Duo Receive Pioneer Marks From The GMA

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Duo Receive Pioneer Marks From The GMA: Two previous members of the GMA Young Board, now known as GMA NextGen, have been awarded their Pioneer Marks as part of the Pioneer Legacy initiative, recognising the contributions of past and present members of GMA NextGen.

The Pioneer Mark is a distinctive legacy number that symbolises the impact each member has made on the grounds management profession.

Duo Receive Pioneer Marks From The GMA

Duo Receive Pioneer Marks From The GMA

Will Graves (#002) joined the industry in 2010 as an apprentice at Merchant Taylors’ School and became part of the first Young Board in 2011, later serving as Chair in 2014. He went on to join the ground staff team at Watford Football Club while also gaining experience at Wembley Stadium.

He said: “My time working with the Young Board of Directors was a real highlight of my career to date. We all worked hard to make a positive difference and increase opportunities for those both inside and outside of the profession. I am very grateful to both the GMA and Reesink UK for everything they did and continue to do to support the group.”

Harry Boxell (#022) served four years on the Young Board from 2016. He began his grounds management career at 16 and progressed through roles at Tottenham Hotspur and Godolphin, before taking on the role of Head of Grounds and Gardens at Embley Park in 2017. He is now Estates Manager, overseeing the 130-acre Grade II listed parkland.

Harry says: “I vividly remember driving down from Newmarket for the interview and being struck by the beauty of the buildings and grounds, while also recognising the potential for further enhancement.”

“Throughout my career, I have had the opportunity to meet and learn from many inspiring individuals,” He added. “Some of my most memorable experiences were through my involvement with the Young Board of Directors. We met regularly and were fortunate to visit venues such as the Stade de France, Parc des Princes (home of Paris Saint-Germain), and several other prestigious sites.”

Jennifer Carter, GMA Director of Communications and Marketing, said: “The GMA would like to thank Will and Harry for their contributions during their time with the NextGen, formerly known as the Young Board.

“It’s really important that we recognise the contributions they have all made to the grounds management industry by awarding them with their pioneer marks. We’re excited to continue the legacy and are now looking to recruit the next generation of passionate individuals to carry the group forward.”

The duo join the ranks of respected NextGen alumni who have received their Pioneer Marks, which can be viewed here.

GMA NextGen are now welcoming new members under 35 who are ready to make a difference in the grounds management industry.

If you’re passionate about shaping the sector’s future, express your interest here. 

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Agrovista Amenity Welcomes New Amenity Specialist

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Agrovista Amenity Welcomes New Amenity Specialist: Agrovista Amenity has strengthened its team with the appointment of Ben Simpson, who joins as Amenity Specialist supporting the Landscape and IVM division.

Ben brings a varied career background and a refreshed enthusiasm for the amenity sector.

Agrovista Amenity Welcomes New Amenity Specialist

Agrovista Amenity Welcomes New Amenity Specialist

Although a qualified plumber by trade, he previously spent three years with Green-Tech, where he first discovered his passion for the industry. After a period back “on the tools”, he found himself drawn once again to amenity – but this time in a role that better matched his strengths and ambitions.

“I enjoyed it the first-time round, but this role at Agrovista Amenity suited me a lot more,” he says. “I wanted to be out meeting customers face to face. This is a relationship-driven industry and that’s what gives me a buzz.”

Based centrally within his territory, Ben will support customers across a wide northern patch – from Leeds up to just above Newcastle, across to the East Coast, and as far west as the M6. His remit covers the full spectrum of amenity clients, including contractors, councils, landscaping businesses and maintenance teams.

Day to day, Ben will be out on the road meeting current and prospective customers, taking over an established base while also identifying new opportunities in the region. “I’m fortunate to be stepping into a well-looked-after area,” he explains. “But I’m also excited to grow it further. A typical week is a real mix: most days on the road and some from home planning and admin work – everything from cold leads through to ongoing account management.”

The appeal of Agrovista Amenity was immediate. Although the role was initially advertised via a recruiter, the company name quickly stood out once he reached the interview stage.

