OFFICERS

President: Alpha Jones, CSFM

Immediate Past President: Adam Thoms, Ph. D.

President Elect: Casey Carrick, CSFM

Secretary / Treasurer: Jason DeMink, CSFM

Vice President Commercial: Matthew Duncan, CSFM

DIRECTORS

Academic: Weston Floyd, CSFM

At-Large( elected): Ben Baumer, CSFM

At-Large( appointed): Eric Harshman, CSFM, CGM, SSC

Commercial: Adam Russell, LEED AP

Higher Education: Joe Hill

Parks & Recreation: Tara Jordan

Professional Facilities: Mitch Hooten

Schools K-12: Jake Mays, CSFM

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

Before the first whistle blows, before athletes take the field, and before fans fill the stands, someone has already been at work thinking about safety. Long before game time arrives, fields are prepared, inspected, repaired, lined, watered and managed with one goal in mind: creating an environment where athletes and communities can compete with confidence.

Every great sports experience is built on trust in the people who prepare and protect the places where the game begins. Whether it is the parent volunteer dragging and lining a field before a local coach-pitch game or the director of field operations preparing a professional stadium, the responsibility remains the same. The work may look different from one facility to another, but the purpose is shared— protecting athletes, coaches, officials and communities through preparation, awareness and care.

For many in this profession, preparation is an act of pride long before it is ever seen as a task.

That responsibility is especially highlighted this time of year. Summer schedules bring increased field traffic, rising temperatures, unpredictable weather and quick turnarounds between events— all while many professionals are already preparing for the demands of fall and winter sports seasons. Recovery plans, field transitions, scheduling decisions, and daily evaluations are all happening simultaneously during one of the busiest stretches of the year.

The safest playing surfaces are rarely the result of game-day decisions alone. They are built through consistent preparation long before the first pitch, kickoff or whistle.

The SFMA slogan,“ Where the Game Begins,” serves as a reminder that the game itself starts long before athletes ever step onto the surface. It begins with the people dedicated to preparing, managing and protecting the fields and facilities entrusted to their care. Across every level of sports, that responsibility reflects the professionalism, pride and commitment that continue to define this profession and the people within it.

I want to applaud and say thank you to everyone who contributes to that effort. From volunteers and parks crews to school districts, municipalities, colleges and professional organizations, your work often happens behind the scenes; but its impact is felt in every safe practice, every completed game, and every opportunity for athletes to compete with confidence.

Every great sports experience begins with trust in the people who prepare and protect the places where the game begins.

— Alpha Jones, CSFM

Alpha Jones, CSFM SFMA President ajonessfma @ gmail. com sportsfieldmanagementonline. com June 2026 | SportsField Management

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