The Directive Committee (Board) is the executive authority of the Association ETS.

It meets twice a year and consists from 5 to 9 members elected, including ETS president, ETS secretary and ETS treasurer.

Members are not paid and they serve for 4 years.

Stefano Macolino (University of Padova, IT) – Board member

Stefano Macolino is an Associate Professor at the Department of Agronomy, Food, Natural resources, Animals, and Environment of the University of Padova.

He graduated in Forestry Science in 1996, Faculty of Agriculture at Padova University.

He has carried out research on forage management and turfgrass at the Department of Environmental Agronomy and Crop Production as a Postgraduate Researcher. In 2003, he achieved the Ph.D. in Environmental Agronomy.

He has been teaching actively, including three courses: Turfgrass and Revegetation, Forage Crops, and Botany of Cultivated Plants. Dr. Macolino is currently the president of the Committee for the improvement of teaching at the School of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine of Padova University.

He conducts researches on the following:

1. Impact of cultural practices on cool and warm-season turfgrasses in transition zones.
2. Forage crop production and management.
3. Production and plant biodiversity of mountain grasslands.

He supervised Ph.D. students and postdoctoral fellows on the made mentioned topics.

Dr. Macolino is the author and co-author of nearly 50 scientific publications in peer-reviewed journals, and numerous publications in conference proceedings, and technical magazines. He is also the author of two books in Italian for undergraduate students.

Karin Juul Hesselsøe (NIBIO Landvik, NO) – Board member

M.Sc in Agriculture 1996, Copenhagen University. From 2006-2019 employed at the Greenkeepers College Sandmoseskolen in Denmark as teacher in greenkeeping and landscape gardening. From June 2019 employed at NIBIO, Landvik. Experience with writing/translation of popular articles and fact sheets on golf course management. In 2018 project leader on an IPM-project on Danish golf courses financed by the Danish Environmental Protection Agency.

Claudia de Bertoldi  (Turf Europe Srl, IT) – Board member

I received my BA in 2003, after an internship at North Carolina State University (USA) and I have completed my M.Sc (Progettazione e Pianificazione delle Aree Verdi e del Paesaggio) at University of Pisa (Italy) in 2006. My PhD (Allelopathic interferences of plants) was from S. Anna School of Advanced Studies in 2007-2010. Since 2013 I am employed by Turf Europe (Livorno – IT). I am actively engaged in landscaping and realization of gardens and turfgrasses for ornamental and sport use. Management of high-quality sport fields also through precision agriculture. Participation in R&D projects financed at European level. More than 20 publications, posters and presentations on conferences and meetings on turfgrass.

Marcela Munoz (Bion, SPA) – Board Member

My name is Marcela Munoz, I’m a leading turfgrass specialist qualified as an Agronomist Engineer from The Pontifical Catholic University of Chile and have a Master of Science Degree from The Ohio State University in Turfgrass Management.

I’m an amateur football player that joined this industry moved by my passion for sports, agronomy and science.  I had been in the turf industry for more than 17 years and worked at different positions and countries around the world. Some of my latest exciting experiences include working for the STRI as a turf agronomy consultant for the FIFA 2014 Brazil World Cup and providing technical support at the Ryder Cup at Le Golf National in Paris. In my last role as Turf Technical Manager for Syngenta in the EAME region I worked closely with associations such as  ITS, FEGGA, GMA, BIGGA, STERF, R&A and other local associations and Federations around the region. I also worked very closely with the Syngenta Turf Research facility at Stein in Switzerland and the International Research Centre at Jealott’s Hills in the UK, as well as independent researchers, agronomists, greenkeepers and sports turf managers across Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

I recently join Bion a new an exciting company from the Netherlands, Im now based in Spain and I worked as Turf Business Manager. In this new role im working closely with the end users but also with Bion´s partners and internal teams to provide affordable, reliable, and friendly solutions to the turf market. I will also be supporting the marketing, commercialization, product development and the turf business strategies in order for  Bion to  continue leading the transition to innovative biosolutions.

Carlos Guerrero (University of Algarve, PT) – Board Member

Carlos Guerrero is graduated in Horticulture Engineering at the University of Algarve (Portugal). Has a M.Sc. in Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrition at the Agronomy Superior Institute, of the Technical University of Lisbon (Portugal) and a PhD in Environmental Agronomy at the University of Algarve (Portugal). Assistant Professor at the University of Algarve (Faculty of Sciences and Technology), a former Diretor of the Degree Program in Agronomy (2015-2018) and also a former Director of the Master Program in Management and Maintenance of Golf Courses between 2008-2010.

Teaches Soil Science in Landscape Architecture and Soil Science and Agriculture Machinery in the Agronomy. Is also specialized in groundwater and soil nitrate pollution and has experience on organic and compost uses in agriculture and turfgrass. Actually, is working on biological control of plant diseases, mainly turfgrass, and also on remote sensing for turfgrass maintenance purposes with unmanned aerial vehicles and multispectral sensors.

Fritz Lord (Compo Expert, GER) – Board Member 

Study of horticultural science at Rhein University Geisenheim, M.sc. in soil science/entomology.  Study of Agricultural Science at Humboldt University Berlin; M.Sc.in crop science, plant diseases; Ph.D at Humboldt University Berlin in phytopathology, antagonistic rhizobacteria (PGPR), soil borne pathogens (Fusarium). Since 2008 working for one of  Europe`s leading fertilizer manufacturer COMPO Expert in Münster, Germany. Responsible for the segment turf and public green, vegetation-technical consultation, research and development, product management and education. Specialties/ experiences: soil-plant-microorganism interactions, bio stimulants, microbial fertilizer, turf nutrition and maintenance.

Various publications regarding turf  fertilization and maintenance (e.g. European Journal of Turfgrass Science, New Landscape).  Teaching turf  seminars for greenkeepers and groundsmen in Germany and abroad.

ETS member since 2008, board member of the  International Turf Grass Society ( ITS) since 2014.

Further memberships: German Turfgrass Society (DRG), Greenkeeper Association of Germany (GVD) , Austrian Greenkeeper Association (AGA), Förderkreis Landschafts- und Sportplatzbauliche Forschung (FLSF), Forschungsgesellschaft Landschaftsbau e.V. (FLL)

Wolfgang Praemassing (DEULA, GER) – Board Member

Study of Agricultural Biology (University Diploma) at University of Hohenheim, 1991 Doctoral Dissertation (PhD) Promotion with Prof. Dr. H. Franken, University of Bonn, subject: Soil physical Effects of Aeration on Turfgrass Soils, 2008.

Occupation and activities: Professor for Sustainable Turfgrass Management at University of Applied Sciences Osnabrueck, Agronomist and lecturer in Greenkeeper Education and Training for golf and sport sites at DEULA Rheinland GmbH, Education Center, Kempen. Member of editorial staff of “European Journal of Turfgrass Science”. Member of Turf expert committee of German Soccer League (DFL).

Member of working group “Water” at German Golf Federation. Member of examination boards of Chamber of Agriculture Nordrhein-Westfalen Golf Course Greenkeeper and Head-Greenkeeper, Greekeeper/Groundsmen Sport Sites, Competence of Pesticide application.