CONNECTICUT CLIPPINGS Volume 56| No. 1 MAY 2022 A Slow Start to Spring A cool, often times cloudy, April has created challenges for “There’s no substituting for sunlight and warm golf courses throughout much of the Northeast. The lack of temperatures. Applying additional nutrients will not warm and sunny weather has limited turf recovery and stimulate growth of dormant turf. In fact, applying too delayed the opening of putting greens that were damaged much fertilizer when the turf is not actively growing can during the winter. Even those golf courses that were fortunate waste money, have a negative environmental impact, and enough to avoid winter injury have dealt with aeration holes create an undesirable surge of growth once more favorable that continue to persist. conditions arrive. Focus instead on tackling your shade problems. Poa annua roots generally do not start to grow rapidly until IN THIS ISSUE: soil temperatures are at least 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Creeping Please reach out if you would like assistance in helping with a b c d e f developing a tree management plan or to discuss other g bentgrass is slightly slower out of the gate and doesn’t really h start to move until you reach sustained temperatures of 55 agronomic concerns. I can be reached at jdaniels@usga.org degrees Fahrenheit or warmer. It has been only recently that many golf courses have reached such temperatures levels. John Daniels What's Inside This Issue: President's Message ......................2 USGA Agronomist If you find yourself struggling with recovery, whether from UConn Field Day.............................3 winter injury caused by crown hydration or normal aeration NE Chapter Meetings....................4-5 practices, I suggest you stop focusing your attention on the ground and instead look upward to see what can be done to Kevin's Corner ..............................6-7 improve the growing environment. Shade from nearby trees Two Person Results........................9 can keep the soil cooler and delay turf growth. Similarly, Grass Catcher ...............................10 establishing turf from seed can be challenging enough this 2022 Schedule of Events..............12 time of year, you don’t want to further complicate the process with lack of sunlight. Now’s the time to get serious with your Reducing tree shade issues now can help to Board of Directors.........................12 tree management. A combination of pruning and select tree speed turf recovery and protect against future Golf Results.....................................13 winter damage. removal will translate into faster turf recovery and could help NE Trade Show...........................14-15 to reduce the likelihood of future winter damage. MAY 2022 | CONNECTICUT CLIPPINGS | PAGE 2 MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT WRITTEN BY STEPHEN CURRY, PRESIDENT, CAGCS Winter injury/Kill came to the region this year and hit some of our members hard. I understand from conversations that our association networking was very active as expected and many came to the aid of those fighting through the challenge. In a conversation with Steve McDonald, Turf Consultant, he said the damage was “hit or miss and all of the practices of those with damage were good. Be prepared is his important I’m extremely proud to be able to message, any one of us could be facing this next spring.” continue to bring our membership Adversity like this makes clear the value of our together for networking and education in association and professional relationships. the 2022 season.” We have worked through some added stress of late in We are very fortunate to have such a that 3 of us changed properties. Wayne Lagasse, dedicated and capable Chapter Executive. membership chair, moved from Rock Ridge Country GraceMarie has been selected to represent Club to Stonington Country Club, Andy Fries, CGCS Chapter executives Nationally on a task Treasurer from H.B. Brownson Country Club to The group for the GCSAA. I am very proud of Tashua Knolls Club and I left Blue Fox Run Golf Club to her success and the light it shines on our take over at Rock Ridge Country Club. association, and we should all feel honored. The association is in good standing; our membership is growing and advancing, the events have all been Stephen Curry successful and our finances our sound. We have CAGCS President managed through arguably the most challenging time in our history. I’ll quote our Chapter Executive, GraceMarie Chapin “I am honored to have been