Surface Solutions North America has assembled an impressive group of key personnel dedicated to the synthetic turf industry.

Michael G. McGraw
President

Mike McGraw has over twenty-five years in the synthetic turf industry. Mike began his career in 1979 with Monsanto Company as a Regional Sales Manager in the Astroturf® Division, after graduating from Columbia University where he earned a degree in Economics and was selected a co-captain of the football team. Mike’s career with Monsanto exposed him to all facets of the synthetic turf business, including sales, project management, installation, product development and senior management. His role as Director of Sales at the time of the sale of the Astroturf® division to Balsam AG eventually led him to the Presidency of the Balsam Turf Division, a combination of industry leaders at that time, including Astroturf®, All-Pro Turf and OmniTurf. In 1993 Mike was appointed Chief Operating Officer of Balsam Corporation, and in 1994 he became President & CEO of Balsam’s North American operations, a $70M sports surfacing group with a product lineup including synthetic turf, track, wood and urethane sports flooring and polyurethane/latex production. During the unexpected bankruptcy of parent company Balsam AG, McGraw served as the Federal Court appointed Responsible Officer for the North American operations, eventually selling all Balsam companies in the course of reorganization. In late 1995, McGraw began development of 1st Turf and a knitted nylon turf system. The 1st Turf system was installed on the professional, collegiate and scholastic levels. In 2001, McGraw and Tim Harkness formed Prestige Sports North America to represent the introduction of the Prestige System by Tarkett-Sommer. Through the efforts of PSNA the product became quickly accepted on all levels of play including NCAA Division 1 (Tennessee, Colorado, Iowa, Notre Dame, Iowa State, Baylor), professional (Carolina Panthers) and scholastic, (Frisco ISD, Christian Brothers College, Chaminade-Madonna, Dallas ISD). Due to the “merger” of Tarkett and Fieldturf in late 2004, McGraw and Harkness elected to form a new company, Surface Solutions North America to best meet the needs of its customers. SSNA will exclusively represent the full sports surfacing line of Desso, including DD GrassMaster, conventional turf systems with FIH approval, and in-fill turf systems with world soccer organizations approval.

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Tim Harkness

In 1973 Tim’s career began in the sports flooring industry and has only escalated from there. Having over 25 years in the sports flooring business in many capacities, experience is somewhat of an understatement. Tim’s knowledge of the industry not only includes synthetic and artificial turf, running tracks, poured urethanes but further includes a full compliment of the understanding, research and development of all surfaces. Having sports in his blood, Tim was drawn to an industry where he felt at home. Tim’s knowledge of the “field” surged with such large scale projects as the Toronto Skydome and the 1988 Calgary Olympics. With many successful completions under his belt, Tim expanded beyond the Canadian borders with jobs in America, Korea, and France. Some of his success’s include the Air Canada Centre (Toronto) in many facets of the building. This association with the Air Canada Centre allowed Tim to continue working with Nike, The Raptors Foundation, and The Vince Carter Foundation to provide underprivileged areas of Canada with several charitable basketball courts. Having made strong connections all over the world, Tim has been recognized by Connor Flooring in 1999-2004 as their International Sales Leader. Currently focusing his attention with the newly formed corporation, Surface Solutions North America, Tim is eager to get their revolutionary products to fields throughout North America and would be pleased to speak with you upon further request.

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Teddy Ginter
Chief Superintendent

Teddy Ginter is a highly experienced craftsmen who has over 27 years experience in the installation of residential and commercial carpets and floor coverings. Beginning in 1988, Teddy quickly developed into an elite level synthetic turf installer, initially with Sportec International. His natural skills and abilities quickly led him to project and installation management of synthetic turf systems on all levels of play, from scholastic to professional facilities. Teddy joined the 1st Turf team in 1997 and was the key ingredient in delivering the mammoth Georgia Tech Student Athletic Field complex on time and with unequaled attention to quality and detail in workmanship. Teddy’s “crew” of installation personnel currently numbers seven skilled turf installation craftsmen with the commitment and equipment to deliver the highest quality turf installations available.

Teddy Ginter and his crew have installed over 50 fields, including the following:

• Morehead State University
• The Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• San Diego Chargers Practice Field
• Alfred University
• West Virginia University
• San Francisco 49ers Practice Field
• Rome Free Academy
• Carolina Panthers Practice Field
• Georgia Institute of Technology
• Fordham University
• DeSoto Independent School District
• Buffalo Destroyers - Arena Football League
• Los Angeles Avengers - Arena Football League
• Camden High School
• Stonybrook University
• Far Rockaway High School
• Beach Channel High School
• Port Ritchie High School
• Springfield High School
• Boys & Girls High School
• Elizabeth High School
• St. Johns University (Soccer)
• Hofstra University (Baseball)
• Ridgefield Academy
• Ridgefield High School
• Cliffside High School
• Old Tappan High School
• “Challenge America” with Erin Brockavich on ABC-TV
• Ft. Worth Christian
• County Line Regional Park - Denver, CO (2 Soccer, 1 Baseball)
• Eagle County Parks & Recreation - Vail, CO
• Vail Mountain School
• Regis Jesuit High School (2 Football)
• Jefferson High School
• Chaminade-Madonna High School - Hollywood, FL
• Iowa State University
• Warren High School - Indianapolis, IN
• Carolina Panthers Practice Field (2004, 2nd Time)
• George Mason University
• Monarch High School - Boulder, CO
• Centaurus High School - Boulder, CO
• Lutheran High School - Denver, CO
• IMG Academy

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• Michael G. McGraw

• Tim Harkness

• Teddy Ginter