“I had obviously heard of Agrovista, but when I met Ed Smith – Landscape and IVM Manager, and learned more about the business, everything just seemed to fit. The interview was relaxed, the atmosphere was down to earth, and from day one I have felt part of the team. It feels like I’ve been here seven years, not seven days.”

Ben says the support network has been exceptional. After completing training in Nottingham and Warrington, he was introduced to the wider team and quickly found himself welcomed into a collaborative environment. “Even though you spend a lot of time on your own out on the road, I definitely feel part of a team. Every single person has offered help. It’s been brilliant.”

Looking ahead, Ben is eager to get stuck in and begin building long-term relationships across his territory.

“I’m competitive by nature – I used to play cricket to a decent standard before a shoulder injury stopped me – so I enjoy the challenge. But more than that, this industry is full of genuinely good people. Customers become friends. I’m really looking forward to growing those relationships and contributing to Agrovista’s continued success.”

Reflecting on his appointment, Ben admits the opportunity still feels a little surreal:

“I was over the moon when I got the job. Having been out of the industry for a little while, I honestly couldn’t believe it at first. But it’s been fantastic. I’ve settled in well, everyone has been so supportive, and I can’t wait to move forward with it.”

For more information about Agrovista UK, visit https://amenity.agrovista.co.uk/

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Springdale Resort’s Jeremy Boone becomes 91st Master Greenkeeper

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Springdale Resort’s Jeremy Boone becomes 91st Master Greenkeeper: Jeremy Boone, general manager and director of agronomy at Springdale Resort, has become the 91st Master Greenkeeper since the certification’s inception in 1990. 

In doing so, Jeremy is just the 37th person to possess both Master Greenkeeper and Certified Golf Course Superintendent (CGCS) classifications – two of the highest accolades available to experienced golf greenkeepers on either side of the Atlantic.

Springdale Resort's Jeremy Boone becomes 91st Master Greenkeeper

Springdale Resort’s Jeremy Boone becomes 91st Master Greenkeeper

It is an achievement Jeremy, who works in North Carolina, has been striving for since 2022 and he was overcome with emotion when Deb Burnett, learning and development manager at the British and International Golf Greenkeepers Association (BIGGA), called to deliver the news.

“It’s been quite a journey,” he said. “It’s been at least three years of trying, with some failing along the way, but each time I refused to give up.

“When Deb called, she didn’t say that I had passed or failed, she just said, ‘I called to see if you’d be available to come over here to BTME in January’. It was the best way to tell me I’d passed. I just lost it.

“People had told me it would be worth it when I got through, and I didn’t know how right they were. I told her she’d have to talk for a minute because I couldn’t.”

Jeremy’s greenkeeping journey began in 1991, when he transferred to NC State University to study turfgrass management and committed to a career in golf. Over the following decades he worked across four states, earned CGCS status – a designation he has now held for 25 years – and first became aware of the Master Greenkeeper qualification in 1996 when he noticed ‘CGCS, MG’ alongside Gary Grigg’s name.

He later stepped away from golf to run a local hardware business, helping expand it from one store to five, but was ultimately drawn back when Springdale came calling, with his family having deep roots at the North Carolina venue.

“The only reason I came back was this golf course,” he said. “My mother, father and grandmother worked here. My grandparents are buried within a few hundred yards of it. This place drew me back. Without it, there would be no Jeremy Boone MG.”

In joining that exclusive club, Jeremy has also achieved something personally meaningful.

“I’m probably the first Native American to be a Master Greenkeeper – I am an enrolled member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians,” he explained. “That is the reason why I have such an affinity and a tie to the land.”

Jeremy was inundated with congratulatory messages from fellow Master Greenkeepers and colleagues across the profession – support he describes as humbling. He also paid tribute to Springdale owner Lex West for his encouragement throughout the process and said none of it would have been possible without his wife, whom he calls his greatest supporter.

Most recently, Jeremy has progressed into the general manager role at Springdale. It was not a transition he had planned to make, but the circumstances brought about by a natural disaster set him on an unexpected new path.

“I was happy being the superintendent,” he said. “I love being outside and I love being with the grass. When the hurricane hit, I volunteered to step in as interim general manager until we got through the disaster. We thought it would take a few months, maybe six.

