Ontario Turfgrass Symposium

Dr. Sara Stricker is a plant pathologist working as the Communications Coordinator at the Guelph Turfgrass Institute. She aims to make turfgrass research interesting and accessible to the industry and the public. Sara obtained her B. Sc, M. Sc, and Ph. D degrees at the University of Guelph and completed a Bachelor of Education at Western University. She has conducted research on foliar diseases including tar spot of maple, Stemphylium leaf blight of onion, and Microdochium patch of creeping bentgrass.

 @SaraMStricker

Jason Pick is the CEO of the Alberta Turfgrass Research Foundation and the Managing Director of the Prairie Turfgrass Research Centre. He is a former golf course superintendent, having joined the Olds College faculty in 2009. Jason specializes in Turfgrass Science and Golf Resort Management, and is a Faculty Lecturer at Olds College of Agriculture & Technology. He holds and Associate's Degree in soil science and agronomy from the University of Guelph, a Bachelor of Science from Olds College, a Postgraduate Degree in Business Administration from McMaster, and a Master of Science in Turfgrass Management from Penn State University.

 @JasonJPick

Cameron Lawrie is the supervisor of the Gryphon Fieldhouse, Alumni Stadium, and outdoor sports fields at the University of Guelph, where he promotes and inspires lifelong participation in recreational and competitive sports by facilitating community, intramural, and varsity sports leagues, and a wide variety of skill development programs and special events. He graduated from a Master of Science program at McGill University in 2014 and he also holds a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from the University of Guelph. Cameron has volunteered for the Race Around Ireland cycling event and for the Pan-American Games. This summer he oversaw the renovation of the synthetic turf surface at Alumni Stadium. 

 gryphons.ca/staff-directory/cameron-lawrie/398

Dr. Nathaniel Mitkowski is a professor at the University of Rhode Island in the Department of Plant Sciences and Entomology. His primary research focus is improving and developing disease control strategies for intensively managed turfgrass systems. Dr. Mitkowski's previous work has included the elucidation of bacterial wilt of Poa annua and creeping bentgrass, investigating the biology of nematode pathogens on turfgrasses in New England and examining fungicide resistance patterns in Colletotrichum cereale and Leptospherulina australis. He is currently working with collaborators from around the region studying the control and management of the beech leaf nematode. He is heavily invested in disease diagnostics and has been managing the URI Turf Diagnostic Laboratory since 2001.

 uri.edu/nathaniel-mitkowski

Joe Breedon is the Outdoor Recreation Facility Coordinator for the City of Barrie. Joe was named the Sports Turf Manager of the year in 2018 by Sports Turf Canada and was recognized in the Turf & Rec Top 10 under 40 in 2020. Furthermore, he has been awarded the "Field of Excellence" award by Pioneer Athletics for his work at the Barrie Community Sports Complex, and the Barrie Baycats named the grounds crew, which included Joe, as the "MVP" for the 2008 season. Joe is known for his professionalism and commitment to Ontario's municipal green infrastructure. Joe earned the designation of a CSFM “Certified Sports Field Manager” through the Sports Field Management Association based out of the USA for the last 7 years.

 @BreedonJoe

Trevor Warner's dedication to sports field maintenance began while he was playing junior college baseball in Tennessee. He enjoyed maintaining the field and had a knack for it. He considers himself fortunate to have been able to learn from some of the best in the southeastern United States sports field construction and renovation industry. He has maintained fields for the City of Welland, for the Niagara Stars (which were part of the Canadian baseball league) and completed major renovations in Quebec for the league. He then expanded his industry awareness with Mar-Co Clay Products. He has been in the municipal environment with the City of Woodstock since 2014. Trevor is a strong believer of continual professional development and completed the Turf Managers’ Short Course at the Guelph Turfgrass Institute. Trevor is a long-standing member of Sports Turf Canada and won the Sports Turf Manager of the Year in 2021. Trevor presented at the Sports Field Management Association’s Conference in Florida in January 2024.  He is working with turf related organizations to provide infield management training and sharing his expertise with the industry.

