News from ATA

Welcome to Our New Board Members

We would like to recognize the individuals who have joined the ATA Board in 2022! Any organization is only as good as its leadership and the ATA has been blessed with wonderful members willing to serve and engage with our Association over the years. Thanks goes to all Board Members for their service.

DREW CHARCANDY — Institution

Drew Charcandy grew up in Helena, AL and resides there still with his wife, Crystal, and their three-year-old son Andrew. He is currently the assistant director of athletic fields for The University of Alabama. Drew has been in this role for two years. He has been in the sports turf industry for a total of 14 years. Drew has a wide range of work experiences in both sports and golf. He started his career at Helena Parks and Recreation, then moved on to the Birmingham Barons. From there Drew entered the golf world working at Hoover and Vestavia Country Clubs before returning back to athletic fields at the University of Alabama Athletics. Drew says, “I look forward to serving on the ATA Board!”

JONATHAN GRUBER — Parks & Recreation

Jonathan Gruber is excited about the opportunity to serve with an outstanding team of Officers and Directors on the 2022 ATA Board of Directors as liaison for Parks and Recreation. He says, “Throughout my career I have been fortunate to have met quite of few of you. For those that I have not met, I look forward to doing so this upcoming year as we finally begin to see each other in person again.”

Jonathan was born and raised in Fort Payne, Alabama. He attended Auburn University where he graduated in 1999. After graduation, Jonathan began working for Sunbelt Golf (The RTJ Golf Trail). He spent the next 20 years of his career working at multiple locations including Grand National, Silver Lakes, and Hampton Cove. This experience was invaluable as he worked alongside some of the best in the business.

In October of 2019, Jonathan decided it was time for a change of direction. He accepted the position of Parks and Recreation Superintendent for the City of Decatur where he is currently employed.

Jonathan has been married to his wife, Felicia, for 17 years. They have two boys – a 14 year old (Jack) and a 12 year old (Luke). They also have a six-year-old golden retriever, Molly.

JENNIFER MORGAN — At Large

Jennifer Morgan has worked for the City of Gulf Shores, Alabama for 18 years. Over the years, she has had a variety of responsibilities. Her jobs have consisted of planting, irrigation, turf management, and chemical applications, just to name a few. She now leads a crew of great guys and is in charge of field and ground maintenance at the sports complex. Jennifer loves being outdoors and when she’s not enjoying the physical labor and comradery at work, she takes vacations camping in the mountains. Hiking and kayaking are two of her favorite offduty past times. That and spending time with her three beautiful grandsons have become the best part of her personal life.

HUNTER McBRAYER — Sod

Hunter McBrayer presently serves as the Young Farmers Director for the Alabama Farmers Federation. He holds a B. S. in Biology from the University of Alabama and a Masters in Horticulture from Auburn. Prior to his current position, he was an Alabama Cooperative Extension System agent in Northeast Alabama and before that he worked as the lab assistant in the Plant Diagnostic Lab alongside Dr. Jim Jacobi at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens. Hunter has seen the best of turfgrass, and some needing additional care. After beginning his role with Alabama Farmer's Federation, Hunter’s work connected him with sod producers across the state, representing them in legislative and regulatory matters, advocating for friendly production regulations and working to be a voice for growers across the state and the Southeast. His experience has placed him in direct contact with homeowners, landscapers, commercial turf producers, growers, state regulators and law makers. He is originally from Northeast Alabama, Blount County, but now lives outside of Montgomery with his wife, Brooke and eighteen month old son, Mason James.

TRAVIS STEIN — At Large

Travis Stein grew up in Monroe, MI and began working in the turf industry at 14 years old at a small, public Golf Course called Sandy Creek Golf Course. He started as a cart boy washing and parking carts. He pursued a career in Turf Management and got his Bachelor's Degree in Crop and Soil Science with a Concentration in Turfgrass Management from Michigan State University.

While Travis was attending Michigan State, he did an internship at Shoal Creek Golf Club in Birmingham, AL. Upon graduation Travis accepted a position at Shoal Creek as the Spray Technician/AIT. He worked his way up to become the First Assistant Superintendent. In October 2015, Travis accepted the Golf Course Superintendent position at Top of the Rock in Ridgedale, Missouri. Travis’ wife Ashlee did not like living in Missouri, so they moved back to Birmingham and he became the Business Development Manager for SiteOne Landscape Supply. Travis worked for SiteOne for two years and accepted a Territory Sales Manager position with Regal Chemical. Travis has been working for Regal Chemical since June 2018.

Travis and Ashlee and have four boys; Dalton, Colton, Bryson, and Easton. Travis enjoys spending time with his family and coaching his boys’ baseball and basketball teams.