Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/110267
TL1303-proof 2/14/13 9:11 AM Page 1 caused by Phytophthora species, plant stress physiology, and beneficial symbiotic microbes. Thor Claussen - Bartlett Tree Experts Bob Mitchell - West Shore Parks (retired) Bob was born in Yorkshire England but spent the first 5 years of his life on a tobacco farm in Southern Rhodesia. The next 10 and formative years he spent on the family farm back in Yorkshire England. At 15 years old, Bob's parents decided to move to Canada where they bought a farm on Prince Edward Island. Bob graduated from Charlottetown Rural High School and then went off to the Nova Scotia Agricultural College to study Agricultural Engineering. After graduation, he enrolled in the Heavy Duty Mechanics apprenticeship program and worked at a large heavy equipment dealer in Truro Nova Scotia. One of 25 mechanics at the dealership, Bob learned a great deal about being a mechanic and equipment technician. After completing his interprovincial Journeyman HD program, Bob was asked to come back to the Nova Scotia Agricultural College where he taught Oil Hydraulics, Farm Equipment Repair, Shop Management and engine and mechanical theory and repair. Bob and his family moved to British Columbia early in 1981 where initially he worked at John Grieve Motors in East Saanich, a John Deere dealer. He then accepted a position of Parks Mechanic at Westshore Parks and Recreation (otherwise known as Juan de Fuca Recreation Centre) where he repaired and maintained all manner of parks equipment Eric Portelance - City of Richmond Eric Portelance joined the City of Richmond as Environmental Coordinator in 2009. Originally from the province of Quebec, where he obtained his Bachelor of Science in Biology (U of Montreal) and his first experiences with cosmetic pesticide restrictions and municipal enforcement, his work for the City of Richmond involved him directly in the development of the City's cosmetic pesticide bylaw and the implementation of the Enhanced Pesticide Management Program. Often cited as exemplary, Richmond's education and outreach program focuses on providing helpful and lowtoxicity information to their community and researching innovative approaches to pest management. Mike Gentile – DMA Sports Group Michael Gentile is an Associate at DMA Sports Group, a sport surface testing and consulting firm. DMA Sports Group provides testing services for several hundred fields every year including every NFL Stadium Field. Mr. Gentile's academic education was from the University of Connecticut where he received a bachelor's in Civil Engineering. In 2002, his professional education began with a mentorship under renowned sports facility consultant Joseph DiGeronimo. His professional experience includes a wide range of sports facility design, civil engineering and sport surface testing. Mr. Gentile believes that educating and empowering the consumer about synthetic turf will lead to further advancement of the industry and better fields for everyone. Catherine Eiswerth - RF Binnie & Associates Catherine Eiswerth has over 25 years experience in the outdoor sport facility and civil engineering industry. Her experience includes providing project management and design for over 100 synthetic turf sports fields, dozens of natural grass fields, running tracks, tennis courts and various other related projects. Her past sports facility projects have been diverse - ranging from providing pro-bono services for non-profit sports groups to design of the competition synthetic hockey pitches in Toronto and owner advisory services for four of the track and field facilities for 2015 Pan Am Games in Toronto. Catherine is Manager of Binnie's Sports & Recreation Division and has been one of the firm's employeeowners since 1994. RF Binnie & Associates Ltd is a Western Canadian, multi-disciplinary consulting firm with more than 130 professional staff including civil engineers, project managers, surveyors, technologists, landscape architects and others. Ron Aston - Terra Equipment Ron's turfgrass industry career began during high school working for Fallis Turf Equipment where his father, Gordon Aston was employed. Routine after school duties for Ron were setting up and PDI of Jacobsen Turf Equipment which at that time was in its mechanical infancy. In 1978, he moved on, working with his father again and his partner George Domich in their newly formed company Multi Turf Specialists. Ron's initial job description there started out operating a Hydro Seeder then onto servicing all makes and models of turf equipment and eventually moving into a sales service position. Ten years later, Ron decided to branch out on his own and formed Terra Equipment Ltd. Throughout the years, he has challenged everything from manufacturing his own product line of equipment, Hydra Spread Top Dressers, to remanufacturing leading brand turf equipment and eventually selling all makes and models of turf equipment. Terra Equipment is now in its 25th year and is constantly evolving to keep up with technology, marketing and equipment trends including becoming a new Club Car Dealer. Continued On Next Page WESTERN CANADA TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION 39 2013 WCTA CONFERENCE AND TRADE SHOW PROGRAM Spending the majority of his life in the Green industry after working in orchards on the family farm as a child, Thor Claussen sold his tree company to Bartlett Tree Experts three years ago and stayed on to manage the Okanagan service area. He received his horticulture Diploma in the early 90's and received the Award of Excellence for Landscape design From the BCLNA in 1997. Since 1993, Thor has been a certified Arborist and a certified Senior Instructor For Arboriculture Canada for the last decade teaching courses in climbing, rigging, felling, pruning and hazard evaluation. He has taught the tree pruning for the Master Gardeners program over the last several years as well as been a guest instructor for the OUC horticulture program. Trees and their proper care has been Thor's passion for most of his life and he says that being able to climb the World's largest Douglas Fir several years ago was definitely a career highlight. including backhoes, dump trucks, Zamboni's, a fleet of busses, vans and cars and also all manner of mowing equipment and machinery related to running and maintaining a golf course and large parks dept. Bob has extensive experience teaching in the Community Education program run by Camosun College, where he taught courses in Farm Tractors, Basic Oil Hydraulics and Advanced Oil Hydraulics. Through Vancouver Island University, he was also a guest speaker to a Horticultural and Landscaping program centered out of the Duncan campus, teaching reel mower theory and maintenance. Bob is a licensed Fork Lift operator trainer, and also a licensed auto propane installer. Bob has recently retired from full time work, but remains very active in his fields of interest.