Conference Speaker Spotlight

Pam Sherratt, Turfgrass specialist and lecturer in the Department of Horticulture and Crop Science at The Ohio State University Pam Sherratt is a turfgrass specialist and lecturer in the Department of Horticulture and Crop Science at The Ohio State University. Pam received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Lancashire in England and her master’s degree from The Ohio State University. Pam devises and implements the Buckeye Sports Turf Program and disseminates sports turf research to the industry. She is currently writing an online class for groundskeepers & athletic field managers and manages a website with 2800 subscribers. Pam makes 25-30 in-state visits to athletic fields each year, manages the annual sports turf short course, produces an annual sports turf calendar, speaks at several instate workshops and seminars, serves on several industry boards (in and out of state), and writes Extension/Outreach grants. Her research focuses on athletic field stability and reinforcement, sand selection for athletic fields, cool season grass traits; wear tolerance, establishment speed, overseeding options, rhizomatous tall fescues & other newer grass varieties.

Presentations:

Athletic Field Diagnostics Playing Surface Management Tips and Tricks Dr. Fred Whitford, Clinical

Engagement Professor, Botany and Plant Pathology and Director of Purdue Pesticide Programs Frederick “Fred” Whitford, Clinical Engagement Professor, Botany and Plant Pathology and Director of Purdue Pesticide Programs. Fred received his bachelor’s degree in wildlife management from Louisiana Tech. He received his master’s and doctorate degrees in entomology from lowa State University. He has served as the Coordinator of the Purdue Pesticide Program since 1991. He has authored more than 300 publications and become a popular speaker with more than 5,000 presentations given throughout Indiana and the United States.

Presentations:

Truck Hitches and Spray Equipment: Understanding the System What We Can Learn From Truck Accidents

Dr. Bernd Leinauer, Professor

and Extension Turfgrass Specialist at New Mexico State University Dr. Bernd Leinauer is a Professor and Extension Turfgrass Specialist at New Mexico State University and holds the special professor position in turfgrass ecology at Wageningen University and Research. His research program focuses on developing sustainable management strategies aimed at reducing resources and inputs used for maintaining turfgrass areas. Research efforts include the investigation of biotic and abiotic stressors on turfgrasses and developing and adopting modified management strategies to maintain aesthetics and functionality of the turf areas. Dr. Leinauer has authored and co-authored a book, a book chapter, over 80 scientific peer reviewed research papers, and almost 200 reports and abstracts.

Presentations:

Non-Chemical Water Conditioners Irrigation Water Quality and Understanding a Water Quality Test Report Dr. Jim Brosnan, Professor,

The University of Tennessee Dr. Brosnan is a Professor in the Plant Sciences Department at the University of Tennessee (UT) and Director of the UT Weed Diagnostics Center. His research focuses on controlling unique and problematic turfgrass weeds, particularly those with resistance to herbicides. His extension programs aim to provide education and diagnostic support to Tennessee’s $5.8 billion turfgrass industry. Dr. Brosnan serves as an advisor to the Tennessee Turfgrass Association Board of Directors, and he is actively involved in the Weed Science Society of America, Southern Weed Science Society, Golf Course Superintendents Association of America, and Sports Turf Managers Association. He has consulted at multiple venues on the PGA Tour (including several major championship host sites) in addition to National Football League franchises. Dr. Brosnan received a B.S. in turfgrass science from Penn State University, an M.S. in plant, soil and insect sciences (turfgrass) from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, and a Ph.D. in agronomy (turfgrass) from Penn State University.

Presentations:

Poa365: A Deep Dive on the Most Interesting Weed in Turf New Herbicides for Cool-Season Turfgrass