director at Winona State University. Ellen took her expertise to Arizona State University and is the Associate Director of Grounds Services and Recycling in the Facilities Management Department. And lastly but surely not least, Jared didn’t travel far from rural Mechanicsburg, Pa. to end up at Villanova University as the Superintendent of Grounds. When asked how their new job was found, each had their own unique story. Gerald D. explained, “In the fall of 2012, I was forced to actively look for work in the landscape management field after having served for several years as Landscape Services Manager with Michigan State University. I immediately contacted PGMS headquarters and board members to enlist their help for any job leads in the landscape management field. Each person offered their help and provided several job leads that I pursued vigorously. Cary Avery, CGM, director-at-large, wrote to me about the job opening with Cordova Recreation and Park District. I applied for the position back in May 2013, went through several phone interviews and an on-site interview, was offered the position in July and began working with Cordova on August 5, 2013.” Ron had an ironic situation that turned into
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So, did being a PGMS member help them get their new jobs? Gerald L. said “Yes, in many ways. During the interview and presentations, I referred to PGMS networking and education through the School of Grounds Management and the Regional Conferences to describe situations and solutions. While describing places I have been to and some of the solutions to problems I have seen, I was specifically asked by a member of the interview team ‘how have you been able to see so much and be able to know so much?’ I took the opportunity to talk about the benefits of PGMS in my interview and presentations. A key point I emphasized, PGMS is a leader in promoting sustainable grounds practices to its members.” Ellen thinks being an active member of PGMS helped her secure her position too. She explained “Arizona State University was looking for someone to improve the quality of the grounds and help market the university. The fact that while I was at Utah State University we won a PGMS Green Star Grand Award and that I was also a board member of PGMS showed them I was professional and interested in promoting the green industry.” Likewise, networking through PGMS has also helped these members find their new positions. Marion and Jared both said that they received numerous job openings through the PGMS network and friends. Gerald D. said he is thankful for the PGMS network because “Even while serving as the North Central Regional Director of PGMS, the Michigan membership was extremely supportive and would often stay in touch with me during the job search. I was invited to on-site visits with a few of the members and the kinship I felt was strong. The validation I experienced from the PGMS membership was encouraging and was exactly what I needed during the job search.” Some of these PGMS members had mentors who helped guide them through the job process. Jared looked to Ed Harman, CGM to help him along the way. As he explained, “He was the one that helped me the most when getting my CGM. Ed and I push each other to get better and better at our professions by comparing workloads and discussing grounds issues that come up on our different campuses. My relationship with Ed motivates me to strive to not just be good, but great.” Gerald D. also had a wonderful mentor during this process, John Van Etten, CGM: “He was President of PGMS during the time I was looking for work. He offered to serve as a reference along with Gene Pouly, CGM, Gerald L., and Walt Bonvell, CGM. Whenever he had the chance, John would call me to encourage me. He solidified in me that I still had a lot to offer in the field of landscape management. Oftentimes, after I would speak with him, our conversation would be the extra spark I needed to get back up and continue the search process for a new job.” On the other hand, a new job usually brings a new set of challenges and learning experiences. As Ellen explains, she had some big challenges to tackle at ASU: “The first was the huge
difference in climate from a zone 4/5 in northern Utah, to a zone 9 in the Sonoran Desert. I needed to learn the names and growing requirements of a whole new set of plants. The second challenge was going from a university with four distinct seasons, including a catch your breath winter season, to keeping up with the 365 day growing season and the wear and tear on the landscape with 50,000 students and constant construction.” Jared said “the biggest challenges of the new job are learning the buildings and landscape of the campus, and also learning new contacts and vendors and trusting in people that I haven’t worked with before.” Despite the changes, a new job can be very exciting! When asked the favorite aspects of their new job, Gerald L. said “I look forward to working with so many different people such as the Arboretum and Land Stewardship committee, the facilities staff, students, faculty, and the Land Steward. The role of the WSU land steward is to enhance the university’s natural resources and assist in long-term planning, management, and upkeep needs and strategies. I will be able to see accomplishments of the program over time and know it is a cooperation of many people that I helped.” Ron is enthusiastic about his opportunity at a new university campus because “It is very exciting to work at a university with a focus on horticulture and plant science, with all the research and development in our industry right at my fingertips!” Lastly, all of the CGM’s we interviewed agreed that being a CGM has helped them professionally and has set them apart from other candidates. Marion said “Many employers ask for certification credentials on the application and some specifically ask for the CGM. It helps set you apart from someone who isn’t certified when an employer is looking over many applications. The CGM designation also gave me confidence that I was qualified and could compete in a very competitive job market.” The CGM designation also helped prepare Gerald D.: “When I meet with representatives from other park districts and universities, many are familiar with the CGM designation. They are very impressed that the CGM is a comprehensive testing and examination process. For me personally, doing the open book and the testing has helped me organize my experiences and training more thoroughly and more completely. In turn, the process has helped me tremendously in responding to potential questions during the job interview process.”
