SPEAKER BIOS
Day 1 Speakers
Mr. Kevin Morris - National Turfgrass Federation (NTF)
Mr. Morris received his bachelor degree in agriculture from the University of Maryland in 1981. Upon receiving his degree, he was employed by the Maryland Environmental Service for one year and then started with the National Turfgrass Evaluation Program, Beltsville, MD in 1982 as Technical Coordinator. Mr. Morris was National Program Coordinator before being named Executive Director of the NTEP in July 1998. His duties include leadership, administration and coordination of national tests for seventeen grass species at approximately seventy test sites across the United States and Canada. Also, as President of the National Turfgrass Federation, Inc., Morris interacts with Congress and the federal government, representing the turfgrass industry. Currently, Mr. Morris is heavily involved in promoting the turf industry via Grass Roots, an outdoor turfgrass exhibit at the U. S. National Arboretum in Washington, DC. Mr. Morris is the Crop Science Society of America 2018 winner of the Fred V. Grau Turfgrass Science Award. Mr. Morris has provided consultation to turfgrass managers at facilities such as Laurel and Pimlico Race Courses and he also has eight years experience as co-owner of a lawn service company.
Dr. Parag Chitnis - National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA)
For his entire career, Dr. Parag Chitnis has been a leader at the interface of biological, agricultural, physical, and computer sciences with engineering and social sciences. His vision and expertise make him an effective leader as Acting Director of the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture. In that role leads strategic oversight and implementation of NIFA’s programs, which invest $1.75 billion for research and extension activities in food and agricultural sciences. These investments in universities, businesses and research organizations help to grow our nation’s capacity for next generation science innovation and workforce development. His vision for NIFA’s role in keeping U.S. agriculture, science and education on the leading edge of innovation will be instrumental in bolstering university research and the collective power of NIFA partners to promote and protect U.S. food security.
Dr. Marlen Eve - National Resources and Sustainable Agricultural Systems (NRSAS)
Dr. Marlen Eve serves as the Deputy Administrator over the Natural Resources and Sustainable Agricultural Systems (NRSAS) program area at the USDA Agricultural Research Service, Office of National Programs. NRSAS provides strategic leadership of ARS research programs in water resources, soil and air quality, sustainability of our crop and livestock production systems, and the soil/plant/atmosphere interface. He previously served as a National Program Leader within NRSAS, overseeing research programs in soil and air, as well as pasture and rangeland resources. Dr. Eve also provides leadership as the Chair of the Executive Committee for the USDA Climate Hubs and as the USDA Research, Education and Economics (REE) Climate Adaptation research theme lead.
Dr. Jeff Rosichan - Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research (FFAR)
Dr. Rosichan earned his doctorate in genetics and cell biology at Washington State University and did postgraduate work at University of California, Davis. He joined FFAR in January 2018 as the inaugural Director of the Crops of the Future Collaborative. Jeff brings 30 years of agriculture industry experience as a senior R&D executive with significant management, scouting and early stage milestone development expertise.
Dr. Cole Thompson - U.S. Golf Association (USGA)
Dr. Cole Thompson oversees the USGA Turfgrass and Environmental Research Program, which supports and conducts research to improve sustainability and advance turfgrass science principles that enhance management practices for golf courses. With input from a volunteer committee of university and industry scientists, Cole determines short- and long-term research priorities, solicits and evaluates research proposals, and coordinates with USGA-supported scientists to monitor the progress of current research. Cole earned bachelor’s, master’s and Ph.D. degrees from Kansas State University. Before joining the USGA in 2018, Cole held faculty positions at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and at Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo.
Mr. Mark Johnson - Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA)
Mark Johnson is the Associate Director, Environmental Programs for the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA), where he manages the Best Management Practices Program, Golf Course Environmental Profile, University Research Grant program, Environmental Leaders in Golf Awards, and various sustainability initiatives. Mark has worked for more than 36 years in outdoor recreation, wildlife and natural resource conservation and protection with the GCSAA, Kansas Department of Transportation, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks. He graduated from the University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kansas with a bachelor’s degree in systematics and ecology. Mark completed the Sustainable Business Leadership Certificate program through Johnson County Community College as well.
