George Stillwell, owner, Sports Turf Services LLC
My first job in the green industry was…
Working at a small golf course in West Sussex, England called Avisford Park (above). My father later managed the contract there, and I spent 10 years on the property, progressing from assistant superintendent to superintendent.
The biggest challenge in my career has been…
Transitioning from the European market to the U.S., building a business from the ground up, and adapting to different customer expectations.
The people who have influenced my career are…
Two key influences: my father, who was a head consulting agronomist for the PGA European Tour, and Tony Minai Davis, who owned three golf clubs in London where I worked as a superintendent. Both were highly business-minded, with very different approaches that have shaped how I run my company today.
My biggest career success so far has been…
Starting my own business and successfully delivering on client expectations after years of working for others.
If I had to do it over again, I would…
Start my own business sooner. I learned a lot working for others, but I wish I had taken that step five years earlier.
My least favorite part of my job is…
Getting equipment cleaned, organized, and ready at the end of the day for the next morning—especially late in the evening.
One piece of advice I would give to someone entering the green industry today is…
Ask a lot of questions—and actually listen to the answers. Take your earbuds out, pay attention, and be engaged. Learn from different perspectives and form your own opinions.
If I could change careers, just for a month, I would…
Be an anesthesiologist—apparently, they earn about $400,000 a year.
One thing that really annoys me is…
When equipment is returned dirty or not taken care of—whether it’s unclean tractor wheels, trash left in the cab, or empty bottles in my truck. Just treat equipment with respect.
When I’m not working, I like to…
Work. As an owner-operator, I’m always working in some capacity.
One thing most people don’t know about me is…
I was the Blockbuster Video Game Champion in 1995.
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