More About the Members Marion Bolick, CGM is the manager of Pelican Bay Services Division (PBSD) for Collier County (Naples), Florida. The PBSD is an advisory board of Collier County and maintains areas such as street-scape beautification, street lighting, water management and mangrove maintenance exclusively for the residents of Pelican Bay. They work closely with the Pelican Bay Foundation and Pelican Bay Property Owners Association to establish and identify resources to meet the needs of our residents. Gerald Dobbs, CGM is now the park services superintendent of Cordova Recreation and Park District (CRPD). To date, they maintain 35 neighborhood and community parks and two sets of streetscapes within the Rancho Cordova boundary. His departmental responsibilities include the oversight of the landscape maintenance within the parks and streetscape areas, mechanical repairs and maintenance of equipment, irrigation system repairs and maintenance, waste and recycling services, playground equipment inspection and repairs, facility and park amenity repairs and maintenance and aquatic center and spray park maintenance. Ron Hostick, CGM is the manager of landscape services at California Polytechnic at San Luis Obispo. His daily responsibilities include budget controls and tracking, work flow and correct attribution of charges, landscape design and review, water resource management, material and services procurement and to provide an interface between the University landscape and its community.
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Thank you to each and every one of these PGMS members for their time, input and fantastic advice and tips. As you can see, being a member of PGMS really does have its benefits. Don’t forget to use your membership to your advantage and attend events like the 2014 School of Grounds Management & GIE+EXPO in a few weeks and network with fellow grounds professionals, utilize the PGMS Career Center on the website, apply to be a CGM and so much more!
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PGMS Members on the Move continued from page 5
Gerald Landby, CGM is the landscape services and arboretum director at Winona State University. In this position, he provides vision, planning, education, and training for skilled leadership, coordination and supervision involving all aspects of the development and maintenance of the Winona State University grounds and allied properties as a regional landscape arboretum for education, enjoyment, and scientific study. He will help Winona bring the arboretum to regional status and become a Tree Campus USA. The arboretum boasts all 52 native trees to Minnesota and Gerald will be developing education opportunities to include workshops, seminars, and tours. Ellen Newell, CGM is the associate director of grounds services and recycling in the Facilities Management Department at Arizona State University. She is responsible for the Tempe campus, which is also an arboretum, landscape and street maintenance with a crew of approximately seventy people. This also includes handling the campus municipal solid waste (recycling, organics, & landfill) and being key team members in the University Zero Waste by 2015 goal. Jared Rudy, CGM is the superintendent of grounds at Villanova University. He develops and implements landscaping plans including grading, planting and pruning. He also coordinates and manages all paving repairs and replacements including sidewalks, roadways, hardscapes and parking areas as well as the recycling, trash removal and snow and ice control. Jared maintains accurate records for chemical use and maintenance work performed including mowing, seeding, fertilization, aeration and pesticide use as well as the preventative maintenance scheduling.
