2016 Board of Directors Candidate Slate

Any WCTA member in good standing may put their name forward for open Board of Director positions.  The duty of the Board is to steer the association by providing policy and direction to management and staff.  More candidates than open positions will force an election which is a good thing.  If fewer candidates come forward than there are Board vacancies, the positions will be filled through an election by the Board of Directors.

The WCTA Board is made-up of 9 individuals, composition of which includes:

• President (currently a 1 year term, will become a 2 year term beginning at the 2017 AGM)
• Vice President (currently a 1 year term, will become a 2 year term beginning at the 2017 AGM)
• Past President (non-elected position)
• 2 year Directors-at-large X 6

One of the Directors-at-large is appointed by the President as Finance Director and becomes part of the Executive team.

The 2016 Candidate Slate is as follows:

NORLEY CALDER – ALBERTA - SPORTSFIELDS (current Director with term ending)
I have made a career move to work for the City of Calgary as a Zone Superintendent for Parks.  I currently oversee approximately 400 parks and sportfields for the city. I still work with turf trying to get the best fields for participants to play on, spearheading city wide projects for other turf trials.  I use a lot of skills learned from my previous position as Superintendent at Sagebrush Golf and Sporting Club as well as my other jobs on a golf course. I have been working in the turf industry for over 25 years and am very excited about my new challenges working for the City of Calgary and bringing my experiences to continue to help the WCTA move forward.

I have been on the board of the WCTA for the last two years working on various portfolios and looking at expanding my portfolio to include more park and sportfield work.  I currently reside in Calgary with my wife and daughter.

 STAN KAZYMERCHYK - LOWER MAINLAND – EDUCATOR (current Director with term ending)
44 years of Turf Management experience.  Started in teen years as golf course Groundsman, then to Irrigation Technician and early Golf Superintendent experience.  After a few years of having more questions than answers, I embarked on a university Honours degree in Turfgrass Management from Oregon State University.  Brief stints in turfgrass research and as Assistant Superintendent before becoming Golf Superintendent through 90’s and now at Kwantlen for 15 years.

Served the turf industry as WCTA Research Committee Chair, BCGSA Chapter President, WCTA Board member, STC Board member, Conference organization, trade magazine writer, frequent guest speaker and grounds volunteer at 7 national Opens.

I believe in involving students with close industry interaction and societal paybacks.  Projects include Conference volunteering, ‘Home Reno Makeovers’, training teens with FASD and ‘First Green’ event choreography.  I especially enjoy grooming students to become successful turf managers and supporting alumni as they progress upwards in their careers. 

JASON PICK – ALBERTA – EDUCATOR (current Vice President - running for President)
I’m an instructor of golf course management diploma and degree programs at Olds College, and former Class A course superintendent. Over the last 30 years, I’ve been employed by eight golf courses across Canada and overseas, semi-private, resort, and public multi-course properties in warm and cool season growing environments.   I am proud alumni of Guelph University (ODH), Olds College (BASc.), and Penn State (MSc), further contributing to the Prairie Turfgrass Research center through our Natural Sciences and Engineering Council.  I am honored to have been considered among your association directors since 2009, and look forward to the continued opportunity to serve..

TREVOR SMITH – INTERIOR - INDUSTRY (current President - moves to Past President) 
I have been involved in the Golf business since 1971; I have spent 25 years as a golf course superintendent spread between the Salmon Arm Golf Club, Rivershore Golf Club, Predator Ridge and the Hyde Mountain Golf Course in Sicamous. B.C. I have been involved in Association work through a number of Associations, Served as President of the Interior Golf Superintendents Association, President of the Canadian Golf Superintendents Association and on the Education Committee for the GCSAA. As well, I have been the Site Superintendent on 3 separate golf course construction projects. While I was the General Manager of the Talking Rock Golf Resort I also sat on the Board of Golf Kamloops and the board of the BC Golf Marketing Alliance committee. At present I am a business partner in Keso Turf Supplies and Owner of Innovative Golf Management Services located in Kamloops B.C.  

PETER SOROKOVSKY - LOWER MAINLAND - GOLF (current Director with term ending - running for Vice President)
I have worked in the golf course construction and maintenance industry since 1990 starting as an irrigation installer at Predator Ridge Golf Course. In 1992, I completed my Bachelors Degree in Science, graduating from the University of British Columbia (UBC), specializing in biology which helped continue the advance of my career in golf course maintenance. In 1993 I joined the maintenance team at one of British Columbia’s oldest golf courses, Vernon Golf and Country Club (est. 1913). In 1994 I moved to the world renowned golf course and host of 7 PGA tour events, Northview Golf and Country Club. During my career development at Northview I was promoted to assistant superintendent where my knowledge and understanding of turf management greatly increased.

