Judges

Each new product contest entry will be evaluated by a panel of three judges in the Innovation Hubs on Wednesday, Nov. 29. Candidates for the judging panel were carefully chosen for their extensive knowledge and expertise in the irrigation industry.

Note: There should be no contact between the new product contest contestants and the judges regarding their entries prior to the live judging sessions on Nov. 29.

Meet the 2023 New Product Contest judges

Agriculture Irrigation Category

• Rel Gray, CID, Branch Manager - Ruston, Irrigation-Mart | Tier 1 judge
• John Maxwell, CAIS, CID, Owner, Maxwell Irrigation | Tier 1 judge
• Brian Vinchesi, CGIA, CIC, CID, CLIA, CLIM, CLWM, President, Irrigation Consulting | Tier 1 & 2 judge
• Stacia Davis Conger, PhD, Assistant Professor, Louisiana State University | Tier 2 judge
• Paul McFadden, Ag Business Irrigation Consultant, California Agricultural Irrigation Association | Tier 2 judge

Landscape Irrigation Category

• Amber Clark, CID, Principal, HydroSystems KDI | Tier 1 judge
• David Cole, Lab Manager, Tarrant County College | Tier 1 judge
• Brad Mittelstadt, CIC, Regional Account Manager, Aquarius Supply | Tier 1 & 2 judge
• James Kauth, CLIA, CLWM, Executive Director, AQUA TRAC | Tier 2 judge
• Eric Santos, CAIS, CGIA, CIC, CID, CIT, CLIA, CLWM, Vice President of Irrigation Services, BrightView Landscape Services | Tier 2 judge

Landscape Lighting Category

• Brian Copeland, District Manager, Heritage Landscape Supply Group
• Matthew Jones, CIC, CIT, CLIA, Consultant, Conserva Irrigation
• Mark Stuhlsatz, CIT, CLIA, Regional Vice President, Ryan Lawn & Tree

View the 2023 product gallery