INDUSTRY NEWS
Chip Halderman joins Turf & Soil Diagnostics
Turf & Soil Diagnostics added Chip Halderman to its staff as a consultant . Halderman will be responsible for performing soil testing , analyzing data and preparing test reports , and providing customer service and consultation .
Before joining Turf & Soil Diagnostics , Halderman served Chip Halderman as superintendent at The Orchards Golf Course in Lawrence , Kansas from 2019- 2023 . Specifically , he managed golf course operations and staff , including keeping top quality course conditions , and planning and scheduling maintenance activities according to assessment and agronomic needs . Prior to working at The Orchards , Halderman held various laboratory positions with responsibilities including sample testing and personnel management . He has degrees in Sports Turf Management and Biological Sciences , and is a Class A Superintendent .
DuraEdge adds Mike Williams
DuraEdge Products announced the addition of Mike Williams , who took over sales in Florida and the surrounding areas .
Growing up in Athens , Ohio , Williams began working on ballfields at the age of seven . In high school he helped prepare the baseball field for games at Athens High School .
Williams stayed in Athens to study at Ohio University and walked onto the baseball team as a catcher .
Following graduation , he became a graduate assistant for baseball with the hope of becoming a college baseball coach . Due to coaching limitations in the NCAA , Williams decided to take up groundskeeping .
Mike Williams
“ It hurt initially , but when I thought about it , I knew it was something I enjoyed and was good at ,” Williams said . “ Fast forward five years and I was the first head groundskeeper for the Tampa Bay Rays .”
Williams had his first professional job in 1993 and made it to the big leagues in 1998 .
NFL announces crowd-sourced challenge to improve safety , consistency of playing surfaces
The NFL announced the HealthTECH Challenge I , a crowdsourced challenge to accelerate innovations that can help make playing surfaces more consistent and safer for players .
Held in partnership with Football Research , Inc . ( FRI ) and Duke Biomedical Engineering ( Duke BME ), the Challenge invites submissions that address several possible elements of natural and synthetic playing surface safety . These include : New or improved field maintenance techniques . Equipment that reduces variability across the surface and / or over time . Methodologies to prolong the viability of natural grass surfaces in NFL stadiums . Topical treatments for synthetic surfaces that improve traction for players . Equipment to protect playing surfaces during nonsporting events . Field usage monitoring technologies . HealthTECH Challenge I will provide up to $ 100,000 to entrants with ideas that further improve the safety and consistency of playing surfaces . The individuals or groups who submit projects that are selected for funding will have the opportunity to work with an expert support team to further develop their concept and plan for creating a finished product .
In addition to companies that currently specialize in playing surfaces , the challenge is open to submissions from companies and new ventures from outside the surface industry , including representatives of academic institutions , design houses and other entities that specialize in engineering , advanced manufacturing and material science .
The submission window is open Nov . 16 , 2023 , to Feb . 20 , 2024 , and applications can be submitted at https :// www . grantinterface . com / Home / Logon ? urlkey = duke .
“ Our goal for this challenge is to generate fresh and creative ideas to complement our ongoing efforts to create the best possible playing surfaces for NFL players that is consistent and safe ,” said Jennifer Langton , senior vice president of health and safety innovation at the NFL . “ Crowd-sourced challenges like this one are a unique opportunity to tap into a wide range of expertise and make the game safer for players on the field .” sportsfieldmanagementonline . com December 2023 | SportsField Management
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