Casey Colthurst has been the Parks Manager for the Town of Tecumseh,ON since 2007. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Forestry from Lakehead University and previously worked as an arborist and tree care consultant, with a specialty in urban forestry.

Jamie Kell has maintained the off-field operations and on-field maintenance for the Town of Tecumseh’s Bert Lacasse Baseball Park since 2013. Jamie has been the Head Coach of the Tecumseh Men’s AAA Baseball team for the past 16 and was a member of the National Baseball Institute (NBI) from 1994 to 1996 (Surrey, BC) playing shortstop and competing against Division I, II and NAIA Division USA College Baseball Teams. As a Geographic Information Systems Technician with the Town of Tecumseh, he applied spatial awareness, mapping and design along with his expansive background knowledge in baseball to support the $5 million renovation to Bert Lacasse Ballpark (Feb 2023 to June 2024). From the beginning of getting involved with the Tecumseh Baseball Club and Bert Lacasse Park, Jamie, working with the Town of Tecumseh has been an advocate for a safe, properly maintained and cared for baseball field surface. Whether it be with staff, budgets, materials, funding, shared costs or knowledge all efforts go towards one goal; to remain as one of the best places to play and experience amateur baseball in Ontario – Bert Lacasse Park.

Dr. François Tardif is a professor in the Department of Plant Agriculture at the University of Guelph specializing in weed science. Dr. Tardif teaches several courses at the University of Guelph, including Turf Weeds in the DTM program. His research focuses on herbicide resistance and integrated pest management. 

 www.plant.uoguelph.ca/ftardif

Mike Van Beek comes to the Ontario Turfgrass Symposium with over 40 years of experience in the turf industry. He is the instructor for several Diploma in Turfgrass Management (DTM) and Turf Managers Short Course (TMSC) at the University of Guelph, including The Identification and Care of Landscape Plants in Turf Environments. Mike previously taught at Seneca College and he serves on the Board of Directors for the Ontario Turfgrass Research Foundation. 

 @MikeVanBeek3

Dr. Katerina Jordan is an experienced plant researcher in turfgrass science and the director of the Guelph Turfgrass Institute (GTI) at the University of Guelph. Katerina is an associate professor in the Department of Plant Agriculture, where she has been conducting turfgrass research since 2005. She has taught courses in turfgrass insects, biological control of plant diseases, research methods and statistics, plant disease epidemiology, and integrated pest management to certificate, diploma, undergraduate, and graduate students. Her primary service to the turfgrass industry is managing the GTI Diagnostic Clinic.

 @TurfGirl68

 Plant.UoGuelph.ca/KJordan

Terry Henderson is currently a Supervisor for Parks East at City of Waterloo and the Vice-President of Sports Turf Canada. He previously served on the IPM Council of Canada, the Guelph Turfgrass Institute Advisory Board, and has been a member of Sports Turf Canada for over 20 years. Before moving to Waterloo, Terry was the Grounds Superintendent at Woodlawn Memorial Park in Guelph.

Dr. Eric Lyons is an Associate Professor in the Department of Plant Agriculture at the University of Guelph. Dr. Lyons specializes in nutrient management, stress physiology and plant competition in sports field, golf course and landscape turf.  In addition, Dr. Lyons oversees extensive testing of new emerging products for turfgrass managers and focusses on outreach and education to further the turfgrass industry. 

 @CanadaTurfDoc

 Plant.UoGuelph.ca/ELyons

With over 25 years’ experience working with people & turfgrass Cam Shaw has built his career on being an effective communicator, educator, industry leader and passionate lover of grass and the environment. Having worked in multiple towns, provinces and countries, Cam has developed an intricate understanding of the various challenges our industry faces when it comes to legislation, public perception, and stakeholder communications. As manager of the Diploma in Turfgrass Management program at the University of Guelph, Cam spends his days planning, instructing, and preparing the next generation of Canadian turfgrass managers for a challenging, yet rewarding career.

