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T.E.S.T.A |
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Turf Equipment Service Technicians Association |
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ABOUT |
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Where did T.E.S.T.A. come from??
1976 brought us the AMC Pacer, the Olympics, Jimmy Carter and Microsoft. In Southwest Florida that year an idea was being hatched at a local Sambo’s Restaurant. Four young men had a common problem. They all had identical industry-related challenges and decided to get together to exchange ideas and help their fellow mechanics. The Founding Four were: Paige Guessford from Wesco Turf, Bob Huff from The Country Club of Naples, Jesse Marion from The Beach Club and Tino Martinez from Royal Poinciana. Their first meeting was at The Beach Club and they called themselves The Golf Course Mechanic Association of Southwest Florida. Way, way too long, besides who could pronounce G.C.M.A.S.W.F? So, the name was changed to The Turf Equipment System Technicians Association. System was later changed to Service. T.E.S.T.A. was born. Tino was instrumental in developing the By-Laws, Code of Ethics and Meeting Guidelines. The 3rd Wednesday of each month was chosen to have their meetings at various maintenance facilities. T.E.S.T.A grew fast and there were 85 members from Marco to Venice. All was well. T.E.S.T.A. then experienced some growing pains-like all organizations. The Founding Four gradually passed the leadership torch to the new members. The meetings gradually moved from the maintenance facilities to local restaurants. The training venue started to change to vendor product self-promotion. Enrollment dipped and a change was needed. Enter Mike Koopman, James Richard and Noel Chandler. Mike, James and Noel decided to move the meetings back to the shops and asked the sponsors to get away from product self-promotion and back to technical and training seminars. They drafted a letter directed towards the Superintendents asking them for their support. The response was tremendous. With the help of Secretary Tim Cook, Equipment Manager/Superintendent Panel Discussions were set in motion. Equipment Managers and Superintendents were now on the same team. Membership exploded to over 140. The one page newsletter grew to a full-blown color news-magazine. With President Jason Ticknor’s direction the news-magazine metamorphosed into an Internet website. Today T.E.S.T.A. remains focused on providing an avenue for mechanics to express ideas, learn basic and new techniques and experience industry camaraderie. |
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T.E.S.T.A P.O. BOX 623 ESTERO FL. 33928
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