People News

NGCOA awards Don Rossi scholarships

The National Golf Course Owners Association has awarded Don Rossi scholarships to three students pursuing degrees in golf-related fields. The scholarships, which range from $1,900 to $3,000, are given in the name of one of the founders of the association that represents golf course owners and operators.

This year’s scholarship recipients are Lucas Brick, a senior in the professional golf management program at New Mexico State University; and Paul Speltz and Henry Mohr, seniors majoring in golf enterprise management at the University of Wisconsin-Stout. The scholarship fund, which was created in 1993 by the NGCOA, assists students who are majoring in sports management or golf enterprise management and plan to pursue a career in a golf-related field. Since the program began awarding scholarship funds in 1999, more than $27,000 has been given to deserving candidates.

“The NGCOA is delighted to recognize the academic achievements and the desire of these students to prepare themselves for meaningful careers in the golf industry,” said Mike Hughes, CEO of the NGCOA. “We wish them continued success and look forward to their contributions.”

Contact Richard Hendry, administrator of the scholarship fund, at 843-723-3635 or rhendry@ccfgives.org.

ScottsMiracle-Gro promotes Korda, Riley

The ScottsMiracle-Gro Co., has announced the promotion of Peter Korda and Korbin Riley to senior vice presidents.

Korda oversees all aspects of Scotts LawnService business division, including strategy, expansion and operations. With a particular focus on customer service and retention, he has responsibility for leading both the continued growth of the lawn service business as well as enhancing the company's service platform.

Since joining the company in 2004, Korda has played key roles in developing Scotts LawnService to the strong market position it holds today. His roles have included responsibility for strategy and support functions, oversight for all of Scotts LawnService field and franchise operations, and most recently overall leadership of the Scotts LawnService division. Prior to Scotts, Korda held leadership roles at Intagio, Bank One, Sterling Commerce, Safelite Autoglass, and Ernst & Young. He is a graduate of Williams College and holds an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.

Riley oversees the Global Professional Seed, Asia Pacific and Emerging Markets for Scotts Miracle-Gro. In this role Riley will continue to lead the expansion of Scotts professional and consumer businesses into emerging markets in Asia/Pacific, Latin America and other world regions.

Since joining the company in 1990, Riley has held leadership positions in several areas, including leading the global professional business, building a new business platform in Asia/Pacific and emerging markets, as well as overseeing the Japan and Australian consumer businesses, which included an assignment in Sydney, Australia. Prior to joining Scotts, Riley held positions with British Petroleum and Ciba-Geigy (Syngenta). He is a graduate of Western Illinois University.

Royal Horticulture Society honors Beard

James Beard, Ph.D., was awarded the Veitch Memorial Medal by the Royal Horticulture Society during a speical award dinner at Hampton Palace in London. The Veitch Medal honors those who have made outstanding contributions to the advancement of the science and practice of horticulture.

Beard, a past winner of GCSAA’s Distinguished Service Award, has served the international turfgrass community for the last half century through his research, lectures and writing. He is the first turfgrass scientist to receive this honor.