 @CShaw04

Rory Doucette is the Manager of parks Operations for the City of Brantford and the current President of Sports Turf Canada. He holds an Executive Certification in Municipal Management from York University and a Diploma in Human resources Management from Sheridan College. Rory has experience working with a diverse and dedicated team to maintain and build a thriving community where connecting creativity and play is the goal. He holds several certifications, including  Cemetery Administrator, Crematorium Operator, Playground Inspector, Ice Technician, and Spray Pad Practitioner.

Terry Piche has been in active in the field of recreation since 1979. Starting as a frontline practitioner with no training, he has subsequently obtained diplomas, through distance learning, in both arena management and leisure services, while working his way through the ranks of supervisor, manager, and director. This passion for life-long learning is what he strives to instill in the next generation of recreation facility professionals. Today, his work focuses on monitoring legislative change in many of the complex regulations, codes and acts that impact recreation. Further, he collaborates with key governing authorities so that they are better informed of ORFA’s leadership role in the recreation sector and how the association is investing its resources to assist their respective efforts in compliance. In addition, he captures industry experiences and best practices, and develops actionable, easy-to-implement and practical solutions that comprise components of ORFA training courses, which result in professional accreditation.

orfa/PublicProfile

Mike Schiedel was born and raised on a sod farm in Cambridge, Ontario. Mike is the Operations Manager at Greenhorizons group of sod farms and is the current President of the Nursery Sod Growers Association of Ontario. He completed the Turf Managers' Short Course from the University of Guelph and has a life time of experience in cultivating turfgrass. 

 www.greenhorizonssod.com

Matt Legg is the Technical Lead for Syngenta Professional Solutions, based out of Toronto, ON, where he leads all technical outreach, advanced troubleshooting, and product development on behalf of Syngenta Canada. Before joining Syngenta, Matthew worked in a golf course setting, serving in the capacity of Director of Agronomy within the private golf sector. Academically, Matt holds a diploma in turfgrass management from the University of Guelph, along with his Bachelor of Science, in Turfgrass Science, from the Pennsylvania State University. Outside of Syngenta, he provides educational outreach as a seasonal lecturer of Turfgrass Entomology at the University of Guelph, where he educates up-and-coming Turf Managers about the biology, ecology, and management of turf and landscape insect pests.

Tom Gould works as an Agronomist for the United States Golf Association (USGA), providing golf course consultation and educational outreach across the Central United States. Before joining the USGA, he served as an assistant superintendent at Chicago Golf Club in Wheaton, Illinois, where he integrated new software tools to enhance maintenance and streamline operations. Tom has previous experience with the USGA as a Green Section Intern, where he contributed to course consulting, wrote Green Section Record articles, and supported USGA championships. He holds a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in Horticulture with a turfgrass management emphasis from Iowa State University. While pursuing his master’s degree, he worked full-time as a research scientist, managing turfgrass research and renovations, including the Kentucky bluegrass grow-in at Jack Trice Stadium - Iowa State's football field. His early career included internships at both sports field and golf course facilities.

Linda Whitehead is a Professor at Fanshawe College and author of Working in Play: Planning for a Career in the Recreation and Leisure Industry in Canada. Linda holds a Bachelor in Physical Education from Western University, a Masters of Education in Physical Education & Coaching from University of Victoria, and a Master of Business Administration from University of Liverpool. She has experience in nonprofit organizations, career development, and coaching. 

Frank Cain is the Facility and Business Development Manager for the Department of Athletics at the University of Guelph and has been involved in the construction, operation and capital repair and replacement of the department’s facility assets. He joined the university after a long private sector career in facility design, construction and operations that took him across Canada and internationally to work with the largest parastatal company in China. Frank is a Certified Ice technician and a Registered Recreation Facilities Administrator with the Ontario Recreational Facilities Association, and he also instructs their Ground Management and Operations programs. 

Cassie Russell is the Nursery and Landscape Specialist with OMAFA. She completed her Bachelor of Science and Master of Science at the University of Guelph and has spent the last 8 years studying and working in the horticulture industry. Cassie specializes in integrated pest management and entomology. 

 onnurserycrops.wordpress.com

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