Why Support the Michigan Turfgrass Foundation?
Not to be confused with trade organizations, membership in the MTF is direct support for research at the Turfgrass Research Program at MSU.
The MTF Mission Statement: “To work in partnership with Michigan State University, supporting ongoing programs in research, education and extension in the area of professional turfgrass management that will benefit all individuals who manage turfgrass or derive pleasure from the results of such management.”
Your membership dues fund a significant portion of the research that the MSU Turf Team conducts each year.
Thank you for supporting Turfgrass Research and continuing research education at MSU.
Sincerely,
MTF Board of Directors
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Resort Map
What You Need to Know
2025 Conference Sponsors
Conference Speaker Spotlight
Conference Schedule
Meritorious Award Winner
MTF Executive Committee & Board Members
MSU Turf Team
Vendor Show List
The Importance To Your Organization
RESORT MAP
What You Need to KNOW
Conference Hotel:
Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort
6800 Soaring Eagle Blvd, Mt Pleasant, MI 48858
Phone: (989) 775-5777
Website: soaringeaglecasino.com
MTF Welcome Reception –
Tuesday, January 7
4:00pm - 6:00pm in the Saginaw Room
MTF Annual Meeting –
Tuesday, January 7
4:30pm - 5:00pm in the Anishnabeg Room
Vendor Show & Silent Auction –
Wednesday, January 8
4:00pm-7:00pm in the Entertainment Hall
2025 Scholarship Awards –
Tuesday January 7
3:00pm-4:30pm in the Three Fires Room
• Michigan Turfgrass Foundation
• Michigan State University
• Michigan Golf Course Superintendents Association
• Michigan Sports Field Managers Association
• Golf Course Superintendents Association of America
• Samuel I. Russell Foundation
• Trans - Miss Golf Association
• Ray W. Bausick Green Industry
Memorial Scholarship
2025 Conference SPONSORS
Stine Turf & Snow
MSU Student Scholarship Banner
AcuSpray
Lanyard
Gowan USA
Lawn Care Speaker Track
MiGCSA
Golf Track Speaker
Helena Coffee Cup
MTESP
Welcome Reception
MGCA
Golf Track Speaker
Rain Bird Coffee
NuFarm Lunch
DeBuck’s Sod Farm, Inc.
Welcome Reception
Revels Tractor
Welcome Reception
Syngenta Coffee
Porous Pave
Vendor Show Food
Harrell’s
Meritorious Award Dinner
C.W. Golf Achitecture
Welcome Reception
Advanced Turf Solutions
Coffee & Lunch
MiSFMA
Sports Turf Speaker Track
Merrill Lynch Wealth Management
Ammon Pence Group
Vendor Show Food
Dr. Frederick “Fred” Whitford
Purdue University
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 has expertise in pesticide safety education, pesticide registration, regulations, insurance, and environmental and safety audits. He received his master’s and doctorate degrees in entomology from Iowa State University. He has served as the Director of the Purdue Pesticide Program since 1991. He has authored more than 300 publications including 8 books and 140 extension bulletins. He has delivered more than 6,000 presentations throughout Indiana and the United States. In recognition of his significant contributions to Extension outreach efforts, he has received numerous awards, including the Frederick L. Hovde Award of Excellence in Educational Service to Rural People of Indiana, the Outstanding Extension Faculty/Specialist Award from Purdue Extension, Excellence in Extension Award from the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities, and Honorary Master Farmer by Indiana Prairie Farmer and the Purdue University College of Agriculture.
Dr. Derek Settle
Chicago District Golf Association
Derek is native of Wichita, Kansas with degrees from Kansas State University. Dr. Settle returned to the Chicago District Golf Association (CDGA) as Director of Turfgrass Programs in 2021. For five years Derek worked for Bayer Environmental Science (now Envu) as a technical representative on the Green Solutions Team. He helped launch the nematicide Indemnify in 2016. As a nematologist he continues to consult. Previously, Derek was in the same position in Chicago from 2006-2012. This nationally recognized turfgrass program began in 1985 in conjunction with the University of Illinois. No other golf association has a similar position. It is
designed as a university extension specialist. The CDGA Turf Program provides multiple services: diagnostics, research, education and communications. The current membership is the largest ever with 416 golf clubs comprising 106,140 individual golf members. All turfgrass services are available for golf course superintendents without a fee as a member benefit. During the summer season, diagnostics and research are the cornerstone. An extensive amount of turfgrass research is conducted each year.
