Phil Richey grew up on Michigan State's campus and raised in the world of horticultural. He knew from an early age that he'd follow in his family's foot steps and find a career in the green industry. Phil has called Purdue University home for almost two decades now. Here's what you'll hear in this week's episode:  Phil's Turf Origin Story  "other duties as assigned" Data and speaking the language  The impact of PGMS  A little bit more about our guest... Phil Richey earned his horticulture degree from Michigan State University before running his own grounds business. Phil was a Grounds Manager at Purdue University for 15 years before being promoted to Director of Grounds. Phil has been a PGMS member since the 1990's! 

President, Michael Gildea, and Vice President of PGMS, Vince Jagodzinski joined Meg in Louisville during the annual Professional Grounds Management Society Conference. The trio discuss the importance of being involved in industry groups and the imacpt it can have your career. Here's what you'll hear in this week's episode:  Recapping the conference and theme of PGMS  How industry organizations can transform your career  Partnership between PGMS and SFMA  LEAD: Leadership Education Cohort Program powered by PGMS  A little bit more about our guests... Michael Gildea is the President of PGMS and Director of Horticulture for the Chevy Chase Club. Vince Jagodzinski is the Vice President of PGMS and Grounds and Field Testing Manager for Stanley Black and Decker. 

Live from the PGMS annual conference in Louisville Kentucky, Paula and Sun join Meg to officially kick off conference season! The trio reflect on how industry groups have impacted their lives professionally and personally. Here's what you'll hear in this week's episode:  An update on the World Listening Tour  The impact PGMS and other industry groups can have on your career  PGMS + SFMA partnership  Book club update  A little bit more about our guests... Paula Sliefert is the newly appointed Chief Executive Officer of The Sports Field Management Association and Executive Director of the Professional Football Field Managers Association. Paula spent almost 18 years in sports turf and grounds management marketing space before accepting this new role. Sun Roesslein is a certified sports field manager with over 20 years of experience. Today she is the immediate past president of SFMA and Women in Turf Team leader.

St. Louis City SC, Associate Director of Stadium Grounds, Maritza Martinez and Turf Coordinator, Faith Holcomb sat down with Meg in their grounds shop to... talk shop. The two share their turf origin stories and what has brought them to St. Louis. Here's what you'll in this week's #GroundskeeperChat:  Meet me in St. Louis Navigating difficult conversations  Advocating for your role within an organization  Fine tuning importance  A little bit more about our guests...Maritza Martinez is a University of Tennessee Alumni. Faith Holcomb is a Louisiana State University. 

Straight out of Teal Town! Mira Emma and Julie Kessler rolled out the red carpet for Meg during her pit stop in Kansas City. The three sat down to recap their turf origin stories, discuss the culture and hype around The KC Current and the opportunities this crew are privileged to experience. Here's what you'll hear in this week's #GroundskeeperChat:  Pressure is a Privilege The KC Current culture and family   The people who have played a role along the way  Digging deep and pushing through  Lastly, update on book club  A little bit more about our guests... Mira Emma is a cyclone turf and cyclone soccer alumni before taking her talents to Kansas City as the Sports Field Manager of CPKC Stadium. Julie Kessler is a member of the inaugural Brentsville Tiger Turf program and VT turf alumni.  

We squeezed in a quick game day chat with Ben Hartman, Director of Field Operations for the Wichita Wind Surge mid-season in Kansas. Ben is a friend of the series and Meg joined him and the crew for a 15 hour day, where temperatures reached the high 90's. Here's what you'll hear in this week's #GroundskeeperChat:  Breakdown of the season + game day  Ben and Jake's teamwork on the field  The foundation of a crew  The 1% of the 1%  A little bit more about our guest... Ben has been with the Wichita Wind Surge for five seasons and is an alumni of Iowa Central Turfgrass Management program. Ben was recognized as one of SFMA's Rising Stars and is a passionate advocate for our industry. 

Raymond James Stadium's Facility Manager of Grounds, Trey Altman, joins us for our Banana Ball series. Altman and the Buccaneer's crew were the first NFL stadium to host Banana Ball. Altman walks us through the rewarding experience and his career in the turf industry in this week's #GroundskeeperChat, here's what you'll hear:  Trey's turf origin story  Banana Ball  The "Off-season"  What challenges Trey is looking forward to this season  A little bit more about our guest...Trey Altman embarked on his journey in the turf industry at Sandhills Community College before spending time on several sides of the industry. Trey has brought his experience in collegiate athletics, parks and rec, minor league baseball, field construction and golf to his position at Raymond James to better the various events, teams and games they host! 

Head Groundskeeper for the Reno Aces, Max Casper, joined us mid-season to update us on his first year in the new role. A heavy events schedule and minor league baseball can be daunting but Max shares with us his keys to success. Here's what you'll hear in this week's #GroundskeeperChat:  Reno Aces crew update  Banana Ball  Performing under pressure  Maintaining culture and positivity during long stretches of the season  A little bit more about our guest... Max Casper is a long-time friend of the series, Meg was one of the first people Max met after stepping off the plane and arriving to his first SFMA in Savannah. Max had been with Reno Aces for several seasons as the assistant groundskeeper before stepping in his new role as Head Groundskeeper last fall. 

