ITODA Announces 2008 Leadership Team
Ned Herod, president of Herod Seeds, Inc. in Richmond, Va., has been elected president of the Independent Turf and Ornamental Distributors Association. He served two terms as vice president and has been a board member since 2004. He succeeds Brian Feury, who will continue his service as past president.
Also elected were Vice President Brian Smith and Secretary/Treasurer Chris Petersen. The board of directors includes David Shields, Don Spier, Don Nauman and Sheree Scarbrough.
Jacklin Appointed WSA President
Gayle Jacklin of J.R. Simplot Co. and Jacklin Seed has been appointed the first woman president of the Western Seed Association. Jacklin has served on the WSA board for three years and also served on the Atlantic Seed Association board and as the membership chair for The Field Seed Institute. She was recognized as Seedsman of the Year in 2002 and is a past chair of the lawn seed division for the American Seed Trade Association.
NYSTA Presents Awards, Elects Officers & Directors
The New York State Turfgrass Association presented the Citation of Merit Award to James Hornung Sr. for his dedication to turfgrass research and education; involvement in and support of association activities; interest in promoting careers in the turfgrass industry; and community involvement. Hornung served on the NYSTA board of directors starting in 1992 and became president in 2004. Hornung is also a past president of the Western New York State Nursery and Landscape Association, has served on the board of directors of the New York State Nursery/Landscape Association and Buffalo Pest Management Board, and is a member of the Sports Turf Managers Association.
Larry Wilson, chairman of the New York Alliance for Environmental Concerns, received NYSTA’s Friend of the Green Industry Award. Wilson has been a past president and chairman of government affairs for the New York State Turf and Landscape Association.
Owen Regan was elected president of NYSTA for 2008. Regan has served as vice president and secretary/treasurer, and served on the board of directors and various committees. Regan is a past president of the Associated Landscape Contractors of Massachusetts. Greg Chorvas will serve as vice president. Chorvas is the superintendent at Cantine Veterans Sports Complex and serves on several NYSTA committees.
The 2008 secretary/treasurer is Robert Sanderson. Newly elected directors include Craig Yunker, Craig Currier and Tom Wright. Other members currently serving as directors are Peter Muller, Timothy Hahn, Rick Holfoth, Roger Lind and Michael McNamara. James Baird will be leaving the board and assuming the position of assistant cooperative extension specialist in turfgrass management at the University of California, Riverside. Michael Maffei will serve as past president.
From left to right, James Baird, Michael McNamara, Timothy Hahn, Thomas Wright, Peter Muller, Owen Regan, Craig Yunker, Greg Chorvas, Michael Maffei and Roger Lind.
GCSAA EGR Awards
Golf course superintendents Michael Maffei, Peter McDonough and Richard Staughton have been selected to receive the 2008 Golf Course Superintendents Association of America Excellence in Government Relations Awards for their commitment to government relations in the area of advocacy. Nominees were judged on how their efforts have served the interests of the superintendent profession and the golf course management industry.
Maffei has spearheaded many legislative efforts, effectively organized industry coalitions and was instrumental in forming the New York State Turfgrass Association’s annual Turfgrass Advocacy Day.
McDonough has been integral in shaping Virginia’s water laws through efforts to educate lawmakers on golf course management and water conservation practices. Most recently he directly helped develop state regulations on water reclamation and reuse.
Staughton has worked for the past three years with the Georgia Environmental Protection Division, Georgia GCSA Water Task Force, chapter members and state officials to improve water conservation in the state, including creating and implementing statewide water best management practices for golf courses.
Companies Attain GCSAA Silver Partner Status
BASF Turf & Ornamentals, Rain Bird Corp. and E-Z-GO have pledged their support of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America and its members by committing to participate in the association’s Partner Recognition Program at the Silver level.
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