Michigan Turfgrass Conference Speaker Spotlight
Adam Van Dyke Professional Turfgrass Solutions, LLC
Meet Adam Van Dyke, the head turf nerd behind Professional Turfgrass Solutions LLC, nestled in the suburbs of Salt Lake City, Utah. With two degrees from Utah State University and a side gig teaching, he’s basically the professor of grass. A Certified Professional Agronomist for over a decade, Adam once ruled the greens as a golf course superintendent before finding his passion for turfgrass science. His three kids are begrudgingly learning lawn science, while his wife tolerates his obsession with turf spotting on family trips. When he’s not chatting about grass, he’s out spraying plots like a mad scientist. Want to chat turf? Hit him up on Twitter (@avd801) or shoot him an email at adam@ proturfgrasssolutions.com.
Dr. Matteo Serena United States Golf Association
Matteo Serena, Ph.D., joined the USGA in 2022. As Senior Manager of Irrigation Research and Services, Dr. Serena is an important part of the Green Section research team. He’s currently working with superintendents, researchers, allied golf associations, and other stakeholders to advance water conservation on golf courses. Matteo has over two decades of experience researching turfgrass irrigation and water conservation. Matteo Received his Bachelor’s and Master of Science degrees from the University of Padua. He earned his doctorate in Plant and Environmental Sciences from New Mexico State University, where he continued as a research assistant professor. Before joining
the USGA, Matteo was at the University of California in Riverside. He currently lives in Covina, California, and in his free time, he enjoys mountain biking, cooking, and board games.
Dr. Tyler Carr
The Ohio State University
Dr. Tyler Carr is an Assistant Professor and Turfgrass Extension Specialist at The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. His research primarily focuses on developing sustainable turfgrass systems through improvements in cultural management practices without sacrificing turfgrass quality or function. His extension program strives to provide education and costeffective solutions for the Ohio turfgrass industry. Dr. Carr received a B.S. in Horticulture, Landscape, and Turf Sciences from the University of Arkansas, a M.S. in Horticulture from the University of Arkansas, and a Ph.D. in Plant, Soil, and Environmental Sciences from the University of Tennessee.
Zach Nicoludis United States Golf Association
Zach joined the USGA Green Section in the spring of 2016 as an agronomist in the Central Region. He is based in Columbus, Ohio and conducts Course Consulting Service Visits in Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Canada as well providing education outreach throughout the Central Region. Prior to joining the USGA, Zach worked as an assistant superintendent at St. Clair Country Club in Pittsburgh, Pa, French Creek Golf Club in Elverson, Pa, and Bidermann Golf Course in Wilmington, Del. Zach went on to become the South Course Superintendent at Wilmington Country Club in Wilmington, Del, where he spent four years before joining the Green Section.
CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
TUESDAY, January 7
GOLF SESSION
(Black River Room) 3 MDARD Credits, 3A,3B,6, & Core Moderator: Rob Pylar
12:00 PM MSU Turf Team and Michigan Turfgrass Foundation Conference Welcome and Update – Dr. Kevin Frank and Carey Mitchelson, Michigan Turfgrass Foundation
12:30 PM Turfgrass Research Update –Dr. Trey Rogers, MSU
1:00 PM Annual Bluegrass Weevil in Michigan: What you need to know – Dr. Max Helmberger, MSU
1:30 PM Turfgrass Pathology Research Update –Nancy Dykema, MSU
2:00 PM Nematodes - New Solutions on the Horizon? Dr. Derek Settle, CDGA
2:30 PM GCSAA Members: Essential to Golf’s Success – Shane Conroy, GCSAA
3:00 PM Golf Course Apprenticeship –Jada Paisley, MGCA and Adam Ikamas, MiGCSA
4:00 PM-6:00 PM WELCOME RECEPTION (Saginaw Room)
TUESDAY, January 7
CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
WEDNESDAY, January 8
TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT
(Swan Creek Room) 3 MDARD Credits, 3A,3B,6, & Core
Moderator: Anthony LaLonde
12:00 PM Spots, Patches and Blights, Oh My: Keys to Identifying Lawn Diseases –Nancy Dykema, MSU
1:00 PM How Many Minutes? Fine-Tuning Irrigation Practices – Dr. Tyler Carr, The Ohio State University
2:00 PM Turfgrass Calculations –Dr. Thom Nikolai, MSU
4:00 PM-6:00 PM WELCOME RECEPTION (Saginaw Room)
GOLF SESSION
(Black River Room) 2 MDARD Credits, 3A,3B,6, & Core
Moderator: Troy Evans
8:00 AM Golf Course Maintenance, Past, Present, and Future Panel Discussion: Dr. Matteo Serena, USGA; Patrick Parkins, TPC Las Vegas; Jayson Griffiths, London Hunt & CC; Dr. Thom Nikolai and Mike Rabe, MSU
10:00 AM Golf Course Maintenance Trends & Regional Update – Zach Nicoludis, USGA
11:00 AM Understanding the Science Behind Spray Nozzles – Dr. Fred Whitford, Purdue University
12:00 PM LUNCH Entertainment Hall
Moderator: Andrew Paxton
1:00 PM Mastering Annual Bluegrass Seedhead Management in Cold Climates –Adam Van Dyke, Professional Turfgrass Solutions
2:00 PM Managing High Quality Surfaces Under Reduced Inputs – Dr. Tyler Carr, The Ohio State University
3:00 PM Moss: Newer Alternatives to QuickSilver for Control – Dr. Derek Settle, CDGA
3:30 PM Turfgrass Physiology Research Update –Dr. Emily Holm
4:00 - 7:00 PM Vendor Show (Entertainment Hall)
WEDNESDAY, January 8
TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT
(Swan Creek Room) 7 MDARD Credits, 3A,3B,6, & Core
Moderator: Ila Tuller
8:00 AM Keeping Thieves From Taking Your Trailers, Equipment, and Pesticides –Dr. Fred Whitford, Purdue University
9:00 AM Different views from the field; Superintendent, General Manager, Spouse –Dan and Jennifer Mausolf
10:00 AM Review of Pesticide Rules and Regulations – Scott King, MDARD
11:00 AM DNR’s Watch List: Lesser Celandine – Rachel Cuschieri-Murray, Eaton Conservation District
12:00 PM LUNCH Entertainment Hall
Moderator: Brendan Phillips
1:00 PM Railroad Tracks, Electric Lines, and Runaway Pesticide Trailers: Nothing to Get Tangled With – Dr. Fred Whitford, Purdue University
2:00 PM Understanding Turfgrass Stress –Dr. Emily Holm
3:00 PM Pros and Cons of Pesticide Formulations and Active Ingredients – Aaron Hathaway, NuFarm
4:00 - 7:00 PM Vendor Show (Entertainment Hall)
WEDNESDAY, January 8
SPORTS FIELDS
(Ojibway Room) Moderator: Tristian Ziola
8:00 AM Irrigation: Back to Basics –Dylan Adam Wendt, SiteOne
9:00 AM Seed to Play in 90 Days – Matt Byma, Greenline Sports Turf Solutions
10:00 AM Hygiene Maintenance of Hybrid Systems – Ryan Bearss, MSU
10:30 AM Managing Turfgrass in Domed Stadiums – Jackie Guevara, MSU
11:00 AM Building a Fertilizer Program for Athletic Fields – Dr. Tyler Carr, The Ohio State University
12:00 PM LUNCH Entertainment Hall
Moderator: London Kamstra
1:00 PM Managing Parks and Rec Fields on a Budget – Wes Ganobcik, Field Source
2:00 PM Agronomic Evaluations in Turf –Brian Mavis & Matt Cielen, Mavis Consulting
3:00 PM Panel Discussion: Maintaining Safe Fields with Small Staff and Tight Budgets
4:00 - 7:00 PM Vendor Show (Entertainment Hall)
ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENTS
Moderator: Allen Saville
8:00 AM Work Life Harmony: What Does it Mean? How Can I Achieve it? – Dylan McMaster, Warwick Hills CC
9:00 AM Irrigation Fundamentals and Trouble Shooting Tips – Matt Kraemer, Reinders
10:00 AM Agronomic Evaluations in Turf –Brian Mavis and Matt Cielen, Mavis Consulting
11:00 AM Best Management Practices: How and Why? – Mike Rabe, MSU
11:30 AM You’re an Assistant: Now What? –Shane Conroy, GCSAA
CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
THURSDAY, January 9
GOLF SESSION (Black River Room)
Moderator: Diane Mischel
8:00 AM Native Grass Management and Aerial Application Technology in Turfgrass –Gerald Husemann, Independent Turfgrass Consultant and Aaron Duval, AcuSpray Chief Operations Officer
9:00 AM Pine Lake Restoration –Terry Poley, Pine Lake CC