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PGMS Announces Bob Boeren as the 155th CGM! The Professional Grounds Management Society (PGMS) has announced that Bob Boeren of Roanoke, Va. has become the 155th grounds management professional to successfully complete its Certified Grounds Manager (CGM) program. Boeren currently serves as the landscape coordinator for the City of Roanoke-Transportation Division in Roanoke, Va.
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Shortcourse offered through the Virginia Turfgrass Council and Virginia Tech to prepare even better for this exam. When you “pass” this test, be ready for a rigorous open book exam and preparing an extensive PowerPoint exam. You should begin developing a picture and video library of your work area. This will help you with the PPT presentation. I also broke each of the eight sections into smaller units and answered those areas that I knew the best first. I also researched other parts of the exam, talked to folks in other departments in the City and worked closely with my mentor, David Davis, CGM, from Wake Forest University. David was a recent CGM and his advice was invaluable. Although this process takes time, I learned from this experience and have become a better grounds manager.
I am proud to be alongside so many other great landscape experts and people that I can only hope to learn from in the future.
PGMS: Why did you want to become a CGM? Boeren: Starting four years ago I began my career as a Grounds Manager. Growing up I led a landscape maintenance crew for my dad’s business. Here is where I began to love landscapes and knew that I wanted to continue my passion into college. Following that, I discovered the Landscape Architecture program at Texas Tech where yet again I enjoyed landscapes and understanding how they are designed. When I began as a Grounds Manager I thought that I knew about landscape maintenance, but I was wrong. The first years of my career were a learning experience that I would have never expected. Becoming a CGM is the next step in that love and passion for the outdoor environment. I am proud to be alongside so many other great landscape experts and people that I can only hope to learn from in the future.
PGMS: How has the CGM program helped you further your career? Boeren: I have truly enjoyed stretching my technical, organizational and scientific knowledge base to include the topics covered in the CGM program. Obtaining this credential has inspired me to continue learning about professional grounds management. It has also inspired me to “raise the bar” for my landscaping maintenance work crews as I begin to directly apply knowledge gained from my CGM experience. PGMS: What advice do you have for aspiring CGMs? Boeren: I would advise aspiring CGM’s to definitely “Go for it!” It is a lifelong learning opportunity for anyone with an interest in grounds management. I would recommend, prior to taking the closed book exam, gaining practical experience in different areas of ground maintenance and taking the time to read landscape or grounds maintenance magazines or books. I also took a Turfgrass
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PGMS: How do you think having the CGM designation will help you professionally? Boeren: I think the CGM designation will assist me in networking with other professionals involved in grounds maintenance. It will also keep me updated as to advances in technology, equipment, etc. Obtaining this important credential has inspired me to work hard to not only improve the City of Roanoke’s ROW’s but to gain recognition at even the national level. The CGM program is the premiere program of its type in the Green Industry. With certification, your presentations, requests for funds and equipment, and recommendations carry more weight. A candidate must meet one of the three criteria: a Bachelor of Science in a recognized green industry field, including management and four years of experience in the field of grounds maintenance, of which two years are supervisory; a two year degree from a recognized college or junior college, plus six years of experience in the grounds maintenance field with a minimum of three years of supervisory experience or; eight years in the grounds maintenance field, with a minimum of four years of supervisory experience. If you are interested in the CGM program, or know someone who is, please visit http://pgms.org/ certifications/certified-grounds-manager/ for more information.
