Gary Watschke and Phil Spitz have been named territory managers for the Lawn & Garden sales team at Syngenta Professional Products. In their new positions, they will work directly with golf course superintendents, lawn care operators and other turf professionals to help meet product and sales consultative support needs.
Watschke is responsible for customers in northern Ohio. He has more than 35 years of experience in the turfgrass market. He was formerly a golf course superintendent and agronomist for several leading companies, and was most recently a sales manager with Arysta LifeScience. Watschke has been recognized as Superintendent of the Year by the Iowa Golf Course Superintendents Association and is an accomplished speaker, author and trainer in the turfgrass industry. He holds a bachelor’s degree in agronomy / turfgrass management from Iowa State University.
Spitz will work with customers in Wis. and Mich.’s Upper Peninsula. He joined Syngenta after working more than 10 years in the golf course management industry. He worked most recently as an assistant golf course superintendent at Westmoor Country Club in Brookfield, Wis. Spitz holds a bachelor’s degree in soil science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he also helped conduct turfgrass research.
“Watschke’s and Spitz’s industry knowledge, combined with their experience managing golf courses, will be very valuable in their new positions,” said Dave Ravel, turf-market lead for Syngenta Professional Products.