Groundskeeper Chats

Live from Louisville: Groundskeeper Chat with Bill Quade

Bill Quade, Director of Horticulture at The Biltmore Company, joins Meg for another PGMS conference live episode in Louisville. Bill shares how being involved in groups like PGMS keeps you adding resources into toolkit long into your career. Here's what you'll hear in this week's #GroundskeeperChat:

• Advocating for Professionalism 
• Advocating for yourself and for the industry 
• "other duties as assigned" 
• almost 3 decades with Biltmore Company 

A little bit more about our guest... 
For 27 years Bill Quade has been with the Biltmore Company. Today, he is the Director of Horticulture with The Biltmore Company and long time member and advocate of the Professional Grounds Management Society. 

Live from Louisville: Groundskeeper Chat with DJ Hart

DJ Hart with the City of Brewer joins Meg in Louisville to reflect on his gratitude for a career in the turf industry. He shares a powerful story about how his work allows him to impact people’s lives at many different stages. Here's what you'll hear in this week's episode:

- DJ Hart's Turf Origin Story

- The impact of PGMS on DJ's career

- A job that changes with the tide

- The impact you can have on someone's day

A little bit more about our guest... DJ Hart is the Superintendent of Park, Cemetery and the Waterfront for the City of Brewer, Maine. After having a career in teaching, DJ sought a change and found a passionate career in the green industry.

Live from Louisville: Groundskeeper Chat with Phil Richey

Phil Richey grew up on Michigan State's campus and raised in the world of horticultural. He knew from an early age that he'd follow in his family's foot steps and find a career in the green industry. Phil has called Purdue University home for almost two decades now. Here's what you'll hear in this week's episode: 

• Phil's Turf Origin Story 
• "other duties as assigned"
• Data and speaking the language 
• The impact of PGMS 

A little bit more about our guest... 
Phil Richey earned his horticulture degree from Michigan State University before running his own grounds business. Phil was a Grounds Manager at Purdue University for 15 years before being promoted to Director of Grounds. Phil has been a PGMS member since the 1990's! 

Live from Louisville: Groundskeeper Chat with Michael Gildea and Vince Jagodzinski

President, Michael Gildea, and Vice President of PGMS, Vince Jagodzinski joined Meg in Louisville during the annual Professional Grounds Management Society Conference. The trio discuss the importance of being involved in industry groups and the imacpt it can have your career. Here's what you'll hear in this week's episode: 

• Recapping the conference and theme of PGMS 
• How industry organizations can transform your career 
• Partnership between PGMS and SFMA 
• LEAD: Leadership Education Cohort Program powered by PGMS 

A little bit more about our guests... 
Michael Gildea is the President of PGMS and Director of Horticulture for the Chevy Chase Club. 
Vince Jagodzinski is the Vice President of PGMS and Grounds and Field Testing Manager for Stanley Black and Decker. 

Live from Louisville: Groundskeeper Chat with Paula Sliefert and Sun Roesslein

Live from the PGMS annual conference in Louisville Kentucky, Paula and Sun join Meg to officially kick off conference season! The trio reflect on how industry groups have impacted their lives professionally and personally. Here's what you'll hear in this week's episode: 

• An update on the World Listening Tour 
• The impact PGMS and other industry groups can have on your career 
• PGMS + SFMA partnership 
• Book club update 

A little bit more about our guests...
Paula Sliefert is the newly appointed Chief Executive Officer of The Sports Field Management Association and Executive Director of the Professional Football Field Managers Association. Paula spent almost 18 years in sports turf and grounds management marketing space before accepting this new role. Sun Roesslein is a certified sports field manager with over 20 years of experience. Today she is the immediate past president of SFMA and Women in Turf Team leader.

Live from St. Louis: Groundskeeper Chat with Maritza Martinez and Faith Holcomb

St. Louis City SC, Associate Director of Stadium Grounds, Maritza Martinez and Turf Coordinator, Faith Holcomb sat down with Meg in their grounds shop to... talk shop. The two share their turf origin stories and what has brought them to St. Louis. Here's what you'll in this week's #GroundskeeperChat: 

• Meet me in St. Louis
• Navigating difficult conversations 
• Advocating for your role within an organization 
• Fine tuning importance 

A little bit more about our guests...
Maritza Martinez is a University of Tennessee Alumni. Faith Holcomb is a Louisiana State University. 

Live from Kansas City: Groundskeeper Chat with Mira Emma and Julie Kessler

Straight out of Teal Town! Mira Emma and Julie Kessler rolled out the red carpet for Meg during her pit stop in Kansas City. The three sat down to recap their turf origin stories, discuss the culture and hype around The KC Current and the opportunities this crew are privileged to experience. Here's what you'll hear in this week's #GroundskeeperChat: 

• Pressure is a Privilege
• The KC Current culture and family 
•  The people who have played a role along the way 
• Digging deep and pushing through 
• Lastly, update on book club 

A little bit more about our guests... 
Mira Emma is a cyclone turf and cyclone soccer alumni before taking her talents to Kansas City as the Sports Field Manager of CPKC Stadium. Julie Kessler is a member of the inaugural Brentsville Tiger Turf program and VT turf alumni.  

Live from Wichita Kansas: Groundskeeper Chat with Ben Hartman

We squeezed in a quick game day chat with Ben Hartman, Director of Field Operations for the Wichita Wind Surge mid-season in Kansas. Ben is a friend of the series and Meg joined him and the crew for a 15 hour day, where temperatures reached the high 90's. Here's what you'll hear in this week's #GroundskeeperChat: 

• Breakdown of the season + game day 
• Ben and Jake's teamwork on the field 
• The foundation of a crew 
• The 1% of the 1% 

A little bit more about our guest... 
Ben has been with the Wichita Wind Surge for five seasons and is an alumni of Iowa Central Turfgrass Management program. Ben was recognized as one of SFMA's Rising Stars and is a passionate advocate for our industry. 

Banana Ball: Groundskeeper Chat with Trey Altman

Raymond James Stadium's Facility Manager of Grounds, Trey Altman, joins us for our Banana Ball series. Altman and the Buccaneer's crew were the first NFL stadium to host Banana Ball. Altman walks us through the rewarding experience and his career in the turf industry in this week's #GroundskeeperChat, here's what you'll hear: 

• Trey's turf origin story 
• Banana Ball 
• The "Off-season" 
• What challenges Trey is looking forward to this season 

A little bit more about our guest...
Trey Altman embarked on his journey in the turf industry at Sandhills Community College before spending time on several sides of the industry. Trey has brought his experience in collegiate athletics, parks and rec, minor league baseball, field construction and golf to his position at Raymond James to better the various events, teams and games they host! 

Performing Under Pressure: Groundskeeper Chat with Max Casper

Head Groundskeeper for the Reno Aces, Max Casper, joined us mid-season to update us on his first year in the new role. A heavy events schedule and minor league baseball can be daunting but Max shares with us his keys to success. Here's what you'll hear in this week's #GroundskeeperChat: 

• Reno Aces crew update 
• Banana Ball 
• Performing under pressure 
• Maintaining culture and positivity during long stretches of the season 

A little bit more about our guest... 
Max Casper is a long-time friend of the series, Meg was one of the first people Max met after stepping off the plane and arriving to his first SFMA in Savannah. Max had been with Reno Aces for several seasons as the assistant groundskeeper before stepping in his new role as Head Groundskeeper last fall.