SportsTurf provides current, practical and technical content on issues relevant to sports turf managers, including facilities managers. Most readers are athletic field managers from the professional level through parks and recreation, universities.
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/107950
STMA Conference More educational opportunities & networking highlight 24th Annual STMA Conference & Exhibition PPROXIMATELY 1,600 PEOPLE participated in the Sports Turf Managers Association's 24th Annual Conference and Exhibition last month in sunny Daytona Beach, FL. The crowd included sports turf managers, academics, and other industry professionals from across the globe. STMA's new format for Daytona Beach included STMA Academy and the addition of a number of new educational tracks, as well as changing times for several events; this reporter found nothing but positive reviews of the new format in informal chats with attendees and exhibitors. STMA President Dr. Mike Goatley made a point to congratulate Martin Kaufman, CSFM, Conference Chairman, for his diligence and tireless effort in organizing the Conference. And congratulations from this corner to the STMA Headquarters staff for another smoothly running show, set in a perfect venue and surrounding area. Way to go, CEO Kim Heck, Kristen Althouse, Leah Craig, Nora Dunnaway, and Shant Thomas. Simon Gumbrill, sales director of Campey Turf Care Systems, travelled from Great Britain to exhibit and said he was pleased with the attention his product line received during the revamped trade show hours. Mike Davis, president of GreensGroomer, said his product line, designed mainly to maintain synthetic turf surfaces, was also drawing a lot of attention, and John Walther, vice president, Barenbrug USA, credited his company's increased sales in the US on their presence at the past few STMA Conferences. This correspondent attended as many education sessions as time allowed and this year the best I witnessed was "Athletic Field Use and Maintenance Planning" by Rebecca Auchter, the manager of grounds maintenance for Cranberry (PA) Township. Her professional and organized approach to dealing with issues that face most sports turf managers focused on creating and managing expectations of those whose agendas are often contrary to what is best for fields. I recommend checking STMA.org for more information from her presentation. 2013 STMA Board of Directors President Mike Goatley, PhD, Turfgrass Specialist, Virginia Tech President Mike Goatley, PhD, Turfgrass Specialist, Virginia Tech President-Elect David Pinsonneault, CSFM, CPRP, Public Grounds Superintendent, Town of Lexington, MA Vice President – Commercial Rene Asprion, Sales Manager, Diamond Pro/TXI Secretary/Treasurer Allen Johnson, CSFM, Fields Manager, Green Bay Packers Director – Academic Jeffrey Fowler, County Extension Director, Penn State University Director – Schools K-12 Andrew Gossel, Athletic Director, Covenant Christian HS, Indianapolis Director – Commercial James Graff, Owner, Graff's Turf Farms, Ft. Morgan, CO Director – Parks & Recreation Debra Kneeshaw, Lead Park Technician, City of Portland (OR) Parks & Rec Director – Professional Facilities Phil McQuade, Assistant Turf Manager, Dicks Sporting Goods Park, Commerce City, CA Director - Higher Education Jeff Salmond, CSFM, Director of Athletic Field Management, University of Oklahoma Director – At Large (appointed) Mike Tarantino, Director, Maintenance & Operations, Poway (CA) Unified SD A FOUNDERS' AWARD WINNERS Friday night's Awards Banquet was topped off with presentation of the industry's most prestigious awards—STMA's Founders' Awards. Honored were: Dick Ericson Award - Amy Fouty, CSFM, Michigan State 34 SportsTurf | February 2013 Director - At Large (elected) Tim Van Loo, CSFM, Manager of Athletic Turf & Grounds, Iowa State University www.sportsturfonline.com