2025 Featured Speakers
Our featured speakers are some of the brightest individuals across the country in turfgrass management and research. These high-profile speakers will present top trends impacting the turfgrass industry. Learn more about each featured speaker by scrolling over their image and selecting their bio.
2024 SESSION SPEAKERS
The following individuals represent turfgrass institutions and industry professionals from across the state of the Iowa. Learn more about these individuals by scrolling over their image and selecting their bio.
Adam Thoms, Ph.D.
Iowa State University
Steve Lindner
Hunter Industries
Derek York,
CSFM, CFB
Iowa Sports Turf
Craig Watson
SePRO
Tim VanLoo
D&K Products
Jeff Iles,
Ph.D.
Iowa State University
Nicholas Stewart
Meteorologist
Eric Pifer
Watertronics
Clay Schneckloth, PLA
Snyder & Associates
Quincy Law,
Ph.D.
Iowa State University
Brian Aynardi, Ph.D.
PBI-Gordon
Alex Miller
City of Grimes
Kurt Tewinkel
Foley
Justin Waters
Hunter Industries
2025 SPEAKER BIOGRAPHIES
Terry Swails
Terry is an Emmy Award winning Midwest Meteorologist with 44 years of television experience. His TV background includes stops at KWWL, KDUB, KWQC, WQAD, AND KGAN TV. He is the president of Tswails.com a website devoted to Midwest weather in its 12th year of existence. An innovative leader, he is a published author with a long and extensive background in radio, newspapers, and social media. Terry was awarded the American Meteorological Seal of Approval in 1983. He has always been passionate about severe weather and is an avid storm chaser, having tracked numerous tornadoes and even a hurricane. He is fascinated with snow and looks forward each winter to the challenges of forecasting winter storms. While he appreciates a beautiful day, he has never met a storm he did not like.
Fred Whitford, Ph.D.
Fred Whitford, Clinical Engagement Professor, Botany and Plant Pathology and Director of Purdue Pesticide Programs. Fred has a bachelor’s degree in wildlife management and M.S. and Ph.D. in entomology. He has served as the Coordinator of the Purdue Pesticide Program since 1991. Fred is the author of The Grand Old Man of Purdue University and Indiana Agriculture: A Biography of William Carroll Latta, The Queen of American Agriculture: A Biography of Virginia Claypool Meredith, and For The Good of the Farmer: A Biography of John Harrison Skinner, Dean of Purdue Agriculture as well as two other books on pesticide management. He has authored more than 300 publications and become a popular speaker with more than 5,000 presentations given throughout Indiana and the United States. He has received numerous awards from organizations and universities.
Liz Helton
With over twenty years of experience in financial services, plus four years running her own residential construction business, Liz Helton is our Chief Financial Officer. She also provides educational content at many of our events throughout the year. Previously at McFarlin Stanford she was responsible for developing the company’s outsourced accounting and financial solutions practice. Liz believes that sound business decisions cannot be made without accurate and timely financial statements. In conjunction with the technical components of accounting and finance, Liz focuses on process design to streamline and automate the financial mechanisms of the company.
Liz earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Duke University and a Masters in Accounting from Rice University. She is a Certified Public Accountant and a former Certified Financial Planner.
Steven Allie
Steven Allie joins McFarlin Stanford with over 15 years of financial and accounting experience, which includes almost 10 years in the landscaping industry. He will serve as our Managing Director in the outsourced accounting division. Steven has a vast array of finance experience that includes modeling, budgeting, software integration, and competitor analysis. Additionally, his accounting experience includes financial statement preparation, advanced reporting, and consulting.
He holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Finance, Master’s of Science in Accounting, and is currently an active Certified Public Accountant in the state of Texas.
Adam Thoms, Ph.D.
Adam Thoms, Ph.D., is an assistant professor in the department of horticulture at Iowa State University. He earned his B.S. in horticulture with the turfgrass option from Iowa State University, a master’s in plant science in the turfgrass option from the University of Tennessee and his Ph.D. in plants, insects and soils from the University of Tennessee. His appointment allows him the opportunity to be involved with extension, research and teaching. Thoms’ research focuses on the performance of turfgrasses subjected to various management techniques.
Jeff Iles, Ph.D.
Jeff serves as Professor and Chair of the Department of Horticulture at Iowa State University (Ames, IA). He teaches, conducts applied research, and provides Extension programming in the areas of landscape plant establishment and maintenance, woody plant (mostly trees) evaluation, and nursery and garden center management. He received his B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in horticulture from Michigan State, Penn State, and Iowa State, respectively. Between degrees, Jeff worked in the retail garden center/landscape installation segment of the green industry, first in suburban Detroit, Michigan, and later in Littleton, Colorado.
Quincy Law, Ph.D.
Dr. Quincy Law is an Assistant Professor of Turfgrass Science at Iowa State University. Previously, Dr. Law worked as an Assistant Professor of Invasive and Noxious Weeds at North Dakota State University, and he earned his bachelor’s degree at Iowa State University and his master’s and PhD at Purdue University, under the guidance of Dr. Aaron Patton. Dr. Law teaches various turfgrass courses and conducts turfgrass research on weed biology and control, reducing inputs, and soils. Quincy spends his free time playing golf and catching fish.
Steve Lindner
Steve Lindner has been in the Irrigation and Landscape industry for +30 years. After attending South Dakota State University in the late 80’s, he worked for a hometown landscape and irrigation contractor before moving to California to work for an ag irrigation company in the Central Valley. Steve moved back to the Midwest and worked for a couple Professional Irrigation and Landscape distributors; Hydrologic and John Deere Landscapes before getting his dream job of working for Hunter Industries in 2014.
