Meet Our Board Members
President - Josh DeJong - Barenbrug Seed
Josh is a Colorado native and grew up on a dairy farm east of Greeley. He continued to farm 800 acres of corn and alfalfa until 2005.
Josh spent the next few years in construction from building bridges in Utah to a demolition company in Henderson. With the drop in the economy in 2010, he returned to his high school as Grounds Maintenance Supervisor. Josh and his wife Mekiah spend all their free time raising their 3 children, Owen, Bensyn, and Quinn. Josh’s turf manager experience has formed from combining his farm background and taking advantage of seminars, conference classes, field days, and networking with great colleagues in the turf industry. In September on 2018 he made the move from k-12 Schools to Parks and Rec with Eaton Area Community Center.
Dr. Alison O’Connor - Colorado State University Extension, Fort Collins
Dr. Alison O’Connor is a professor of Extension for Colorado State University in Larimer County.
Dr. O’Connor received her B.S. in horticulture from Iowa State University, her M.S. in horticulture from The Ohio State University, and her Ph.D. in horticulture from Colorado State University. She has worked for CSU Extension for 17 years, specializing in woody plants, turfgrass management, and annuals and perennials for the landscape. She coordinates 120+ volunteers in the Colorado Master Gardener Program and is an affiliate faculty in the Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture at Colorado State University.
Dr. Tamla Blunt - Colorado State University
Dr. Tamla Blunt is a Continuing, Contract, Adjunct Faculty Instructor at Colorado State University in the Agricultural Biology Department.
Dr. Blunt is familiar with a variety of plants that include greenhouse, forest, landscape, turf, and cropping situations and the associated disorders that accompany many of these plants. At Colorado State University, she teaches LIFE102 (first-year biology) as well as Online Horticulture Pathology classes in the Fall and Spring Semesters, and assists with Elements of Plant Pathology, a resident instruction class. She also does Apprentice and Advanced Master Gardener training in Plant Pathology and Diagnostics. Dr. Blunt also teaches Landscape Plant Health Care, Plant Propagation, and Pesticide Safety and Use at Front Range Community College campuses in Westminster and Fort Collins, CO.
Robert Gonzales - Nutrien Solution
Robert is the Turf & Ornamental Manager for Nutrien Solutions, covering Colorado, Wyoming, Nebraska, and New Mexico, specializing in turf management for Golf Courses, Parks and Rec Departments, Lawn Care Companies and School Districts.
Robert has been in Colorado for the past ten years and previously was a Golf Course Superintendent in New Mexico. He has been on both the RMRTA and RMGCSA boards. Robert grew up in the landscaping business, as his family owned a small turf care company. A graduate of Texas A&M and former collegiate golfer, turf has been part of him and his family for most of his life.
Ryan Newman - Denver Broncos
Ryan Newman is in his second year as Senior Director of Sports Turf & Grounds with the Denver Broncos, where he oversees the management of Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, CO and Broncos Park Powered by CommonSpirit in Englewood, CO.
Prior to his time with the Broncos, Ryan spent 21 years with the University of Colorado Athletic Department, where he managed turf operations at all intercollegiate athletic facilities. He earned his BS in Horticulture with an emphasis in Turf Management from Iowa State University in 2002, while working on the athletics grounds crew. His career started with the Sioux City Explorers as the Head Groundskeeper, winning Northern League Field of the Year in 2000. A native of Sioux City, IA, Ryan spends his time away from work with his beautiful wife Kate, and two children Grayson (8) and Ryleigh (3).
Tara Jordan - City of Greenwood Village
Tara has worked full-time for the City of Greenwood Village since 1998 and was promoted to Parks Supervisor in 2000.
Her crew is responsible for the natural turf maintenance of 7 multi use athletic fields and developed parks totaling 30 acres. Tara enjoys working at the City of Greenwood Village because she gets to work outside daily. Also, the variety of work that occurs throughout the year and seeing the positive outcome of maintaining safe and aesthetically pleasing fields and park areas is what attracted her to this profession. Outside of work she enjoys traveling with her husband, taking road trips with their dogs, reading, and spending time outdoors.
Matt Krebsbach - City of Aurora Parks
Matt works for the City of Aurora as the Parks Superintendent- Athletic Fields and Irrigation.
He was promoted to this position in May of 2024 after spending the last 4 years as the Parks Supervisor of the Aurora Sports Park. Originally from Austin, Minnesota, he has lived in Colorado for the past 18 years working for the City of Cherry Hills Village and City of Aurora. He graduated from the University of Phoenix with a B.A. in Business Management and from Penn State with a B.S. in Turfgrass Science. He earned his Certified Sports Field Manager designation in April of 2024.
John Calendine - The Roaring Fork Club
My name is John Calendine, and I currently serve as the Superintendent at The Roaring Fork Club.
Growing up in a military family, I had the unique opportunity to live all over the world during my childhood. I eventually completed my associate’s degree for Turfgrass Management in Ohio before making the move to Colorado in 2015, where I embarked on an internship at The Glacier Club in Durango. Shortly after, I joined Castle Pines Golf Club as an intern and have proudly called it home for the past 9 years. Throughout my time at Castle Pines, I've been fortunate to participate in nearly every major capital improvement project following the rebuilding of the greens in 2015. One of my proudest accomplishments at Castle Pines was successfully hosting the 2024 BMW Championship, an experience that truly highlighted the hard work and dedication of our team. I strongly believe in the importance of supporting our local chapters and promoting continuous education within our profession, both for myself and for my colleagues. Outside of work, I love spending time with my fiancé, enjoying live music, and exploring the Colorado mountains with our beloved pets.
Brice Griebler - The Broadlands Golf Course
Brice is currently the Golf Course Superintendent at The Broadlands Golf Course in Broomfield, CO.
He is also a Regional Superintendent for Landscapes Golf Management in the west. With over 15 years of experience in golf course management, he specializes in agronomic planning, budgeting, and staff recruitment and training. As a longtime member of the GCSAA, Brice is committed to maintaining top-tier course conditions while fostering a strong and knowledgeable team. His expertise ensures an exceptional playing experience for golfers while balancing environmental and financial stability. However, his most important role is being a father and a Christian, a responsibility he values above any professional achievement.
Spencer Jordan - Field Service Tech - DBC Irrigation Supply
Spencer Jordan has worked in the industry for over 20 year. He has worked in residential and commercial irrigation as a business owner, irrigation technician, project manager, irrigation manager, and a field service technician.
As a field service technician, he has worked for manufacturing and distribution. He has a Bachelor of Science in Math and a Master’s in Divinity. He is married with 5 children and enjoys the outdoors, especially snow skiing.
Scott Behnke - lawnCare Solutions
Christi Clay - RMRTA Executive Director
Christi works for Jeffco Public Schools as the Sports Stadium Manager at the North Area Athletic Complex in Golden, CO.
She is responsible for managing 2 natural grass fields which host varsity games for 6 local high schools, along with numerous other events. Christi has been a member of the Major League Baseball All-Star Game turf management crew, SFMA’s Sporting Grounds Field of the Year turf crew and SFMA’s High School Field of the Year for both Soccer and Football and the US Women’s Open Turf Crew. She served as Executive Director of CSFMA from 2006-2015 and returned in 2017 to fill the same position. She also serves as Executive Director of RMRTA since 2022. A native of Ironton, Ohio, Christi graduated from Denison University with her B.A. in Economics. Christi earned her Certified Sports Field Manager designation in July 2017.