Sun Roesslein, CSFM, has been Sports Stadium Manager at the North Area Athletic Complex for over 19 years. She is responsible for overseeing and maintaining the football stadium and the soccer stadium which make up the NAAC. The natural grass complex is the home field for 6 of the high schools in the Jefferson County School District. Sun got her start in the turfgrass management industry working on the grounds crew for the Lexington Legends Minor League baseball team in 2001. After moving to Denver, she worked briefly for the City of Thornton before taking her current position with Jeffco Schools Athletics. In 2014, the NAAC soccer field was awarded SFMA’s Soccer Field of the Year for the Schools and Parks category. The following year, the NAAC football field was selected as SFMA’s 2015 Football Field of the Year in the same category.

Sun received her B.S. in 2000 and M.S. in 2002 from Eastern Kentucky University in Sports Administration. It was during her final semester that she discovered the turfgrass profession and decided to make a career path change. She became a member of SFMA in 2002. She is a Past President of the Rocky Mountain Regional Turfgrass Association, served on the CSTMA Board of Directors, and has served on SFMA’s Ethics committee, Website/ Technology committee, Membership committee and is currently Chair of the Conference committee. Sun has also served the SFMA Board as the Director representing the K-12 segment as well as the Route to Recovery task group. In July of 2016, Sun earned her CSFM designation.

VISION FOR SFMA

The SFMA membership is a group of passionate, talented, driven and dedicated people who make this industry a great one! I believe the Association plays a crucial role in supporting the success of sports field managers through education, networking, certifications, and awareness. 2020 certainly presented challenges, but SFMA stepped up to provide educational resources and support to our members and non-members alike. I envision SFMA and our membership to continue being the industry leaders in sports field management around the world. The pandemic highlighted what an important role sports fields play in people’s lives. It is imperative that SFMA continue to educate owners, managers, athletic directors and coaches on the importance of having qualified sports field managers keeping those surfaces safe.

Many of us have responsibilities beyond maintaining our playing surfaces and SFMA’s collaboration with other groups in related industries is certainly an area for growth. Whether it is administrative, facility management, or event management, I envision SFMA partnering with organizations in those areas to support our membership in their expansion of duties. These collaborations will also increase SFMA member’s visibility and credibility among those who do not necessarily understand what all goes into sports field management.

SFMA has enhanced my career tremendously, and I am honored to continue helping the Association support the successes of members at every level.

Adam Thoms, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor of Commercial Turfgrass and Extension Specialist in the Department of Horticulture at Iowa State University, where he started in 2016. He oversees the sports turfgrass research at Iowa State and is the Turfgrass Extension Specialist for Iowa. In addition to research and Extension activities, Adam teaches two classes (Turfgrass Irrigation and Sports Turf Management), as well as serving as an advisor to the Iowa State Turf Club. He also is the advisor for many of the students in the turfgrass program. Adam is in charge of planning education for the Iowa State Turfgrass Field Day and helps with planning education for the Iowa Turfgrass Conference. Before coming to Iowa State University, Adam was the Research Leader for the Center for Athletic Field Safety. Adam has been active in the SFMA since 2005 and took part in the very first SFMA Student Challenge. He has served as the Technical Editor for SportsField Management Magazine and was on the Editorial Committee. He has served on several other committees over the years. Adam is active in the Iowa SFMA Chapter, serving on the Board of Directors as an Educational Advisor. Outside of work he enjoys time with his family, wife (Rachel) and two children (George and Greta).

VISION FOR SFMA

I want to see SFMA be the leader in education and information on playing surfaces. I also feel the SFMA must find some novel recruiting techniques to help with the shortage of labor for the industry. The SFMA should be a source that the media reaches out to when an event happens, and questions arise. We also need to build partnerships with leagues and other organizations to help improve the safety of athletic fields. I feel through education, publicity, and recruiting the SFMA can benefit athletic field managers now and into the future.