Steve is a Certified Irrigation Design and a Certified Landscape Irrigation Auditor with the Irrigation Association. He has served on the Iowa Sports Field Managers Association for 5 years and is currently the Finance Chair. In his current role, Steve represents Hunter Irrigation and FX Luminaire Landscape Lighting products in Iowa, Missouri, and NE Kansas.
Nicholas Stewart
Nicholas Stewart is a meteorologist who graduated with a B.S in meteorology from Western Illinois University, with a focus on severe weather. Stewart is primarily interested in the research and broadcast side of meteorology. Stewart has presented his research at several conferences, including multiple American Meteorological Society conferences and several Severe Storms and Doppler Radar Conferences in Ankeny, Iowa. After an award-winning career on TV with eight Emmys and two Murrow awards, Nick left the broadcast meteorology field to move into operations in August 2023. Stewart took a position as a spaceflight meteorologist at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station where he monitors and quality controls upper level wind data for multiple rocket launch customers. Stewart is also a freelance photographer. His work has appeared on many major network television channels including NBC, MSNBC, CNN, The Weather Channel, Weather Nation, Fox News and ABC, in addition to countless ABC, NBC, CBS and Fox affiliates.
Bryan Aynardi, Ph.D.
Brian Aynardi is the Northeast R&D Scientist and Manager of University and Contract Research for PBI-Gordon Corporation, a position he has held since December of 2016. His responsibilities include protocol development and placement for evaluation of new active ingredients and next generation products for the company’s turf and ornamental portfolio. Brian received his B.S. in Turfgrass Science in 2007, and his Ph.D. in Plant Pathology in 2016, both from the Pennsylvania State University.
Derek York, CSFM, CFB
Derek York, CSFM/CFB is the director of construction operations at Iowa Sports Turf. He earned his B.S. in horticulture with the turfgrass option from Iowa State University, and a master’s in agronomy from Iowa State University. Derek is a Certified Sports Field Manager and a Certified Field Builder Derek is currently serving on the ISFMA board of directors as a commercial director. Before his time at Iowa Sports Turf, Derek worked for Bush Turf as a project foreman and the Omaha Storm Chasers as the head grounds keeper.
Eric Pifer
Eric Pifer has dedicated nearly 15 years to Watertronics, a pump station and water technology manufacturer, where he currently serves as the Regional Sales Manager for the Midwest region. With a strong foundation in Engineering and service, Eric brings a wealth of expertise to his role, ensuring top-notch solutions and support for his clients.
Alex Miller
Alex is the Sports Facility Manager for the City of Grimes Parks and Recreation Department. He oversees three different sports facilities within the City of Grimes. Including over 26 acres of natural grass athletic fields and the new Hyvee Multiplex which houses over 35 acres of artificial turf. He received his bachelor of science degree in Horticulture from Iowa State University. After graduating he has gone on to hold various positions ranging from the Boston Redsox, Mississippi State University, Iowa Sports Turf, Waukee Schools and his current position with the City of Grimes. Alex also takes a role in the development of the Parks system and implementing new construction projects.
Craig Watson
Please welcome Craig Watson, the Technical Sales Specialist at SePRO. Craig has spent the past 3 years working with professionals to manage ponds, lakes, streams, and turf. Before joining SePRO, he dedicated 19 years to the golf industry, including 8 years as a Golf Course Superintendent.
Clay Schneckloth, PLA
Clay Schneckloth has a BA in Landscape Architecture from Iowa State University. He has nearly 20 years of experience in park development and athletic field design. His experience provides a strong understanding, particularly in site analysis, design development, cost opinions, and construction administration.
Kurt Tewinkel
Kurt TeWinkel is a Regional Sales Manager at Foley Company, an American-made manufacturer of grinding and sharpening equipment, along with Air2G2 and Salsco products, specifically designed for golf course and turf facility maintenance. Based in Prescott, WI, Foley Company is well-regarded for its precision equipment that enhances the performance and longevity of mowers and other turf maintenance tools. Kurt brings experience in the industry and is committed to helping Superintendents, equipment managers and mechanics find the right solutions for maintaining sharp, efficient cutting equipment. His expertise and dedication to customer service make him a trusted partner in ensuring high-quality turf care.
Tim VanLoo
Certified Sports Field Manager - Tim VanLoo – Has worked in sales since 2021. Prior to that he managed athletic fields for Iowa State University and Northwestern University. Tim received his B.S. and M.S. at Michigan State University in Crop and Soil Science with an emphasis on Turfgrass.
Justin Waters
Justin Waters graduated from St. Cloud State University with a Criminal Justice degree in 1999. He started his irrigation career in 1990 when he was 15 working with AAA Irrigation, a neighbor needed help one day that resulted in thirty plus years working in the irrigation industry. Past projects include the Minnesota Vikings Practive facilities, the Minneapolis Sculpture Gardens and numerous amazing homes and facilities that incorporated green roofs and water reuse systems into their irrigation.
Justin has been a part of the Irrigation Association since 2004 as a Certified Irrigation Contractor.Justin started with Hunter Industries as a Field Service Manager in March 2021. His territory includes the entire Great Lakes region.Justin enjoys spending time with his wife Lori, children Andrew, Tim, Sydney, and friends. When not working Justin enjoys spending as much time at the lake as possible.
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