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Building a Bulk Materials Storage Roof Structure By Ken Stanton, CGM, grounds supervisor, Grand Valley State University On the morning of December 18, 2013, under cloudy and somewhat threatening skies, the staff from the grounds department at Grand Valley State University (GVSU) watched with excitement as contractors completed the final installation of a roof structure over the bulk materials storage area at the GVSU Facilities Services building. As GVSU Grounds Supervisor and project manager for the roof structure project, I have spent many hours working with engineers and building contractors to design a roof structure that was capable of handling the harsh winter conditions in one of lower Michigan’s “snowbelt” regions and was also able to serve the long term grounds maintenance needs of a growing university. Having dry materials to work with for GVSU’s winter maintenance operations was one of the key factors driving the decision to develop and initiate such a project. Roof structures covering bulk material storage bins can be beneficial in a grounds maintenance operation for the following reasons: 1. Help keep seasonal landscaping materials such as topsoil and bark mulch dry and free of debris.
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2. Help keep winter road maintenance materials such as road salt and sand dry and free of unwanted debris. 3. Help prevent unnecessary runoff from storage of bulk materials into nearby catch basins and storm water collection systems. 4. Provide additional outside storage areas for grounds equipment, and seasonal grounds items such as extra trash barrels, event barricades, and picnic tables. Building structure designs and materials can vary from one site to another, based on the individual site requirements you are working with or the region of the country you are located. If you are considering building or installing such a roof structure, explore your building options carefully and work directly with an experienced design and/or building professional. Once completed, you will immediately begin to experience the long-term benefits that a roof structure can add to the grounds maintenance operation at your facility.
Member Profile: By John Burns, CGM
Chris Fay, CGM
John: Chris, first let me thank you for agreeing to do this member profile to allow our members to get to know you a little better. I also wanted to say thank you for reaching out to me back in 2006 to ask me to be on the Board of Directors. I know I was a bit reluctant to say yes, but wow, what a great experience it has been. I have friends and close contacts all over the country that I know I would not have met without being so involved with the board. You really changed my life, so thank you again! So Chris, you were the PGMS President in 2005. Tell us how long you have been a member of PGMS and since I told how I became a board member, do you remember who asked you? Chris: I became a member of PGMS back in 1992 and attended all the yearly national conferences. When I was at the annual conference in Cincinnati in 1998 Past President Tom Ricardi asked me to serve as a Director at Large. John: Do you have any stories you would like to tell us about your involvement with PGMS? Chris: Many years ago I arrived at the hotel for a conference in Orlando. Just as I arrived, George Van Haasteren, CGM and a few other guys were returning to the hotel from a day out on the town. I arrived to see George frantically trying to flag the taxi down because he had left his cell phone in it. Unfortunately, the taxi driver didn’t hear him, but it was pretty entertaining to watch. This was shortly after 9/11. The next day was when the plane crashed in the Rockaways in N.Y. Of course nobody knew it was an accident at first, it was a little bit frightening. We knew we had to take a plane ride to get back home and none of us were very keen on that idea. On another trip to Florida, the conference was held in Tampa. We really enjoyed the Pirate Party that Dusty Hallman arranged on the pool deck. Everyone was decked out in beads and pirate hats. In St. Louis, we enjoyed exploring the city, and riding to the top of the arch. When we stayed at the Opryland Hotel in Nashville, they were filming a song and dance segment for the Thanksgiving Day parade. There were several celebrities involved in that, which made it interesting to watch. Of course those were all fun times. I also enjoyed a sense of accomplishment after our business meeting sessions and learned a great deal from the educational offerings. John: Would you mind telling us a little about your career? Chris: I graduated from SUNY Farmingdale with a degree in Nursery Management. During that time I had the honor of being a research assistant to a man named Dr. Bing who was studying the use of pre-emergent herbicide rates used on nursery stock. After graduation, I had a job with a wholesale nursery in Connecticut, a landscape company in N.C., and worked part time for myself. I began at UNC Greensboro as a Grounds Worker in 1981, was promoted to Turf Supervisor in 1985 and Grounds Manager in 1987. I was responsible for a growing 230 acre campus including all of the turf, specialty garden areas, water features, landscaped areas, practice sports fields, baseball, softball and soccer stadiums, and a practice golf course. I retired from UNC Greensboro in 2013 after 33 years. During that time, we earned Tree Campus USA three times and received a Green Star Grand Award for Urban Campus.
