Jim Nedin, consultant, Turf Industry Service Business Optimization in York, Pa., is the winner of the 2019 Edwin Budding Award from the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA).
The Edwin Budding Award, named for the inventor of the lawn mower, is given annually to an equipment manager or related innovator, technician, educator or engineer who has made a significant impact in the golf and turf business.
Nedin has been associated with the turf industry for more than 40 years. He began his professional career as a golf course superintendent in the early 1970s and has taught turf industry-related seminars for more than 30 years. Nedin has provided technical support for a multitude of state, regional, national and international golf tournaments.
Nedin is a private service business consultant who has worked with The Toro Co. for many years. In addition to working with turf equipment distributors to improve service delivery performance, he conducts relevant turf equipment maintenance and application seminars for various turf industry associations and universities.
“Working in the turf industry has been much more than a job to me. It has been my life’s work and passion,” said Nedin. “There’s a picture of me standing behind my father’s reel-type power lawn mower, when I was just 5 years old. At age 9 I worked in a lawn mower repair shop, and in my teens, I started working at a local country club, repairing golf carts and turf equipment. Eventually, I was promoted to assistant superintendent, then superintendent. Over the years, I’ve had the pleasure of working with many great people. The late Tom Buehner, CGCS, one of the first 10 GCSAA-certified superintendents, was an inspiration and great mentor to me.”
Nedin received degrees in mechanical engineering from LaSalle University and general business, marketing and accounting from Pittsburgh Business Institute. While in distribution, he received the prestigious Toro Service Bull Award and multiple Toro Top Service Achievement Awards, and he served multiple terms on Toro’s Commercial Service Advisory Board. In past years, he served on Penn State’s Turf Equipment Maintenance Advisory Board, and he is currently a member of the Greater Pittsburgh GCSA.
“Being the recipient of this year’s prestigious Edwin Budding Award is truly an honour,” said Nedin. “There are so many great people in this industry for which I’ve had the privilege of working with over the years. We get up every morning, go to work and simply do our jobs. I am humbled and greatly appreciative to those who nominated me.”
Nedin will formally receive the award at the 2020 Golf Industry Show in Orlando.
The Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) www.gcsaa.org
Pictured top: Edwin Budding Award presentation at the 2019 Golf Industry Show in San Diego. At left is Lauren Thompson of the Golf Channel, who presented the award to recipient, Hector Velazquez