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/621615
32 SportsTurf | January 2016 www.sportsturfonline.com THE INTERVIEW science is declining. The profession may be faced with a shortage of qualified sports field managers in the future. This could result in unqualified people managing fields, which could impact how the pro- fession is viewed externally. Conversely, higher demand coupled with lower sup- ply can drive higher salaries for qualified managers. STMA has developed a turf- grass science curriculum targeted to high school students to introduce them to the profession. We are working hard to get it into programs that are not only ag ed, but into mainstream science classes. Next, increasing environmental regulations affect the work of our mem- bers. As more governmental regulations affect use of products, and require more stringent management practices, STMA has the opportunity to become the go-to resource for information. We are rolling out an Environmental Facility Certification Program that has the opportunity to promote our members as the environmental stewards they are and bring more credibility to the profession. This certification can help to counter the wave of indiscriminate restrictions that have no basis in fact. Lastly, synthetic turf is top-of-mind. The issue isn't with synthetic turf; it is with the employers' not understanding the value of a sports field manager and the job that they do. Our members are not being invited to the table when decisions are being made about field surfaces. STMA is focused on promoting the value of a sports field manager to employers, sportscasters, and spectators. We are tak- ing a leadership role in the sports world by creating awareness that the quality of the playing surface is essential to the game and the athlete's safety. To do this we need professional help. We hired Buffalo as I mentioned previously. They are a top-notch PR firm that is gaining publicity for individual members, the association and the profession. They are helping us to tell success stories about natural grass fields. We also aggressively promote our members' technical exper- tise as speakers, presenters and authors. Our primary targets are associations and organizations (and their publica- tions) that our members' employers interact with, such as NRPA, the Athletic Business Conference, and the Green Sports Summit, to name a few. SPORTSTURF: What do you do out- side work? HECK: I bought a house within walking distance of STMA's headquarters (so you can guess where I spend my spare time!) My neighborhood is one of the oldest in Lawrence, where I serve as its associa- tion's Secretary. I get together with friends often, sometimes in our official capacity as a book club and a wine club (our book club reads wine labels!) I practice yoga and do cardio, weights and Pilates in formal classes weekly. I tried boxing, but that didn't work out so well. One of my daughters "gifted" me her mastiff, Bella, when she got a puppy, so that dog rules my life. Two of my children were mar- ried within 14 months of each other (the most recent was September) and those weddings were whirlwinds. However, cheering on our Kansas City sports teams takes up most of my spare time—love the Chiefs, World Series winners Royals, and Sporting KC! But, I'm an even greater fan of the KU Jayhawks. Rock Chalk! ■ ST We are rolling out an Environmental Facility Certification Program that has the opportunity to promote our members as the environmental stewards they are and bring more credibility to the profession.