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.
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.
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.
