What you need to know about the 2018 School of Grounds Management annual conference

The Professional Grounds Management Society (PGMS) School of Grounds Management (SGM) is designed to provide grounds managers with the hard-to-find opportunity to gain knowledge, ask questions and network with their peers. These interactive programs feature education seminars on must-know topics as well as a pre-conference field trip and access to the GIE+EXPO, the green industry’s only national trade show.

Taking place Oct. 16-19 in Louisville, Ky., this year’s event will feature 14 education sessions, three breakfasts, a field trip to Bernheim Arboretum and access to GIE+EXPO’s more than 850 vendors and 20 acres of outdoor demonstration area.

Start planning your conference with the schedule below.

Oct. 16

7 – 11 a.m. | Board of Directors Meeting (invitation only)
11:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. | Registration Desk Open (Field Trip Attendees only)
11:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. | Pre-Conference Field Trip Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest
5:45 – 6 p.m. | First Timer Orientation
6 – 7:30 p.m. | Welcoming Reception
8 p.m. | The Crashers

Oct. 17

7 – 8:30 a.m. | Breakfast of Champions – Darren Virassammy
8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. | Registration Desk Open
8:45 – 10:15 a.m. | EDUCATION SESSION I (choose one)

• “Demystifying Two-Wire Technology in Irrigation Systems” – Lynda Wightman
• “The Electrical Revolution: Transitioning Your Commercial Operations from Gas to Electric” – Dan Mabe and Luke Massman-Johnson

10:30 – 11:45 a.m. | EDUCATION SESSION II (choose one)

• “Green and Natural Spaces: Long-term Management is the Key” – Jack Pizzo
• “Amenity Plant Appraisal, Understand the Profession” – Marty Shaw, RCA

1:30 – 3 p.m. | GIE+EXPO Keynote – Dr. Robert Ballard
3 – 7 p.m. | GIE+EXPO (indoor only)
6:30 – 7:15 p.m. | Certified Grounds Manager Reception (Must be a CGM)
8 p.m. | Kelleigh Bannen followed by headliner Colt Ford

Oct. 18

7:30 – 9 a.m. | Annual Business Meeting and Breakfast
8:30 – 4:30 p.m. | Registration Desk Open
9 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. | GIE+EXPO
9:45 – 11:15 a.m. | EDUCATION SESSION 3 (choose one)

• “The Trials, Tribulations and Successes of Maintaining Collegiate and K-12 Athletic Fields: Panel” – Philip Dierker, CGM; Joe Kovolyan, CGM, CSFM; Kevin Mercer, CGM, CSFM, LICM; and Don Savard, CGM, CSFM. Fred Kester as moderator.
• “Weather Emergency Preparation: Planning, Training and Communication is the Key to Success” – Matt Bailey

1 – 2:15 p.m. | EDUCATION SESSION 4 (choose one)

• “Oklahoma State University Campus Beautification Initiatives” – Steve Dobbs
• “Increasing Soil Health with BioChar and Keeping Your Budget in the Black” – Mark Mann

2:30 – 3:45 p.m. | EDUCATION SESSION 5

• “A Memorial for Remembering” – Matt Gart

6 – 9 p.m. | PGMS Annual Awards Dinner (requires separate ticket)
8 p.m. | Mackenzie Porter followed by headliner Jana Kramer

Oct. 19

7:15 – 8:15 a.m. | Networking Breakfast – “On the Border: Managing One of the World’s Most Unique Gardens”
9 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. | GIE+EXPO (Outdoor Area closes at 1:00 p.m.)
9 – 10:15 a.m. EDUCATION SESSION 6 (pick one)

• “Utilizing the NFL’s Field Certification Program to Document the Effectiveness of Your Maintenance Program” – Dr. Andrew S. McNitt
• “Time Management: Who’s Got Time for That?” – Matt Goodell

10:30 – 11:45 a.m. | Education Session 7

• “Their Success is Our Success – Bee Campus USA” – Mike Oxendine

To learn more about the show and conference, check the event page.