Last week turf club president Elizabeth ‘Mahaley’ Nemtuda (AAS Turfgrass Science and Management) had the opportunity to be one of the inaugural attendees at the Women’s Leadership Academy held in Lawrence KS at the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America headquarters. Mahaley was accepted into the very first cohort as a competitive process and we are delighted she was such a great representative of the turf program here in Wooster. The brand new initiative is aimed at encouraging diversity in the turfgrass industry and has immediately created a lot of interest and excitement – the event is only expected to grow and we are delighted that Mahaley was able to be part of the very first cohort. Mahaley described it best below.
‘The first women's leadership academy through the Golf Course Superintendent Association of America was held this past week in Kansas. I had the privilege and opportunity to attend this historical even among 40 of the most passionate women across America who were hand selected to attend. We as a group gathered to network with one another, listen to engaging speakers, and go through management and leadership training to further us in our roles as turfgrass managers. I am truly blessed to be able to attend such an inspiring event, and I feel this has transformed my perception of what it means to be a leader. Us women, in this male dominated industry, are making strides every day to become more innovative and support one another along the same battles we all face. Not only did we make history this last week, but we have shaped the future for years to come. The stage has been set to show the importance of good teamwork, great communication, and even better leadership’.