INTRODUCING TPI FUTURE LEADERS FELLOWSHIP By Allie Shriver Turfgrass Producers International is excited to announce our newest members-only program the TPI Future Leaders Fellowship.
A BIT OF BACKGROUND Diane Mischel is owner of DeBuck’s Sod Farm, Inc. in Davison, Michigan, and a member of the TPI Board of Trustees, who on January 1, 2022, was elected to serve as TPI’s Secretary-Treasurer. As she reported in the September/ October 2021 issue of Turf News, “Stemming from a desire to engage and involve up and coming members and attract new members to Turfgrass Producers International, the executive board recently formed the Leadership, Innovation, and Technology (LIT) committee.” She enthusiastically joined that committee and shared in developing the vision. The LIT committee first met in April of 2021. One of its first initiatives was introducing a bimonthly column for Turf News that will, as she reported in that opening column, “… tackle researching and sharing new technology and innovative concepts.” Diane Mischel also noted that the LIT committee was developing a new small group leadership experience. The TPI Future Leadership Fellow is the result of the committee’s collaboration on that project. The information that follows is drawn from the brochure that was issued to members via multiple avenues to inform them of the initiative and encourage those interested to apply.
BUILDING INDUSTRY LEADERS The TPI Future Leaders Fellowship is honored to bring new and current leaders in the natural grass industry together for the learning opportunity of a lifetime. Throughout the immersive 24-month program, you will become a more robust and better leader with new skills and relationships to become effective advocates for the natural grass industry.
BECOME AN INDUSTRY LEADER With a balance of dynamic classroom and virtual presentations, experiential learning opportunities, in-depth leadership text analysis paired with travel, service projects, and teamwork, you will learn new skills and enhance existing leadership characteristics to contribute to the longterm success of your career and organization. 48
COMMITMENT • • • • • • • • • •
Two Years of Learning and Networking Monthly Virtual Classroom Education 2022 and 2023 TPI International Education Conferences & Field Days Peer to Peer Business Visits Washington, DC Advocacy Trip International Study Tour and European Turf Producers Meeting Three-Day Immersive Learning Meeting Analysis & Discussion of Three Leadership Books Mentor Future Turfgrass Leader Fellows Member-Only Access to Nonprofit Learning Lab Webinar
NEW SKILLS AND STRATEGIC FOCUS Over the course of 24 months, Fellows will be immersed in numerous topics including: • Leadership Styles • Communication Styles • Human Resources • Brand Building • Customer Service • Healthy Teamwork • Productive Meetings • Agronomics • Advocacy • Using Tech to Improve Farming Efficiencies • Water Management • Environmental Stewardship • Innovative Farming Practices • Sod Farming: The Natural Bridge Between Urban and Rural Conversations
THE APPLICATION PROCESS Also included in the brochure were the requirements for participation and the details of the application process and selection timeline. Space is limited for this program to better provide the opportunity for immersive learning, idea sharing, and building relationships and networks. Applications opened on December 1, 2021 and were scheduled to close on January 15, 2022. Applicants were to be notified of the selection outcome by January 20, 2022.
TPI Turf News January/February 2022