Dr. Casey Reynolds - Turfgrass Producers International (TPI)
Dr. Casey Reynolds is the Executive Director at Turfgrass Producers International (TPI), a non-profit trade association that represents natural grass seed and sod producers with members in over 30 countries. He joined TPI in 2017 where he was a faculty member and state turfgrass extension specialist at Texas A&M University. He is a passionate advocate for natural grass’s role in green spaces in urban and suburban settings.
Dr. John Sorochan - Sports Turf Managers Association (STMA)
A native of Calgary, Alberta, Canada, Dr. John Sorochan began working on the grounds crew at Earl Grey Golf and Country Club in 1988. He received his Ph.D. in Turfgrass Science from Michigan State University in 2002, and is presently a Distinguished Professor of Turfgrass Science and Management in the Plant Sciences Department at the University of Tennessee (UT). Dr. Sorochan is also the Director for the UT Center for Athletic Field Safety. Dr. Sorochan is responsible for the department's academic turf programs at both the undergraduate and graduate level and teaches several classes in the Turfgrass Science and Management Program. His research program coordinates investigations on environmental turf stress physiology including indirect heat, shade, drought, and wear stress for golf
course, sports turf, and commercial and home lawn turf. His research also includes athletic field management, including athletic field performance and safety, athlete to surface interactions, new cultivar and species evaluation for management and use, sustainable strategies for reduced inputs for golf courses, residential turf, and sod production. Since arriving at the University of Tennessee, Dr. Sorochan has given over 200 invited
Day 2 Speakers
Dr. Joseph Roberts - Clemson University
Joseph Roberts is an Assistant Professor in Turfgrass Pathology and Nematology for Clemson University. He joined the Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences in September of 2019. Joe completed his undergraduate degrees in Biological Sciences and Chemistry at North Carolina State University in 2007. Joe received his MS in Plant Biology from Rutgers in 2009 before moving back to North Carolina State University, where he finished his Ph.D. in Plant Pathology in 2014. Prior to joining Clemson, Joe was Assistant Professor in Turfgrass Pathology at the University of Maryland from 2015 to 2019. His research program is centered on understanding plant-microbe relationships and developing integrated programs for pest management to enhance turfgrass survival.
Dr. Seth Murray - Texas A&M University
Dr. Murray received his PhD from Cornell University and a BS from Michigan State University. His research program focuses on new approaches in high throughput field phenotyping (including unmanned aerial vehicles, i.e. drones), quantitative genetic discovery, gene to phene data analytics and applied maize (corn) breeding in Texas, as well as perenniality in maize and sorghum. He has released 9 maize lines, some having been licensed and being grown by Texas farmers, including proprietary hybrids for whiskey. A major focus and success of his program is graduate student training, chairing 31 committees and serving on another 32 committees. He has co-authored 70 peer reviewed articles, and served in leadership roles for the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA), the Crop Science Society of America (CSSA), the National Association of Plant Breeders (NAPB) and the North American Plant Phenotyping Network (NAPPN). He is a recipient of both CSSA and NAPB early career research awards, a fellow of CSSA and was twice named a Blavatnik Young Life Sciences finalist. In 2016-2017 he served as the Senior Advisor of Agricultural Systems in the Office of the Chief Scientist at USDA. He also founded and serves as Editor of The Plant Phenome Journal, an ASA and CSSA publication.
Dr. Josh Friell - The Toro Company
Josh joined The Toro Company in 2014 and serves as Senior Principal Research Scientist in the Center for Technology, Research & Innovation. As a member of the CTRI team, he is working to address Green Industry challenges through innovative technology and solutions. Josh completed his Ph.D. in Applied Plant Sciences at the University of Minnesota. He has previously worked for Toro as a product evaluation engineer and actively engaged turf and landscape managers to improve product performance based on customer input. He is a native of Wisconsin and also holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Minnesota and M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Penn State University. He lives in Minneapolis with his wife Kate and enjoys hiking and camping in his free time.
Dr. Adam Dale - University of Florida
Dr. Adam Dale is an Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist of urban landscape entomology at the University of Florida in Gainesville, FL. His research and extension programs investigate and disseminate more sustainable and effective strategies for creating and maintaining turfgrass and ornamental plant systems.
