STC hosts pre-conference seminar

The Synthetic Turf Council’s (STC) spring membership meeting attracted 177 members and guests from 102 companies in the synthetic turf industry, including builders, landscape architects, testing labs, maintenance providers, manufacturers, suppliers, installation contractors, infill material suppliers and other specialty service companies.

STC Chairman John Baize, ACT Global Sports, led the two-day meeting, which featured two engaging keynote speakers: economist Brian Beaulieu and legendary Pittsburgh Steeler Rocky Bleier. In addition to hearing other instructive technical presentations, attendees broke into small work groups to address key industry issues.

Brian Beaulieu, CEO, the Institute for Trend Research (ITR Economics), recommended the business strategies that should be undertaken now to maximize profit potential in the years to come.

On the final day of the meeting, the inspiring Rocky Bleier from the Pittsburgh Steelers shared his gripping tale of courage and accomplishment on both the football fields of America and the battle fields of Vietnam.  His overall message was how ordinary people can become extraordinary achievers.  Despite sustaining serious wounds to both legs during a fire fight in Vietnam, Bleier was able to overcome his injuries and play running back on a Pittsburgh Steelers team that won four Super Bowls.

On Monday afternoon, the STC hosted its first pre-conference “Whistle-stop” seminar to which architects and engineers, as well as buyers and end-users of synthetic turf sports fields and playgrounds, were invited.  The following topics were presented at the three-hour seminar:

• Funding a Field led by panelists Ernest Graham, ELA Sport and Matthew Madden & Brian Jamiolkowski, The NCS Group.
• Maintenance & Performance Guidelines led by panelists John Baize, ACT Global Sports; Alastair Cox, Labosport International; and Will Wolverton, Wiedenmann North America
• Realistic Expectations led by panelists Webb Cook, Sprinturf and Matt Hogg, The Motz Group.

“The response to our first pre-conference seminar was very gratifying and convinced us that these seminars are an effective way for the STC to expand its educational reach to architects, engineers, athletic directors, and parks officials who want to know about the design, selection, installation, and maintenance of synthetic turf,” said STC President Rick Doyle.

The STC will hold its annual meeting and 10^th Anniversary celebration on October 7-9 in Orlando, Fla. Visit the STC’s website for additional information about this and future meetings.