The Synthetic Turf Council held an historic 10th Anniversary and Annual Membership Meeting in Orlando, Florida, which included a retrospective highlighting the organization’s 10 years of advocacy, service and accomplishments.
The association also presented its new Board of Directors, which had been elected by ballot prior to the meeting. John Baize, Managing Director, ACT Global Sports, was unanimously re-elected as Chairman of the Board for a second one-year term of the nearly 200-member organization. Other Board officers include Vice Chairman Robert Thomas, President, ProGrass LLC; Secretary Davis Lee, Principal, InnovaNet Group; Treasurer Jake Alexander, Sales Director-Eastern U.S., Genan Inc.; Director-at-Large Alastair Cox, Director, Labosport International; and Immediate Past Chairman John B. Giraud, Managing Director, Target Technologies International Inc.
Completing the new Board are Rusty Abell, Principal, ISA Sport; Amy Brackin, Regional Sales Manager, Liberty Tire Recycling, LLC; Zach Burns, President, The Motz Group; Webb Cook, President, Sprinturf; Craig Honkomp, Principal, Sportsworks Field Design; Heard Smith, Chief Operating Officer, AstroTurf/SYNLawn and John Tidwell, President, Turf Store Inc. In addition, former Board members Dale Karmie, CEO of Forever Lawn, Inc.; Jeff Kendall, CEO of Liberty Tire Recycling, LLC; Scott Lowrie, President, Controlled Products, LLC; and David Moxley, Director of Sales for Sportsfield Specialties, Inc. were recognized for their valuable contributions to the STC and the synthetic turf industry.
“Our Board plays an extremely active role in shaping the strategic direction of the Council,” explains Rick Doyle, President of the Synthetic Turf Council (STC). “The STC relies on its Board and many committee volunteers to create and help implement action initiatives for each of the many applications for which synthetic turf is a solution – landscape, playgrounds, golf, sports fields, airports, dog parks, and others. Chairman John Baize’s contributions over the past year and his commitment to the STC are well-known, and I’m confident the STC will continue to grow and serve the industry under his leadership.”
The meeting began with a pre-conference “Whistle-stop” Seminar on synthetic grass for landscape and recreation, which was attended by parks and recreation officials, municipalities, landscape architects and STC members. The 2½ day meeting included a comprehensive educational program that included consumer panel comprised of parks and recreation officials discussing their experiences with synthetic grass. There were two dynamic keynote speakers: retired Brigadier General Steve Ritchie, one of the most decorated Air Force Pilots in military history and American Hero, and Congressman Lou Frey, Jr., founder of the Lou Frey Institute of Politics and Government, University of Central Florida. An expanded Exhibitor Showcase, interactive work group sessions and a discussion on removal, recovery, reuse and recycling successes completed the successful educational and networking experience.
The meeting attracted 215 industry leaders including manufacturers, suppliers, installers, landscape architects and engineers, testing labs, and maintenance equipment and service companies.