John: What have you been doing since you retired? Chris: What is great about retiring is that anything you do is on your own time schedule. I am working part time managing landscape maintenance of commercial properties. Retirement has allowed me to take trips down to the NC Coast with my wife, attend a men’s fishing trip, weekend mountain trips, camping trips and spending time visiting my children. This past March I attended the regional conference in Orlando. After the conference my wife and I spent a week driving down to and exploring the Florida Keys. During that time, there was a major ice storm back home. The power was out at our house for several days while we were soaking up the Florida sunshine. John: I understand you have a trip coming up. Do you mind telling us about it? Chris: My wife and I will be spending about three weeks in Hawaii. We will be visiting five of the Hawaiian Islands. We have spent about 10 months researching and planning our itinerary. Our agenda includes hiking, swimming, snorkeling, sailing, exploring and relaxing. John: What has been the most rewarding thing for you about PGMS? Chris: Serving on the board and meeting some great people. John: I know you came down to Texas a few years ago for a Sports Turf Conference and you were able to join our University Landscape Manager’s Association (ULMA) conference. I was surprised to see you. Can you tell us how it came about for you to come to our conference? Chris: That was my first trip to Texas and I was greeted with an ice storm! I was attending the Sports Turf Manager’s Conference in San Antonio and was in contact with my good friend Tom Dew who invited me to attend the ULMA conference. Tom also invited me to visit with him after the conference. I stayed with Tom and his wife in College Station and spent a couple of days touring the campus he maintains at Texas A&M. Tom was a great host. He also took me to some of the local establishments and gardens. While attending the ULMA conference, I was treated to a Texas BBQ tasting. That was a great cultural experience. John, thank you for contacting me and I look forward to you becoming 2015 president of PGMS! John: I thank you for allowing the PGMS membership to take a quick glimpse of your life. It was really nice to catch up with you to find out what you are doing now and what you have planned in the near future with that trip to Hawaii. I hope you and your wife have a wonderful time!
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What’s Growing On With...the The PGMS Greater Ozarks Branch rounded out the end of the Summer hosting two great events! The branch sponsored a “Lawn Care Professional Workshop” on Tuesday, Sept. 2 from 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. at the Springfield Botanical Center. Lunch was provided for on-site attendees thanks to the Show-Me Yards & Neighborhoods Program. The event was also made available online. For professionals outside of the Springfield area who were interested in the event, the workshop was offered via live webcast. The topic of the workshop was “Understanding Soils, Soil Testing & Results” and covered subject areas such as dealing with the soil at hand, minimizing problems and pests with Cultural Practices, renovation - site prep, seeding rates & methods, mowing, fertility, aeration and watering, disease/insect problems and current issues and lawn diagnosis and sample submission.
Greater Ozarks Branch
with commercial lawn care managers to address turf issues in 17 counties in southwest Missouri. He also advises homeowners on lawn care. On Friday, Sept. 19, the branch hosted “The Branch Board & You” at the City of Springfield Environmental Resource Center Building’s Community Room. Two Branch Board positions have now officially been filled! The Branch Officers are Vice President Andy Parker of Parkville, Mo., Treasurer Blayne Radford of Springfield, Mo. and interim President Joe Payne, CGM of Springfield, Mo. The Secretary position is still open. Please e-mail Joe at jpayne@springfieldmo.gov if you are interested in the Secretary position or if you are interested in serving in some other capacity.
