SEMINAR SPEAKER
Joel Williams is an independent plant and soil health educator, who integrates soil chemical and biological assessments along with plant nutritional analysis as a joined-up strategy for plant management. Joel has a Bachelor of Agricultural Science specializing in plant and soil dynamics and he has a keen interest in managing microbial ecology and plant & soil nutrition to optimize soil and rootzone function and plant immunity. He has a passion for teaching and sharing both scientific and practical information and has lectured to audiences around the world.
Joel Williams
CONFERENCE SPEAKERS
Kathleen is part of the fourth generation of her family who have dedicated their careers to turfgrass management. She worked for 9 years as part of golf maintenance crews on golf courses in Ontario, Alberta, and her last crew position as Assistant superintendent at Mountain view Golf Club in Whitehorse YT. Katie has been researching turfgrass maintenance for 13 years. With research focusing various topics ranging from breeding cool season turf, disease control, weed control, weed seedbank dynamics, cold tolerance and best management practices for preventing wear damage on sports fields. She has taught turfgrass management courses at Humber college and the University of Guelph. In her current role as Global Technical Manager for Turf & Landscapes she has the privilege of working with researchers across the globe, focused on continuing to bring plant potential to life.
Kathleen Dodson, CHBS
Dr. Benelli is the Green Solutions Specialist for Bayer Environmental Science in Canada. Dr. Benelli is a graduate of the Pennsylvania State Turfgrass Program and received his MS and PhD degrees from the University of Tennessee. Prior to joining Bayer, Dr. Benelli has worked at several golf courses throughout the Northeast, Southeast, and Midwest. Most recently, he was the Director of Turfgrass Programs for the Chicago District Golf Association where he consulted with more than 400 member clubs throughout the region.
Jesse Benelli
Dr. Leah Brillman received a B.S. degree in Biology from California State University Bakersfield, and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Agronomy and Plant Genetics from the University of Arizona. Turfgrass breeder who focuses on breeding turfgrass cultivars with reduced inputs. A 2018 Distinguished Service Award Winner from GCSAA, a Fellow of the Crop Science Society, 2007 NACPB Breeder of the Year, 2011 recipient of the William Daniels Award for Educator of the Year from STMA and 2012 Recipient of the Fred Grau Award in Turfgrass Science from the Crop Science Society. She has developed and administered Undergraduate contests for turf students for both the GCSAA and STMA.
Dr. Leah Brillman
Dr. Miltner earned B.S. and M.S. degrees in Agronomy from the University of Georgia, and his Ph.D. in Crop and Soil Sciences from Michigan State University. He spent the first 17 years of his career in turfgrass research, education, and extension at land grant universities, where he focused on nutrient use and environmental fate of fertilizers and pesticides, while also helping turfgrass managers find solutions to their agronomic challenges. Since 2011 he has worked for Agrium Advanced Technologies, Koch Turf & Ornamental, and now Allied Nutrients. He currently manages research and product development, and provides technical support and education to customers and turf managers on responsible nutrient use, with enhanced efficiency fertilizers as key tools in producing healthy turf and protecting environmental quality. He has professional certifications as a Certified Crop Advisor and 4R Nutrient Management Specialist through the American Society of Agronomy.
Dr. Eric Miltner
Gary Taylor has been involved in the irrigation industry for the past 39 years beginning his career maintaining the irrigation system at a 54 Hole golf course while he attended university obtaining his Bachelor of Commerce degree. His career has included golf irrigation installation, design (residential, commercial and golf), sales and after-sales support. Gary started his own business, GT Irrigation Services, in 2013 to provide independent third-party irrigation consulting services to the golf, municipal and commercial markets. In addition to his consulting business, Gary has been the sessional instructor for the Diploma in Turfgrass Management program and Turf Manager’s Short Course at University of Guelph since 2015.
Gary Taylor
Wray “Sprayman” Mason is from Toronto, ON. he was educated at Humber College in the field of Mechanical Engineering (Solar). Wray was a Tech Rep for a large agricultural supplier to manufacturers of sprayers for 15 years and Agronomy Manager at Turf Care (Toro distributor ON,PQ) for 6 years.
As Owner operator of Precision Turf Technologies, Wray supplied golf courses across North America with sprayer parts and technology for all types of sprayers as well as service and calibration of all types of sprayers for 20 years.
In 2019, he sold the company and joined Allturf Ltd. group of companies, supplying the golf and landscape markets with products that includ MK Rittenhouse, a large on-line supplier to the “green” industry and Dol Turf which is focused on maintaining and servicing municipalities and golf courses.
As Owner operator of Precision Turf Technologies, Wray supplied golf courses across North America with sprayer parts and technology for all types of sprayers as well as service and calibration of all types of sprayers for 20 years.
In 2019, he sold the company and joined Allturf Ltd. group of companies, supplying the golf and landscape markets with products that includ MK Rittenhouse, a large on-line supplier to the “green” industry and Dol Turf which is focused on maintaining and servicing municipalities and golf courses.
Wray Mason
Jamie is married to his wife Debra and the father of three children - Colton, Rachel, and Ruthie. He coaches Special Olympics golf and curling and is a volunteer firefighter. Jamie grew up working on his uncle's dairy farm. He worked for 5 years at a Ford dealer, 5 years at truck and transport shop, 10 years at the school bus depot and 9 years at Brudenell River / Dundarave golf courses.