a part of CAGCS during a difficult time. With the support of the Board and membership, CAGCS was able to host all but 1 scheduled event since March of 2020.Not many other associations, if any, were able to say that. MAY 2022 | CONNECTICUT CLIPPINGS | PAGE 3 MAY 2022 | CONNECTICUT CLIPPINGS | PAGE 4 MAY 2022 | CONNECTICUT CLIPPINGS | PAGE 5 MAY 2022 | CONNECTICUT CLIPPINGS | PAGE 6 KEVIN'S KORNER COMING SOON.. Ask John Inguagiato, Ph.D. A lot has happened in the golf industry during and since the beginning of the pandemic. While it would be easy to go off on a diatribe about the many altered aspects, one difference Coming this summer, the CT Clippings will feature a stands out among the rest: Increased rounds have pumped life new section, Ask John Inguagiato, Ph.D. into many facilities. With full memberships — and even waiting lists — at some private clubs, to full tee-sheets, reduced outings, and increased See something on your course that you would like revenue at daily fee facilities, golf is revitalized. Conversations to ask John Inguagiato, Ph.D. about? Email a with many GCSAA members have proven to me that this much needed increased engagement has come with a notably picture with your question to cagcs@sbcglobal.net increased lack of etiquette. It doesn’t matter what type of facility, there are more balls in the air. There are more swings being taken. More carts are finding their way on the property. Not all of these are beneficial. What can be done? Increased rounds don’t necessarily equate to more stories of staff under siege by flying golf balls. Simple math would prove that having more golfers and tighter tee-times does increase the number of opportunities for issues. Do the new and returning golfers deserve the blame for seeming additional instances of staff being hit or nearly hit by golf balls? There is no way to know, after all, it’s a problem that existed when the game was struggling for players too. Again, increased rounds mean more swings, more divots, and more ball marks. Some repaired by respectful golfers, many not. Tee markers, divot boxes, golf carts seem to have fallen target to The EXCEL Leadership Program offers more than their fair share of wayward golf club attacks. leadership training for personal, career, and Unfortunately, the proper turf isn’t always the target of these community/industry stewardship for assistant swings these days. Add to that list, the occurrence of divots taken out of greens and collars seem to be on the rise superintendents; the future leaders in the golf too.Learning of this unnecessary and unwanted damage course management industry. Applications for through conversations has increased, and the prevalence of the 2022 class are open through June 16. such despair on social media mirrors that up-tick too. None of this is new to our industry professionals, but the seeming The Program: growth of these occurrences have become alarming. The EXCEL Leadership Program features two, Golf cart traffic created an agronomic situation in recent years two-day education and training sessions and a that has been difficult to address, most notably when they all trip to the annual GCSAA Conference and Trade were driven where they belonged. Wayward carts aren’t Show for assistant golf course superintendents. anything new, yet more vehicles making their way on to the The education and travel for 2022-2023 course seems to have increased the number of carts in undesirable situations. Harming turf, ropes, and carts does more includes: than add work to superintendents, it damages the bottom line Fall Meeting, TBD of the facility. GCSAA Conference and Trade Show, Feb. 6- Is the lack of etiquette part of the new golf culture? I sure hope 9, 2023, Orlando not. It seemed to me that during the lean golf years, facilities Spring Meeting, TBD were so thrilled to have players that many overlooked indiscretions in favor of revenue. I have heard about facilities Applicants Must Be: now getting more aggressive in tracking down perpetrators of Currently employed as an assistant golf damage and holding them accountable. One facility has begun course superintendent within the United communications at every interaction point of the golf course. All States (including Alaska and Hawaii) or staff are given scripts to tell every member/customer the expectations and etiquette required during their round, no Canada. matter how many times they may have heard them. A Class C member of GCSAA Is a full-blown communication program going to fill every divot, Able to participate