Alpha Jones, CSFM recently joined the team at Duke University. Prior to moving to Duke, he was the Director of Field Operations for the Fayetteville Woodpeckers, Low – A affiliate of the Houston Astros. He has worked in the Turfgrass Industry for the past 20 years and 12 years before that in the landscape industry.

Alpha’s sports field management experience is very diverse. Fayetteville was his second time in the minor leagues, after several years with the Durham Bulls. Additionally, he was crew leader at WakeMed Soccer Park, Assistant Athletic Director of Athletic Facilities for Longwood University overseeing all outdoor athletic facilities and at the high school sports level with Durham Academy. He has volunteered his time to help renovate, maintain or consult on several local athletic fields.

A long-standing member of the Sports Field Management Association, the North Carolina and Virginia SFMA chapters, Alpha has served on the VSFMA Board of Directors, Conference Education and Tours Committee, Environmental Facility Certification Committee and currently serves as chairperson of the Learning Initiatives Committee.

Alpha earned his degree in Political Science, graduating Summa cum Laude in 2005 from North Carolina Central University. He achieved Certified Sports Field Manager status in 2020.

Vision for SFMA

I maintain my vision for the SFMA, which is to see the standards of professionalism, public awareness, and industry leadership, established by the great leaders who came before us, continue to grow successfully, increase the size of our membership, and become the recognized true standard and authority in the sports field management industry.

I believe we must play a vital role in creating a new and diverse interest in our Association and industry. As our society and education systems continue to adapt to the impacts of COVID-19, The SFMA is poised to be a key ingredient in establishing new and solid pathways for future sports field managers to follow within the education systems. We can and must establish new recruiting tools that attract the “technology dependent” generations, the person who is not sure of their future career choice, as well as former athletes who want better, safer, and aesthetically pleasing athletic facilities for their communities and schools. Focusing our outreach on the younger generations now will play a significant role in the vitality and longevity of our industry.

Erin Wilder brings over 20 years of experience in the turfgrass industry, where she has developed a deep understanding of research, development, education, production, sourcing, and managing projects in the turfgrass industry. As the Executive Director of Sod Solutions Professionals, Erin works with a global network of over 250 licensed producers to promote sustainable and innovative turfgrass solutions for all professional end users.

Growing up as part of an eighth-generation farming family in North Florida, Erin’s roots in agriculture shaped her career. She began working at Boyd Sod Farm as a Sales Representative and Sod Production Manager, gaining hands-on experience in turfgrass production and management. Over the years, Erin has traveled extensively, visiting farms, research facilities, and venues around the world to expand her knowledge and contribute to the industry.

Erin enjoys sharing her expertise through grassroots methods of assisting turf managers, speaking at conferences, providing educational seminars on the benefits and care of turfgrass and giving back to the industry through service. Some of her leadership roles include serving as Past President of the Florida Turfgrass Association, a board member of the Tallahassee Builders Association, and a former director for the Turf Producers of Florida. She has also supported statewide initiatives, such as the Florida Sod Best Management Practices Steering Committee and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services License & Bond Committee.

A graduate of the Wedgworth Leadership Institute for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Erin is passionate about helping the industry grow while addressing environmental sustainability and community well-being. She lives in Tallahassee, Florida, with her husband and two boys.

Erin is dedicated to fostering collaboration within the turfgrass and field management community and ensuring the industry is well-positioned for future challenges.

VISION FOR SFMA

My vision for the SFMA is to position our association as the leading authority in field management, attracting future generations of field managers by showcasing the many benefits of our industry. We aim to build public awareness and enhance the perception of the vital contributions our members make, not only to athlete performance and safety but also to environmental sustainability and public health. Through committed advocacy and a clear, unified message, we will strengthen our influence, navigate regulatory challenges, and ensure that the value of our members’ work is recognized and celebrated within our communities and beyond.

Casey Carrick, CSFM is the Assistant Athletic Director for Facilities and Turf Management at the University of North Carolina. Casey has worked in collegiate athletics for almost 20 years, and he is responsible for overseeing 25 acres of athletic playing surfaces at UNC. He got his start in the sports field management industry in 2004 as a sophomore at NC State working with the grounds crew. After graduating in 2006 with a B.S. in Turfgrass Science, he worked full-time with the NC State grounds crew before taking the Associate Sports Turf Manager’s position at UNC in 2010. He was promoted to The Director of Athletic Grounds in 2015, and again to his current position in 2023.