9:30 AM Construction, Construction, Construction – Scott Rettmann, Walnut Creek CC
10:00 AM Franklin Hills Renovations –Brian Schweihofer, Franklin Hills CC
10:30 AM Taking the Leap into Autonomous Mowers – Andrew Christesen, Barton Hills CC
11:00 AM Finding the Lost Character of 2 Golf Coures – Jason Reece, North Kent GC
11:30 AM 2nd Mouse Gets the Cheese: Jayson Griffiths, London Hunt and Country Club
12:00 PM ADJOURN
CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
THURSDAY, January 9
TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT (Swan Creek Room) 4 MDARD Credits, 3A,3B,6, & Core Moderator: David Makulski
8:00 AM 2024 Year in Review: Diseases, Weeds, and Grubs – Dr. Kevin Frank, MSU
9:00 AM MSU Plant & Pest Diagnostics with a Focus on Herbicide Mishaps – Dr. Erin Hill, MSU
10:00 AM Scheduling Pre-emergent Herbicide Applications – Ryan Bearss, MSU
11:00 AM Tips and Tricks for Spreader and Sprayer Calibration – Jesse Sholl, MSU
12:00 PM ADJOURN
Conference January 13-15
SOARING EAGLE Casino & Resort
presentation will be
MERITORIOUS Award Winner: Doug Johanningsmeier
Doug Johanningsmeier is a seasoned professional with a deep-rooted career in turfgrass management. As a Territory Manager for Harrell’s in Southeast Michigan, Doug brings decades of experience in providing agronomic solutions to golf courses, sports and lawn care operations. His career spans over 40 years, with involvement in the professional turf industry and state associations since 1975.
Doug’s philosophy is grounded in the importance of integrity and service, values imparted to him by his father, Gene Johanningsmeier. His father, an agronomy graduate from Purdue University, instilled in Doug the idea that bad advice in this field could not only cost a client, but also risk someone’s job. This mindset, coupled with his commitment to giving back to the turf industry, has shaped Doug’s professional path. Doug finds satisfaction in helping golf course managers solve turfgrass problems and improving conditions, making it a fulfilling and rewarding career.
Beyond his professional work, Doug’s been deeply involved in the Michigan Turfgrass Foundation (MTF), an organization dedicated to supporting education and research in agronomy at Michigan State University. Doug served on MTF’s board for over 17 years and held several leadership positions, including President in 2019 and 2020. He’s also a founding member of MTF’s Founders Society. Doug’s commitment to education and service is reflected in his contributions to various committees within MTF, ranging from Education & Conferences to Long-Range Planning.
Doug’s early exposure to turf came from growing up on a sod farm, where he had hands-on experience with turfgrass propagation. Doug claims, “I may be one of the few industry people who can say they’ve chopped bentgrass stolons and bagged them into onion bags before bentgrass seed was widely available.” His career began in commercial lawn care before shifting focus to golf course
turf management, where he’s spent the majority of his professional life. Doug’s experience includes time spent working at his family’s business, Turfgrass Inc., and early ventures in running a lawn care company, Fertileze Lawn Culture, while taking college courses for Business Administration.
In addition to work, Doug was involved with Boy Scouts of America. He served as an Assistant Scout Master and Quarter Master Adviser to Troop 350 through which his youngest son, Ross, earned the Eagle Scout rank. Doug is an NRA-certified Range Safety Officer and continues to participate in shooting activities with Scouts.
Doug’s personal interests are as varied as his professional achievements. He enjoys beekeeping, cycling, hiking, snowmobiling, skiing, and maintaining his expansive Poa supina lawn. He’s married to Julie, and they have two children: Dawson, a computer science student at the University of Michigan-Dearborn, and Ross, a mechanical engineering student at Michigan Tech.
