Florida Turfgrass Association Announces Staff Changes

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

                      

CONTACT: Heather Russo Berg
Executive Director

Florida Turfgrass Association Announces Staff Changes

BRADENTON, Fla. (February 1, 2022): The Florida Turfgrass Association Board of Directors is pleased to announce that Mac Carraway, past FTGA president and Wreath of Grass recipient, will serve as acting executive director of the association. Carraway is also current contract executive director of the Environmental Research and Education Foundation and will continue in that role.

Heather Russo Berg is stepping down as executive director and will continue as association manager. Berg will focus her attention on daily operations of the association, member relations as well as continuing her duties as events coordinator and advisor to Florida Turf Digest.

The veteran team of Carraway and Berg will work together for the foreseeable future.

“FTGA President Lance Tibbetts says, “The association is in fine hands with Mac Carraway at the helm, and we are delighted that Heather has agreed to continue as association manager. This move will allow Heather to focus on our members and membership benefits, while Mac keeps the FTGA heading down the right path as we come out of the post-Covid economy. The board and I are very excited about the association’s future.”

Carraway says, “I’m honored that the FTGA Board has entrusted me with this opportunity to serve the members of the FTGA as its acting executive director. The association has been an important part of my professional life as a past president and as an active member, for many years. The FTGA has been and remains an important force in serving all of the green industry, and I look forward to working with Heather and the board to continue that legacy.”

Berg is looking forward to the transition and says, “I am grateful that the board of directors has allowed me to step back into my former role. I look forward to focusing my attention back on member retention and recruitment. The past two years have been difficult for businesses and associations and being the sole full-time employee has not allowed me to concentrate on all needs of the association and our members. I am excited about the change as the board and staff work together to revamp the association to better serve the industry.”

The Florida turfgrass industry has a $5 billion economic impact in the state and provides about 84,000 jobs. FTGA, founded in 1952, advocates for and promotes the turfgrass industry with research, continuing education, and networking opportunities for turfgrass professionals. For more information, visit www.ftga.org.

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