POST-SHOW RECAP
OPENING GENERAL SESSION The Opening General Session , titled “ Countdown to the World Cup 2026 — Behindthe-Scenes Look at Research and Preparation to Pull Off the World ’ s Largest Tournament ” was presented by Alan Ferguson , senior pitch management manager for FIFA ; Professor John “ Trey ” Rogers III , Ph . D . from Michigan State University ; Ewen Hodge , senior pitch infrastructure manager , FIFA26 US Inc .; and Weston Appelfeller , senior manager , training pitch management at FIFA .
To successfully stage the world ’ s biggest sporting event , FIFA funded a collaborative research and development effort between Michigan State University and the University of Tennessee to prepare pitches for the 2026 FIFA World Cup . The Opening General Session offered an in-depth overview of the research , with a focus on the challenges and progress in developing temporary playing surfaces for eight of the 16 stadiums . It also highlighted results from indoor testing conducted for the five domed venues and explored how the research has been applied to real-world scenarios .
F . I . E . L . D . FORUM The F . I . E . L . D . Forum ( Fostering Inclusion , Equity , Leadership and Diversity ) was held January 16 . Tara Furiani of Not the HR Lady presented “ Game On : Leveling the Playing Field in Sports Field Management .”
Attendees gained insight into the present state of diversity in the sports field management industry , focusing on the underrepresentation of women and marginalized groups , and how this impacts team dynamics , innovation and industry growth . They learned strategies for promoting equity through shifts in language , team roles and behavior . Attendees also discovered effective ways to attract diverse talent from high schools and colleges , fostering early inclusion through mentorship programs , internships and partnerships with educational institutions .
SFMA BOARD OF DIRECTORS The 2025 SFMA Board of Directors officially took office at the Annual Meeting . The 2025 SFMA Board of Directors is as follows :
OFFICERS President : Adam Thoms , Ph . D . Immediate Past President : Sun Roesslein , CSFM President Elect : Alpha Jones , CSFM Secretary-Treasurer : Casey Carrick , CSFM Vice President Commercial : Erin Wilder sportsfieldmanagementonline . com March 2025 | SportsField Management
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