PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Networking— some people hate it; others love it. No matter where you fall on that spectrum, networking is an important part of professional development. Everyone has a network. Think about people you

By Kerri Day Keller and Erin Wolfram know well, such as family, friends, and colleagues. You also have countless acquaintances: regular visitors to the facilities you maintain, members of your church, parents of your kids’ friends and teammates, members of professional associations you are part of, and more. The act of networking involves nurturing relationships you already have while proactively capitalizing on opportunities to expand your network.

So, how do you do this? If you are interested in utilizing your network for professional growth, think about the type of information you would like to acquire from your network: innovative turf management practices, more industry connections, and / or job opportunities, for example. Additionally, consider the knowledge, information and opportunities that you can share with others. Networking is a two-way street— it’ s important to give as much as( or more than) you receive. Therefore, when having conversations or communicating online, always aim to learn what others need. If you have information that might be helpful in fulfilling that need, be open to sharing; hopefully, your connections will do the same!

Networking can be done in person or online, and can be very natural in many situations— such as at an annual industry conference or via LinkedIn. However, you are likely to engage your network every day without even realizing it. Each conversation you have with someone you already know or with new people you meet is an opportunity to build your network.

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS Think about the professional associations of which you are already a member— such as the Sports Field Management Association( SFMA), affiliated chapters or state / regional turfgrass associations. Make sure you are taking full advantage of the opportunities offered through those memberships. Attend meetings, conferences, outings and training sessions as much as possible. While there, ask people questions to learn about their facilities, jobs, needs and goals. If possible, swap business cards and / or connect via LinkedIn to

officially add new contacts to your network. Follow up shortly after the interaction with an email, LinkedIn message, text or phone call, as appropriate, to further solidify your professional relationship.

In addition to being an active association participant, get more involved by serving on a committee or board or volunteering to help plan an event or meeting. This will help you establish stronger relationships with other members as you work toward common goals.

Make sure to also utilize the SFMA online directory to find members with similar positions or in geographic regions of interest to you. Don’ t hesitate to send an email or LinkedIn connection request with details on why you reached out and would like to connect. For example, if another facility recently completed a renovation similar to one that you are preparing to execute, you may want to reach out to the sports field manager of that facility to learn about their renovation experience. Sample email: Dear Katie, I am an SFMA member who currently maintains all of the baseball and softball fields in Ridgewood. We are preparing to do a major renovation soon, and I noticed your team recently did something similar in Canyon City. Would you be open to a 30-minute call sometime next week to discuss your project? I’ d love to learn about any tips you have or unexpected obstacles you encountered.

Thank you for considering a call. I look forward to hearing from you. Sincerely, Joel

Additional tips:

When attending meetings, events and activities, try to sit by somebody new whenever possible. Introduce yourself and engage in conversation.

Run for office in an organization. Even

24 SportsField Management | August 2025 sportsfieldmanagementonline. com