PROFILE

STMA President Nick McKenna , CSFM , on challenges turned opportunities and his vision for shaping the association ’ s future

By John Kmitta

As STMA President Nick McKenna , CSFM , takes the helm of the association , he is well aware that the past year will have a lingering effect on the sports field management industry .

“ 2020 is going to carry into 2021 ,” said McKenna , who serves as assistant athletic field maintenance manager at Texas A & M University . “ Worst case , we could be looking at five years before we get into a true semblance of normal . But I try not to look at challenges as challenges ; I try to look at challenges as opportunities . I look at how we , as an association , were able to pivot , what we were able to do , and the ways we found that we could assist our members .”

Specifically , McKenna points to STMA ’ s letter of support stating that sports field managers should be considered essential personnel , the Route to Recovery Task Force , the Route to Recovery guides STMA produced in conjunction with SportsField Management , and the virtual Town Hall meetings STMA hosted throughout the year to help members deal with COVID-19-related challenges .

“ As much of a challenge as this was , we turned it into an opportunity to come up with new ways to connect with our members , to bring new value to them , to further evolve our association ,” said McKenna . “ And I hope those are things that we continue down the line .”

McKenna added that STMA is now presented with a unique opportunity to evaluate where it is at as an association , what it wants to be , and where it goes from here .

“ This year has provided us an opportunity to really look under a microscope at how we serve our members , and what we are doing for them ,” he said . “ The sky ’ s the limit now . We can make it become what we want .”

According to McKenna , some of the greatest strengths of STMA and its members are adaptability ,

All photos provided by Nick McKenna , CSFM , and Texas A & M University versatility , and the ability to succeed despite any challenges they face .

“ I think that is going to show itself in the years to come ,” he said . “ Regardless of where we are at now – regardless of what has happened to us as individuals , as an industry , as an association – we will adapt and move forward . We will survive , and we will become stronger . We might look back and say that 2020 was the year that STMA took the next step toward enhancing our professional image , and toward having safe playing surfaces for all athletes . I ’ m confident that our association and our members will come through this stronger than ever . I think we do that by working together , by working collaboratively like we have done throughout this past year .”

BORN IN A SMALL TOWN

Born and raised in rural Iowa , McKenna grew up in an agricultural setting . His father managed a local swine operation , and would take Nick to work with him on the weekends . By the time McKenna was 10 years old , his family had purchased its own hog farm .

“ That ’ s how I fell in love with the agricultural industry , working with my hands and being outside ,” said McKenna . “ That ’ s where I owned my work ethic and picked up a lot from my parents about how to go about life , be a good hardworking person and a contributing member to society .”

The family farm was located outside a town of approximately 300 people , and the town where McKenna attended school – Vinton , Iowa – was home to fewer than 6,000 . The community was surrounded by agriculture .

In addition to working on the family farm , McKenna earned money as a youth by mowing lawns – a job that was passed down to him . McKenna has an older sister , an older brother , and a younger sister ; and as the older siblings moved on from the lawn care duties and went to college , that role got passed on to him .

12 SportsField Management | February 2021 sportsfieldmanagementonline . com