University of Missouri Extension instructors provided their expertise and led the workshop. The instructors included: Lee Miller, PhD, turfgrass pathologistDr. Lee Miller directs research focused towards disease control in turfgrasses, provides disease diagnosis, and controls recommendations for the lawn, golf, sports turf, and sod industries. Brad Fresenberg, PhD, turfgrass specialist - Dr. Brad Fresenberg serves as the State Turfgrass Specialist. He teaches undergraduate courses and programs at MU, specializing in Athletic Field design and maintenance. Jill Scheidt, MS, agronomy/natural resources specialist - Jill Scheidt works with homeowners in 5 counties with lawn care questions. She recently aided in the development of a turf grass course at Pennington Seed. Patrick Byers, MS, horticulture specialist - Patrick Byers works
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New Member Profile: Lynn By John Burns, CGM
John: I met Lynn Pakala this summer while we were attending the Summer Regional in Minnesota. My wife (Marilyn) and I sat down at the table with Lynn and his wife Gayl at lunch while we were touring the University of Minnesota Arboretum. We had a great conversation and it was fun as always to meet new people. John: Would you mind telling us a little about yourself and your current job? Lynn: My wife and I have been married for 32 years and we make our home on an acreage southwest of Cedar Falls, Iowa. We have been blessed with four children, our oldest is 25 and works in swine production, our son is 23 and is currently serving in the USAF. Our 19 year old is a sophomore at the University of Northern Iowa where she is pursuing a degree in music education. Our youngest is a senior in high school and plans to attend Iowa State University next fall in the field of Engineering. I am currently employed as the Grounds/Landscape Manager at the University of Northern Iowa (UNI). Enrollment is 12,000 students. We maintain approximately 150 acres of campus, 30 acres of athletic fields, 100 acres of prairie. John: Your family sounds wonderful. I’m sure you are very proud. Do you mind telling us about your experience at the Summer Regional? What you liked about it, why it encouraged to be more involved with PGMS etc‌ Lynn: In a word, outstanding! The hospitality Toro expressed to us was great and the speakers were uplifting and inspiring. Bailey Nurseries gave us the opportunity to look at outdoor container production, green house production and walk through their trial gardens. The Arboretum was spectacular. John: What do you think PGMS will do for you? Lynn: It will help me grow as a professional. It will give me easy access to other professionals dealing with many of the same things I face day to day. John: When we were talking in Minnesota you said you were going to meet with some other grounds folks from other Iowa universities. Have you been able to do that yet? Were any of these folks interested in PGMS? Lynn: Yes, I met the Grounds Manager (by e-mail) from the University of South Dakota at Vermillion who is very interested
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Pakala
and has some colleagues in Nebraska that are interested. I plan to meet with Iowa State and the University of Iowa yet this fall, one of the topics will be PGMS. John: This is perfect, inviting our green industry friends is the best way to get the word out there about PGMS. A personal witness it always better than an advertisement in a magazine. I urge all of our PGMS membership to reach out to their green industry professional friends and acquaintances. Thanks for helping grow our society! Are you going to be able to attend the GIE&EXPO? Any thought of attending other PGMS events? Lynn: I will not be able to attend the GIE+EXPO, but certainly plan to attend other events sponsored by PGMS. John: Is there anything else you would like to add? Lynn: Yes, thank you PGMS for promoting our industry. Our profession is of the noblest professions, we are the people that are changing the face of the planet! We do not just dig holes, we are planting the future. John: Perfect! Thank you again and I look forward to seeing you and getting to know you better at future PGMS events.
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PGMS Welcomes New Associate Director PGMS would like to give a warm welcome to Stephanie Dodd, associate director. At the beginning of October Stephanie took over the reins from Kelly Mesaris, who left PGMS to pursue another position. We wish Kelly the best in her future endeavors and sincerely thank her for all of the hard work she has done for PGMS over the last few years. At the same time we are excited to welcome Stephanie who steps in as the new director and we look forward to getting to know her. Please be sure to give her a warm PGMS welcome when you see her in Louisville in a few weeks!
