Stanley J. Zontek Director Mid-Atlantic Region

Zontek is the director of the USGA Green Section's Mid-Atlantic region. He is the longest tenured USGA employee, joining the USGA staff in 1971. Prior to his current position, Zontek has also been the director of the North Central and Northeastern Green Section Regions. He also held the position as Northeastern agronomist from 1971 to 1976, working under the direction of Alexander M. Radko.

The son of a golf course superintendent, he was reared in a golf environment. He played his first nine holes of golf at age 5 (he shot a 88). Zontek mowed his first putting green at 12 years old. He is a 1971 graduate of Penn State University with a Bachelors Degree in Agronomy/Turfgrass Management.

During his tenure with the USGA, Zontek has traveled extensively. He is a frequent speaker at local, regional, and international turf conferences. The primary focus of his presentations centers around the basic and practical elements of turfgrass maintenance and management. One of Zontek's ongoing responsibilities is overseeing and participating in the maintenance of the putting green at the White House.

He is the recipient of the 2006 GCSAA Distinguished Service Award, the 1997 GCBAA Don Rossi Humanitarian Award, and the 1997 recipient of the Eb Steiniger Award, presented by the Philadelphia Association of Golf Course Superintendents. He has been a Kentucky Colonel since 1987.

Zontek is a Certified Professional Agronomist, and a member of the Board of Directors for the Musser International Turf Foundation. He is a member of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America and the British International Golf Greenkeepers Association.

Stanley resides in Avondale, Pa.