Environmental Turf, Inc., an environmentally friendly turfgrass company with licensed sod producers world-wide, announced that Dr. William L. "Lee" Berndt joined the company as Vice President, Research & Development.

Dr. Berndt is well known as a turf expert and consultant in the golf and turf industries. He spearheaded the turf management program at Edison College in Fort Myers, Florida, for a dozen years, and his ongoing turf research on SeaDwarf® seashore paspalum grass, and other turf issues, is widely published in both peer reviewed journals and popular golf and turf industry publications. He has consulted for golf courses from Hawaii to California, and from Florida to Ireland. Dr. Berndt earned his PhD in botany and plant pathology from Michigan State University and began his professional career with one of the biggest names in golf as a consulting agronomist at Jack Nicklaus Golf Services.

"Environmental Turf's whole approach to developing environmentally friendly grasses is something that I believe in. The concept of dealing with grasses that require fewer inputs to create a positive effect on the environment is something I can truly get behind and I am very happy to be a part of this company," Berndt said.

In his new position with Environmental Turf, Dr. Berndt will oversee the company's turfgrass research program, consult with Environmental Turf's licensed producers and their customers on golf course and stadium projects all over the world, as well as serve as a speaker at various seminars and industry events.

"We are very excited to have Dr. Lee Berndt join us at Environmental Turf," said Stacie Zinn, company president. "His solid reputation and widely respected expertise will certainly be a great benefit to our company, our grass varieties and all of our licensed producers."

ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL TURF, INC.
Based in Avon Park, Florida, Environmental Turf, Inc., is an award-winning firm dedicated to the research, development, marketing and distribution of environmentally friendly warm-season turfgrasses. The company's mission is to bring specialty warm-season turfgrasses to the public with an eye toward sustainability, ecology and beauty. Environmental Turf works with University turf programs and independent researchers world-wide to develop grasses that will help sustain the environment, reduce the amount of water used for turfgrass irrigation, and curb the amount of chemicals and fertilizers released into the ecosystem while also creating an esthetically pleasing landscape. Depending on variety, the grasses may be shade-tolerant, require less water, less fertilizer or less inputs overall than other common lawn, golf or sports field grasses. Environmental Turf licenses its proprietary turfgrasses to some of the world's finest sod producers in warm-season climates around the globe. Visit: www.environmentalturf.com .

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