Groundskeeper Chats

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. 

Groundskeeper Chat with Paula Sliefert

We welcome Sports Field Management Association's newest CEO, Paula Sleifert, to share her vision and excitement for the new role in this week's episode. Paula comes to the role with almost 20 years of experience in our industry and a passion for driving change that makes an impact. Here's what you'll hear in this week's #GroundskeeperChat:

• The philosophies and practices that have kept Paula rooted during major life and career changes
• Advice, guidance and support Paula received during her time of transition 
• What excites Paula most about this new chapter 
• The Paula Sliefert Listening World Tour 
• An open invitation to members 

A little bit more about our guest... 
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. 

Groundskeeper Chat with Jordan Achay

the.j.sprays, Jordan Achay, joins Meg for a Groundskeeper Chat to share his turf origin story and passion for sharing the behind scenes of our industry. Jordan is California born and raised, rooted in his love for the beach and the outdoors. Full-time with the LA Chargers and his own sports field management business has given Jordan the opportunity to pack a lot of experience in the years since transitioning from baseball coach to groundskeeper. Here's what you'll hear in this week's #GroundskeeperChat:

- The man behind the.j.sprays

- Jordan's turf origin story

- Baseball to Groundskeeping

- Building a brand in the industry

A little bit more about our guest... What started with a flyer from a friend has led Jordan Achay to a fulfilling career in sports turf. Jordan has a masters in marketing and passion for helping build the brand of sports turf professionals with his Surface Series, episodes are available now! 

Groundskeeper Chat with Vince Jagodzinki

Stanley Black and Decker's Manager of Grounds and Field Testing, Vince Jagodzinski, brought us along for a day in his life in Valley City, Ohio! We sat down with Vince at the end of the day to hear his full turf origin story and the things that have kept him rooted in the industry since day one. Here's what you'll hear in today's #GroundskeeperChat: 

• A journey through Vince's career in the industry 
• Vince's pitch to the next generation or someone looking for their next adventure 
• How the turf industry has supported Vince in his career 
• Vince's philosophy that has kept him grounded throughout all the changes

A little bit more about our guest...
Vince Jagodzinski has spent decades in the green industry, what started as a landscape business with his brother evolved in a sports turf gig at the University level, which ultimately brought him to where he is today with Stanley Balck and Decker. Vince is an active member of PGMS and advocate for more grounds managers and crews to participate in industry associations.