When we talk about some of the most skilled professionals and industry leaders, we are talking about Amy and Nina! They have the most experience in the sports field industry out of all the crew members and infinite knowledge in field construction. They are consultants and experts for fields ranging from little league to some of the best stadiums in the country. I was fascinated by their work and what they brought to the table on this grounds crew. They were two incredible mentors for the younger girls on the staff, and I was so excited for the opportunity to talk with them after years of watching their careers from a distance! 

In this episode, we got to spend some time with the Bulldog Equipment team, one of the many incredible sponsors that were on site to witness history in the making. It was an awesome experience to talk to some great friends who were able to help make this first-ever All-Female Grounds Crew through their support. We discussed what it was like to be a part of the event and what it was like to interact with the incredible groundskeepers that made up the crew. Then being able to discuss the history of not only the company but their careers and the journey they have been on up and to this point where they were able to sponsor this event. You do not want to miss this episode with these two phenomenal people!  

In the second part of our Inaugural All-Female Grounds Crew series, we meet the two products of the High School Turfgrass Management Program, Julie Kassler and Brynn South! This is one of my favorites as we get insight into how these high school turf programs positively impact young people's lives. These two have very bright futures in this industry! Building these high school turfgrass management programs across the country is how we will find the next generation of sports field managers. It was inspiring to see them working alongside industry professionals as the next generation was indeed an incredible moment.

We had the incredible opportunity to attend the Softball Little League World Series, where the Inagural All-Female Grounds Crew in the history of Sports Field Management was formed to tend to the national stage of Stallings Stadium at Elm Street Park in Greenville, NC. In this podcast series, we will dive into the event and all of the incredible people who were a part of it, from sponsors, crew members, and the two who made it all happen in this episode. We have two of the most incredible industry leaders that had an idea that would change everything. That was to create the first-ever All-Female grounds crew at this event. This episode explains how it all happened and how they developed an idea into a reality that will transform our industry! This is an episode that will kick off our Softball Little League Worlds Series!  

This week we hosted an absolute icon in the Sports Turf Industry, Mr. Paul Burgess. He has spent time as the pitch manager at Arsenal and Real Madrid, where he pioneered different cultural practices that have become an industry standard and developed one of the most innovative pitches that can be a revolutionary design that will change the outlook of sports field management for years to come. We dive into the projects he is currently working on in Monaco with this incredible practice facility on a mountain. It is something that you do not want to miss. I cannot thank Paul enough. Be sure to listen!

What an episode whereas John says we laughed, cried, and experienced all kinds of emotions, this is an episode you do not want to miss. We dive into an important topic in the industry, and that is mentorship/ leadership in the workplace. An excellent discussion of the impact it has had on our careers and how to grow together as an industry. It is one that you do not want to miss! 

This is the first-ever on-site episode of Tiger Turf Talk recorded in Foxborough, Massachusetts, with the Field Superintendent of Gillette Stadium, Ryan Bjorn. The best episode we have recorded is not because we were on-site at the facility but because of who cares for the grounds and his passion for his work and this industry. I talked to Ryan about his team and their dedication to creating the best playing surfaces possible for the Patriots and Revolution players. It was also great to tour the facility to see firsthand what we discussed on this podcast. This is one you do not want to miss.   

Great opportunity to learn what it takes to put a Sports Field Management Association Conference together so we all can enjoy the opportunity to network and learn from the different educational opportunities offered. We discuss the different groups that take a role in developing the year-long process of creating the education for their members. It was awesome to talk to Kristen about her time with SFMA and what we have to look forward to in Salt Lake City. 

Awesome time catching up with Cody Cimino who was the first industry professional to hire a Brentsville Turfgrass Management student at the Potomac Nationals. It is an awesome episode of talk about his fascinating career that has taken him all over the word working on sports fields and providing the venue for people to make memories. Truly cannot thank Cody enough for everything that he has done for me and my students on this incredible journey that our program has been on starting with him. Awesome episode you do not want to miss it. 

There are so many incredible individuals in this industry who have stories everyone should hear. Brian Laurent has made it his mission in life to bring those stories to light. There are so many different places across the country that he has seen through his work creating the Superintendents Network. Some videos depict the growth of industry professionals in their careers and their course. This is an episode you do not want to miss!