Syngenta creates new Digital Platforms team following Spiio collab

Photo: Syngenta

Syngenta unveiled its new Digital Platforms team, which serves turfgrass professionals with its innovative technology, Spiio precision agronomy system. This comes following the collaboration agreement between Syngenta and Spiio to provide precision soil sensor technology and agronomic data for turf managers.

The Digital Platforms team will market, sell and support the Spiio technology as part of the U.S. and Canada Professional Solutions businesses, uniting Syngenta and its premium portfolio of professional turf solutions with the state-of-the-art cellular soil sensor technology. The companies say that the integration will help inform precision agronomy and data-driven decision-making for turf professionals.

“By creating a team dedicated to supporting digital technology, we’re further demonstrating our commitment to delivering innovation to the market,” Scott Reasons, head of Syngenta Professional Solutions for the Americas, said. “The Digital Platforms team represents another layer of value Syngenta provides turf and landscape managers.”

The new team includes:

Steve Dorer

Steve Dorer, head of digital platforms, is a former golf course superintendent and is now leading the team with a background that includes a combination of golf course management, data science and digital research technology experience. Most recently, Dorer served as U.S. brand manager for fungicides and PGRs for Syngenta. Steve has been with Syngenta since 2006, also serving as territory manager and market manager for the U.S. Professional Solutions team.

Scott White, digital platforms marketing manager, joined Syngenta in 2016 as a turf specialist in Canada and has been the market manager for Canada Professional Solutions since 2021. Prior to joining Syngenta, Scott was a golf course superintendent in Ontario, Canada. He holds turfgrass management degrees from the University of Guelph and Cornell University.

Travis Roberson, digital platforms field technical manager, joined Syngenta in September 2023 while continuing his graduate studies at Virginia Tech. He began working with Spiio technology in his role at Independence Golf Course in Virginia in 2021. As an early adopter, his insights helped shape improvements in the platform. He also worked in golf course positions throughout his undergraduate and graduate career.

Kevin Cooper, digital platforms sales specialist, joined Syngenta in November 2023. His extensive golf course management experience includes eight years at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Columbus, Ohio, and 15 years as a golf course superintendent at Lochinvar Golf Club in Houston, Texas. Kevin holds a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from the University of Kentucky.

Lorabeth Catterson, digital platforms sales specialist, joined Syngenta in December 2023. Her career has included golf course management roles at Los Angeles Country Club and Hillcrest Country Club in Los Angeles, Calif. She also recently completed a master’s in data science from the University of Colorado Boulder.