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Applications now open for 2021 Syngenta Business Institute℠


Superintendents can now apply for this year’s virtual professional development program

GREENSBORO, N.C., USA, May 25, 2021 – Applications for the 2021 Syngenta Business Institute℠ (SBI) program are open for golf course superintendents to apply online until Sept. 2. Syngenta has announced that this year’s program will be hosted virtually, Dec. 6‑10, 2021.

“Based on the overwhelmingly positive feedback from the SBI class of 2020 and with the health and safety of our customers in mind, we will be hosting the Syngenta Business Institute virtually for another year,” said Stephanie Schwenke, turf market manager for Syngenta. “From our survey of the 2020 attendees, they all wanted more education, so we are increasing the class hours to 15 hours.”

The 2021 program will be held via Zoom, beginning with an introductory social networking session on Thursday, Dec. 2. Educational courses will then be hosted in three-hour sessions Monday through Friday, Dec. 6-10. Faculty from the nationally-ranked Wake Forest University School of Business will teach the curriculum, which will cover the following topics:
  • Work/life balance
  • Negotiations
  • Financial management
  • Tools for managing employees
  • Leading across cultures and generations
“The Wake Forest and Syngenta teams couldn't have been happier with the level of participation, energy and involvement from superintendents in the first virtual SBI last December,” said Ken Middaugh, faculty director for SBI. “The faculty were impressed that many were eager to stay ‘overtime’ to discuss issues with them and other participants, adding significantly to the experience. A post-event survey showed they wanted even more time and virtual opportunities to learn and a desire to expand the scope of the program. Based on that feedback and the active engagement of the cohort, we decided to expand the length and scope of the 2021 Syngenta Business Institute to allow for more education, more time with professors, and more time with each other.”

Alumni of the SBI class of 2020 also shared praise for the virtual program.

“[SBI 2020 was] beyond my expectations,” said Amos Stephens, superintendent at Settlers Bay Golf Course in Wasilla, Alaska, and SBI class of 2020 alumnus. “I questioned the Zoom format; and surprisingly, with it being my first time using the technology in this format, it was more than above my expectations. I learned aspects in each of the sessions that I have already brought to our operation. If you are serious about your career, you should look seriously at SBI to advance your knowledge, network and resume.”

To facilitate deeper interaction among attendees, the class size for SBI 2021 will be limited. The program is only open to individuals employed in the U.S. as a superintendent, director of agronomy or at an equivalent level.

Applications must be submitted online by midnight PDT on Sept. 2.

To apply, visit GreenCastOnline.com/SBI. Superintendents can also contact their local Syngenta territory manager for more information. To be considered, candidates must fill out an application, which includes a short essay on why they should be chosen to attend. Selected participants will be notified in October.

Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter with @SyngentaTurf by using #SBI21.

About Syngenta
Syngenta is one of the world’s leading agriculture companies comprising Syngenta Crop Protection and Syngenta Seeds. Our ambition is to help safely feed the world while taking care of the planet. We aim to improve the sustainability, quality and safety of agriculture with world class science and innovative crop solutions. Our technologies enable millions of farmers around the world to make better use of limited agricultural resources. Syngenta Crop Protection and Syngenta Seeds are part of Syngenta Group. In more than 100 countries we are working to transform how crops are grown. Through partnerships, collaboration and The Good Growth Plan we are committed to accelerating innovation for farmers and nature, striving for regenerative agriculture, helping people stay safe and healthy and partnering for impact. To learn more visit www.syngenta.com and www.goodgrowthplan.com. Follow us on X at www.twitter.com/Syngenta, www.twitter.com/SyngentaUS and on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/syngenta.

Media Contacts:
Mark LaFleur
(336) 632-6138
mark.lafleur@syngenta.com

Kelsea Mullane
(919) 870-5718
kmullane@gscommunications.com

Web Resources:
Syngenta Business Institute
GreenCast Online
Wake Forest University School of Business

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This document may contain forward-looking statements, which can be identified by terminology such as ‘expect’, ‘would’, ‘will’, ‘potential’, ‘plans’, ‘prospects’, ‘estimated’, ‘aiming’, ‘on track’ and similar expressions. Such statements may be subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from these statements. For Syngenta, such risks and uncertainties include risks relating to legal proceedings, regulatory approvals, new product development, increasing competition, customer credit risk, general economic and market conditions, compliance and remediation, intellectual property rights, implementation of organizational changes, impairment of intangible assets, consumer perceptions of genetically modified crops and organisms or crop protection chemicals, climatic variations, fluctuations in exchange rates and/or commodity prices, single source supply arrangements, political uncertainty, natural disasters, and breaches of data security or other disruptions of information technology. Syngenta assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, changed assumptions or other factors.

© 2021 Syngenta, 410 Swing Rd., Greensboro, NC 27409. GreenCast®, Syngenta Business Institute℠ and the Syngenta logo are trademarks or service marks of a Syngenta Group Company. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Syngenta Customer Center: 1-866-SYNGENT(A) (796-4368).

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