RISING STAR

Rising Star Award Winner Danny Losito , CSFM , is at the top of the game . As director of sports fields and grounds for Tepper Sports & Entertainment , Losito oversees Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte , North Carolina , as well as the practice facilities for the stadium ’ s tenants — the NFL ’ s Carolina Panthers and Charlotte FC of Major League Soccer .

Despite having already attained such a coveted position in professional sports , Losito pursued — and attained — CSFM certification from SFMA in 2023 .

“ If you ’ re at this level , it ’ s not about you ,” said Losito . “ It ’ s about pushing the industry forward and trying to increase professionalism standards . It ’ s easy to just go to work and do your job and not care about the industry .

But I like the industry ; I like to network and I love the people who are in it . It ’ s a way for me to stay involved , keep myself accountable and set an example for people .”

Losito also stays involved in the industry by helping his peers with NFL International Series games and preparation for the Super Bowl . He helped launch a co-op internship program in North Carolina and hosts young professionals and students — such as those from the Brentsville HS Turfgrass Management Program — at his facility .

“ You get high school kids who don ’ t know yet if they want to work in turf ,” he said . “ A lot of them don ’ t end up in turf , which is okay . What I like is that they ’ re aware that this is an industry . They might go on to work in sports or at a facility . They may not be

28 SportsField Management | October 2024 sportsfieldmanagementonline . com