Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/251509
WESTERN CANADA TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION 23 IMAGES CREDIT/COURTESY OF: TREVOR LYNDON - TREVOR LYNDON; DAVID DUNCAN - RAIN DESIGNS; DR. ROB GOLEMBIEWSKI – ROB GOLEMBIEWSKI; MARK LUCAS – JERRY ROUSSEAU; ERIC LYONS – ERIC LYONS; THOMAS NIKOLAI - CGSA; DALE OVERTON – DALE OVERTON His current teaching and research involve diseases of trees and turfgrasses, particularly biology of fungal pathogens and disease management. MARK LUCAS Mark Lucas is recently retired from the University of California at Davis. He was the Sports Turf Manager and Athletic Field Specialist at UC Davis and the UC Berkeley campus for a total of 25 years. (13 at Davis and 12 at Berkeley). During the 80's he worked on several research projects. Prior to his retirement, sustainability was his main focus in managing 45 acres of athletic and recreational turf. He is a member of the Environmental Committee for Sports Turf Managers Association, Past President for Norcal Sports Turf Managers Association and Chair of the City of Napa Park and Recreation Commission. JOHN KAMINSKI John E. Kaminski, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor of Turfgrass Science at Pennsylvania State University. John earned his B.S. in turfgrass science from Pennsylvania State University in 1998. He then went back to his home state where he earned his M.S. (2001) and Ph.D. (2004) from the University of Maryland. Dr. Kaminski now serves as the Director of Golf Course Turfgrass Management Program (two-year program) at Penn State. John continues his research which focuses on optimization of chemical and cultural management strategies for turfgrass diseases and weeds. He also is involved in improving communication within the turfgrass industry through social media. ERIC LYONS Dr. Eric Lyons is an Associate Professor in the Department of Plant Agriculture at the University of Guelph. Dr. Lyons specializes in nutri- ent management, stress physiology and plant competition in sports field, golf course and landscape turf. In addi- tion Dr. Lyons oversees extensive testing of new emerging products for turfgrass managers and has authored or co-authored numerous extension and trade articles in the field of turfgrass science and management. THOMAS NIKOLAI Thomas A. Nikolai, Ph.D. spent 10 years working on golf courses prior to enter- ing the world of turfgrass research in 1989. In 2002 he earned his doctorate at Michigan State University. He is author of the book, The Superintendents Guide to Controlling Putting Green Speed and he is world renowned as the "Doctor of Green Speed" (DoGS) because of his numerous studies that investigate put- ting green cultural and mechanical practices. If you currently lightweight roll your greens, mulch tree leaves into your rough, and don't have any golfers wearing metal spikes it is due in part to Nikolai's research. He has given hundreds of turfgrass management seminars on five continents, nine countries, six Canadian provinces and 32 states. DALE OVERTON Dale has a Master's degree in plant biology and land reclamation, owns/oper- ates the largest compost tea manufacturing facility in Canada and also operates a four million-worm vermin-technology facility. Both businesses are growing at an exceptional rate. Dale has been an environmental consul- tant for large oil / gas / mining / consulting firms for ten years and has been involved in many long-term biological monitoring projects. He has been an invited guest speaker by Canadian Composting Council, University of Manitoba, Olds College, Red River College, Manitoba Eco-Network and more. Dale offers government certified courses on soil biology, integrated pest management and organic fertility alternatives (for credit on pesticide applicators requirements). DR. FRANK ROSSI Dr. Frank Rossi is in his 17th year as Professor of Turfgrass Science in the Department of Horticulture at Cornell University where he teaches a variety of horticultural science courses including turfgrass management. His research and extension program focuses on maximizing turfgrass performance while preserving environmental quality. He has published hundreds of scientific and trade journal articles and presented around the world on environmentally responsible turfgrass management. Frank has been recognized as among the most influential people in the turf and green industries on several occasions in his career by publications such as Golfweek and SportsTurf Magazine. Recently he was awarded the 2012 Environmental Communicator of the Year by the Communication Association of the Green Industry. Frank has served as lead turf consultant for the New York Yankees, 2002 and 2009 US Open Golf Championships and 2012 Barclays at Bethpage Black and currently for the 2016 Olympic Golf Course in Rio de Janiero with fellow Cornellian Gil Hanse. In addition to his career in turf, Frank is married and the father of three children, a triathlete, President of his local school board, hospice volunteer, and co-owner of Bel Canto Farm, a boutique farm, specializing in pasture-raised alpaca, heritage breed pigs and poultry. DR. MIKE RICHARDSON Dr. Mike Richardson is a professor in the Department of Horticulture at the University of Arkansas, where his research has focused on cultural practices that impact cool- and warm-season turfgrass production in the transition zone. In addition, he has been actively involved with research to screen and develop new turfgrasses for a wide range of turfgrass environments. Dr. Richardson has authored over 80 refereed articles on turfgrass management, published 10 book chapters, and delivered over 100 invited lectures on various aspects of turfgrass management around the world. He has been elected a Fellow in the Crop Science Society of America and the American Society of Agronomy. DR. JOHN SOROCHAN A native of Calgary, AB, Dr. John Sorochan began working on the grounds crew at Earl Grey Golf and Country Club in 1987. He received his Ph.D. in Turfgrass Science from Michigan State University in 2002, and is presently Associate Professor and Distinguished Scientist of Turfgrass Science and Management in the Plant Sciences Department at the University of Tennessee. Dr. Sorochan is also the Co-Director for the UT Center for Athletic Field Safety. Dr. Sorochan is responsible for the depart- ment's academic turf programs at both the undergraduate and graduate level and teaches several classes in the Turfgrass Science and Management Program. His research program coordinates investigations on environmental turf stress physiology including indirect heat, Continued on Page 25