Dr. Bill Kreuser - University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Bill Kreuser (Kroy-sir) is an assistant professor in the Department of Agronomy and Horticulture at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He serves as the state’s Extension Turfgrass Specialist with a focus on turfgrass ecology and precision management. Bill receiving his Ph.D. from Cornell University and his Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. His research focuses on soil and water management and turfgrass growth physiology.
Dr. Stephen Smith - Buena Vida Farm
Stephen W. Smith PhD, FASIC, CLIA, CAIS, is an agricultural, irrigation, and water resources engineer. Wade Water LLC is a closely-held firm providing consulting services in SCADA, efficient water delivery, and irrigation design. Stephen founded Aqua Engineering, Inc. in 1975. For 25 years, Stephen has operated a farming enterprise, Buena Vida Farm, in Larimer County, CO, which specializes in blue spruce tree and vegetable production. His irrigation engineering experience includes projects throughout the United States, Europe, the Far East, and the Middle East. He was on the affiliate faculty at Colorado State University for 20 years. In 1996, he authored Landscape Irrigation: Design and Management, a textbook, and he is currently working on a e-text second edition of that publication. He is a founding partner of Regenesis Management Group and holds two patents associated with his research work. Stephen is past national president and a fellow of the American Society of Irrigation Consultants (ASIC). In 2009, he was president of the Irrigation Association and served on the IA's Board of Directors for many years. He is currently the vice president of Louden Irrigating Canal & Reservoir Co..
Dr. Eric Lonsdorf - University of Minnesota
Eric Lonsdorf is a lead scientist at the University of Minnesota’s Institute on the Environment. Eric is program director of the Institute’s Natural Capital Project (NatCap), a collaboration between Stanford University and several other partner institutions who work to quantify nature’s contribution to people throughout the world. As part of this work, he co-leads the NatCap Sustainable, Livable Cities team that works specifically to integrate the value of nature into urban planning decisions. He received his PhD at the University of Minnesota in Ecology, Evolution and Behavior.
Mr. Kevin Morris - National Turfgrass Federation (NTF)
Mr. Morris received his bachelor degree in agriculture from the University of Maryland in 1981. Upon receiving his degree, he was employed by the Maryland Environmental Service for one year and then started with the National Turfgrass Evaluation Program, Beltsville, MD in 1982 as Technical Coordinator. Mr. Morris was National Program Coordinator before being named Executive Director of the NTEP in July 1998. His duties include leadership, administration and coordination of national tests for seventeen grass species at approximately seventy test sites across the United States and Canada. Also, as President of the National Turfgrass Federation, Inc., Morris interacts with Congress and the federal government, representing the turfgrass industry. Currently, Mr. Morris is heavily involved in promoting the turf industry via Grass Roots, an outdoor turfgrass exhibit at the U. S. National Arboretum in Washington, DC. Mr. Morris is the Crop Science Society of America 2018 winner of the Fred V. Grau Turfgrass Science Award. Mr. Morris has provided consultation to turfgrass managers at facilities such as Laurel and Pimlico Race Courses and he also has eight years experience as co-owner of a lawn service company.
Dr. Parag Chitnis - National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA)
For his entire career, Dr. Parag Chitnis has been a leader at the interface of biological, agricultural, physical, and computer sciences with engineering and social sciences. His vision and expertise make him an effective leader as Acting Director of the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture. In that role leads strategic oversight and implementation of NIFA’s programs, which invest $1.75 billion for research and extension activities in food and agricultural sciences. These investments in universities, businesses and research organizations help to grow our nation’s capacity for next generation science innovation and workforce development. His vision for NIFA’s role in keeping U.S. agriculture, science and education on the leading edge of innovation will be instrumental in bolstering university research and the collective power of NIFA partners to promote and protect U.S. food security.
