 |  | | | Victorian Turf Equipment Technicians' Association | | | V.T.E.T.A | |
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On December 22, 2009 the International Golf Course Equipment Managers Association (IGCEMA) announced its third annual winner of the Edwin Budding award, sponsored by Ransomes-Jacobsen. The winner was chosen by a committee of industry professionals selected by the IGCEMA.
IGCEMA President John Patterson announced Mr. Eddie Konrad, former Equipment Manager at Ladies' Golf Club, and Instructor at Seneca College in Toronto, ON, as this year’s winner.
The award will be presented To Eddie during the Golf Industry Show in San Diego, Ca February 10-11. Eddie will travel to San Diego as the guest of Ransomes-Jacobsen.
The Edwin Budding Award Committee met via conference call on December 17th for deliberation and the decision. Committee Members in attendance voted unanimously in favor of Mr. Konrad, noting his work in education for Equipment Technicians, his role as a Founding Member of the Golf Equipment Technicians Association of Ontario, and talent for innovation and improvisation on the job as well.
The Edwin Budding Award Committee Members are:
Chair: David Withers – Managing Director - Ransomes/Jacobsen
Carl Osterhaus – The Toro Company
Garry Carpenter – John Deere Golf and Turf
Stephen Bernhard – Bernhard and Company
Jim Letourneau – Foley United
Steve Spuhler – IGCEMA
The Edwin Budding Award was created to award those in the turf equipment industry whose actions have gone above and beyond the norm to help develop our industry into what it is today. Edwin Budding was one of those individuals who helped define golf; not as a player, but as an engineer. He designed the first reel mower, which has shaped golf as we know it today. Imagine golf today without the invention of the reel mower. Where would golf be? The IGCEMA wanted to recognize individuals that demonstrate the same qualities Mr. Budding did; influence significant change in our industry above and beyond normal day to day.
Finalists for this year’s award were:
Patrick 'Cal' Callaby – Workshop Manager at the Celtic Manor Resort, Newport, South Wales
Mike Kriz – Secretary/Treasurer and President-elect of the IGCEMA, and Equipment Manager at Arrowhead Country Club, Rapid City, SD
Stephen Tucker – Founder and past President of IGCEMA, and Equipment Manager at the Ritz-Carlton Members Club, Bradenton, FL
Bob Quaif – Equipment Manager at the Country Club of Troy, MI
Mike Koopman – Equipment Manager at the Old Collier Golf Club, Naples, FL
Peter Hampton – currently at Bernhard & Co. in the UK
Eddie Konrad – former Equipment Manager at Ladies' Golf Club, and Instructor at Seneca College, Toronto, ON
The IGCEMA would like to congratulate 2009 Edwin Budding Award winner Eddie Konrad, and thank all of our finalists for their contributions to our industry. The 2010 award will be presented at the 2011 Golf Industry Show in Orlando.
The IGCEMA would also like to thank all of those responsible for making this award such a success and we look forward to next year, when we will award a new innovator for 2010.
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