Virginia Turfgrass Journal is the official publication of The Virginia Turfgrass Council P.O. Box 5989 Virginia Beach, VA 23471 Office: (757) 464-1004 Fax: (757) 282-2693 vaturf@verizon.net
President’s Message
Partnerships are the Key to Life
Phil Bailey, CGCS VTC President
In
business, as in life, there is no true success unless you partner with others. Partnerships are a core value in life. We partner with our spouse, family, and friends to build a sound support system to endure all conflicts. Business partnerships work in much the same fashion. We develop partnerships to keep up supply chains, partner with employees, and partner with clients to meet and exceed expectations. Partnerships also allow us to expand our reputation and develop a wider client base. The Virginia Turfgrass Council-Environmental Institute (VTC-EI) assists our members to develop these partnerships. With the partnership of our members and allied organizations we can meet and influence decision makers that can affect our industry. We then have the ability of being listened to and recognized as leaders in the industry. Partnerships show that we can listen to others’ points of view. We may not always agree with others’ opinions but hearing their views may enlighten us in a way we didn’t realize. With a wider view of issues it allows us to develop an educated conclusion instead of knee-jerk reactions to volatile issues. Continued partnerships develop friendships. A friendship is a trust in others’ abilities to do the right things and apply sound judgements that support our beliefs. Quality friendships take time because trust is hard to earn, and it can be easily destroyed. By continually representing members’ concerns and successes we highlight the value of your services. The efforts you take to develop a quality business need to be represented and showcased to all communities. The VTC-EI bridges these gaps with adversaries and develops partnerships with the intent to develop friendships. Partnerships with a wide diversity increase our knowledge and develop avenues to expand business. The VTC-EI may be a concept that doesn’t resonate in everyone’s mind, but it opens the ability to create partnerships with diverse crowds, educates us as an industry, and allows us a place at the table with decision makers. With continued partnerships we may have the ability to develop true friendships in places where we once only could have imagined. Your partner in the industry,
Phil Bailey VTC President
PUBLISHED BY Leading Edge Communications, LLC 206 Bridge Street, Suite 200 Franklin, Tennessee 37064 (615) 790-3718 Fax: (615) 794-4524 Email: info@leadingedgecommunications.com VTC OFFICERS President Phil Bailey, CGCS Isle of Wight County Parks & Recreation (757) 572-1981 Vice President Wes Bray Lawns & Gardens Plus (757) 422-2117 Secretary / Treasurer Jimmy Viars, CGM Gloucester County Public Schools (804) 815-2779 Past President Michael Skelton (540) 718-4133 VTC DIRECTORS Sam Burris Ray Funkhouser Tony Montgomery Bruce Sheppard T.J. Skirsky Harris Wheeler, CTP Craig Zeigler VTC ADVISORY MEMBERS OF THE BOARD Mike Goatley, Ph.D. (Chair) Shawn Askew, Ph.D. Alejandro Del Pozo-Valdiva, Ph.D. Jeffrey Derr, Ph.D. David McCall Ph.D. Dan Sandor, Ph.D. Cynthia Smith, Ph.D. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR / DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMS Tom Tracy, Ph.D. (757) 464-1004 VIRGINIA TURFGRASS FOUNDATION Brandyn Baty (757) 585-3058
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