Dr. Marlen Eve - National Resources and Sustainable Agricultural Systems (NRSAS)
Dr. Marlen Eve serves as the Deputy Administrator over the Natural Resources and Sustainable Agricultural Systems (NRSAS) program area at the USDA Agricultural Research Service, Office of National Programs. NRSAS provides strategic leadership of ARS research programs in water resources, soil and air quality, sustainability of our crop and livestock production systems, and the soil/plant/atmosphere interface. He previously served as a National Program Leader within NRSAS, overseeing research programs in soil and air, as well as pasture and rangeland resources. Dr. Eve also provides leadership as the Chair of the Executive Committee for the USDA Climate Hubs and as the USDA Research, Education and Economics (REE) Climate Adaptation research theme lead.
Dr. Jeff Rosichan - Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research (FFAR)
Dr. Rosichan earned his doctorate in genetics and cell biology at Washington State University and did postgraduate work at University of California, Davis. He joined FFAR in January 2018 as the inaugural Director of the Crops of the Future Collaborative. Jeff brings 30 years of agriculture industry experience as a senior R&D executive with significant management, scouting and early stage milestone development expertise.
Dr. Cole Thompson - U.S. Golf Association (USGA)
Dr. Cole Thompson oversees the USGA Turfgrass and Environmental Research Program, which supports and conducts research to improve sustainability and advance turfgrass science principles that enhance management practices for golf courses. With input from a volunteer committee of university and industry scientists, Cole determines short- and long-term research priorities, solicits and evaluates research proposals, and coordinates with USGA-supported scientists to monitor the progress of current research. Cole earned bachelor’s, master’s and Ph.D. degrees from Kansas State University. Before joining the USGA in 2018, Cole held faculty positions at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and at Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo.
Mr. Mark Johnson - Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA)
Mark Johnson is the Associate Director, Environmental Programs for the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA), where he manages the Best Management Practices Program, Golf Course Environmental Profile, University Research Grant program, Environmental Leaders in Golf Awards, and various sustainability initiatives. Mark has worked for more than 36 years in outdoor recreation, wildlife and natural resource conservation and protection with the GCSAA, Kansas Department of Transportation, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks. He graduated from the University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kansas with a bachelor’s degree in systematics and ecology. Mark completed the Sustainable Business Leadership Certificate program through Johnson County Community College as well.
Dr. Casey Reynolds - Turfgrass Producers International (TPI)
Dr. Casey Reynolds is the Executive Director at Turfgrass Producers International (TPI), a non-profit trade association that represents natural grass seed and sod producers with members in over 30 countries. He joined TPI in 2017 where he was a faculty member and state turfgrass extension specialist at Texas A&M University. He is a passionate advocate for natural grass’s role in green spaces in urban and suburban settings.
Dr. John Sorochan - Sports Turf Managers Association (STMA)
A native of Calgary, Alberta, Canada, Dr. John Sorochan began working on the grounds crew at Earl Grey Golf and Country Club in 1988. He received his Ph.D. in Turfgrass Science from Michigan State University in 2002, and is presently a Distinguished Professor of Turfgrass Science and Management in the Plant Sciences Department at the University of Tennessee (UT). Dr. Sorochan is also the Director for the UT Center for Athletic Field Safety. Dr. Sorochan is responsible for the department's academic turf programs at both the undergraduate and graduate level and teaches several classes in the Turfgrass Science and Management Program. His research program coordinates investigations on environmental turf stress physiology including indirect heat, shade, drought, and wear stress for golf
course, sports turf, and commercial and home lawn turf. His research also includes athletic field management, including athletic field performance and safety, athlete to surface interactions, new cultivar and species evaluation for management and use, sustainable strategies for reduced inputs for golf courses, residential turf, and sod production. Since arriving at the University of Tennessee, Dr. Sorochan has given over 200 invited
Day 2 Speakers
Dr. Joseph Roberts - Clemson University
Joseph Roberts is an Assistant Professor in Turfgrass Pathology and Nematology for Clemson University. He joined the Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences in September of 2019. Joe completed his undergraduate degrees in Biological Sciences and Chemistry at North Carolina State University in 2007. Joe received his MS in Plant Biology from Rutgers in 2009 before moving back to North Carolina State University, where he finished his Ph.D. in Plant Pathology in 2014. Prior to joining Clemson, Joe was Assistant Professor in Turfgrass Pathology at the University of Maryland from 2015 to 2019. His research program is centered on understanding plant-microbe relationships and developing integrated programs for pest management to enhance turfgrass survival.
