PBI-Gordon introduces new field development team

The employee owners of PBI-Gordon Corporation have announced the launch of its new field development team, designed to serve distributors and end-users across the United States. The team of turfgrass experts will serve as a resource to the PBI-Gordon product portfolio by providing:

• Training on new and existing products
• Product trials and demonstrations
• Consultation on emerging turfgrass issues
• Educational materials to end users
• Timely guidance on the control of problematic pests

Team members

Brian Aynardi, Ph.D., PBI-Gordon, is the regional director of the PBI-Gordon field development team. Aynardi joined PBI-Gordon in 2016 as manager of university and contract research for the northeastern U.S. His area of expertise is fungicides for both cold-season and warm-season grasses. Aynardi holds a Ph.D. in plant pathology and B.S. in turfgrass science from The Pennsylvania State University. During his time at Penn State, he gained extensive experience overseeing fungicide field trial experiments and completed his dissertation on the biology of the dollar spot pathogens. Since joining PBI-Gordon, he has worked with the R&D Team on the development of new active ingredients and next generation products in the company’s portfolio. He has also assisted with internal and external product training, particularly for distribution channel partners.

Alan Estes, M.S., is the southeast field development representative for the field development team. His territory covers all states from Virginia to Florida and west to Texas. A graduate of Clemson University, Estes holds a master’s degree in applied economics and statistics and a bachelor’s degree in horticultural science. His area of expertise is herbicides – particularly as it pertains to the intricacies of turf tolerance, weed spectrum, rates, and timing. Before joining PBI-Gordon in May 2024, Estes was the pesticide product registration manager for Clemson University.

Kevin Miele, M.S., is the northeast field development representative for the field development team. His territory covers all states from Virginia north and west to the Chicago area. Miele holds a master’s degree in plant sciences and a bachelor’s degree in turf and turfgrass management from the University of Connecticut. Before joining PBI-Gordon in January 2025, he was the golf course superintendent at Windham Golf Course (Windham, Connecticut). Experienced in conducting fungicide trials and developing rotational programs for preventive turfgrass disease control, Miele has worked with a wide range of cool-season turfgrass species and understands the pest management challenges at all stages of growth.

“The PBI-Gordon field development team was developed with the specific needs of our end-users and distribution partners in mind,” Aynardi said. “The diverse backgrounds and decades of experience in sales, research, distribution, and field application on our team gives us a well-rounded perspective on the industry. Through new and existing product training, new product trials and demonstrations, technical support, developing educational materials, and providing timely information for the control of problematic pests, we welcome opportunities to collaborate, consult, and solve.”