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WASHINGTON MAINTENANCE CONFERENCE & RODEO
WEDNESDAY & THURSDAY
JANUARY 15TH & 16TH, 2020
PRESIDENTS' HALL
1250 NW FAIRGROUNDS RD, BREMERTON
(KITSAP COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS & EVENTS CENTER)
BIOGRAPHIES OF TRAINERS
Arno Bergstrom, Kitsap County Community Forester
Before Arno started the Community Forestry program at the Kitsap County Parks Department three years ago, he was the Extension Forester with Washington State University for 35 years where he created and delivered the Forest Stewardship Coached Planning curriculum to over 1,800 family forest landowners. He has worked for 40 years providing hazard tree assessment throughout the Puget Sound. Working with citizens and stakeholders, Arno is currently implementing ecological forest management projects on 11,000 acres of forested park land owned by Kitsap County.
Rich H. Nolan, Kitsap County Risk Management Analyst
Currently serves in the Kitsap County, Risk Management Department as the Safety and Loss Control officer. His duties include County Safety Compliance monitoring, Safety Programs development and review, Accident Investigations, and Facilitating certificate and non-certificate Safety trainings.
Prior to County service, Richard served in the US Navy for 24 ½ years, retiring as a Chief Petty Officer. County service started in 1999 with the Public Works Department, Surface and Storm Water Management (SSWM) program, before coming to Risk Management. A lifetime of diverse experience including collateral duties as a Safety Officer in both the Navy and Public Works, facilitated his transition to Safety Programs with the Risk Management Department.
Dana Coggon, WSU Extensions Noxious Weed Coordinator
Dana has been the Kitsap County Noxious Weed Coordinator for the last 11 years. She has a Masters Degree in Weed Science and Plant Pathology along with years of on the ground experience. Dana believes in active management for healing ecological systems. Dana’s goal is to reduce the impacts of invasive plants while promoting native habitats. Her program acts as the CDC of the plant world and as the CDC she feels it is her job to prevent the next invasive plants from taking over. Identification of new invaders is key to preventing their establishment, Dana will help people learn to identify plants of importance in our area and teach them the best methods of getting rid of them.
Rod Walsh, Northwest Laborers-Employers Training Trust
Rod has 32 Years in the Laborers Union of North America member, 17 years of field concrete experience in the Seattle area as laborer, foreman and general foreman, 4 Years experience in building demolition as a superintendent and 11 years as a Field Instructor at Northwest Laborers Training.
Carl Taylor, Western Equipment / Turfstar
Carl has worked for Western Equipment Distributors for 13 years as the Northwest Golf Irrigation Sales and Service person. The last 3 years he has been the Golf Irrigation Sales and Service Manager. In 2014 Carl was awarded Toro's Nation Service Person of the year, in 2016 his irrigation team was awarded the Toro NSN national service training award. Carl has been in the irrigation business for over 30 years, working mostly in the Golf industry, but also has many years of commercial and residential experience. In addition to Western Equipment Distributors, Carl has worked for Sahalee CC, TPC Snoqualmie, Seattle Golf Club, Berkey Irrigation Supply, Puget Sound irrigation.
Matt Johns, Turf International
Matt is in his 28th year working in the plant and turf science industry. He has accomplished 20 plus years working in sports turf management, which included 6 years specific to turf grass research with Washington State University Research and Extension, Puyallup WA. Matt has a B.S. Degree in Horticulture from WSU. After college, he worked as a foreman for a Bremerton landscape company. He moved to Olympia to work as maintenance supervisor at Briggs Nursery. North Thurston Public Schools launched his sports turf career as he worked as their Grounds Maintenance Supervisor and then as Senior Maintenance Technician for the City of Lacey Regional Athletic Complex (RAC) where he refined his knowledge. Mat is currently providing sports turf consulting as owner of Turf International LLC. The most important tool for understanding turf science, nutrition and health is soil sampling and lab analysis.
Josh Palmer, Kitsap County Parks Maintenance Supervisor
Josh Palmer has 22 years of experience and skills in all aspects of construction and building maintenance. He gained much of his experience while building custom homes on the Olympic Peninsula for 15 years. He has been with the Kitsap County Parks Department for 7 years and is currently the north end maintenance supervisor. Josh is a firm believer in doing the job right the first time and paying attention to details. Josh will be giving demonstration and instruction on different methods of sheet rock repair at the conference.
Raul Ramirez, Kitsap Landscaping and Maintenance
Raul Ramirez has been in business for more than 15 years. His company, Kitsap Landscaping and Maintenance offers a wide range of services while promoting quality landscape maintenance practices that will prolong the life and beauty of a property and in turn, its asset value.
Raul’s landscape management philosophy approaches the care of the landscape from a comprehensive, long-term perspective. He understands the needs of the landscape including soil, plant material and the specific ecosystem. Through a simple property review process, Raul covers all aspects of the landscape including irrigation efficiency, plant health, turf care, design issues and renovation needs.
Originally from a sustainable agricultural family in Mexico, Raul has spent his life learning useful propagation techniques for many species of plants including edible and ornamental varieties. His expertise is now centered in the Pacific Northwest, and although the growing season is shorter, his business continues to grow.
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