Dr. Seth Murray - Texas A&M University
Dr. Murray received his PhD from Cornell University and a BS from Michigan State University. His research program focuses on new approaches in high throughput field phenotyping (including unmanned aerial vehicles, i.e. drones), quantitative genetic discovery, gene to phene data analytics and applied maize (corn) breeding in Texas, as well as perenniality in maize and sorghum. He has released 9 maize lines, some having been licensed and being grown by Texas farmers, including proprietary hybrids for whiskey. A major focus and success of his program is graduate student training, chairing 31 committees and serving on another 32 committees. He has co-authored 70 peer reviewed articles, and served in leadership roles for the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA), the Crop Science Society of America (CSSA), the National Association of Plant Breeders (NAPB) and the North American Plant Phenotyping Network (NAPPN). He is a recipient of both CSSA and NAPB early career research awards, a fellow of CSSA and was twice named a Blavatnik Young Life Sciences finalist. In 2016-2017 he served as the Senior Advisor of Agricultural Systems in the Office of the Chief Scientist at USDA. He also founded and serves as Editor of The Plant Phenome Journal, an ASA and CSSA publication.
Dr. Josh Friell - The Toro Company
Josh joined The Toro Company in 2014 and serves as Senior Principal Research Scientist in the Center for Technology, Research & Innovation. As a member of the CTRI team, he is working to address Green Industry challenges through innovative technology and solutions. Josh completed his Ph.D. in Applied Plant Sciences at the University of Minnesota. He has previously worked for Toro as a product evaluation engineer and actively engaged turf and landscape managers to improve product performance based on customer input. He is a native of Wisconsin and also holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Minnesota and M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Penn State University. He lives in Minneapolis with his wife Kate and enjoys hiking and camping in his free time.
Dr. Adam Dale - University of Florida
Dr. Adam Dale is an Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist of urban landscape entomology at the University of Florida in Gainesville, FL. His research and extension programs investigate and disseminate more sustainable and effective strategies for creating and maintaining turfgrass and ornamental plant systems.
Dr. Bill Kreuser - University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Bill Kreuser (Kroy-sir) is an assistant professor in the Department of Agronomy and Horticulture at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He serves as the state’s Extension Turfgrass Specialist with a focus on turfgrass ecology and precision management. Bill receiving his Ph.D. from Cornell University and his Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. His research focuses on soil and water management and turfgrass growth physiology.
Dr. Stephen Smith - Buena Vida Farm
Stephen W. Smith PhD, FASIC, CLIA, CAIS, is an agricultural, irrigation, and water resources engineer. Wade Water LLC is a closely-held firm providing consulting services in SCADA, efficient water delivery, and irrigation design. Stephen founded Aqua Engineering, Inc. in 1975. For 25 years, Stephen has operated a farming enterprise, Buena Vida Farm, in Larimer County, CO, which specializes in blue spruce tree and vegetable production. His irrigation engineering experience includes projects throughout the United States, Europe, the Far East, and the Middle East. He was on the affiliate faculty at Colorado State University for 20 years. In 1996, he authored Landscape Irrigation: Design and Management, a textbook, and he is currently working on a e-text second edition of that publication. He is a founding partner of Regenesis Management Group and holds two patents associated with his research work. Stephen is past national president and a fellow of the American Society of Irrigation Consultants (ASIC). In 2009, he was president of the Irrigation Association and served on the IA's Board of Directors for many years. He is currently the vice president of Louden Irrigating Canal & Reservoir Co..
Dr. Eric Lonsdorf - University of Minnesota
Eric Lonsdorf is a lead scientist at the University of Minnesota’s Institute on the Environment. Eric is program director of the Institute’s Natural Capital Project (NatCap), a collaboration between Stanford University and several other partner institutions who work to quantify nature’s contribution to people throughout the world. As part of this work, he co-leads the NatCap Sustainable, Livable Cities team that works specifically to integrate the value of nature into urban planning decisions. He received his PhD at the University of Minnesota in Ecology, Evolution and Behavior.
