Claim OwnershipGroundskeeper Chats
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For anyone who has been asked if they mow grass for a living, these conversations are for you. Join us as we explore and discuss the questions and passions of sports turf professionals while celebrating our niche part of the sports world.
142 Episodes
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Ava Veith has lived many lives already in the turf industry. Her current gig has her at Penn State University working alongside Chase Straw. Ava's turned her passion for sports into turf during her time at Virginia Tech and the sky is the limit! Here's what you'll hear in this week's #GroundskeeperChat:
Soccer player to precision turf management
Falling in love with the research
Tech to KC to Penn State
What's on the horizon for Ava Veith
A little bit more about our guest...
Ava Veith was a soccer student athlete when she was contemplating what her future might look like without soccer. She stumbled onto her path and the rest is history. She finished her masters at Virginia Tech and is now going after her Ph. D. student at Penn State University
Dynamic duo Brad and Colby with The University of Houston opened our live show in Fort Worth with a bang! They brought the energy and stories to help us kick off our SFMA series. Here's what you'll hear in this week's #GroundskeeperChat:
Check-in with Brad
Wrangling Colby into the chat
The Dynamic of the crew and culture
What's to come in 2026 for the UH Cougar Crew
A little bit more about our guests...
Brad Finn is the Assistant Athletics Director for Grounds, Facilities & Events at the University of Houston, Colby Murray is the Director of Grounds, Facilities & Events at The University of Houston.
The final power couple of our SFMA series is Nick McKenna and Holly Kasperbauer joined Meg in Fort Worth. The two down minutes after finishing their session to rehash the content, the takeaways and much more in this week's chat. Here's what you'll hear in this #GroundskeeperChat:
Holly's origin story, rooted in turf
Holly & Nick in the classroom
Generational Intelligence: Leadership for a Multigenerational Workforce session recap
A little bit more about our guests...
Nick McKenna has been the Assistant Athletic Director at Texas A&M since 2011. He worked as a sports field manager for the university directly out of undergrad before spending time at Virginia Tech and then ultimately returning home to be an Aggie! Holly J. Kasperbauer joined the Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University as assistant director of the Public Service Leadership Program but has a background in the agriculture and turfgrass sciences.
The industry's yearly therapy session with the ultimate power couple, the Goatley's is here. The Goatley's joined Meg and Tyler Morris in Fort Worth at SFMA for the 2026 check in. Here's what you'll hear in this week's episode:
- Work/Life Balance Session Recap
- Breaking News: Retirement
- Partner POV
- Recap + what's to come
A little bit more about our guests... Lisa Goatley is a Licensed Professional Counselor in a private practice. Mike Goatley is a Professor and Extension Turgrass Specialist at Virgina Tech University. Longtime friends of the Groundskeeper Chat series!
Live from Fort Worth, Tyler Morris and Alex Principe joined me to help kick off our 2026 SFMA series. A concept of bringing in the partner's POV into the chat finally came to fruition. Here's what you'll hear on this week's #GroundskeeperChat:
The MVP's on the Homefront for FIFA
Partner POV
Building a Community
Sis Pitches
SFMA special segments
A little bit more about our guests...
Tyler Morris, CSFM is the Head Sports Field Manager at MetLife Stadium. Alex Principe is a law student and event planner for Sis Pitches.
One of the most name dropped guests of the day, Matt Duncan joined us at OTF to share about his career which is rooted in networking and mentoring. Here's what you'll hear in this week's #GroundskeeperChat:
Matt's turf origin story
Matt Duncan, the meaningful mentor
How OTF has impacted Matt's career
Matt's living legacy in the industry
A little bit more about our guest...
Matt Duncan is a Professional Turf Account Manager at DLF USA.
Tyler Carr joined us amidst a busy conference day at OTF to bring us up to speed on the logistics behind what's to come for the industry organization in 2026. Here's what you'll hear in this #GroundskeeperChat:
Tyler's new role as the Executive Director for OTF
Building and establishing trust with board members
The impact OTF has played in Tyler's career
Meaningful mentors along the way
A little bit more about our guest...
Tyler Carr is the Assistant Professor at The Ohio State University and Executive Director for the Ohio Turfgrass Foundation
Columbus Clippers', Chris Mason joined us for the first time at the Ohio Turfgrass Conference. We dove into his turf origin story and much more in this week's #GroundskeeperChat. Here's what you'll hear:
- Chris Mason's turf origin story
- How to build a crew
- How OTF has impacted Chris' career
- Meaningful mentors along the way
A little bit more about our guest... Chris Mason is the Head Groundskeeper for the Columbus Clippers. He spent time on many sides of the industry before taking the head gig in Columbus and has been with the crew for several seasons now.
Longtime friend of our show, Brian Hall, joined Meg and Chris in Columbus to receive his praise for helping us make the OTF live show a reality! Brian recapped a transformative year for the industry organization and all the exciting things to come!