Communication Center Below is a list of recent e-mail blasts: Sept. 8 - Beloved PGMS Member Passes Away Sept. 3 - Early Bird Deadline is Only a Week Away for the 2014 PGMS School of Grounds Management & GIE+EXPO! Aug. 21 - Before Your Next Seasonal Rush Starts, Catch up with PGMS If you are not receiving PGMS e-mail blasts visit pgms.org and make sure we have a current e-mail address in your profile
Got News? Has something exciting happened to you or do you know of a PGMS member who doesn’t want to toot their own horn? Have you received an award or honor? Have you received a promotion or been named to a new position? Has your grounds crew been making headlines in your local paper or favorite trade magazine? If you have any ideas for topics you would like to see articles on or if you would like to submit articles please contact Molly BaldwinAbbott at mollybaldwin@assnhqtrs.com or 410-223-2861.
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Calendar of Events Oct. 16, 2014 PGMS Philadelphia Branch Hosting Snow Summit 2014 Haverford College Haverford, PA Oct. 17, 2014 6th Annual West Michigan Sports Turf Field Day & Seminar Grand Valley State University Allendale Charter Township, MI Oct. 22-25, 2014 2014 PGMS School of Grounds Management & GIE+EXPO Galt House Hotel Louisville, KY Oct. 29, 2014 Northeast New Jersey and New York City Branch Fallen Leaves Summit Campbell Sports Center – Columbia University New York, NY Nov. 5-6, 2014 Partners in Community Forestry Conference Charlotte Westin Charlotte, NC Nov. 6, 2014 PGMS DC Branch Meeting Tour/Talk and Branch Elections Gaithersburg, MD Visit pgms.org/calendar-of-events for details.
“Living Wall of Honor” in D.C. Pays Tribute to Post 9/11 Military Veterans On Aug. 10, 2014, the Code of Support Foundation (COSF) and its partners, Green Living Technologies International (GLTI), Home Depot, Northrop Grumman and more than 300 volunteers came together to build an organic memorial to recognize and support Post 9/11 military veterans. The “Living Wall of Honor” service project kicked off COSF’s annual Spirit of ‘45 Day event at the World War II Memorial on the National Mall. In 2010, Congress unanimously passed Resolution 226, which called for observance of a national “Spirit of ‘45 Day” on the second Sunday of August to celebrate the end of World War II, and the spirit of service, shared sacrifice and national unity that made victory possible. GLTI designed the Living Wall of Honor. The organic structure is 16 feet wide by 8 feet high and has more than 1,000 multi-colored petunias and marigolds provided by the Home Depot Foundation. The wall, with the help of Team Depot and other volunteers took only one hour to assemble at the WWII Memorial site. Photo caption: Student volunteers participating in the Code of Support Foundation’s “Living Wall of Honor” service at the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C., Aug. 10. The wall, which comprises more than 1,000 plants, will be on exhibit through September 11, 2014 at the Women in Military Service for America Memorial at the main gate to Arlington National Cemetery. Article source: www.landscapeonline.com/research/ article/19635 Photo credit: Photo: Rodney Lamkey (PRNewsFoto), Code of Support Foundation
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PGMS Welcomes Newest Members! New members since Aug. 14, 2014
Tommy Bell Marriott Evergreen Conference Resort/Stone Mountain Golf Club/Stone Mountain Inn Dusty Bodart University of Indianapolis Kevin Casey Philip Dierker Mizzou Intercollegiate Athletics Marty Gallucci Quinnipiac University Steve Haifley Christine Howard University of Kansas Medical Center Guy Meilleur Historic Tree Care
Joseph Proksch SSC Service Solutions Raymond Riles RJ Southern Enterprises LLC dba R & R Landscaping Ben Ross Marriott Evergreen Conference Resort/Stone Mountain Golf Club/Stone Mountain Inn David Wessell Carnegie Mellon University Emily Wilson The Biltmore Estate Know someone who isn’t a member? Help grow your profession and spread the word about joining PGMS! Membership details can always be found on the PGMS website at www.pgms.org.
