The Reserve Vineyards and Golf Club Superintendent Strengthens Business Skills with Colleagues Across U.S.

Jason Blythe and Stephanie Schwenke turf market manager for Syngenta

Press Release Provided By ~ Syngenta Business Institute

GREENSBORO, N.C., Jan. 24, 2017– Jason Blythe, golf course superintendent at The Reserve Vineyards and Golf Club in Aloha, Oregon was one of 26 superintendents across the country to graduate from the Syngenta Business Institute (SBI). SBI is an exclusive professional development program for golf course superintendents hosted by Syngenta and the Wake Forest University School of Business in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

While agronomic expertise is critical to superintendent success, Syngenta also recognizes the need to provide superintendents with business management skills.

“We offer this program to 26 superintendents as a commitment to our customers and their development in the industry,” says Stephanie Schwenke, golf market manager, Syngenta. “At the Syngenta Business Institute, we focus on the business aspect of superintendents’ responsibilities, rather than agronomics, and really work to hone their skills in leadership and management, which is just as important as managing turf quality.”

During the three-day educational program, participants gained knowledge in financial and human resources management, negotiation skills, effective communications techniques, managing generational differences and more. Classes were led by professors from the School of Business at Wake Forest University, who provided ideas and tools to assist superintendents in their daily management and long-term planning.

Blythe was selected from a talented pool of superintendents across the country based on an application process that reviewed their educational background, professional achievements and an essay that demonstrates why they should be selected for the program.

To learn more about Syngenta Business Institute, please visit GreenCastOnline.com/SBI.