“Then the owner told me he wanted me to take the general manager role permanently. I remember saying I’d spent the last five years trying to convince him the superintendent is the most important person on the golf course, and now I wasn’t going to be the superintendent anymore. He just said, ‘You’ll do fine’.

To qualify for the Master Greenkeeper Certificate, a candidate must have at least 10 years’ experience working as a greenkeeper including three years as a course manager, head greenkeeper or superintendent. Certification includes the completion of a rigorous assessment programme that covers all aspects of golf course management.

Master Greenkeeper is a mark of distinction and is highly respected in the golf industry, signifying the holder has achieved the highest level of professional expertise with a commitment to maintaining the highest standards of golf course management.

You can find out more about Master Greenkeeper on the BIGGA website, www.bigga.org.uk

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ICL appoints Aimee Davey as Marketing Communications Manager

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ICL appoints Aimee Davey as Marketing Communications Manager: Aimee Davey joins ICL at a key point as the business moves into a busy period of campaign and product activity across its Turf and Landscape portfolio, taking on the role of Marketing Communications Manager for the UK and Ireland.

Aimee brings strong experience from the professional turf sector, having led marketing activity at GreenBest across product launches, brand development and customer communication. Her background working alongside technical and sales teams gives her a clear understanding of what turf managers and distributors need from reliable, well-structured marketing.

ICL appoints Aimee Davey as Marketing Communications Manager

ICL appoints Aimee Davey as Marketing Communications Manager

In this role, Aimee will lead all UK and Ireland marketing activity across the Turf and Landscape portfolio. Her responsibilities include campaign planning, product launches, events, PR, digital content and coordination with external agencies. She will work closely with the sales and technical teams as the business prepares for a full calendar of activity.

Ed Carter, Business Manager for the UK business, said that Aimee’s sector knowledge and practical approach make her a strong addition to the team and will support the continued development of marketing activity across the business.

Aimee said she is looking forward to joining the team and building on the strong marketing work already in place. “ICL has a clear technical foundation, and a strong programme of activity planned. I’m pleased to be joining at this point and look forward to supporting the team, our customers and our distributors.”

Aimee’s appointment follows Kevin Whitby’s move into the newly created position of International Marketing Communications Manager for Turf and Landscape, where he will focus on global communication strategy and supporting local teams.

Please contact ICL on 01473 237100 or visit www.icl-sf.co.uk or www.icl-sf.ie if you are in Ireland.

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Syngenta appoints Pete May as new Technical Manager

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Syngenta appoints Pete May as new Technical Manager: Syngenta has appointed Pete May as the company’s new Technical Manager for Turf & Landscape in the UK and Ireland.

Pete brings an important blend of practical skills and experience of turf management, alongside a solid technical knowledge of turf plant science and research.

Syngenta appoints Pete May as new Technical Manager

Syngenta appoints Pete May as new Technical Manager

In his role of Technical Manager with Lawntech for the past 10 years, Pete has pioneered the development of effective Integrated Turf Management (ITM) strategies for the sector – dealing with increasing challenges of disease, pest and weed control in quality fine turf surfaces.

He also established an R&D and trials area, carrying out research on seasonal turf responses to different inputs, testing the effectiveness of products and a dedicated programme of wetting agent trials.

An active participant in industry events and training, sharing insights and innovations, Pete is experienced in the delivery of technical training and resources for turf managers and enhancing team knowledge.

Commenting on his appointment, Pete said: “It’s an exciting time to be joining the Syngenta turf team, with the development of new fungicide, herbicide, biostimulant and wetting agent technologies all approaching launch in the UK.”

He will utilise the huge resource of new trials and research data, as well as golf and sports turf user experience, to help create ITM strategies for turf managers that will help to better cope with challenges of climatic changes and increasing player demands. Along with immense experience and knowledge to help deliver solutions in the lawncare sector.

“Building on the solid legacy of Syngenta technical products, coupled with new innovations in decision support data and application techniques, gives a great opportunity to meet and discuss ideas with turf management customers and agronomists.”

Pete has taken over the role of Sean Loakes, who has been promoted to Syngenta Turf Technical Manager for Europe. Sean will continue to support Pete in working with customers and the existing UK turf research projects.

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