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Giving Green to Make Green Spaces Great Places
Recognizing that part of what makes a good community great are its green spaces, and to help improve these outdoor environments like neighborhood parks and playgrounds, Toro has launched its second annual community grant program. Once again titled “Green Spaces Makes Great Places” this initiative will award grants totaling $15,000 to communities and non-profits to improve landscapes across America. “Every day, we work to help customers enrich the beauty, productivity and sustainability of their outdoor environments,” said Judson McNeil, manager of Toro Giving. “We’re looking for the public’s help in identifying and selecting worthy organizations that show commitment to creating great green spaces enjoyed by their community.” Toro asked the public to nominate non-profit organizations – 501(c)(3) or government entities like state or city park and recreation divisions, conservation divisions, and public educational entities – that are doing great work to beautify and maintain green spaces. A panel of Toro representatives will evaluate and select four finalists to create a brief video further detailing their organization’s mission. The grant awards will be determined by a public vote from Oct. 31, 2014 through Nov. 21, 2014 at facebook.com/toro.yard. The first-place organization will receive $7,000, second-place will receive $4,000, and the remaining two organizations will be given $2,000 each. Winners will be announced Nov. 26, 2014. Article and photo source: www.landscapeonline.com/research/article/19772.
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PGMS Goes to Penn State! By Ed Harman, CGM, PGMS Philadelphia Branch chairman
On Tuesday, Sept. 16, members of PGMS received an exclusive behind the scenes tour of The Pennsylvania State University main campus. Hosted by Division Grounds Manager Brian Phiel, members first saw the production nursery including head and greenhouses. We then moved on to the main campus where we witnessed some of the largest Elm trees in the state and discussed how they are managing with their maintenance and loss. The group toured various display gardens where we encountered terrific container displays as well. After stopping by the organics processing facility and understanding how they recycle woody refuse material and process finished compost Brian was able to sneak us into Beaver Stadium! What a treat to witness the stadium by standing on the field looking up into the seating areas! We concluded the day by spending time in the University Arboretum, one witnesses a sense of serenity as we strolled through the various themed gardens. Thank you to Brian, and all of the Penn State staff for being open and welcoming to the group and sharing what an awesome experience it is to work for Penn State.
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Classifieds To view details on any of the positions below visit pgms.org/job-bank/. Arborist - Colonial Williamsburg Foundation/ Williamsburg, Va. Assist in scheduling, management, and implementation of the daily maintenance of Colonial Williamsburg trees. This position is deemed as essential personnel and the incumbent is required to report whether the Foundation is closed, regardless of the emergency. Senior Gardener - Colonial Williamsburg Foundation/Williamsburg, Va. Performs advanced landscape and garden maintenance tasks to preserve, maintain, and modify landscape planting plans on a campus environment in accordance with department standards. Certified Pest Control Operator - George Washington University/Washington, D.C. The Office of Executive Vice President and Treasurer (EVPT) is currently recruiting for a Certified Pest Control Operator. Responsibilities will include, but will not be limited to, inspects areas to determine if a pest problem exists, identifies the kind of pest present and determines the most effective method to control pest. Follows routine pest control programs in areas such as dormitories, food service areas, etc. Landscape Technician - University of Maryland, Baltimore County/Baltimore, Md. University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) seeks an experienced Landscape Technician to perform technical work in the field on landscape maintenance, ornamental horticulture and/or landscape construction. Duties also include leading and providing training for landscape maintenance projects. In addition, the incumbent will perform other duties as assigned. Mission Point Resort Grounds Manager - Mission Point Resort/Mackinac Island, Mich. Spectacular resort hotel seeks an exceptionally talented Grounds Manager to oversee the care and maintenance of its magnificent grounds sprawling over 18 acres of land. Responsibilities will encompass care of the lawns, shrubs, and trees, including cutting, fertilizing, and pruning; the planting, weeding and general care of the flowers– pots and beds; maintenance & care of an Executive Putting Course which includes 18 full sized bent grass greens & 3 ponds; operation & maintenance of the irrigation system; spring annual plantings; tree & shrub removal as needed.
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