Synthetic Turf Council Announces Record Attendance at Annual Membership Meeting and New Board Member

Demonstrating the demand for greater industry collaboration and learning, the Synthetic Turf Council experienced record attendance during its Annual Membership Meeting in Orlando on November 27-28. More than 100 attendees, representing 53 member companies and selected guests, were present at the forum, which focused on member education and open discussion of key issues. During the meeting, new Board officers and members were also announced, with Joe Motz of The Motz Group in Cincinnati, Ohio elected Chairman.

"As synthetic turf usage in sports fields, parks, landscapes and golf applications has rapidly increased, so has the industry demand for more information, education and training,” says Joe Motz, Chairman of the Synthetic Turf Council (STC). "Our members have come together to collaborate and proactively share their knowledge.”

STC’s Public Outreach & Education campaign, along with other initiatives, gained strong endorsement during the session. Providing the community with honest answers to their most frequently asked questions, the effort focuses on presenting accurate information in layman’s terms for athletic directors, parents, school boards, parks and recreation departments, architects, landscapers, environmental groups and others interested in learning more about synthetic turf.

The 2008 Board of Directors represent all facets of the synthetic turf industry throughout North America and abroad. In addition to Motz, incoming officers include Vice Chairman Steve White, of Challenger Industries in Dalton, Georgia; Secretary John Amato, of JJA Sports in Westford, Massachusetts; Treasurer Dave Anderson of D.A. Hogan & Associates in Seattle, Washington; Director-at-Large Jim Dobmeier of A-Turf in Williamsville, New York and Immediate Past Chairman Tom Peeples of Universal Textile Technologies in Dalton, Georgia.

Board members also include Lanny Bailey of Controlled Products in Dalton, Georgia; John Giraud of Target Technologies International Inc. in Burnaby, British Columbia; Stanley Greene of Sprinturf in Wayne, Pennsylvania; Jim Petrucelli of FieldTurf Tarkett in Montreal, Quebec; Alastair Scott of Bonar Yarns & Fabrics Ltd. in Dundee, Scotland; Sabrina Thomas of Thomas Testing in Scotts, Michigan and John Tidwell of Turfstore.com in Calhoun, Georgia.

Demand for synthetic turf fields has escalated over the past few years, with over 800 multi-use synthetic turf sports fields being installed annually in North America in schools, colleges, parks and professional sports stadiums. As the need for durable playing fields continues to escalate, especially those that don’t require high water usage during times of drought, synthetic turf has become an increasingly popular solution to enhance athletic performance, deal with the issue of limited space in older cities and suburbs, and allow for multiple sports teams to practice and play on a grass-like surface.

About the Synthetic Turf Council

Based in Atlanta, the Synthetic Turf Council was founded in 2003 to serve as an objective resource assisting buyers and end users with the selection, use, and maintenance of synthetic turf systems in sports field, golf, and landscape applications. The organization actively collects reputable studies and research, as well as official statements by governmental agencies and sports organizations, which address the impact of synthetic turf sports fields. STC members produce and install most of the synthetic turf sports fields in North America. Membership includes builders, landscape architects, testing labs, maintenance providers, installation contractors and other specialty service companies. For more information, visit www.syntheticturfcouncil.org.