PRESIDENT’S PERSPECTIVE

As 2022 comes to an end I look back on what a great year my first year as GCBAA President has been. The association has been able to accomplish a lot this year and we have many “Irons in the Fire” for the future. We are seeing a return to some normalcy as the Covid pandemic continues to lessen. Justin and Mychelle continue to do a great job handling the many initiatives that the GCBAA is involved in. Thank you to all our members for the continued support through this year. That is what makes this association so great, and unlike so many others. Here are a few of my highlights from 2022:

• One of my first acts as President was honoring Steve Mona at the 2022 Cocktail Reception/Don A. Rossi Award Presentation in San Diego. They hand you the gavel and throw you right on stage. That was a fun-filled, productive week at the GCSAA Conference & Trade Show/GCBAA Winter Meeting;

• Joining the GCBAA Executive Board at Southern Hills in Tulsa, OK for the PGA Championship at which we held out Spring Executive Board meeting;

He will make a great addition to the BOG. Thank you, Blake, for your willingness to join the BOG.

Not letting the dust settle, the Board of Governors is already working on the GCBAA Recertification process. They will meet in Orlando on February 7, 2023, to review all the work this wonderful membership has been performing. Exciting times in the golf industry for sure. Speaking of Orlando, we hope to see all of you at the GCBAA General Membership Meeting (5-6 PM) and Cocktail Reception (6-9 PM) at the Hyatt Regency – Orlando on February 7, 2023. Be sure to follow the https://www.gcbaa.org/Events/GCSAA-ConferenceTrade-Show-Winter-Meeting page for updates and a schedule of events. (Mychelle made me say that last part.)

Board Members

Chris Caccavale Caterpillar Inc. (Secretary)

Wayne Deker The Toro Company

Judd Duininck Duininck Golf (Past President)

Mike Garbs Advanced Drainage Systems Inc.

Chris Hill Course Crafters LLC

Greg Hufner Total Turf Services

Matt Lohmann Wadsworth Golf Construction Company

Jon O’Donnell Heritage Links (Treasurer)

Manny Pina Ewing Irrigation & Landscape Supply

Rick Shriver HARCO Fittings

Jason Sloan Frontier Golf

Jon Truttmann Hunter Industries (Vice President)

Tom Works Landscapes Unlimited, LLC (President-Elect)

• The epic GCBAA Summer Meeting in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Too much to write about that event. If you missed it make sure to come to the Summer ’23 meeting;

• Tagging along with Justin to the ASGCA Annual Meeting in Providence, Rhode Island. ASGCA members play a lot more golf than GCBAA members do. That worked out as Justin and I could get some association work done;

• The GCBAA Fall Executive Board meeting in Dallas, including attending a Dallas Stars game (thank you Judd and the Duininck family) and seeing AT&T Dallas Stadium as our meeting location (thank you Jon O’Donnell and Heritage Links);

• Attending the Annual Mid-Atlantic Golf Course Superintendents meeting with GCSAA CEO Rhett Evans. It was great to see Rhett on my home turf and to hear his epic tale of summiting Denali; and

• The S. Florida Regional Meeting at The Breakers in Palm Beach, Florida. Always a great meeting at a fantastic location. Hard not to be in the holiday spirit after visiting there. Such a great way to end a wonderful year.

Along with all the GCBAA activities I get to participate in, I am humbled and proud of our team at McDonald & Sons for how busy, productive, and successful of a year we had while I served this association. I know that I can count on my team and their leadership. Thank you!

The GCBAA 2023 Board of Directors election closed just before Thanksgiving. We are pleased to have Wayne Deker, The Toro Company and Manny Pina, Ewing Irrigation & Landscape Supply re-elected to the board, and welcome newly elected Sam Duininck, Duininck Golf. We look forward to their service and having Sam join us in Orlando on February 7th. I’d like to thank Greg Hufner of Total Turf Services, Inc. for his many years of service to the Board. He has done a fantastic job and we welcome him to run again someday. Thank you to all the candidates that ran. We hope to see your names again on next year’s election ballot. Hopefully many of you will consider running for a spot on the board as well or nominate someone that you think would be a good candidate. This is one of the best ways to show your support and service to the association.

A new board member was needed to fill a seat on the Board of Governors, and they unanimously agreed to add Blake Thomas with Regency Wire to their highly reputable team. Blake served on the Board of Directors for a while and his input and dedication were evident.

As we enter 2023, we all can collectively catch our breath from a wild 2022. Hopefully everyone had a prosperous year and are looking forward to the coming year. Instead of setting New Year’s Resolution that fades in weeks, we should set action items and goals to elevate ourselves and those around us both personally and professionally. Endurance, progression, development, and adaptation are key to forging ahead. I was able to hear Rhett Evans talk at a local golf course superintendent’s meeting about his summiting of Denali peak. One of his key points that helped forge him up to the summit was not to wait on others but to “Lead Out”. Set the tone, be the one to show the way, find a way to do it better and help others do the same. The question is, who do you want to be? What do you want to be known for with your business, your work ethic, your family, and your friends? How do you want to be remembered? We all live for today but leaving a lasting legacy is something that we should all strive for. In a way, we are all trying to “Brand” ourselves. Along with that, the GCBAA will continue its efforts on branding and awareness of who we are and what we do. We have asked before and will continue to request this membership to help us help you share your stories. These stories show who and what we are. To help us fortify our brand in the industry, send the office content that the association can use to promote ourselves. Don’t wait for others to do it, “When in Doubt, Lead Out”. Whether a new innovative method, a solution to a situation, or just exciting news you want your membership and industry to be aware of, let us help you. Contact the GCBAA Staff, they are here to serve you.

This membership is filled with excellent leaders from all aspects and levels of the industry. Either you can seek these leaders out for advice and guidance, or you are one of these leaders and hopefully, you are offering up advice and guidance to others. This entire membership whether competitors or collaborators are one great big team, especially when we come together to network and “Buy From Within”. When we promote and advance the GCBAA we promote and advance each of our own companies. We have all learned lessons and have grown from the pandemic, labor shortages, and supply chain issues that we all had to deal with. Take those challenges and turn them into learning experiences. There is always a better way.

GCBAA members, I challenge you in the year ahead to continue your leadership growth, share the GCBAA story with others and share your story through the GCBAA. This will help promote GCBAA and your companies at the same time. Let’s continue to build and grow this ship together! Cheers to 2023!

Sincerely,