May 6, 2011

MSU Extension Educator HonoredSource: MSU

As a result of his educational efforts to these horticultural industries, Senior Extension Horticulture and Marketing Educator Tom A. Dudek was selected as a 2011 Michigan State University Distinguished Staff Award recipient.

You can’t drive too far in West Michigan without coming across a greenhouse or nursery operation. These businesses are a large part of the agricultural landscape and a significant part of the state’s business economy. Many of them have benefited from the expertise and services provided by Ottawa County Michigan State University Extension staff member Thomas A. Dudek, senior extension horticulture and marketing educator.

As a result of his educational efforts to the horticultural industry, Dudek was selected as a 2011 Michigan State University Distinguished Staff Award recipient. The honor is annually awarded to academic specialists and MSU Extension academic staff members for extraordinary achievement, excellence and exceptional contributions in advising, curriculum development, outreach, extension, research and/or teaching.

Based in Ottawa County, Dudek provides educational programming on production, marketing and financial issues to more than 300 greenhouses and 150 nurseries in West Michigan. His work involves bringing the latest research from MSU to help ornamental horticultural businesses better their approach to problem solving.