The Sports Field Management Association (SFMA) proudly recognized two distinguished members, Greg Petry, CPRE, and Michael Goatley, Ph. D., as recipients of the 2025 President’s Award during the SFMA Annual Conference held in Fort Worth, Texas, in January 2026.
Petry is owner of Greg Petry Consulting, LLC., and former executive director / CEO of the Waukegan (Illinois) Park District. Petry also served as president of the Sports Turf Managers Association (STMA) from 1994-95.
Goatley is professor and Extension turfgrass specialist, School of Plant and Environmental Sciences, at Virginia Tech University. He served as president of STMA from 2012-13.
Presented at the conference by 2025 SFMA President Adam Thoms, Ph. D., the President’s Award is a special honor acknowledging individuals who have made significant contributions to
the association and the profession. Petry and Goatley were recognized for their instrumental roles and dedicated service in supporting SFMA through the extensive search process for the organization’s new Chief Executive Officer, Paula Sliefert.
Both individuals devoted considerable time, expertise, and leadership to ensure a thorough and thoughtful process — helping position SFMA for continued success and strategic growth.
“Greg and Mike exemplify the very best of SFMA,” said Thoms. “Their commitment, professionalism, and willingness to step up during a critical time for our association made a lasting impact. On behalf of SFMA, I am incredibly grateful for their leadership and the integrity they brought to the CEO search process.”
The recognition took place in front of peers and industry leaders during the conference, highlighting the importance of volunteer leadership and member engagement in advancing the sports field management profession.
SFMA extends its sincere appreciation to Petry and Goatley for their exceptional service and ongoing contributions to the association.
SFMA announced two new Resource Centers, available through the SFMA Member portal and administered through the Canvas app.
This one-stop hub is designed to bring together valuable field painting resources from throughout the industry — all in one easy-to-find place. Athletic field painting is a key part of the art and science of athletic field management. It goes beyond appearance by helping create precise boundaries and accurate markings that support fair play and confident calls on the field. Whether you’re looking to sharpen your skills, explore best practices, or stay current with industry tools, this resource center is here to help.
SFMA’s Synthetic Turf Management Resource Center is your go-to destination for trusted education, tools, and industry resources — all in one place. Whether you’re new to synthetic surfaces or an experienced professional, this center is designed to support every stage of field management. From construction to maintenance, safety to sustainability, SFMA is here to help you make informed decisions and manage high-performing synthetic fields with confidence.
Log in to your SFMA Member Portal account, or create an account if you are a new user.
Navigate to Educational Offerings in the portal menu.
Select your desired course from the drop-down menu. Complete the registration process. Once registered, you will receive an email with further instructions.
If you have any questions or need assistance, contact Jennifer McLendon at jmclendon@sportsfieldmanagement.org
SFMA announced several upcoming chapter events:
MAY 12
GEORGIA SFMA SPRING FIELD DAY
Location: Georgia Christian School
A spring gathering for sports field managers focused on education, networking, and chapter engagement.
https: /www.georgiastma.org/events
MAY 14
VIRGINIA SFMA FIELD & DEMO DAY
Location: CarMax Park
Hands-on sessions, equipment demos, calibration training, and behindthe-scenes venue access.
https://vsfma.starchapter.com/meetinginfo.php? id=66&ts=1774876780
MAY 14
KENTUCKY SFMA FLORENCE Y’ALLS BASEBALL GAME SOCIAL EVENT
Location: Florence, Kentucky
A fun networking night with fellow members at the ballpark.
https: /www.kysfma.org
MAY 27
TEXAS SFMA FIELD DAY HOSTED BY PRIME SOD
Location: Kopperl, Texas
An outdoor field day featuring sod production insights, sports field education, and peer networking. https://txstma.org/event/field-dayhosted-by-prime-sod/
MAY 28
COLORADO SFMA SPRING SEMINAR
Location: Aurora Sports Park
Hands-on stations covering maintenance, irrigation, painting, and sports turf operations. https://cstma.starchapter.com/meet inginfo.php? id=78&ts=177501974
JUNE 2
VIRGINIA SFMA RECERTIFICATION WEBINAR
Location: Virtual
Professional recertification training and continuing education.
https://vsfma.starchapter.com/meet inginfo.php
JUNE 10
MID-ATLANTIC SFMA SUMMER FIELD DAY
Location: Maryland SoccerPlex
A summer field day with education sessions, networking, and venuebased learning. https://masfma.starchapter.com/meetinginfo.php
JUNE 24
KENTUCKY SFMA + TVSFMA UNIVERSITY OF THE CUMBERLANDS EVENT
Location: University of the Cumberlands
A joint chapter education day focused on professional development and networking.
https://www.kysfma.org
JULY 1
MPSFMA / UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA TURFGRASS EXTENSION FIELD DAY
Location: University of Minnesota TROE Center
A technical field day focused on turfgrass research and practical field management updates.
https://mpsfma.org/meetinginfo.php
JULY 15
MPSFMA DEMO DAY
Location: M Health Fairview Sports Center
Live demonstrations, product education, and peer networking.
https://mpsfma.org/meetinginfo.php
JULY 23
NEW ENGLAND SFMA DEWOLF MEMORIAL GOLF TOURNAMENT
Location: Brookmeadow Country Club A chapter golf outing honoring industry leadership.
https://theturfzone.com/nesfma/? asc at=76&sub=event&pub=10372
JULY 28
RUTGERS TURFGRASS RESEARCH FIELD DAY – GOLF & FINE TURF
Location: North Brunswick, New Jersey
Research presentations and demonstrations focused on golf and fine turf systems.
https://sfmanj.org/
JULY 29
RUTGERS TURFGRASS RESEARCH FIELD DAY – LAWN, LANDSCAPE & SPORTS TURF
Location: Freehold, New Jersey
Sports turf, landscape, and equipment demonstrations.
https://sfmanj.org/