for three full years fix every ball mark and keep every cart where it belongs? I highly doubt it, yet if it keeps your staff safer, it’s a positive result. If the For more information and to apply, visit: message delivered enlightens even just a few unaware golfers to https://www.gcsaa.org/foundation/education/ex embrace the etiquette that makes our game special, then it will cel-leadership-program have made a difference for the better. MAY 2022 | CONNECTICUT CLIPPINGS | PAGE 7 UPCOMING FREE WEBCASTS: KEVIN'S KORNER Best Management Practices for Turfgrass Soil Testing and Application Travis Shaddox, Ph.D. GCSAA Resources and Deadlines It's very crucial to plan how your company newsletter will come to life. Will you be assigning the writing tasks to your employees who are good with words or hiring an off-site emplyee for the task? Who will provide the images? Will these be sourced by human resources or will a professional photographer will be June 16 @ noon designated for it? These are just some of the many questions you need to answer. Once you have made the relevant decisions and have your newsletter's editorial team built, brainstorm on the content you will share. Since a company newsletter can serve a variety of you Get Cool Stuff from your Association Already: purposes, ensure the messages you will publish are aligned with your objective. Don't hold back on light materials too, such as comics, fun photos from your company vacation, or inside jokes written in good taste. Some comic relief is a great way to keep readers interested! Irrigation Water Quality and Soil Problems Glen Obear, Ph.D. June 28 @ noon Get Started on Your Factors that Affect Pesticide Fate & Behavior on Facility BMP the Golf Course Travis Gannon, Ph.D. July 13 @ noon Once your state BMP manual is available through GCSAA’s Course Marking - Local Rules & Best MARKING BMP Planning Guide and Template you can easily create a Practices for Your Golf Course facility BMP manual for your facility. Access is easy with your Todd Stice GCSAA website member log-in using the link immediately Aug. 23 @ 2 p.m. below, then select the facility BMP icon and go. Webinars are available to assist you with this easy to use tool. If I can be of any assistance, please https://www.gcsaa.org/environment/bmp-planning-guide feel free to contact me. Kevin Doyle GCSAA Field Staff kdoyle@gcsaa.org Follow me on Twitter @GCSAA_NE MAY 2022 | CONNECTICUT CLIPPINGS | PAGE 8 MAY 2022 | CONNECTICUT CLIPPINGS | PAGE 9 Good Luck to all the Participants of the 2022 Turf Products Two Person Championship MAY 2022 | CONNECTICUT CLIPPINGS | PAGE 10 GRASS CATCHER CONGRATULATIONS! Marc Weston, CGCS, newly recertified by GCSAA The Certified Golf Course Superintendent (CGCS) designation is bestowed upon those who voluntarily meet the stringent requirements. The CGCS designation is the most widely recognized in the golf industry and CONDOLENCES the highest recognition that can be achieved by golf course superintendents. Read more: Tim Gerzabek and family on the passing of his father https://www.gcsaa.org/education/certifications-exams Frank Gerzabek. https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/nhregister/name/ Jim Pavonetti, CGCS on being selected the first runner frank-gerzabek-obituary?id=34738882 up for the GCSAA Innovation Conservation Award The family of Al Arison who passed away on January 15, 2022. He was a CAGCS member since 1967. MEMBERS ON THE MOVE Stephen Curry - Golf Course Superintendent - Rock Ridge Country Club Michael D'Ascanio - Golf Course Superintendent - Whitney Farms Golf Club Andrew Fries, CGCS - Golf Course Superintendent - WELCOME NEW MEMBERS Tashua Knolls Stanley Husereau - Golf Course Superintendent - River Ridge Golf Course Jeffrey Austin - Class A - Yale Golf Course Christopher Steffen - Golf Course Superintendent - Victor Faconti - Class B - The Farms Country Club Candlewood Lake Club Andrew Fenn - Class B - The Hotchkiss School Scott Gallup - Commercial - Saratoga Sod Farm David Parson - Class B - Twin Hills Country Club Herb Stevens - Commercial - T3 Trackers Matt Topazio - Commercial - Metro Turf Specialists Do you have news to share? We would love to hear it Email cagcs@sbcglobal MAY 2022 | CONNECTICUT CLIPPINGS | PAGE 11 MAY 2022 | CONNECTICUT CLIPPINGS | PAGE 12 BOARD OF CAGCS 2022 SCHEDULE OF EVENTS January 11 Mystic Marriott DIRECTORS Tuesday CAGCS Winter Seminar President Stephen Curry April 19 Tradition at Oak Lane Tuesday Host: Kevin Collins Vice President 2 Ball Shamble Scott Ramsay, CGCS May 16 Mill