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/560546
www.stma.org September 2015 | SportsTurf 47 At the 2013 fall meeting, the Sports Turf Managers Association Board of Directors approved the hiring of Buffalo Brand Invigoration Group (Buffalo) to gain recognition for its 2,600 members who manage sports field worldwide. Buffalo is headquartered outside of Washington, DC and has offices in Boston, Denver, Miami, Minneapolis, New York, Raleigh, NC and Richmond VA. Over the past two years, Buffalo has col- laborated closely with the STMA team in L awrence, KS as well as individual mem- bers across the US to secure stories in both consumer and trade publications. Since November 2013, Buffalo has obtained more than $22.8 million in PR/advertising equivalency with STMA appearing in 200- plus outlets. Non-endemic titles include: Forbes, NBC, SB Nation, Sports Illustrated, The Washington Post, USA Todayand Yahoo! Sports. Buffalo's aim is to gain awareness for sports turf managers in consumer outlets and educate their employers through trade publications on the complexity, technical knowledge and expertise needed to manage sports surfaces. By acquiring media atten- tion for sports turf managers at all levels, Buffalo has increased recognition for STMA in business, sports and lifestyle outlets. During its 2-year tenure, Buffalo has teamed with a number of turf manag- ers on specific storylines around events, anniversaries and so on. Most recently, they helped promote several STMA mem- bers regarding CONCACAF Gold Cup and International Champions Cup soc- cer matches. Placements include John Torres (PPL Park), Tom Vaughn (Bank of America Stadium) and Phil McQuade (Dick's Sporting Goods Park). While Buffalo's role primarily focuses on proactive media outreach, they are also assisting STMA in preparation for crisis or reputation management situa- tions that could harm the perception of the sports turf industry. This includes weekly monitoring of storylines and media "hot buttons." In addition to placing STMA mem- bers "in the news," Buffalo also manages STMA's social media channels. Since January 2014, they have organically grown Twitter followers from 100 to more than 2,200 and counting. Other platforms include Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. Rich Katz, Managing Director of Buffalo, is impressed with STMA's active membership. "They are deeply passionate about the importance of their roles in the dynamic and innovative sports turf industry," says Katz. "Sharing their unique stories and contributions nationally and regionally helps them garner much deserved recog- nition." Buffalo is always interested in hearing from STMA members and encourages you to reach out if you have an interesting story, event or research project you would like to share. Please contact Glenn Gray, GGray@buffalobig.com. ■ ST Did you know STMA works with a PR firm? 2. A member should only submit an application for a posi- tion and/or accept an interview for a position currently held by a fellow sports turf manager if the applicant has contacted the current sports turf manager to verify the position is open, or if the applicant has learned about the opening through an open position listing or through direct contact to the applicant by the facility's personnel. 3. A member should only accept a consulting assignment at a sports field facility if the current sports turf manager at that facility is aware of such impending consulting activity. 4. A member should make verbal consulting recommenda- tions for a facility only with the knowledge of the current sports turf manager or make written recommendations only when issuing a copy of such recommendations to the current sports turf manager. 5. Commercial members, soliciting business for their com- pany's products and services, should channel such solicitations through the current sports turf manager of the facility or ensure the current sports turf manager at that facility is aware of such impending solicitation. 6. Members should always conduct themselves in the highest professional manner at all sports turf-related events and other public events where the member is representing the sports turf management profession. 7. A member should not render negative opinions or com- ments about fellow members. ■ ST Marketplace