F.O.Y. | Tiger Park
ing as the assistant sports turf manager working with CSFMs Eric
Fasbender and Marcus Dean.
ST: What advice would you offer when relocating to begin a new
Turf Management job, both personally and professionally?
Harshman: Personally: If married/family, make sure to talk out
any detail imaginable. Be considerate of your spouse and family. Make
sure everyone is on board. The decision you make will not only have
an impact on you, it will impact your family!
Professionally: First and foremost, look to challenge yourself and
broaden your horizons. Be confident in your abilities, but look toward
others when advice is needed. Know that mistakes are going to be
made and that you can learn from them. Relocating can be exciting
and can be very stressful if you allow it to consume you. Control the
controllable!
ST: What channels of communication do you use to reach
coaches, administrators, and users of your facility? Any tips on communicating well?
Harshman: I use a wide variety of communication methods (email, phone calls, texts). I find that the best way of communication
is in person and to the individual/individuals looking for answers. By
going straight to the source you eliminate any concerns/questions that
may be lost in translation via texts or even with e-mail.
PRE-GAME Water
ST: How do you see your job changing in the future?
Harshman: The sports turf managers job is ever-changing. Cultural practices and the means to apply them change at a rapid rate.
Doing research on the latest products (equipment, fertilizers etc.) is a
constant. I believe that turf managers are now being asked to do more
than manage the playing surfaces. We are now taking on the responsibilities of facility director, stadium operations and event managers. n
TIGER INVITATIONAL Eight game weekend tournament
40 SportsTurf | December 2013
www.sportsturfonline.com
