2016 January Employee Spotlight
Eric O’Hare and James Beever may be new to Advanced Turf Solutions, but they are not new to the turf industry. With ties going to back to their playing days as youths (Eric in golf and James in baseball), both have an understanding of how important turf is to a good playing surface. This understanding led to experience and knowledge, which allows them to create the perfect playing surface for their customers. Let’s take a moment to meet the first employees to be featured in the 2016 Employee Spotlight.
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Eric O’Hare,
Agro-Logics Employee Since 2010,
Joined ATS January 2016
How long have you been involved with the turf industry?
I’ve been around the turf industry my entire life, starting with the game of golf. I began to know I was interested in the turf industry when I would go to golf courses and play golf with my grandfather. I professionally entered the industry in 2005.
What experience do you have in the turf industry?
I went to Southeast Missouri State University and earned a turfgrass degree. I was also a spray tech/assistant superintendent at Dalhousie Country Club. After working at the golf course, I joined Agro-Logics in 2010 as a consulting agronomist in Southern Missouri and Illinois.
What do you like most about your job?
The interactions with my customers are what I like most about my job. Most of them are my friends, and we have great relationships. Getting to know new customers and helping them and my existing clients through their day-to-day challenges is a great honor.
Who makes you laugh more than anyone?
My colleague Jeff Olsen makes me laugh a lot. He is a very funny guy.
What is the best thing that’s ever happened to you?
I’ve actually had two things that have been the best to ever happen to me. Marrying my beautiful wife of 7 years was one thing. We have been together since we were in junior high school. The other best thing to happen to me was the birth of my two great boys, Grant and Hudson. I do not have one favorite memory of them; every day I get to spend with my boys is a good memory.
What is your favorite breakfast food?
My favorite breakfast food is a Jimmy Dean’s breakfast sandwich. It comes with bacon, eggs, and cheese and I add on Frank’s RedHot Sauce. It’s delicious, and I had one this morning.
If you could learn to do anything, what would it be?
I would love to learn to fly an airplane – and will one day. Flying over cities and towns and into the clouds would be an awesome adrenaline rush.
What songs are on the soundtrack of your life?
I’m a country guy and I like country, so, the first song is definitely country.
1.Saturday Night by Sam Hunt. I just plain love this song, and it’s absolutely a country song.
2.Tennessee Whisky by Justin Timberlake and Chris Stapleton. I chose this song because I’m country, but I still have lots of soul.
3.Die A Happy Man by Thomas Rhett. This is also a great country song.
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James Beever,
Agro-Logics Employee Since 2012,
Joined ATS January 2016
How long have you been involved with the turf industry?
My roots in sports turf date back to my playing days in the Minor Leagues. When I was healing from an injury, I would rehab and watch the grounds crew at Haymarket Park (Lincoln, NE) work on the field. It would later spark my interest in the industry. My professional career started out with DuraEdge Engineered Soils back in 2011. I was hired to help assist the growth of the brand in the Philadelphia/New Jersey market. In 2012, I had the opportunity to move back to the Midwest and help Agro-Logics improve their athletic field market, focusing on ball fields.
What experience do you have in the turf industry?
Taking a non-traditional approach to the industry, I came from the end user side, and this gave me an appreciation of how important the field was to the game. Many of my friends were coaches and all had issues with their fields. There was a demand for education on field management, so I pursued a position with DuraEdge after my tenure scouting with the Chicago White Sox. Throughout my playing years, I coached on various teams, including the Russian National team, and saw the need for a better way to mange a baseball field.
What do you like most about your job?
Helping communities have a field that they can be proud of. Many customers think it is impossible to achieve a beautiful field, and it’s a pleasure to teach them that it is possible.
Who do you aspire to be like?
I love comedy, so, I would say I aspire to be like Will Ferrell. The movie Talladega Nights was instrumental in my development in sales. Ricky Bobby, played by Will Ferrell, said, “If you ain’t first, you’re last.” That quote has resonated with me still to this day.
If you won 1.5 billion dollars, what would be the first 3 things you would buy with it?
1.I would purchase an NBA team so I could talk smack against Mark Cuban. I would rename the team I purchased the “Screaming Beevers” and the arena they play in “The Dam.”
2.I would make large donations to the “Make a Wish Foundation.” I really like what they do for kids.
3.I would establish a trust for my children and future grand children.
What is your favorite midnight snack?
I love Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream.
Who would you want with you if you were stranded on a deserted island?
I would want my beautiful wife with me. In addition, if I could have one other person on the island with me, I would say Morgan Freeman. I love his voice and he could tell us stories every night.
What happened on the day you would proudly relive?
I left a fastball up and in to Ricky Henderson. I don’t think that ball has landed yet. The feat got me on ESPN and SportCenter. The commentary on SportsCenter included something like, “46-year-old goes deep off against kid half his age.” I got so much grief from my buddies; it was the end of my career. Rickey Henderson ended up in the Baseball Hall of Fame though.
Denny Barron
ATS Sales Manager
