Jacobsen® A Textron Company

Karla R. Cuculi Jacobsen 704-504-6668

Angela B. Jamison Communicopia 919-371-2730

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

jacobsen hosts future turf managers in charlotte, nc

Jacobsen President Dan Wilkinson speaks with Kevin White, Cal Poly Pomona University, and Jason Frank, University of Florida, two of the 14 students attending the Jacobsen Future Turf Managers Seminar.

Ralph Nicotera, Jacobsen vice president of sales, and Kyle Briscoe, University of Missouri, pause for a photo during the three-day event offering students a practical view of life as a turf professional.

Jay Draeger, Jacobsen senior manufacturing supervisor, leads the attendees on a behind-the-scenes tour of Jacobsen's automated manufacturing facility Charlotte, N.C.

Edward Nangle, The Ohio State University, discusses Jacobsen's Groom Master™ II with Jarrett Pilkington, Delhi State University, and Vollie Carr, Jacobsen tournament support manager.

 

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (June 18, 2007) – Jacobsen®, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, hosted 14 college students from top turf colleges around the country at its annual Future Turf Managers Seminar. The May session was the 31st in the program’s history, and the first at the Jacobsen University training center in the company’s new headquarters.

More than 600 turf students have participated in the Future Turf Managers Seminar since its inception. After a brief hiatus as Jacobsen constructed its new educational training facility, the program is back in full force.

“We started this program in the 1970s to give promising young minds in the industry a glimpse of life as a turf professional,” said Ralph Nicotera, who has been involved in the Future Turf Managers program for nearly 30 years and currently serves as Jacobsen vice president of sales. “Jacobsen has always invested in education and this program has helped hundreds of turf students get a jump start on their careers.”

The program provides participants with an opportunity to learn and interact with turf professionals in an educational environment under the guidance of industry leaders, an experience impossible to duplicate in the classroom.

“We want to give turf students a practical view of the profession, while offering support to the brightest new turf managers in the business,” said Dan Wilkinson, Jacobsen president. “An opportunity to go behind the scenes at some of the premier facilities in the world isn’t something that most other programs can offer, but it’s something Jacobsen feels is a valuable experience that will help these young professionals and the industry.”

The attendees toured Jacobsen’s manufacturing facility and got a chance to use and test some of the company’s latest equipment at Tega Cay Golf Club on the first day of the three-day event. On the second day, the group traveled to Augusta, GA for a tour of Sage Valley Country Club, the E-Z-GO facility and a tour of Augusta National’s maintenance facility.

Jacobsen brought in several high-profile superintendents on the third day to speak to the group about budgeting, fleet management and share knowledge gained from years of experience in the turf industry."

“This program is one of Jacobsen’s best ideas,” said Edward Nangle, a graduate student from The Ohio State University who attended the Future Turf Managers program. “Jacobsen has cutting edge technology, particularly with the environmental aspect of their electric products, and a deep concern about the future of the industry. It’s been impressive to see.”

For more information about the Future Turf Managers Seminar and Jacobsen, visit www.jacobsen.com or call 1-888-922-TURF.

About Jacobsen Jacobsen manufactures a full range of turf maintenance equipment and vehicles for golf courses, sports fields, and municipal grounds applications. The company markets Jacobsen brand products internationally through an extensive independent distribution network, and Ransomes brand products through independent distribution in Europe, Middle East and Africa. Jacobsen is a Textron company with headquarters in Charlotte, NC.  Additional information is available at www.jacobsen.com.

About Textron
Textron Inc. is an $11 billion multi-industry company operating in 32 countries with approximately 40,000 employees. The company leverages its global network of aircraft, industrial and finance businesses to provide customers with innovative solutions and services. Textron is known around the world for its powerful brands such as Bell Helicopter, Cessna Aircraft Company, Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO, Greenlee, Fluid & Power, Textron Systems and Textron Financial Corporation. More information is available at www.textron.com.

 

  Printable Version