In 2001 I returned back to UBC for more education in soil science and in 2002 I was accepted into a graduate program in the School of Agricultural where I graduated with a Masters Degree in Soil Science in 2005. The thesis was published in the Canadian Journal of Soil Science, Volume 80:411-417, under the Title: Core aeration of sand-based putting greens in the Lower Fraser Valley of British Columbia.

In January of 2007 I joined the Golf Operations team at the City of Burnaby as the Superintendent of the Turf Care Center. I also consulted for the Burnaby Parks department on their sports fields and in the summer of 2007 Swangard Stadium was deemed to have produced the best soccer pitch conditions in Canada for the U20 FIFA World Cup. Over the past 8 years, as a Director for the Western Canada Turfgrass Association, I have tried to give back to our industry and its professionals as much education/information as my experience and education has given to me and I hope to continue to serve this great industry on into the future.

FRITS VERKERK - INTERIOR – GOLF (current Director with term ending)
Hello, my name is Frits Verkerk.  I have served as a member of the WCTA board for the last 2 year term. I have learned a lot in my first term, and I hope to continue to serve the membership to the best of my ability.

My goal as your Director, is to continue to improve government relations in regards to legislation, water issues and matters of the environment.  I also hope to help improve the synergy between all the associations that are part of the turf industry, to work together to a common goal.

NIKOLAS WALL – LOWER MAINLAND – INDUSTRY SUPPLIER
Throughout my life, I have been deeply connected to grass whether it be for employment, athletic pursuits, or through family.

Beginning at the age of 15 on the maintenance crew at a local golf course, I spent 3 years learning what it took to provide an enjoyable playing experience to guests, manage turfgrass, and from time to time, stick an approach shot close to the pin. Also during this time, I played soccer on what felt like most of the grass sports fields throughout the Fraser Valley, furthering my appreciation for grass.

After leaving the golf course in 2005, I started my own landscaping business while at University, and worked during peak times at Premier Pacific Seeds Ltd mixing grass seed. Every year, the landscaping business grew and soon after graduating from UFV with a BBA, I added hydro-seeding services to my business. Projects that we completed included a municipal park and high end residential properties, among regular maintenance contracts for strata properties.

Finally the time came to exit the business and I sold my equipment and contracts and joined the team at Premier Pacific Seeds Ltd.  After completing some grass seed specific training at DLF International Seeds in Oregon and PPSL, I achieved the CFIA GD Seed Grader Certificate and Operator status. The experience at PPSL has given me an opportunity to deal with municipalities, golf courses, contractors, forestry and mining companies, as well as agricultural clients. Recently I joined the WCTA as a member after attending the annual trade shows for the past number of years as a non-member. I hope to add a different perspective to the Board if selected.

CAMERON WATT – LOWER MAINLAND – GOLF
I’ve been involved in the turfgrass industry for golf courses since 2000. I am currently the assistant superintendent at Redwoods Golf Course in Langley. I attended Kwantlen College in 2002 and received my turfgrass management diploma in 2004.  My initial growth occurred in the Okanagan, where I’ve worked at three golf courses. In 2012, I accepted an assistant superintendent position at Kananaskis Country Golf Course, a beautiful property in which I had been interested in working at for some time. The devastating Alberta flood of 2013 forced the resort to close but I quickly landed the assistant position at Redwoods, contributing my speedy fortune to our intimate network of colleagues.

I am a firm believer in proactive growth, continued education, and professional advocacy.  I believe we have a local saturation of very bright and uniquely qualified young turfgrass connoisseurs whom are all competing to manage their own properties. I share this commonality with all our young professionals, however in the interest of association members looking to grow, I believe that providing the resources and mentorship for our young members to actively promote and better themselves is vital to remain competitive.

In 2014, I was one of 50 selected candidates from North America to attend the 9th annual Green Start Academy in North Carolina. I’ve volunteered at two PGA events; 2008 Telus skins game at Predator Ridge and last year’s US Open at Chambers Bay.  I’ve written two published articles for Inside Golf and GreenMaster, respectively regarding the Kananaskis flood and the 9th annual Green Start Academy. Just this past fall, I helped host Canada’s second ‘First Green’ event, held at Redwoods, an initiative that I think will only help advocate both the game and our industry as a whole.

I live in Langley city with my wife to be Shelley and our handsome canine, Baxter. I enjoy golf, curling, snowboarding, social media and sometimes cooking when it doesn’t have to feel like a chore.