The Green Star Awards program brings national recognition to grounds management programs, managers and crews responsible for landscapes that exhibit a high degree of excellence in certain areas including sustainability practices and policies, turf management, landscape design and more.

PGMS looking for best managed landscapes; announce two new CGMs

The Professional Grounds Management Society is searching for the best managed landscapes and is now accepting entries for its acclaimed Green Star Awards Program. The deadline for entries is July 29, 2013.


While Hollywood has the Emmys and athletics has the Olympics, the grounds management profession has the PGMS Green Star Awards. This exclusive program brings national recognition to grounds management programs, managers and crews responsible for landscapes that exhibit a high degree of excellence in certain areas including sustainability practices and policies, turf management, landscape design and more. This awards program honors “the best of the best” in landscapes and winners boast about the recognition they receive.


To enter, simply fill out the entry form, submit it along with the payment and the entry to PGMS headquarters at 720 Light St., Baltimore, MD 21230. The cost is only $150 for PGMS members and $225 for others. All entries must be submitted by CD. Grand, Honor and Merit Awards are offered in 15 categories, covering all types of private, public commercial and industrial landscapes. Each winning entry will be recognized at the 2013 Awards Banquet taking place Oct. 25, 2013 in Louisville, Kentucky as part of the annual School of Grounds Management & GIE+EXPO set to take place Oct. 23-26, 2013.


An official entry form for this year’s contest and other details can be found at http://pgms.org/green-star-awards/.


The Professional Grounds Management Society has announced two grounds professionals have earned the Certified Grounds Manager (CGM) designation. Matthew Partain of Berea, Ky. and Neil Buchholz of Redding, Calif. have become the 139th and 140th grounds management professionals to successfully complete its CGM program, respectively.


Partain currently serves as the grounds coordinator at Berea College where he has been for over four years. When asked his thoughts on the CGM program he responded, “I believe a word used during the process was ‘comprehensive’ and that’s absolutely correct! The CGM program requires an in depth look at all aspects of grounds management. I thought it was a fantastic way to show what I am doing well, and areas that I could manage better.”


Buchholz currently serves as the grounds supervisor at Simpson University and has been in that position for the eight years he has been employed at the university. When asked why he decided to become a CGM he responded, “Simpson University is an institution of higher education; therefore, as part of my drive for excellence, I was inspired to start and complete the CGM program. By completing the CGM program I could expand my knowledge and connect with others who have the same goals in mind. The program would also provide independent evidence that I am a professional in my field.” Read full interviews with Buchholz and Partain at http://pgms.org/2013/01/23/pgms-announces-new-cgms/. Those achieving the CGM professional designation must first have accomplished a certain level of education and on-the-job experience and then successfully completed a two-part examination process administered by PGMS. For details on the CGM program please visit http://pgms.org/certifications/certified-grounds-manager/