Groundskeeper Chats

Championship Crew: Groundskeeper Chat with Ben Jackson

Ben Jackson is the Director of Grounds of the Columbus Crew soccer team. Ben grew up outside of Columbus loving the crew and soccer long before it was cool. A high school assignment introduced him to turf and Darian Daily who took him under his wing and hired him on as a part-time crew member while still in high school. Ben went on to work for Matt Williams, complete his turf degree through The Ohio State University and today leads  the crew that gave him his first home in the industry. With one of the coolest turf origin stories in our industry, Ben's episode is filled with Ohio roots and a love for the game.

Ballfields on a Budget: Groundskeeper Chat with Ryan DeMay

Meg was thrilled to welcome back one of her very first guests of our Groundskeeper Chat series back to the mic! Ryan DeMay is the owner of Field Source Ohio and expert on helping groundskeepers create budgets, negotiate their bottom line and earn themselves a seat at the table. This episode brought OH-IO roots to Daytona Beach, here's what you'll hear in this week's #Groundskeeper Chat episode: 

• DeMay's Turf Origin Story 
• SFMA session recap: "Ballfields on a Budget" 
• The importance of collecting data and how to utilize it to help justify your needs
• Explaining the Why 
• Building the Field Source Ohio Team
• Lastly, Weston's Weather Report 

A little bit more about our guest...
Ryan DeMay is a proud The Ohio State University ATI Turf and OSU Turf Alumni. DeMay is the owner/principal of Field Source Ohio and Certified Sports Field Manager. 

Visibility Matters: Groundskeeper Chat with Larry DiVito

Meg Kruger, joined by co-host Chris Bell, was thrilled to invite 2024 Pioneers in the Field class member Larry DiVito to our Groundskeeper Chat series. The trio recap the highlights of DiVito's origin story and his long-time career in Major League Baseball. DiVito shares his passion for groundskeepers finding the spotlight and helping this industry grow. DiVito is the Head Groundskeeper for the Minnesota Twins. 

Bulldog Turf Toys: Groundskeeper Chat with Cathy Kropff and Morgan Edwards

Everyone's favorite vendor, Bulldog Field Equipment, joined us at the booth during the SFMA conference to give us an exclusive sneak peek into their latest project, turf toys! Listen along for your chance to be first in line for the toys we can't wait to get our hands on! Sign up to be an early advocate here: https://www.bulldogfieldequipment.com/toys

Building a Brand: Groundskeeper Chat with Andy Hebrard

Andy Hebrard, owner and operator of Athletic Applications joined Meg, Weston and Chris in Daytona Beach to talk about the building blocks of branding and running your own turf business. Andy was born and bred into the turf industry and follows in the footsteps of his father, Mike Hebrard. Today, Athletic Applications provides top-notch football, soccer, baseball and painting services to the PDX, LAX, PHX, LAS areas.

What's Next? Groundskeeper Chat with Meg Kruger, Weston Appelfeller and Chris Bell

Co-hosts Meg Kruger, Weston Appelfeller and Chris Bell sit down to recap their week in Daytona Beach for the National SFMA conference. The three discuss the show's highlights, trends and major takeaways.

The Business of Turf: Groundskeeper Chat with Marcus Elswick

University of Kentucky's Head Sports Turf Manager, Marcus Elswick joins Meg and Weston for a Groundskeeper Chat to talk about the behind the scenes of the Business of Turf. Marcus has been with the University of Kentucky for 13 years and shared his POV on crew culture and leading with positivity.

Performing Under Pressure: Groundskeeper Chat with Tyler Morris

Tyler Morris of MetLife Stadium joins us mid-season to talk about the nature of his job and the high pressure it's paired with. Tyler shares some stories from the field and the many overnight conversions he and the crew lived through this season. Weston, Meg and Tyler bond over music, hobbies outside of work and everything in between. For your mental health boost give a listen to this week's #GroundskeeperChat! 

• Giants, Jets and Events at MetLife Stadium 
• How Tyler steps away from the field 
• Live segment of "What's behind the headphones"
• And the Weather Report with Weston! 

The Business of Turf: Groundskeeper Chat with John Torres

Director of Grounds for the Philadelphia Union, John Torres discusses the evolution of groundskeeping and MLS since his start in the industry with Meg and cohost, Weston Appelfeller! Here's what you'll hear in our latest #GroundskeeperChat: 

• Who is John Torres outside of work?
• John's Turf Origin Story
• The Importance of "Knocking on the Door" 
• Collecting Data Points and Developing Budgets 
• Lastly, John's excitement over the MLS in the U.S. 

The Business of Turf: Groundskeeper Chat with Danny Losito

When do you sleep? That was our first question and most important question for Danny Losito, CSFM, Director of Sports Fields & Grounds for the Carolina Panthers and Charlotte FC. Losito comes to the chat with years of experience in almost every arena of the sports world, including shoveling ice for a local hockey team. His expertise expands far beyond the field. Losito shares with us how he manages it all, the conversions, the budgets, the employees and his love for the job.