River Country Club Treasurer Monday Host: Sean Flynn Andrew Fries, CGCS CAGCS Scholarship & Research Tournament Secretary June 7 Richter Park Kevin Collins Tuesday Host: Robert Dorsch, CGCS Low Gross/Net by Flight Past President 1st Round CAGCS Championship & MET Team Championship Qualifier Paul Bonini, CGCS July 11 Golf Club at Windham Committee Chairs Monday Host: Kevin Miele Low Gross/Net Blind Partners Education 2nd Round CAGCS Championship & New England Team Championship Qualifier Duncan McGowan July 26 The Hartford Yard Goats Golf Tuesday CAGCS Social/Network Event Peter Grace September 26 The Hartford Golf Club Government Relations Monday Host: Curtis D'Anna Robert Dorsch, CGCS CAGCS Member/Guest October 17 Fox Hopyard Membership Monday Host: Jeff Swanson Wayne Lagasse 2 Person Best Ball Superintendent/Assistant Tournament & President’s Cup & McLaughlin Trophy Scholarship & Research Richard Duggan October Old Lyme Country Club Host: Timothy Dunn Social & Welfare CAGCS Class C Tournament Richard Kremer November 3 Borough of Fenwick Thursday Host: Daryl Aresco Commercial Rep 9-Hole Scramble ABCD Gilberto Perez CAGCS Annual Meeting Class C Rep TBD CAGCS Christmas Party Timothy Dunn Clippings Editor SAVE THE DATE FOR THE CAGCS WINTER SEMINAR JANUARY 10, 2023 Jay Popko MAY 2022 | CONNECTICUT CLIPPINGS | PAGE 13 GOLF RESULTS The Tradition Golf Club at Oak Lane Tuesday, April 19, 2022 Superintendent: Kevin Collins Asst. Superintendent: Parker Keirn PGA Professional: Nick Rykoski The Tradition at Oak Lane will host the April two-person shamble and will serve as the qualifier for the two-person team championship. The Tradition at Oak Lane was formerly known as Oak Lane Country Club and operated as a private country before becoming a public course 11 years ago. In 2020, the course was awarded the Connecticut PGA’s Walter Lowell Distinguished Public Golf Course award. Kevin Collins grew up in Wallingford, CT and honed his butter cut and deft touch around the greens at Pilgrim’s Harbor Golf Club. Kevin began working at the club while in high school and was persuaded by Ward Weischet to attend the 1st Place Gross - Kevin Collins, John Parmalee Stockbridge School at UMass Amherst. Kevin earned an Associate’s degree in 2nd Place Gross - Whitton DeVaux, Aaron Morrison Turfgrass Management in 1993 and began his career in the industry. He 3rd Place Gross - Donald Beck, Andy Drohen eventually landed back at Pilgrims’ Harbor as the superintendent and the club was later renamed The Tradition Golf Club at Wallingford. Kevin moved down the road 1st Place Net - Tyler Sears, Parker Keirn to the Tradition Golf Club at Oak Lane as superintendent five years ago. Kevin 2nd Place Ney - Michael Chrzanowski, Brian Pope serves on CAGCS Board of Directors and has held a variety of positions in the 3rd Place Net- Peter Gorman, Anthony Nardella association over the years. Kevin is always happy to help his neighbors in the CT region and is part of what makes the CAGCS a great group! Closest to the Pin #4 - Anthony Nardella Kevin lives in Wallingford and while not on a golf course, enjoys spending time Closest to the Pin # 15 - Steve Loughran with family, especially his sister and nieces. Thank you to Kevin for hosting the Longest Drive #18 - Whitton DeVaux April CAGCS Meeting. Longest Put - Michael Dachowski Mill River Country Club Superintendent: Sean Flynn Asst. Superintendent: Walter Wozniak PGA Professional: John Klug Mill River Country Club will host the 2022 CAGCS Scholarship and Research Tournament this year. Mill River Country Club began as a nine-hole course in 1923 and was expanded to eighteen holes in 1925 by Thomas Winton who mentored under Willie Park Jr. The Great Depression brought hard times on the course, but membership rebounded, and club hosted the PGA’s Shoreline Open from 1937-1952. The club has also hosted two State of Connecticut Opens and the U.S. Ladies Amateur Championship. 