The cover story for this issue highlights the SFMA Professional Soccer Field of the Year, CPKC Stadium, home of the Kansas City Current, with insight from the sports turf and grounds managers— Mira Adamek, Julie Kessler and Trina Strayer— who earned the FOY win.

CPKC Stadium is a first-of-its-kind venue. Kansas City Current Co-owners Angie Long, Chris Long and Brittany Mahomes built the privately funded soccer-specific stadium as the first soccer stadium in the world purpose-built for a women’ s professional sports team. Their stated goal was to change not only the Kansas City skyline, but the landscape of women’ s sports.

With that commitment in mind, it is great to see the work of the CPKC grounds team changing the landscape of the sports field management industry, and setting an example for other young women considering careers in the industry.

Further highlighting women in the industry in this issue, Leslie Schurman details how women in the industry can build expertise, relationships and confidence to move their careers forward( see Personal and Professional Development).

Schurman is one of the organizers of the annual Women in the Green Industry Conference, hosted by SiteOne Landscape Supply, which will take place September 30 to October 2, 2026, in New Orleans.

Now in its 28th year, the conference brings together women from throughout the green industry to exchange ideas, build relationships and gain insights they can apply to their careers. This year’ s three-day agenda includes educational sessions on industry trends, business growth, professional development, leadership and wellness.

“ The green industry is filled with talented women leading teams, growing businesses and shaping the

future of our profession,” said Christina Moore, director of events for SiteOne.“ For nearly three decades, the Women in Green Industry Conference has provided a space for those women to connect, learn from one another and return home with ideas they can immediately apply to their careers and businesses.”

This year’ s conference keynote speaker is Valorie Burton, founder of the Coaching and Positive Psychology( CaPP) Institute, bestselling author and a renowned executive coach. She will present a session titled,“ Successful Women Think Differently,” which will discuss mindset shifts and habits that cultivate success. Additional speakers include executives from throughout the green industry who will share insights and advice on succeeding and growing in your career.

The conference will also feature networking events, including an evening at the world-famous Sazerac House and a traditional New Orleans Second Line parade led by a live brass band along Canal Street.

To see session details and register, visit https:// cvent. me / e93zg0.

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