Doug’s passion for the turfgrass industry, his leadership roles in professional organizations, and his dedication to family and community service all reflect his commitment to both his work and his personal values.
MSU
TURF
TEAM
Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences
John N. Trey Rogers III, Ph.D. rogersj@msu.edu
Professor, Turfgrass Research - Golf Course Renovations - Sports Turf and Golf Turf Management Programs; Turfgrass Research Telephone: 517-353-0136
Nancy Dykema dykema@msu.edu
Research Assistant/Instructor, Turfgrass Pathology
Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences Telephone: 517-353-9082
Thomas Nikolai, Ph.D. nikolait@msu.edu
Senior Turfgrass Academic Specialist - Golf Course Putting Green mechanical and cultural practices, turfgrass health. Telephone: 517-353-0133
David Gilstrap, Ph.D. gilstrap@msu.edu
Senior Academic Specialist Sports and Commercial Turf Management Education Telephone: 517-353-0140
Kevin Frank, Ph.D. frankk@msu.edu
Professor and Turf Extension Specialist Telephone: 517-353-0147
Emily Merewitz-Holm, Ph.D. merewitz@msu.edu
Assistant Professor - Plant physiologist; abiotic & biotic stresses of turfgrass and crop species; whole-plant, biochemical, & molecular techniques. Telephone: 517-353-0203
Wei Zhang, Ph.D. weizhang@msu.edu
Professor and Interim Chair Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences
Brian Horgan, Ph.D. horgan@msu.edu
CANR Associate Dean of Faculty Affairs
Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences
Max Helmberger, Ph.D. helmberg@msu.edu
Academic SpecialistTeacher, Department of Entomology, Telephone: 517-432-2668
Vendor Halftime Show & Silent
Thank You! 2025 Conference Sponsors
Merrill Lynch Wealth Management AMMON PENCE GROUP
s
The Importance to Your Organization
The development, testing, and evaluation of better turfgrasses and of better methods of turfgrass maintenance has a common interest for all facets of the turfgrass industry; it enhances the landscapes and provides better facilities for enjoyment of the recreational sports; it lessens the dust hazards and upkeep of airports and roadsides as well as play areas and cemeteries.
Through the cooperative participation: golf clubs, lawn care industry, parks, cemeteries, athletic associations, airports, ski clubs, seed, sod, and stolon growers, and organizations concerned with turf management, sufficient funds have been made available to do research in these important areas.
RESEARCH: The MTF’s primary purpose is to raise money to support turfgrass research and education at MSU. The research generated by these contributions have led to practices that have improved turf maintenance throughout the world.
EDUCATION:
Turfgrass Conferences: The MTF, in cooperation with MSU, holds an annual 3-day turfgrass conference in January to present the latest findings on turfgrass management, fertility, soils, diseases, weeds, varieties, pesticides and other timely topics.
Field Days: The MTF supports the Michigan State University field days at East Lansing and also other locations in Michigan.
EXTENSION: The MTF has provided important monies for transportation, equipment and expenses which has allowed MSU personnel to visit the turfgrass industries of the state and help individuals solve their problems, often on an emergency basis.
Partners in the Turf Industry: The MTF partners gather the various segments of the industry to discuss and support in decisions that affect turfgrass management in Michigan.
Fundraising:
• Lafontaine Golf Benefit
• Tee Times 4 Turf
• Individual Donations
Awards: “Meritorious Service Award” - Presented to an individual representing significant promotion of the Turfgrass Industry in Michigan
Student Scholarships: 5 scholarships are awarded annually The Administration
The business affairs and the activities of the Michigan Turf grass Foundation are governed by a Board of Directors composed of twelve (12) members plus the Foundation Administrator. The Board of Directors is composed of representatives from each of the following organizations or groups:
1) Michigan Golf Course Superintendents Association (4 Members)
2) Michigan Sports Turfgrass Managers Association (1 Member)
3) Lawn Care Representative (1 Member)
4) Commercial Turfgrass Supplier Representatives (1 Member)
5) A Cemetery Park or Sod Grower Representative (1 Member)
6) Custom Lawn Care Representative (1 Member)
7) At Large (3 Members)
