Ohio Turfgrass Foundation Elects 2008 Officers and Trustees

The Ohio Turfgrass Foundation (OTF) 2008 officers and trustees were elected at the association’s annual meeting held December 5, 2007, Columbus, Ohio.  Officers elected to serve one-year terms for the 46-year old turfgrass education and research organization, beginning February 1, 2008, include:

President: Todd Voss, Double Eagle Club - The son of a Golf Course Superintendent, Todd Voss grew up in the industry working for his dad, Joe Voss. After spending a couple of years at Kent State University and working at Silver Lake Country Club he enrolled in the two-year Turfgrass Management Program at Penn State. After graduation, Voss came to Double Eagle Club in Galena, Ohio for three years as Assistant. In the spring of 1994, he accepted the position as Superintendent to oversee the construction and grow-in of Fox Meadow Country Club in Medina, Ohio. After two years there he came back to Double Eagle Club, where he is currently Superintendent.

Voss serves on the USGA Greens Section Committee, Ohio Turfgrass Research Trust Board, and BASF Turfgrass Council.

Vice President: Dan Walter, City of Blue Ash Golf Course – Dan Walter is originally from Cleveland, Ohio and began working at Briarwood Golf Course while enrolled at The Ohio State University/Agricultural Technical Institute (OSU/ATI). After graduation in 1987 he became Assistant Supt. at Moundbuilders Country Club near Columbus.  In 1992 he became Assistant Superintendent for the City of Blue Ash Golf Course and became Superintendent in 1995, the position he currently holds. In addition to being Golf Course Superintendent, he is responsible for outside areas such as Pioneer Cemetery and landscape islands throughout the golf course development. Walter is past president of the Greater Cincinnati Golf Course Superintendents Association and has served on the OTF Board for five years.

Treasurer: Joe Enciso, Century Equipment – Joe Enciso graduated from The Ohio State University with degrees in Agronomy and Business. He has been working in Golf Course Irrigation since 1982 and has worked for K&P Supply, Baker Vehicle Systems and currently for Century Equipment, where he started in 1993 and is Golf Irrigation Sales Manager. Enciso is a member of 7 area chapters of the GCSAA and has been involved with OTF his entire sales career.

Trustees elected to three-year terms February 1, 2008 through January 31, 2011:

Trustee: Jason Straka, Hurdzan/Fry Golf Course Design – Jason Straka has been trained in many aspects of golf course architecture, however he specializes in environmental design. He earned a Bachelors degree in landscape architecture and a Masters degree in environmental golf course design studies, both from Cornell University.

Straka has professional work experience as an associate in a registered golf course builder’s firm, as a golf course greenskeeper, and as a research technician in the design and construction of golf greens.  He also frequently speaks and teaches to various golf and professional organizations and universities.  Straka is a member of the American Society of Golf Course Architects, the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America and is an Adjunct Professor at The Ohio State University.

Trustee: Doug Gallant, Cincinnati Reds – Doug Gallant is the Head Groundskeeper for the Cincinnati Reds and was named to his current position January, 2001 where he oversees all aspects of the daily playing field maintenance. He attended Wilmington College, where he played baseball for two seasons for former Reds star Brooks Lawrence. He later transferred to OSU and graduated in 1994 with a degree in turfgrass management. Gallant previously worked for Cincinnati- based The Motz Group where, as a project foreman, he helped supervise Cinergy Field’s conversion from artificial turf to natural grass following the 2000 season.

Also serving on the 2008 Board of Directors are: Immediate Past President, Mark Jordan, Westfield Group Country Club; Executive Director, Kevin Thompson; Dr. John Street, The Ohio State University; Mike Dietrich, John Deere Landscapes/Lesco; Mark Grunkemeyer, Buckeye Ecocare; Kim Kellogg, Grasshopper Property Maintenance; and Don Lawrence, Red Hawk Run Golf Course.

The Ohio Turfgrass Foundation is non-profit organization with more than 1,200 members in the turfgrass industry in and around Ohio.  Its mission is to improve turfgrass through research and education.  In 2007, OTF donated more than $154,000 in turfgrass research grants and student scholarships.

For more information about the Ohio Turfgrass Foundation, please contact OTF at 888-683-3445, 740-452-2552 (fax), info@OhioTurfgrass.org or www.OhioTurfgrass.org.

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