2024 OTA Education and Annual Meeting Recap

The Ozark Turf Association Education/Annual meeting presented by VanWall Equipment was held at Highland Springs Country Club in Springfield Missouri and was well attended and a huge success.

We had Jodie Cunningham, Owner/Partner at Optimus Talent Partners and John Cunningham, CGCS, General Manager/COO at Grandfather Golf and Country Club, speak on the topic of “Recruiting and Retaining Your Team”.  Jodie and John have been regular speakers for GCSAA and have visited many chapters speaking on various personal topics in our industry.  They presented three solid hours of information and ideas to help attendees recruit and retain team members.  The feedback from our members attending was very positive.    

After Jodie and John’s presentation we were treated to a fantastic lunch, sponsored by FMC, featuring sliced sirloin steak and chicken piccata, served with salads and sides, with the mac and cheese being the side of choice.    

After lunch and also during registration and breaks, members were able to visit with our vendor partners, including Matt Strong with VanWall, Eric Pickrell with Reinders Turf Supply, Eddie Roach Jr. CGCS and David Moore with SiteOne, Josh Thomas with Professional Turf Products,  Joey Johnson and Tanner Phipps with Clear Creek Golf Cars and Utility Vehicles, Brad Lackey with Redexim Turf Products, Darrin Johnson with Andersons, Nathan Lykkegaard with Trimax Mowing Systems, Mark Slaughter with GreensPro, Austen Gearheart with Advanced Turf Solutions, Barry Siems with Precision Turf Products, Russel Cole with Kansas Golf and Turf, and Jed Spencer with Harrell’s.  We would like to thank these vendor/partners for participating in our annual education meeting, supporting our members. 

After lunch we recognized Clinton McKee, Equipment Manger at Big Cedar Golf, for being the first equipment manager in Missouri and OTA member to achieve his Certified Turf Equipment Manager (CTEM) designation from the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America, (GCSAA), he gave a brief history of how he became involved with turf equipment and what he is doing to encourage others to look into this important and viable career. 

Randy Robinson, our GCSAA Central Plains Region Representative, talked about current GCSAA programs and especially the important work being done by GCSAA’s Government Relations Team.

After Randy presented his program, the Ozark Turf Association held their annual meeting, presided over by OTA President Maron Towse, Golf Course Superintendent of Schifferdecker Golf Course, City of Joplin.  The minutes from last year’s meeting and the treasurers report were read by OTA Secretary/Treasurer, Melvin Waldron III, CGCS, Golf Course Superintendent of Horton Smith Golf Course, City of Springfield-Greene County Parks. 

Elections were held after with Maron Towse being reconfirmed as President of the OTA, Jonathan Prange, CGCS, Superintendent at Highland Springs Country Club being elected as Vice President, Melvin Waldron, being reconfirmed as Secretary/Treasurer.  Brad Seidt, Golf Course Superintendent at Lake Valley Golf Course was elected to serve another 3-year term on the board of directors.  Kolby Armbruster, Golf Course Superintendent at Ledgestone Country Club remained on the board and is serving the third year of his term.  Chad Hoerschgen, Golf Course Superintendent at Millwood Golf and Racquet Club was appointed to fill out the remainder of Johnathan’s term.  Barry Siems of Precision Turf Products and Mark Slaughter of GreensPro were reappointed as vendor representatives.