Chris is the president of IrriTech Training, a resource for professional irrigation training online and in-person. Prior to this, Chris worked in sales management for two major manufacturers in the irrigation industry. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Management with a concentration in Economics from the University of Massachusetts – Lowell. Chris owned and operated a successful landscape and irrigation contracting business for 15 years, which was sold in 2000. He is active in many industry trade and non-profit organizations, serving on boards, committees, as a speaker, authoring articles and books, and is recognized as an accomplished trainer and consultant. A believer in professionalism, he is certified with the Irrigation Association as a commercial Designer, Landscape Water Manager, Irrigation Contractor, Irrigation Technician and Landscape Irrigation Auditor, as well as being a Certified Low Voltage Lighting Technician and a Massachusetts Certified Landscape Professional. He has been recognized as an Irrigation Association Regional Authorized Instructor since 2002 and has been a member and Chair of the IA Education Committee for many years. He has been involved in writing, editing and updating several of the IA courses and educational support materials. Chris lives on Cape Cod in Massachusetts with his wife Jeanne and their two sons.
Kurt K. Thompson has spent more than 35 years working as an irrigation contractor and in irrigation distribution and manufacturing. He is the owner of K Thompson & Associates, a professional development instruction and outdoor water use evaluation and planning company. He is also a principle in IrriTech Training. Kurt has trained thousands of contractors, managers, technicians, and designers for over 25 years. He is a nationally recognized author and collaborator of many certification and training manuals and programs, study guides, training courses, and presentations. He is the lead Irrigation AP trainer for the Florida Water StarSM program and continues to be a lead instructor for the Irrigation Association. He is one of the original trainers for the Irrigation Association’s auditor training.
He is a North Carolina Licensed Irrigation Contractor (#1141), one of only a few people in the world to currently hold all nine of the Irrigation Association’s landscape irrigation certifications (#8408: CIC, CWCM-L, CID-R, CID-C, CID-G, CLIA, CLIA-D, CGIA, and CIT). Additionally, he is a Certified Site Water Planner, an Irrigation Association Ambassador, a NALP Trailblazer for Irrigation and Water Management, a EPA Water Sense® Irrigation Provider, and a member of educational councils and committees of national and state associations.
He is a North Carolina Licensed Irrigation Contractor (#1141), one of only a few people in the world to currently hold all nine of the Irrigation Association’s landscape irrigation certifications (#8408: CIC, CWCM-L, CID-R, CID-C, CID-G, CLIA, CLIA-D, CGIA, and CIT). Additionally, he is a Certified Site Water Planner, an Irrigation Association Ambassador, a NALP Trailblazer for Irrigation and Water Management, a EPA Water Sense® Irrigation Provider, and a member of educational councils and committees of national and state associations.