Member Spotlight
NESTMA Member Spotlight on
Brian Boesch
Turfgrass and Sports Field Manager • University of Rhode Island, Kingston, Rhode Island When did you first get involved with NESTMA? After graduating and earning a job at the University of Rhode Island 11 years ago, I joined NESTMA and STMA. Since 2013, I have been part of the NESTMA board of directors. Where did you go to school? What was your major? It’s a long story. I earned my undergraduate degree at the University at Buffalo majoring in Biochemistry. After changing career paths, I attended HorryGeorgetown Tech in Myrtle Beach, SC for golf course management. When I completed that program, I attended URI and earned a master’s degree in turfgrass/ environmental science in 2006. What was your first job in the industry? I was a part time employee working on the grounds crew at the Dunes Club in Myrtle Beach, SC while attending school back in the early 2000s. It was my first experience working on a professional grounds operation. Where did you go from there? I left Myrtle Beach and moved to Rhode Island in 2003 to obtain a graduate degree. After completing my master’s degree at URI, I was offered an interim position as the Director of Grounds Operations at the university. I worked in this role for one year before taking on my current role as the Sports Turf Manager at URI. Prior to my current position,
20 • New England BLADE • March 2019
URI didn’t have a dedicated sports turf professional on staff. During the period while I was working as Interim Grounds Director, the university leadership realized the positive benefits of having a dedicated turf person. They decided URI should have a permanent position to oversee the athletic facilities and manage other
Brian at URI football game
campus turf projects. That’s how my current job came into existence. Who was your mentor when you were first starting out in the business? I have had some influential teachers, classmates, and friends within the industry along the way that have been great