A little bit more about our guest...
Brian Hall is the Facilities and Maintenance Director at Sylvania Recreation and Ohio Turfgrass Foundation Treasurer
A guest who has been at the top of Meg's wish list, Pam Sherratt, joins us in Columbus for her first Groundskeeper Chat! Pam is the ultimate boy mom, OSU pillar and industry advocate and we were thrilled to hear her full turf origin story and much more in this week's #GroundskeeperChat:
OSU at the core of Pam's career
Meg's pitch to be a parent chaperone
People and creativity
OTF central to Pam's network
Pam's favorite student
A little bit more about our guest...
Pam Sherratt has been a Turfgrass Specialist with The Ohio State University for almost 30 years. She has played a large role in empowering the next generation of turfgrass professionals by being at the helm of OSU and groups like OTF and SFMA.
Andrew Northeim, Senior Head Groundskeeper for the Columbus Crew, joined us at the Ohio Turfgrass Conference to talk all things turf—from industry advocacy to preparing fields on the world stage ahead of the World Cup.
In this episode, we cover:
- A rapid recap of Andrew’s turfgrass origin story
- OTF 2025 at a glance
- How Andrew strives for balance on and off the field
- Building a strong network and tapping into industry resources
A little bit more about our guest: Andrew’s story is Ohio to its core. A graduate of The Ohio State University’s Turfgrass Science program, he has spent nearly 12 years with the Columbus Crew, helping maintain one of the top playing surfaces in the league.
Beth Guertal's Turf Origin Story
A Career that people stumble upon
The 3 ways that industry groups have impacted Beth's career
Network of champions
The evolution of our industry, good vs bad
A little bit more about our guests...
Beth Guertal was a longtime professor at Auburn University in Turfgrass Management. Now with Kansas State University, Beth specializes in research in soil fertility that helps move our industry forward.
We kicked off another Live series with Ohio Turfgrass Foundation President, Ryan Margraf. Margraf shared his turf origin story and recapped a year of transformation for the industry group. Here's what you'll hear in this week's #GroundskeeperChat:
- Two decades with The Motz Group
- OTF going out on their own
- OTF/OSU Partnership
- How OTF has helped Ryan outside of work
A little bit more about our guest... Ryan Margraf has been with The Motz Group for over 20 years and he has a passion for moving our industry groups forward.
Jeff McManus is the Executive Director of Campus Grounds and Landscape at the University of Texas. Before joining the UT team Jeff was with Ole Miss for 25 years. During that time Jeff built his philosophies on team building and turning weeders into leaders. Here's what you'll hear in this week's episode:
- The Pride, Passion and Purpose behind our workforce.
- Turning Weeders into Leaders
- Your PGMS network saves you from making expensive mistakes
- Breakfast of Champions
- Knowing what Table You're at and What Language is Being Spoken
A little bit more about our guest... Jeff McManus is an author, lead cultivation officer and inspiring industry veteran. Jeff is an alumni from Auburn University, where he discovered a love for a career in the professional groundskeeping industry. Today, he is a reputable leadership motivational speaker and team building expert.
"You'll know if Joe is in the building"... The larger than life grounds personality Joe Kovolyan joined Meg to help close out the PGMS Groundskeeper Chat series. Joe shares his turf origin story and much more in this week's episode.
OG New England Crew
Turf Origin Story, from sports turf to grounds
100th President of PGMS
The lifeline of PGMS + SFMA
A little bit more about guest...
Joe Kovolyan is the Director of Landscape Services Arboretum and Botanical Gardens at the University of Missouri.
Bill Quade, Director of Horticulture at The Biltmore Company, joins Meg for another PGMS conference live episode in Louisville. Bill shares how being involved in groups like PGMS keeps you adding resources into toolkit long into your career. Here's what you'll hear in this week's #GroundskeeperChat:
Advocating for Professionalism
Advocating for yourself and for the industry
"other duties as assigned"
almost 3 decades with Biltmore Company
A little bit more about our guest...
For 27 years Bill Quade has been with the Biltmore Company. Today, he is the Director of Horticulture with The Biltmore Company and long time member and advocate of the Professional Grounds Management Society.
DJ Hart with the City of Brewer joins Meg in Louisville to reflect on his gratitude for a career in the turf industry. He shares a powerful story about how his work allows him to impact people’s lives at many different stages. Here's what you'll hear in this week's episode:
- DJ Hart's Turf Origin Story
- The impact of PGMS on DJ's career
- A job that changes with the tide
- The impact you can have on someone's day
A little bit more about our guest... DJ Hart is the Superintendent of Park, Cemetery and the Waterfront for the City of Brewer, Maine. After having a career in teaching, DJ sought a change and found a passionate career in the green industry.
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.
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