SportsTurf provides current, practical and technical content on issues relevant to sports turf managers, including facilities managers. Most readers are athletic field managers from the professional level through parks and recreation, universities.
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/50965
give to others no matter what the situation might be. Chuck Huston hired me 27 years ago, to work for Hunter and was my men- tor for many years to follow. Even after he retired, he gave me advice and helped me develop my personal and professional skills. Richard Hunter has allowed me to work with great people; make mistakes and learn from them; mentor others in our company, and be a part of the most fantastic team in the world. ST: Tell us something about yourself out- side of work (hobby, sport or other personal interest) that influences your approach in your professional career. Wightman: Ha! Anyone who knows me, would say that I don't have much of a life outside of irrigation and Hunter, but I am a very lucky woman to live in Missoula, MT (eat your heart out!) and be close to family. I love to fly fish, garden, preserve and cook the goods I grow, and share everything with everybody I can! I invite industry friends to join me in the relaxation of being on the water, tossing a line, and not talking about sprinklers, water conservation and jobs!! By doing this, we all go away with a refreshed mind and soul, ready to tackle our daily challenges once again. ST: What dreams do you have for the in- dustry? What change(s) are necessary to make those dreams a reality? Wightman: I realize that many things are changing, especially with the way we do business, but we have to remember the im- portance of relationships and partnerships with the people we work with. At Hunter, our Mission and Values are based upon cus- tomer satisfaction, innovation, family and citizenship (communities, sustainability, and environmental footprint) I would like to think that other compa- nies would look to model their own core values along these same lines; for the better- ment of their employees and customers. ST: What advice do you have for green industry professionals who want to become influential leaders themselves? Wightman: Strive for the best in all that is tried. Don't be afraid to fail; get up and try it again until it is right! Share your fail- ures and successes with others; maybe they are in the same shoes as you. Be happy with yourself and your job; if you're not, then find out why and try to make the appropri- ate changes. Another quote that I like is (anonymous), "The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything, they just make the most of everything that comes their way." ST: If you could nominate another per- son as the green industry's most influential, who would that be, and why? Wightman: Michael Andresen, CSFM. Mike is Past President of STMA and has in- fluenced every sports turf manager I know, in some way or another. His job at ISU has given him the opportunity to implement a student working program, which has always turned into a true mentor process for these young people. He is understanding, caring, and supportive to anyone he comes in con- tact with. If he is not knowledgeable about something, he dives in to learn about it and comes out on top. Oh yeah, and he loves to fly fish and be in the mountains!■ www.stma.org SportsTurf 9