We welcome Sports Field Management Association's newest CEO, Paula Sleifert, to share her vision and excitement for the new role in this week's episode. Paula comes to the role with almost 20 years of experience in our industry and a passion for driving change that makes an impact. Here's what you'll hear in this week's #GroundskeeperChat: The philosophies and practices that have kept Paula rooted during major life and career changes Advice, guidance and support Paula received during her time of transition  What excites Paula most about this new chapter  The Paula Sliefert Listening World Tour  An open invitation to members  A little bit more about our guest... Paula Sliefert is the newly appointed Chief Executive Officer of The Sports Field Management Association and Executive Director of the Professional Football Field Managers Association. Paula spent almost 18 years in sports turf and grounds management marketing space before accepting this new role. 

the.j.sprays, Jordan Achay, joins Meg for a Groundskeeper Chat to share his turf origin story and passion for sharing the behind scenes of our industry. Jordan is California born and raised, rooted in his love for the beach and the outdoors. Full-time with the LA Chargers and his own sports field management business has given Jordan the opportunity to pack a lot of experience in the years since transitioning from baseball coach to groundskeeper. Here's what you'll hear in this week's #GroundskeeperChat: - The man behind the.j.sprays - Jordan's turf origin story - Baseball to Groundskeeping - Building a brand in the industry A little bit more about our guest... What started with a flyer from a friend has led Jordan Achay to a fulfilling career in sports turf. Jordan has a masters in marketing and passion for helping build the brand of sports turf professionals with his Surface Series, episodes are available now! 

Stanley Black and Decker's Manager of Grounds and Field Testing, Vince Jagodzinski, brought us along for a day in his life in Valley City, Ohio! We sat down with Vince at the end of the day to hear his full turf origin story and the things that have kept him rooted in the industry since day one. Here's what you'll hear in today's #GroundskeeperChat:  A journey through Vince's career in the industry  Vince's pitch to the next generation or someone looking for their next adventure  How the turf industry has supported Vince in his career  Vince's philosophy that has kept him grounded throughout all the changes A little bit more about our guest... Vince Jagodzinski has spent decades in the green industry, what started as a landscape business with his brother evolved in a sports turf gig at the University level, which ultimately brought him to where he is today with Stanley Balck and Decker. Vince is an active member of PGMS and advocate for more grounds managers and crews to participate in industry associations.

Straight from the source! We are joined by Director of Baseball Operations for The Savannah Bananas to chat about the whirl wind journey he's had with the team and his own turf origin story. Adam shares with us ouse of his favorite memories from the road and what he hopes resonates with groundskeepers when his team is in town. Here's what you'll hear in this week's #GroundskeeperChat:  Adam Virant's turf origin story  The biggest curveball Banana Ball has encountered on the road  Building trust and communication with local field managers Typical day in the life during the Banana Ball World Tour  A little bit more about our guest... Adam Virant is a coach for the Savannah Bananas and Director of Baseball Operations. His love for the sport and dreams to join the major leagues started at a young age while being raised in Nebraska. When joining the organization he dove head first into helping with the turf and learning about the complexity of it. Virant traded in his law books for baseball glove and never looked back!

Salem Red Sox's Director of Field Operations, Will Cole has always been on our radar and now he's making his first appearance on our Groundskeeper Chat series. Will brings vast experience to minor league baseball and has always found himself being pulled to sports turf. Will joined us days before his stadium welcomed the Banana Ball World Tour. Here's what else you'll hear on this week's episode:  How the Red Sox crew was preparing for Banana Ball  Will's turf origin story Will's mental health journey in minor league baseball  The importance of networking and being involved in industry associations.  A little bit more about our guest... Will Cole is the Director of Field Operations for the Salem Red Sox and President of Virginia Sports Field Management Association.

We joined the Professional Grounds Management Society's Regional Conference in Cleveland, Ohio for a LIVE Groundskeeper Chat. We were joined by six guests, all with engaging turf origin stories, who shared their passion for the industry and why groups like PGMS make it special.  Tune in to hear from Eric Harshman, Michael Gildea, Vince Jagodzinski, Aaron Griffith, Bill Quade and Daniel Bangert. 

Disney's ESPN Wide World of Sports, Maryanne Baglos gave us a world tour the morning we stepped into shoes for a day in life experience. Maryanne's 2025 Pioneers in the Field story started on a softball field with her dad, tune in for the rest of her special edition Groundskeeper Chat episode!

Longtime Toledo Mudhens, Head Groundskeeper, Kyle Leppelmeier joins us for his special edition Pioneers in the Field episode. We dive into Kyle's origin story, mentors along the way and what he hopes to give back to this industry each day he takes the field. 

Gillette Stadium's Field Superintendent, Ryan Bjorn, is a proud member of the Patriots and Revolution organizations. Join us for Bjorn's special edition 2025 Pioneers in the Field episode, where he takes us back to the very beginning of his turf story. 

Arizona Cardinals and State Farm Stadium, Director of Turf, Andy Levy, joins us for his special edition 2025 Pioneers in the Field Groundskeeper Chat episode. We learn that adventure and a love for the outdoors is at the core of Andy's story. Andy led the team that implemented the first retraceable field in the NFL, tune in for this week's episode.

The Chase Straw turfgrass world tour started in Kentucky, traveled through Georgia, Minnesota and Texas before its current residency in State College, Pennsylvania. Straw joins us for his in-depth Pioneers in the Field interview to discuss the people, places and principles that will help serve as his legacy in the sports turf industry. Don't miss this special edition 2025 Pioneers in the Field Groundskeeper Chat episode.

Founder and Principal of Field Source, Ryan DeMay walks onto a new movie set each day. There is always a new cast of characters, obstacle to overcome and hero's journey, but DeMay shared with us that he often runs off the same script. DeMay allows his passion for safe community-level sports fields to take the center stage and hopes that his delivery will serve as his legacy in the industry.