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22 WESTERN CANADA TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION The 2014 Canadian International Turfgrass Conference provides a vertiable powerhouse of speaking professionals both within and related to the professional sportsturf manage- ment industry. This world-class event will be your only opportunity on Canadian soil to partake in the proficient professing of such a pronounced pack of prescribed presenters. TREVOR LINDEN - KEYNOTE SPEAKER Former NHL All-Star and Olympian, Trevor Linden is one of the most celebrated hockey players of all time. Widely respected in both the business and philanthropic worlds, Trevor's speeches stress the importance of diplomatic leadership and illustrate how giving back can be a motivator for success in both our professional and personal lives. Trevor's NHL career spanned over 19 years, four teams, two All-Star games, and the Nagano Olympic Games. Named the youngest-ever captain of the Vancouver Canucks at just 21 years old, Trevor led the team to within a game of winning the Stanley Cup in 1994, earning him the lifelong nickname "Captain Canuck." Later elected president of the National Hockey League Players' Association, Trevor played an instrumental role over his eight years of service. In 2005-06, Trevor suited up for his 1,000th game as a Canuck, and a season later he became the first Canuck to score 300 goals for the team. DR. NICK CHRISTIANS Dr. Nick Christians is a University Professor of Horticulture at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. His area of specialization is Turfgrass Science. He received his Ph.D. and MS degrees from Ohio State University in Agronomy and his B.S. from the Colorado State University school of forestry. Between his B.S. and M.S. degrees, Nick was employed as an assistant golf course superintendent at Flatirons Country Club in Boulder, CO and as golf course superintendent in Pueblo, CO. He has been awarded the 1999 Fred V. Grau Turfgrass Research Award, The Outstanding Undergraduate Educator Award from the American Society of Horticultural Science, the Iowa State University Outstanding Advisor Award and the ISU Teaching Excellence Award. DAVID DUNCAN David Duncan is the Owner of Turf Health Products Company based in Vancouver, BC. He is entering his 23rd year in the turfgrass management busi- ness. His time has been spent from the bunker maintenance crew at Vancouver Golf Club to the hallowed confines of some of the most forward-thinking labs in the United States. As Assistant Superintendent at Westwood Plateau for eight years, he also attended the University of Guelph in 1995 (Short Program) and from 1996-98 attended the two-year Penn State University Turfgrass Managers Program, under the guidance of George Hamilton, Jr. graduat- ing with honours as the Valedictorian of the program. In 2003, David took on the role of Golf Course Superintendent at the Falls Golf Resort in the Fraser Valley. The following year he began his consulting role with Sport Turf Inc. In 2009 Duncan forged into the work of business on his own, creating the Turf Health Products Company. In 2010 Mr. Duncan real- ized his goal of becoming the President of the Western Canada Turfgrass Association - his year as President included re-kindling ties with all of the Washington State peers, and a trip to the Sportsturf Managers Association Conference in Austin, TX where a relationship was spawned to further increase the ties between turfgrass managers, regardless of borders. 2010 marked the 10th anniversary of his service on the WCTA Board of Directors. He has also taught on a contract basis at the local turfgrass college for the past 13 years, and has three seminars that have been approved by the BC Ministry of Environment for CEC's. DR. JACK FRY Dr. Jack Fry is a Professor in the Division of Horticulture at Kansas State University where he has been on the faculty since 1991. Jack teaches courses in basic turfgrass culture, and golf course and sports turf operations, and conducts research on turfgrass environmental stress, establishment and pest control. DR. ROB GLOEMBIEWSKI Dr. Rob Golembiewski, also a show speaker in 2011, is a Greens Solutions Specialist for Bayer with the responsibility of providing technical expertise for the Turf and Ornamental Markets. Most recently, he served as the Turfgrass Specialist at Oregon State University. Rob received his B.S. and M.S. from Michigan State University and his Ph.D. from Ohio State University. Rob's career has included positions with Montana State University, Dow AgroSciences, Paramount Landscape and the University of Minnesota, Crookston. DR. PAUL HOEKSTRA Dr. Paul Hoekstra is the Regulatory and Science Stewardship Manager, for Syngenta Canada. With a strong background in regulatory affairs, communication and stakeholder engagement, Paul oversees Syngenta's various steward- ship and related outreach activities. He also represents Syngenta on several industry com- mittees, including Crop Life Canada's Pollinator Working Group. As a scientist, Paul holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Waterloo and a Ph.D. from the University of Guelph's Toxicology program. With numerous publications across several disciplines, he also leads various efforts in promoting a science- based approach to assess the risk of pest control platforms as well as communicating the benefit of pesticides and other technologies in providing a safe, sustainable, and affordable food supply and viable recreational areas such as golf courses. DR. TOM HSIANG Dr. Tom Hsiang is a Professor in the School of Environmental Sciences at the University of Guelph, specializing in plant diseases. Before arriving at the University of Guelph, he worked on flower and tree diseases in Washington State, where he obtained his Ph.D. (University of Washington) and conducted post-doctoral studies (Washington State University). He is originally from Vancouver, BC, and obtained his B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees in Forest/Biology/ Pathology at the University of British Columbia. 2014 WCTA CONFERENCE AND TRADE SHOW CONFERENCE SPEAKER HIGHLIGHTS A PROPRIETARY POWERHOUSE OF PROFICIENT PRESENTERS