1st Place Gross - Kevin Collins, John Parmalee, Eric Morrison, Our host, Sean Flynn grew up in Westport, CT and golf was large a part of his Ward Weischet childhood where he spent summers at the Patterson Club growing up. He began 2nd Place Gross - Whitton DeVaux, Aaron Morrison. Daniel his career in the turfgrass industry at Aspetuck Valley Country Club and the DeVaux, Matthew Guilmette Country Club of Fairfield before attending Michigan State University for Turfgrass 3rd Place Gross - David Conrad, Jason Meersman, Jason Management. While at MSU he completed an internship at Cypress Point and Dowgiewicz, Michael Dachowski volunteered for the 2000 US Open at Pebble Beach. After school, Sean returned to the Country Club of Fairfield and spent time at the Golf Club of Purchase 1st Place Net - Brian Pope, Gary De Vaux, Michael Decker, before becoming golf course superintendent at Great River Golf Club. During this Michael Dukette time Sean also served on the CAGCS board as social & welfare chairman, golf 2nd Place Ney - John Bresnahan, Ryan Newland, James Popko, chairman and treasurer. Sean spent 13 years at Great River before moving Jay VanCoughnett across the river to Mill River Country Club. Sean has spent the last five years at 3rd Place Net- Peter Grace, John Callahan, Timothy O'Neill, Mill River Country Club and worked on tree removal to restore playing corridors Les Kennedy and bunker renovations. Sean stays busy away from the course with his 4 children Erica (13), Erin (11), Closest to the Pin #4 - Timothy O'Neill Charlie (2 ½) and Lena (11 months) and wife Ashley. Sean and his family live in Closest to the Pin # 12 - Whitton DeVaux Branford, CT with their 2 dogs. Sean also enjoys staying busy with home Longest Drive #6 - Keith Williams improvement projects, which include renovating a three-car garage and living Longest Drive #13 - Whitton DeVaux room. Thanks to Sean for hosting! MAY 2022 | CONNECTICUT CLIPPINGS | PAGE 14 25 Years of Turf Show & Conference Bliss By Gary Sykes, Executive Director 1998 was the 1st hosting of the New England Regional Turfgrass Conference and Show and as you remember it was in Providence, RI. That year, we came up with a theme of Building Together for a Greener Tomorrow. The symbolism of being greener is hard to measure, but the effort that has gone into the idea of “Building Together” has without a doubt reaped benefits for the New England Turfgrass Industry. For 25 years, the conference and show has grown its presence as a premier event in the Turfgrass Industry. The show has a strong reputation not only as an across-the-board turfgrass trade show, but also for a high-quality multi-tract education program. Since the beginning, the board has insisted that education must be the number 1 focus each year to attract attendees and secure our success. This has without a doubt been a formula for success. Our show has been rolling forward for 25 years now and has been the main generator of our turfgrass research funding program. We have plowed through snowstorms, walked a tight rope through economic setbacks, bobbed and weaved with the GIS, and more recently dealt with covid the best we could.It hasn’t always been easy, but always worth it! In the end, in our 25 years the conference and show has been the vehicle to generate $2.5Million of research funding in New England since 1998. This is an amazing number considering our beginning was funded by 8-$500 loans from each founding association. It was a Hail Mary start, but there are a couple of reasons why it has been a successful one. As I said our education has always topped the chart. Great speakers and topics each year and always great comments from attendees.These speakers and their topics just don’t magically appear in our programs. Sometimes, it would take all summer and more than half the fall to complete the full program, but it always comes together! So how does it happen? We have been indescribably fortunate to have working with our board these last 25 years, Mary Owen of UMass Extension, who has been with our show since day one. Ever since our beginning, Mary has chaired our education committee and guided our ship through the challenges of good speakers and topics. Mary in 2020, announced her retirement from UMass along with reducing her responsibilities with the show. The foundation would have a hard time explaining Mary’s importance because she has done so much for our show’s success for the last 25 years, but it is very real that we owe Mary so much of our gratitude and appreciation for her efforts, interest, and leadership skills that she shared with us. Education has been the number one reason that so many look forward to the conference and show. Another reason why we have reaped success, is to recognize the 25 years of working as our show manager, David Rosenberg, has kept our trade show on track. When we started, the idea was to consolidate several shows into one and giving each company a greater presence, in front of a larger audience for lower costs. The location along with David’s guidance has kept the mission intact. David has been with us all these years and treats our trade show and