David Amorose, WSI’s resident numbers guy, joined the team in June 2015 as our Corporate Controller. He oversees all of our accounting and HR functions ensuring all is in order behind the scenes so we are able to best serve both the internal and external members of our WSI family. A graduate of Robert Morris University, David now has more than 25 years of experience in the field working for various companies from small, family-run businesses to large global corporations.
The start of winter is usually a welcome sight for most Turf Managers. After a season filled with long hours and demanding work, winter gives turfers a chance to slow down, regroup, and rest. However, after a few weeks of down time, these men and women who are so used to working hard start to get stir-crazy and are chomping at the bit to get back outside. Here are my top 3 tips to stay productive and keep that sense of accomplishment while slowing down over the winter.
As the calendar turns to 2018, many Turf Managers begin to prepare for the upcoming season. Preparations take on many forms. During my time as a Golf Course Superintendent, I took great pride in evaluating the previous season and establishing goals for the next season. So I thought I’d share with you the 5 criteria I used to evaluate our programs each year in hopes they may help you in this time of preparation.
As 2017 winds down, we want to reflect on the past year, as well as take a brief look into 2018. We would be remiss not to mention just how important our great family of customers are to us. Our success is in large credit to their support and ongoing loyalty. We would like to thank them for entrusting us to be responsible for part of their budgetary expenditures. If you are not yet a customer, we invite you to join our family in 2018. It would be our great pleasure to serve you.
May you all have a very Merry Christmas and a happy and prosperous New Year!
Paula Koziol began working for Walker Supply, Inc. in October 2010 after moving from Cleveland, Ohio to the Pittsburgh area. She works as a part-time member of the Business Operations staff where she assists sales reps, processes orders, and greets and assists inbound callers to our main line. Having since moved to Philadelphia, she was thrilled when WSI expanded the company to include the eastern half of the state!
Prior to joining WSI, Paula earned her master’s degree in higher education and student affairs. She later put her pursuit of a career aside to raise her children and joined the WSI family once her kids were older.
Paula appreciates the personal touch that WSI provides its customers, even as the company grows. “Being on the WSI team really is like being a part of a family. I make it my mission to extend that kindness and welcome to our customers as best I can,” she explained.
Paula and her husband, Alex, have been married for twenty-one years; they have two sons, Alexander (19) and Miles (17), as well as a daughter, Lanie (13). Paula enjoys hiking with the family’s German Short-Haired Pointer, working on home renovations, and traveling. She dreams of someday owning a lake house in the family’s favorite vacation spot, Maine.
Dan Olson is a Territory Manager located in Northwestern Pennsylvania near Lake Erie. When Dan was in college, he spent his first two years as an engineering student at Penn State University. During the summers he worked for a landscape company and realized that he preferred working outdoors rather than behind a desk. He decided to make a course adjustment and change his major to Agronomy with an emphasis on Turfgrass Science.
Randy Ratcliff joined the WSI team in March of this year as part of the acquisition from Turf Trade. Randy’s journey in the turf business started when he was in college at IUP, and he worked the summer months at Sunset Golf Club in Middletown, PA. In 1983 he graduated with a Business Degree, and went on to establish a career in the sales and service side of the turf industry.
Randy started out with Chemlawn for 7 years as a Sales and Service Senior Specialist. He later transitioned to Lesco and John Deer Landscapes where he held positiosn as Branch Manager for Lawn Care and then Outside Sales Rep for the Golf Division for a total of 17 years. He continued down this path in outside sales over the coming years, spending time with both Genesis Turfgrass and Synatek, before putting his roots down with Turf Trade in 2016. “After 25 years in the turf business, I enjoy most establishing relationships with customers and watching them grow their business year after year,” Randy reflected.
“I have really enjoyed my time so far with Walker Supply. The leadership, sales, and support team members are such a great bunch of people,” said Randy. “Now being part of the team myself since the Spring, I can honestly say it feels like being part of a family. Over the years that is something that has become very important to me, and I’m thankful for such an environment.”
Randy is an avid golfer himself and self-described golf equipment junkie. He usually spends his weekends at the golf course trying out something new! You’ll also find him recharging around the house, spending time with his girlfriend and their two Havenese dogs.
2017 has been a big year for Walker Supply! The company completed a major undertaking acquiring locations in Lancaster, Philadelphia, and Scranton. Included in this acquisition were 9 employees, inventory, and several other assets such as trucks, warehouse, and office equipment. It is difficult to get to know people when there are hours between locations. We are very thankful that all employees met in the Pittsburgh facility on August 1st for a team building event. It was a great day for all of us to get to know each other a little better, share some experiences, and grow together. We all share the task at hand “creating lifelong customers”.
As Thanksgiving is on our door step, Keith, Mike, and Bob want to take this opportunity to give thanks to all that have made Walker Supply successful. This includes our team members, supply partners, industry friends, and equally important, our customers.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Nick joined the Walker Supply, Inc. team on October 2012 after serving as an Assistant Field Manager with the Pittsburgh Pirates for two seasons. He graduated from Penn State in 2010 with a B.S. in Turfgrass Science. After experiences with working with the Philadelphia Eagles and then the Pittsburgh Pirates, Nick joined Walker Supply, Inc. as the team's first Athletic Field Specialist.
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