6 minute read
Member Spotlight
Bryan Conant – Superintendent of Parks and Recreation – City of Nashua, New Hampshire
How did you get your start in the sports field industry?
My initial interests in turfgrass management began when I was very young and would go to work with my father at the golf course he managed. When the time came to apply to college, I decided to pursue an education in agronomy. I majored in Turfgrass Management at the Stockbridge School of Agriculture. After completing my associate’s degree, I earned a bachelor’s degree at UMASS Amherst in Plant, Soil and Insect Sciences with a focus in Turfgrass and Business Management.
Where did you go from there?
I took a job as the Director of Grounds at the Academy of Notre Dame in Tyngsborough, MA. This job followed my work on golf courses that included many summers working alongside my dad at the Country Club of Pittsfield, college internships at Charles River and Fenway Golf Club, and assistant superintendent at Woodland Golf Club for five years. After managing the Academy of Notre Dame school grounds operations for six years, I was offered my current position as Superintendent of the Parks and Recreation Department for the City of Nashua, NH.
Who have been your sports field mentors?
My mentor has always been my dad, James Conant, CGCS. He has been in the turf industry for more than 40 years and is an industry legend. He is always a great resource and provides helpful insight. Another mentor is Matt Hayes at Boston College who always has time to answer a question about “HOW IT IS DONE @ Chestnut Hill.” He runs a top-notch operation, and I consider myself fortunate to be able to pick his brain on any topic. Additionally, being able to call on Chris Cowan from Atlantic Golf & Turf, Brian Luccini from Tom Irwin, and Connor Cinque from Harrell’s has been beneficial in helping to create the department’s agronomic program using products from all the vendors. I also have a network of support and mentors from the Stockbridge School of Agriculture.
What’s your favorite thing about your current position?
The Parks Department for the City of Nashua was established in 1896, and I personally love the history of the department. Meeting the expectations of the various leagues and organizations that use our park facilities can be stressful but very rewarding. I enjoy the positive impact we can make on the community. I’m very fortunate that the City of Nashua believes that a good parks system is a must and always provides support when it comes to the department’s needs and improvements. Within the Parks Department I’m extremely grateful to have a team made up of dedicated individuals. Together, we maintain one of the best parks systems in the state of New Hampshire.
Is there a recent project that you have been proud to complete?
The renovation of Atherton Park is a project I am very proud of. The park was completely striped and two new soccer fields, and a new playground were installed. It was great to watch the entire team working hard toward a common goal during this renovation. Seeing the immensely beneficial impact it has had on the neighborhood has been a positive experience.
What is the next “game-changer” you see on the horizon for the sports turf industry?
Autonomous equipment. It is already on the scene, but I see it becoming more prevalent in the near future.
What’s your favorite / most useful:
Equipment? 1298 TORO PRO CORE is a key piece of equipment in our fleet. A good cultural program is a must on high use athletic natural turfgrass fields and this aerifier provides great results and is a big part of the department best management practices program.
Product? Polyon 31-0-10 with Acelepryn and Dimension is also essential in the department’s best management practices. It has 16-20 weeks of consistent release no surge growth, and all year protection. It provides peace of mind.
Technology? The Turf Tank turf sprayer allows us to keep up on the roughly 34 soccer fields the department lines. The Turf Tank frees up a lot of labor. Rain Bird IQ & Smart water technology is a huge game changer. Having constant access to the system for closer monitoring makes the irrigation programming far more sustainable than in years past.
What advice would you share with people starting out in sports turf management today?
Be patient. Be the first to listen and collect your thoughts, and the last to talk. Create a considerate and collaborative work environment when managing your team. Once you accomplish this you will see more buy-in from your team members and their quality of work enhanced. Details matter! Small things add up and snowball into big things so don’t overlook them.
Please share a bit about your family life and what you enjoy doing in your free time?
My wife Susan and I have been married for ten years this fall. We met at the Stockbridge School of Agriculture and have been together ever since. We have three children: Analise (9), Bryce (5) and Cassidy (2). As you can imagine, we stay very busy! For hobbies we like to grow a large vegetable garden and like to garden, in general. We raise Berkshire pigs and sell the pork under the name Conant’s Custom Cuts. Taking the kids to go swimming or fishing is an activity the family always enjoys. We love being outside!
What do you find most beneficial about being a NE-SFMA member?
Knowledge is power and if you aren’t educating your staff and yourself about new products or techniques, you are hindering your operation. NE-SFMA makes this possible by putting on some great educational and networking events.
“I had the pleasure of meeting one of my turf heroes David Mellor at Fenway Park recently. Dave is a turfgrass industry legend. It is because of people like him that we are viewed as professionals. I have long admired Dave for his contributions to our industry. After meeting him, I’m just as impressed with him as a person. He cares deeply about his family and staff and knows how to treat people the right way.” Brian Conant
