Garden University: Irrigation Control Systems Professional Development

Considering Updating or Installing Central Irrigation Control?In a position of approving funding? Especially for something for the most part, unseen, but the purpose of which is highly regarded aesthetically?“The Grass is Green where you Water It.” Simple right? But spending tens of thousands, upwards of hundreds of thousands, on Irrigation Control Systems should not go forward without understanding!What are you approving?Have you asked the right questions?Are you thinking long-term?Have you considered the awareness of the end users’ actual needs and comprehension of the systems?So, how are you going to determine what level of Irrigation Control is suitable, necessary, affordable, and maintainable?3 sessions / 3 months will afford you the answers, or at least, the process to derive at a defendable decision.Session 1: October 27th-28th (Tue/Wed)Overview of the World of Irrigation, spotlighting the complexities of Irrigation Control Systems.Session 2: November 17th-18th (Tue/Wed)Assessing current status of systems and staff.Session 3: January 26th-27th (Tue/Wed)Building out the thought process systematically with a model site.*Lunch provided---Gordon Kunkle is currently employed with SiteOne Landscape Supply as the Western States/Canada Regional Trainer for irrigation, and a Project Manager in Project Services team. Gordon started out on a career path pursuing landscape architecture, however an opportunity to join an irrigation consulting firm in the San Francisco Bay Area caused a redirection of focus. He later obtained a C-27 Landscape Contractor license in California, and holds certifications in Design, Auditing, Contractor and Water Management with the Irrigation Association.These certifications led to opportunities to provide input and manage significant corporate facilities, public areas, and private developments in multiple states through central irrigation control platforms. After spending several years as a sales manager for Hunter within the Pacific Northwest and Western Canada regions, he took a position as the inaugural Water Manager for the City of Portland Parks. Now, along with his duties at SiteOne, Gordon is also a part-time faculty member conducting irrigation courses at Clackamas Community College located in Oregon City, Oregon.