Officers

President : Sun Roesslein , CSFM

Immediate Past President : James Bergdoll , CSFM , CPRP

President Elect : Nick McKenna , CSFM

Secretary-Treasurer : Adam Thoms , Ph . D .

Vice President Commercial : Paula Sliefert

Directors

Academic : Chase Straw , Ph . D .

At-Large ( elected ): Ryan DeMay , CSFM

At-Large ( appointed ): Zachary Holm , CSFM

Commercial : Erin Boyd Wilder

Higher Education : Jason DeMink , CSFM

Parks and Recreation : Jason Bowers , CSFM

Professional Facilities : Alpha Jones , CSFM

Schools K-12 : Jeremy Driscoll , CSFM

SFMA OFFICE P . O . Box 1673 Lawrence , KS 66044 Phone : 800-323-3875 Email : SFMAInfo @ SportsFieldManagement . org www . sportsfieldmanagement . org

SFMA EDITORIAL COMMITTEE Co-chairs : Brad Thedens , CSFM and Adam Thoms , Ph . D .

Members : T . J . Brewer , CSFM ; Joe Churchill ; Charles Fontanier , Ph . D .; Eric Harshman ; Forrest Jammer ; Cody McKee ; Kieran O ’ Donnell ; Kelly Rensel , CSFM ; Eric Roberts , CSFM ; Chase Straw , Ph . D .; Adam Webb .

If the 2023 SFMA Conference & Exhibition is any indication , we have an exciting future ahead ! The exceptional attendance , strong educational program , networking opportunities , exhibition , Seminar on Wheels and the exceptional general session and keynote had the entire sports field management community buzzing with excitement .

My first four months with SFMA have been amazing ; everything I had hoped for and more ! From taking in my first SFMA Conference & Exhibition , meeting hundreds of people , working with the SFMA Board of Directors , and reinvigorating the strategic plan , I have been filled with enthusiasm for this profession , the association , and the future . I would like to thank everyone who has made me feel welcome , but that would fill the entire magazine . So , I will call out a select few groups : Headquarters staff , SFMA Board of Directors and Executive Committee , Transition Working Group , volunteers who chair and serve on committees , past presidents , SAFE Board of Trustees , Marketing & Events , Inc ., Buffalo Agency , SportsField Management magazine , and last but certainly not least , the SFMA members !

At its most recent meeting , the SFMA Board of Directors reviewed the strategic plan that was drafted in 2021 . It was important after pausing those efforts to evaluate the plan and ensure that the actions within it are still relevant . The three primary goals of growing respect for the profession , growing the organization by focusing on integrating the next generation , and growing the diversity of the organization to attract underrepresented groups remain intact and are the pillars for the future .

Some steps have been completed ; for example , the rebranding to Sports Field Management Association and updating the conference education to align with defined competencies of the profession . Other steps had been put on pause , and priorities are being set to activate them to build a strong future for SFMA .

Laura H . Simmons , MBA , CAE SFMA Chief Executive Officer LSimmons @ Sportsfieldmanagement . org

Our committees will lead the charge on these initiatives . They will be called on to support an apprenticeship program , review and develop

education and resources , create handson workshops for the conference , develop an ambassador program , and create a comfortable environment for discussion on diversity and inclusion .

As Alan Kay said , “ The only way you can predict the future is to build it .” I look forward to working with all of you and building SFMA ’ s future . SFM

Laura H . Simmons , MBA , CAE

Editor ’ s Note : The President ’ s Message column authored by Sun Roesslein , CSFM , will return in the May issue of SportsField Management . sportsfieldmanagementonline . com April 2023 | SportsField Management

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