Aaron Goy EcoAgronomist/Managing Partner
As managing partner, Aaron is responsible for the strategic planning and day to day operations of ProGro, Inc. In addition, Aaron maintains direct sales responsibilities for the Chicagolland and Northern Illinois golf and athletic field markets. Aaron founded Bull Market Turf & Ornamental Inc, which quickly grew and became known for its development and implementation of Eco-agronomics and the MATREX Integrated Management Program . Aaron has over 30 years service of experience in managing high value agricultural crops, turf grass and ornamentals. He formerly worked in various sales and management positions with Farmland Industries, Ciba-Geigy, Norvartis AG( now Syngenta AG), and Regal Chemical Company. Aaron holds a B.S. in Business Management from Park College.
Rob Colby Agronomist / Central Illinois Region
Rob has over seventeen years of agronomic experience, including nine years as s superintenedent. Rob has experience in every agronomic aspect of turf maintenance. Rob joined the Bull Market family( now Progro, Inc.) two years ago and is responsible for sales in Central Illinois. His pholosophy is that customers deserve quality service, integrity and a strong work ethic. Rob is looking forward to continuing on with this philosophy as we begin a new chapter as ProGro, Inc.
Rusty Stachlewitz Agronomist / Chicago Region
Rusty graduated from Michigan State University with a B.S. in Turfgrass Management and then went on to serve as golf course superintendent and director of operations in the
Craig Shepherd Agronomist / Chicago Region
Craig grew up with his father whom has been a superintendent for over 30 years. Observing and working along side his father gave him valuable insight into turf care and influenced his decision to attend University of Illinois where he obtained his B.S. in Turfgrass Science. Craig has over nine years experience in turf care along with three years of irrigation with Leibold Irrigation. We welcome Craig to ProGro,Inc. as he continues to be commited to quality customer service by providing products that address all your turf care needs.
Mark Mixdorf Agronomist / Iowa Region
We welcomed Mark to the ProGro, Inc family in September, 2009 as an agronomist for our Iowa Region. He is a 1995 graduate of Iowa State University where he earned a B.S. in Turfgrass Management. Prior to his studies at Iowa State, Mark attained a degree in Communications/Public Relations from the University of Northern Iowa. He brings 15 years of golf course management experience to his new position with ProGro, Inc which began as an assistant superintendent at Wakonda Club in Des Moines, Iowa. In 1997 he accepted the position of South Course Superintendent at Oakland Hills Country Club in Detroit, MI where he oversaw course operations for 4 years. In 2001, Mark relocated to Toledo, OH and spent 7 years as the Golf Course Superintendent at Highland Meadows Golf Club and prepared the course for the annual LPGA Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic. Along with his dedication to outstanding service, Mark’s experience as a superintendent will serve his customers well in working toward solutions to the many challenges faced throughout the year.
Earl McMinn Agronomist / Managing Partner
Florida Region
ProGro, Inc welcomes Earl McMinn. Earl started his turf career almost 19 years ago working summers for his uncle who was a superintendent. He pursued a career in business at the College of Charleston before deciding that he enjoyed summers on the course so much that he wanted to get back into the golf business. He enrolled at Horry Georgetown in Myrtle Beach and so began in earnest his turf management career. He has worked at Clubs such as Champion Hills, Tom Fazio’s Home course in Hendersonville, NC, and Wild Wing Plantation in Myrtle Beach. The last thirteen plus years he has been superintendent for the Oakridge, Marshwood, and Magnolia courses at The Landings Club in Savannah, Ga. and for the last six years was the Director of Golf and Grounds at The Oaks Club in Sarasota, Florida. His time as a superintendent was spent overseeing three complete and two partial renovations working with architects Tim Liddy, Brian Yoder, and Art Hills; while completing a master plan with Pete Dye. He also has managed turf types from Bent to Bermuda and most recently the first course grassed entirely with Supreme Paspalum. The last few years he has consulted for numerous clubs in the Caribbean and enjoyed the experience of meeting with peers so much he decided to join with ProGro in Early 2010 to do it full time.
John Butts Agronomist / Florida Region
John has over 12 years of Golf Course experience that started during the summers at the Highland Country Club, in his hometown, LaGrange, Ga. He is a graduate of Lake City Community College and has since, worked at several elite private clubs around the country, Hawks Ridge, a Bob Cupp Design in North Atlanta, Aspen Glen C.C., a private Jack Nickolaus course in Glenwood Springs, Co., and The Landings Club in Savannah, Ga. before taking a Superintendent position at The Oaks Club in Sarasota, Fl. He assisted in the renovation of the Palmetto Course at The Landings Club and while at The Oaks Club he was responsible for the grow-in on the first wall to wall ‘Supreme’ Paspalum golf course in the country. He is experienced in a variety of warm and cool season grasses, Landscape Plants, and is a Certified Arborist with the ISA. He was a volunteer at the 2009 Tour Championship, at East Lake, and is a volunteer for the Big Brothers & Big Sisters organization in Sarasota. We are excited to welcome John to the ProGro, Inc. team. His experience in the turf industry and commitment to great costumer service will be a great asset to Superintendents battling the day-to-day challenges of Golf Course Maintenance in Florida.
