PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
KEEP MAKING A DIFFERENCE MY
name is Brandon Sands, and it is my honor and pleasure to serve as your new MTC President. I have been in the Turf Industry for 25 years and look forward to serving all of you. The MTC community of turf professionals, industry sponsors, and partners is one I have always relied on for support. I want to thank our immediate Past President, Ben Ellis, for his outstanding leadership of the MTC and his contributions to the turf industry. His shoes will be hard to fill. The world challenges us all every day; environmentally, economically, and politically. Despite the challenges we face, three things can be assured in the turf world — the sun will shine, the weather will be unpredictable, and we will need the grass to grow. Our industry is also facing budget issues, regulatory pressures, staffing shortages, etc.; and it is mine and the MTC’s shared vision to address these issues via outreach, professional development, and partnerships. These challenges impact the companies we work for and the communities we work in and it is our responsibility to help navigate this landscape. We can get through it together. Recently, we have joined forces with MASTMA to provide an unmatched service to the sports turf industry. Together we will support each other by hosting field day events, educational seminars, and re-certification opportunities for all turfgrass professionals. So, get out there, and let’s all make a difference. I’m proud of our successes over the last years and I am excited for the year ahead. I encourage everyone to participate and network with peers as much as possible. None of us are as strong as all of us. If you are in residential or commercial lawn care, public parks, private country clubs, a service provider or a vendor that supports the industry, we all face the same day to day issues and the MTC is here to support you. Thank you to our members for their continued participation and support, we are over 1000 members strong as we enter 2022. In the year ahead, we will continue providing updates to our industry, outreach opportunities, as well as develop our online presence. I look forward to seeing you out in the field. If we haven’t met, come say “Hi” and introduce yourself to me. Keep making a difference! Stay involved and stay safe my friends. Let us make it our best year yet, by making 2022 a year to grow more.
Brandon Sands MTC President
MTC BOARD ADVISORS
MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Rick Boldissar Turf & Seed Section 50 Harry S Truman Parkway Annapolis, MD 21401 Work: 410-841-5968 • Cell: 443-791-2896 Rick.boldissar@maryland.gov Kelly Love Pesticide Regulation 50 Harry S Truman Parkway Annapolis, MD 21401 410-841-5710 • kelly.love@maryland.gov Judy McGowan Urban Nutrient Management 50 Harry S Truman Parkway Annapolis, MD 21401 410-841-5955 • judy.mcgowan@maryland.gov
UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND: DEPARTMENT OF PLANT SCIENCE & LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE Dr. Mark Carroll Environmental & Pesticides 2132 Plant Science Bld. College Park, MD 20742 Campus: 301-405-1339 • Farm: 301-314-6303 mcarroll@umd.edu Dr. Thomas Turner, Professor Emeritus Turfgrass Nutrients / Extension 395 Green Meade Dr. College Park, MD 20740-3721 Farm: 301-314-6302 • tturner@umd.edu Dr. Peter Dernoeden Professor Emeritus 18086 White Oak Dr. Milton, DE 19968 301-314-6300 • pd@umd.edu David Funk Turf Farm Manager 395 Green Meade Dr. College Park, MD 20740-3721 301-314-6300 • dfunk@umd.edu
INSTITUTE OF APPLIED AGRICULTURE: DIGITAL MARKETPLACE – Scan these QR codes to learn more about this company.
Geoffrey Rinehart Turfgrass Management 2113 Jull Hall 4196 Stadium Dr. College Park, MD 20742 301-405-4692 • rinehart@umd.edu Dr. Kevin Mathias Professor Emeritus College Park, MD • jkm@umd.edu
MARKETING, SOCIAL MEDIA & WEBSITE: Catherine Abramavage Central Sod Farms 920 John Brown Rd. Centreville, MD 21617 410-827-5000 • Catherine@CentralSodMD.com 6
MTC TURF NEWS