our exhibitors like family. We have been in the best hands over these years and David has set a high bar for show managers to equal. He has taught all of us that by treating exhibitors fair and equally will pay the show dividends. His eye for detail continues to produce the high quality of an event that we are all so proud of. Each exhibitor, each reception and each attendee will receive his full attention during planning, setup and until he packs up and goes home after our show. As an event manager, David brings his team and family of Nancy and Brittany to our show along with many others over the years, making sure they all have their “showtime” smiles on representing the foundation, and keeping everyone feeling welcomed and appreciated. He has done all that and more and I can’t imagine it would be possible to get more out of a show manager and his team during a show week…..And then just when I think I can catch a breather driving home from many shows, David will call me from his car wanting to chat about how things went and some ideas we might want to try next year! Thank you to Marketing and Events…..we look forward to 2023! Lastly, I want to thank everyone who has ever served the foundation, who has attended over the last 25 years, who has supported the show by exhibiting, those that have pitched in, helpers, sponsors, speakers, guests and even anyone who might have said to someone simply, “you should come to the New England Regional Turfgrass Conference and Show. It is too good to miss.” We, thank you for making our Conference and Show, not just so successful but also 25 years full of bliss for the turf Industry! See you in 2023, March 7-9! MAY 2022 | CONNECTICUT CLIPPINGS | PAGE 15 25 Years of Turf Show & Conference Bliss MAY 2022 | CONNECTICUT CLIPPINGS | PAGE 16 CAGCS thanks these patrons for their continued support of our association. Aquatrols Executive Turf & Synergy Turf Supply SiteOne Golf Keeping Conservation on Course Ken Gentile (203) 496-0891 Stronger Together Tom Valentine - (619) 299-4470 HumaGroTurf.com Ward Weischet - (203) 605-0013 Tvalentine@aquatrols.com wweischet@siteone.com NuaLGiAGRiculture.com www.aquatrols.com Executiveturfproducts@gmail.com Sodco, Inc. Atlantic Golf and Turf High Quality Sod For All Your Golf Course Needs Finch Services/John Deere Sean Moran - (401) 569-1108 Our Roots Run Deep 458 Danbury Road Alicia Pearson - (401) 215-8698 John Garcia - (203) 996-6267 New Milford, CT 06776 www.sodco.net/1-800-341-6900 Chris Cowan - (413) 530-5040 (800) 560-3373 www.finchturf.com Peter Gorman - (860) 573-2605 sales@finchturf.com www.AtlanticGolfandTurf.com Syngenta Professional Products Fairfield County – John Bresnahan (413) 565-2279 /john.bresnahan@syngenta.com Harrell’s All other CT Counties - Melissa Gugliotti Bayer U.S. Jim Wierzbicki - (860) 424-7250 (860) 221-5712/melissa.gugliotti@syngenta.com Fairfield, Litchfield, New Haven Counties: Mike Dukette - (860) 930-8888 Dave Sylvester - (860) 841-3173. Customer Service - (800) 228-6656 Hartford, New Haven, New London, www.harrells.com Tom Irwin, Inc Middlesex, Tolland, Windham: With Tom Irwin, you’re not alone. Brian Giblin - (508) 439-9809 Rob Larson (508) 789-0059 Helena Agri Enterprises Jeff Houde (203) 731-1776 People…Products…Knowledge Main (800) 582-5959 The Cardinals, Inc. Tim Gerzabek - (609) 221-9240 Complete Distributor of Golf Course Sean Kennedy - (802) 558-4009 Accessories & Turf Maintenance Supplies www.helenaAgri.com Turf Products John Callahan cell - (860) 916-3947 Toro Equipment & Irrigation cardinalsinc@att.net - (800) 861-6256 Serving the Industry Since 1970 Plant Food Company, Inc. Enfield, CT - (800) 243-4355 The Liquid Fertilizer Experts www.turfproductscorp.com Chas. C Hart Seed Co. www.plantfoodco.com Quality Since 1892 Jason Dowgiewicz - (860) 508-5419 Westchester Turf Supply, Inc. www.hartsturfpro.com David Conrad - (914) 263-3244 “SERVING THE CAGCS SINCE 1976” (860) 529-2537 • 1-800-326-HART Bob Lippman - (914) 447-6257 Keith Angilly - (203) 901-7257 Dave Lippman - (914) 447-5192 Heather Garvin - (860) 836-7337 Read Custom Soils www.westchesterturf.com Top Dressing Sand, Divot Mixes, Bunker Sand Winding Brook Turf Dunning Custom Soils Rootzone Mixes, Bagged Sand 240 Griswold Rd., Wethersfield, CT 06119 Top Dressing Sand, Divot Mixes, Bunker Ed Downing - (508) 440-1833 Michael Krudwig Sand, Premium Mulch, Rootzone Mixes, ed@readcustomsoils.com (860) 883-0475 Bagged Sand For all your golf course grassing needs Gilberto Perez - (860) 670-3222 gperez@dunningindustries.com