Q&A: From firefighter to equipment manager

Kenny Landman Jr.
Fleet manager, Streamsong Resort,
Bowling Green, Fla.

How did you become an equipment manager?

Honestly, by luck. I was a firefighter/EMT (emergency medical technician). I got my start as a mechanic working on Mercedes. My family did golf outings, but I never thought about the mechanic side (of golf). After COVID, I just wanted to get back to turning wrenches. I had a landscape company, we made the yards look good. I saw on YouTube, some guys messing around with reel mowers, and I found it fascinating. I got my start at Butler CC. The superintendent there liked my background with Mercedes. He said, if you can work on those, you can work on any of this stuff. It was just good timing and luck, and it led me on this fantastic path I’m on right now.

What’s the best thing about your job?

I love being the person that everyone calls. My phone is normally dead by 10:30 — I have to charge it the rest of the day because my phone rings nonstop. I love being the person everyone calls to get an answer, get what they need. It goes back to the firefighter, the EMT… you’re there to help people. I’m helping my superintendents and whoever else on property needs it.

How has Foley supported what you do?

Foley has been great. We’ve got two new reel grinders and two bedknife grinders. Having new, top-of-the-line equipment makes a difference. We had a reel tech who had been here for a few years leave. The next guy up was more of a carburetor/two-cycle mechanic. At first, he was scared of the machines. I spent a few hours with him, and he was off and running. The machine sets it up perfectly; it boosted his confidence; I could see it in his eyes. Then he started cranking out reels, and we were right back to where we needed to be within a few days. It was unbelievable. 

Any words of advice to people considering the equipment manager field?

Get certified, network and dive in. We’re here to push machines to their limits, solve problems and put things back together.