SFMA IN ACTION
VICE PRESIDENT – COMMERCIAL : PAULA SLIEFERT Paula Sliefert joined The Toro Company in 2007 , and currently serves as senior manager in the company ’ s commercial business . In her role , she has responsibility for supporting a number of Toro ’ s key industry relationships . In addition , she develops and implements strategies targeted at growing the sports fields and grounds market segments . Sliefert is a graduate of Simpson College with a bachelor ’ s degree in German and International Business and holds a master ’ s degree in German from Bowling Green State University .
DIRECTORS
ACADEMIC : CHASE STRAW , PH . D Chase Straw , Ph . D ., is assistant professor , turfgrass management and physiology , at Texas A & M University . Straw earned his B . S . degree from the University of Kentucky in Turfgrass Science . During his undergrad he gained experience managing sports fields at the collegiate ( University of Kentucky ) and professional ( Boston RedSox and Cincinnati Bengals ) levels . He went on to earn his M . S . and Ph . D . degrees in Turfgrass Science from the University of Georgia . He spent two years as a postdoctoral research associate at the University of Minnesota before becoming assistant professor of turfgrass management and physiology at Texas A & M University in February 2020 .
AT-LARGE ( ELECTED ): RYAN DEMAY , CSFM As a sports field manager , Ryan DeMay , CSFM , spent eight years working for Columbus ( Ohio ) Recreation and Parks managing 110 sports fields for more than 1.2 million participants annually . He guided his organization to become the first in Ohio to hold the SFMA Environmental Facility Certification in 2018 . Also in 2018 , DeMay founded Field Source Consulting . He now works closely with parks and recreation agencies , K-12 schools , universities , professional sports teams , and amateur sports organizations to ensure they are prepared to play on the best and safest sports fields . DeMay holds associate and bachelor ’ s degrees in Turfgrass Science and Agribusiness from Ohio State University where continues to serve as a lecturer in the two-year Turfgrass Management degree program . He earned his Certified Sports Field Manager certification in 2020 .
sportsfieldmanagementonline . com February 2023 | SportsField Management
9