Our Story
Who we are and what we do
We are golf course superintendents and greenkeepers. We understand the challenges and what it takes to maintain a great golf course. Everything we have developed gets tested on the golf course, in real-life situations, over and over again, and we work with some of the most advanced laboratories in the world to develop the best and most effective solutions to everyday challenges.
Capillary Bunkers were first installed in 2010 in Scandinavia in a very tough climate with severe winter ground freezing conditions. The product was invented and developed by Founder Martin Sternberg, CGCS, as a means of finally resolving all bunker problems in even the most severe golf course locations. Today, thousands of bunkers have been built or renovated with Capillary Bunkers all across the world, from Australia, Japan, Africa to the USA and Europe. Capillary Bunkers is available throughout the world, in every major golf market through local distributors. Capillary Bunkers is an international company and is owned in part by Martin Sternberg, among others. The Board of Directors is made up of some very experienced turf professionals, including Stig Persson, former Chairman of the Swedish Greenkeepers Association, FEGGA (European Greenkeepers Assoc.); and Martin Sternberg, CGCS. We also are fortunate to have a very competent administrative team in offices in Celebration, Florida.
The Team
Martin Sternberg , CGCS
CEO & Founder
Martin Sternberg is the chief innovator and entrepreneur behind Capillary Concrete. He brings decades of experience with the game of golf and in golf course management and construction to bear in guiding the development of Capillary Concrete’s products. He is a Certified Golf Course Superintendent (CGCS) with the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA), became a pro and member of the PGA at 19 years old, and was one of only six players selected by the Swedish Golf Federation in 1987 for specialized training in the Swedish Military Golf Team.
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He also studied golf course operations management at the San Diego Golf Academy Martin has built or renovated more than 25 golf courses across the world, including Hills Golf Club, designed by Arthur Hills and Steve Forrest and the Oslo Golf Club, which today is Scandinavia’s most technically advanced golf course. Committed to finding new and better solutions to golf course problems throughout his career, Martin installed the first Penn A4 greens in Scandinavia after working with Dr. Duich at Penn State University. Martin developed Capillary ConcreteTM after many years of research and testing with support from investment firm Almi Innovationsbron. Martin absolutely loves the game of golf – both the strategy of the game and how it is affected by the golf course and nature. He comes from a long line of golf geeks and entrepreneurs and lives in Sweden and the US with his wife and daughters.
Max Odqvist
Vice President / Board Member
Max has been part of the Capillary Concrete journey from the very beginning, but engaged more extensively in 2017 when he joined the Board of Directors, overseeing the company’s strategic and financing activities. In 2019, Max joined the team operationally as Vice President, complementing the team with his experiences from non-golf industries. Max holds a Master’s Degree in Accounting & Financial Management from Stockholm School of Economics, and has experience from the Management Consulting and Finance industries, as well as from working with Business Development at a multi-billion dollar healthcare company
Brad Funk
Business Controller
Brad brings almost 20 years of experience in the world of accounting and finance from both public accounting and the private sector to our team, which he joined in the fall of 2017. Brad provides direct support and oversight in North America for accounting and finance, budgeting & forecasting, Human Resources, risk management and various other strategic initiatives. Brad holds a Bachelor of Business Administration with a focus in Accounting from Western Michigan University, a Master of Science in Management and an MBA with a focus in Finance, both from Walsh College. Brad currently resides in Florida near our North American office with his wife and four children. He enjoys spending his free time with family and friends, visiting Disney, entertaining, grilling, watching movies and exploring new technologies.
Cory Blair
Sales and Business Development Manager
Cory has 33 years of experience in the golf industry and is an alumni of Auburn University’s turfgrass management program. Cory is a Certified Golf Course Superintendent with the GCSAA. He was a golf course superintendent for 10 years and renovated and built numerous courses in the southeast. Cory then managed the Rain Bird golf irrigation distributorship for GA/AL and the panhandle of FL for 14 years. Cory teaches classes on a regular basis at Auburn University and at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College. He lives in Atlanta with his wife Jeanne and children.
Greg Nichols
National Sales & Installation Manager U.S.
Greg joined the Capillary Concrete team in April 2019 and is responsible for sales and installations in the Northeast region of the United States. Greg graduated from SUNY Canton and been in the golf course construction industry working with golf course architects, contractors and superintendents specializing in bunker maintenance products since 2007. Originally from Upstate New York, Greg currently resides in Tequesta, Florida and enjoys professional sporting events, college basketball, concerts, travel, golf, thoroughbred horse racing, polo and spending time with family and friends.
Scott Grego
Sales & Installation Manager U.S.
With more than 24 years in the turf industry, Scott’s love for golf began when he worked for his uncle on Dundee Golf course in Michigan as a teen. This led him to pursue his Turf Grass Management Degree from Michigan State.(Go Sparty) His internship led him to Dominion Country Club in San Antonio and eventually Superintendant of the golf course. After 7 years , he transitioned into the sales industry selling chemicals, fertilizers and equipment. In his down time, he enjoys traveling with his wife and 5 kids, hanging out by the water in the Florida Keys and golfing with father at various courses around the country
Hunter Smith
Operations Manager
Hunter joined the Capillary Concrete Team in July of 2016 and is responsible for the inside sales, logistics and coordination activities involved with Capillary Concrete. After college Hunter began working in the golf industry at Southern Dunes Golf and Country Club in Haines City, Florida as an Assistant Golf Professional. He then had the opportunity to work for David Leadbetter at his World Headquarters in Orlando, Florida as the Academy Coordinator. Hunter graduated from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree with a concentration in Finance.
Kneale Diamond
European Sales Manager
Kneale Diamond is our European Sales Manager and is based in the UK. Kneale started out in the golf industry as a greenskeeper at Ramsey Golf Club in the Isle of Man at the age of 15 and spent over 16 years in the industry working at The London Golf Club and Marriott Hanbury Manor Golf & Country Club where he was Course & Estates manager. After he left the greenskeeping industry he worked in the Irrigation industry for over 13 years where he supported golf clubs and sports facilities all over Europe and he is currently a qualified irrigation auditor and has vast experience of the golf industry. Kneale supports our European distributor network with his product expertise and experience.
Drew Kahn
Staff Accountant
Drew joined the Capillary Concrete Team in December 2019 as a Staff Accountant. She brings more than 10 years worth of experience in all facets of corporate accounting, finance and administration. During her years of service Drew had opportunity to work with Fortune 500 companies such as Fortunoff and Henry Schein in New York. Her background in construction accounting with her former employer IA Construction Management brings new perspective to Capillary Concrete accounting strategies. Drew holds a Bachelor of Business Administration with concentration in Finance from Baker’s University in Kansas. Drew moved from New York in 2019 and currently resides in Florida.
Stig Persson
Honorary Chair
Stig lives in Höllviken and is educated in agriculture and golf course and club management. Stig has participated in the planning and implementation of training for golf course staff / officers. He actively worked as a lecturer at various training courses and conferences for just about all categories in the golf business. Stig has also been active in international cooperation with the (FEGGA) green keeper organizations, as well as a volunteer at the British Open, raking bunkers, for more than 20 years.
