Sod company plows ahead with new COO

BRADENTON — Longtime sales consultant and entrepreneur Jeff Murphy has been named COO of Bayside Sod.

Murphy joined the Bradenton-based company Feb. 22, reporting to company president and co-owner Tiffany Bailey, a fifth-generation farmer. Murphy will work with Bailey on implementing the company’s vision and strategy — what he calls the Bayside Sod Way, according to an email from Bailey. Murphy will also be responsible for day-to-day operations of the company, including sales/marketing, production, HR, and IT.

Murphy has over 31 years of business experience, with companies ranging from startups to over $30 billion in annual revenue. His most recent role was as president and founder of United Sales Solutions, where he provided fractional and outsourced sales leadership for small and mid-sized companies. Bayside was a client of United Sales Solutions, where he helped the sod and farming business define and implement an updated sales process, Bailey says. “While working with Jeff, it was clear that his background, experience and skillset would be an asset in helping Bayside Sod elevate to the next level as we work toward achieving the growth goals that we have established,” Bailey says in the email.

Murphy has worked as a systems engineer for AT&T Bell Laboratories in New Jersey and in sales for system integration and wireless distribution companies. Murphy is from a small town on the eastern shore of Maryland and working with Bayside Sod made him feel like he was “back home,” Bailey says, adding that “he fell in love with the people and culture at Bayside Sod and he indicated he wanted to be a part of the Bayside Sod family.”

A Business Observer 40 under 40 winner in 2021, Bailey, along with her brother and brother-in-law, bought out Bayside Sod from her dad in 2018.