Casey became a member of SFMA in 2013 and in 2014 earned his CSFM designation. During his time at The University of North Carolina, Kenan Stadium was awarded College Football Field of the year in 2018, and Dorrance field was awarded College Sporting Grounds of the year in 2021. Casey currently serves on the SAFE Board of Directors, the Southeast Regional Sports Field Management Conference Committee, and is a Past-President for the North Carolina SFMA.

VISION FOR SFMA

My vision is for SFMA to be a resource for sports field managers at all levels and to help promote safe athletic playing surfaces for kids of all ages. SFMA has connected me with a multitude of great professionals in our industry and helped me grow throughout my career, and I want every sports field manager to have the same positive experience I’ve had.

Over the last 20 years, I’ve witnessed many changes in our industry – some positive, some negative. While I feel highly confident that we are currently headed in the right direction, I also feel strongly that improvements must still be made regarding salaries, work-life balance, and labor shortage issues. I would love to increase the focus on getting more young people into the industry at an earlier age through our outreach and high school/college curriculums. I am also passionate about shifting back to natural grass. As sports field managers, I believe we have not only the opportunity, but also an obligation, to use our platform with SFMA and SAFE to speak on and promote field safety.

Zack Holm, CSFM, is the Turf Care Manager at the Central Park Conservancy in New York City. As Turf Care Manager he oversees 300+ acres of turfgrass including 26 baseball/softball fields, lawn bowling and croquet courts, as well as hundreds of acres of recreational lawns. The Park is visited by more than 42 million visitors each year and hosts numerous high-profile events for the City of New York such as concerts and the NYC marathon. Prior to Central Park, Zack was the Manager of Operations at the New York Red Bulls Training Facility in Whippany, NJ. During this time the Red Bulls won SFMA Professional Soccer Field of the Year twice for both the Training Facility and Red Bull Arena. Both of those facilities were one of the first facilities to be certified by the SFMA for environmentally responsible management.

Zack is a graduate of Delaware Valley University with a bachelor’s degree in Turfgrass Management. Over the past few years Zack has also earned master’s degrees in construction management and Sports Management from Southern New Hampshire University. In addition to the Red Bulls and Central Park, Zack also spent time in minor and major league baseball.

Zack has been an active member of STMA/SFMA for the past 15 years serving on various committees such as awards and environmental. Currently, he is Chair of the Advocacy Committee and Co-Chair of the Environmental Committee and served on the task force for SFMA’s Environmental BMP document. In addition, Zack is humbled and honored to be serving as the current President of the Sports Field Managers Association of New Jersey (SFMANJ).

A native of San Diego, Zack resides in Byram Township, New Jersey with his wife Cory and two children, Dimitrius and Cassandra.

VISION FOR SFMA

My vision for SFMA is to position our association as the premier leader in the sports field and green industries, advocating for the role of the sports field manager as an essential profession. SFMA should continue to be the go-to resource for information, environmental stewardship, and the latest technology, empowering our members to be recognized as experts in sports field management.

A critical component of this vision is forming partnerships with organizations like Parks and Recreation departments or coaching associations to establish SFMA as the standard-setter for athletic field best management practices. By fostering these relationships, we can help our members gain a “seat at the table,” allowing them to showcase their expertise and the value they bring to sports and community programs.

The upcoming FIFA World Cup in 2026, and potentially the Women’s World Cup in 2027, offer unparalleled opportunities to highlight the expertise of sports field managers. By capitalizing on these global events, SFMA can elevate awareness of our profession, expand our reach, and help achieve long-term goals such as growing the industry and recruiting future sports turf managers from high school and collegiate programs.

If elected, I am excited to work alongside fellow members and the board to ensure SFMA leads the way in advocacy, education, and innovation, showcasing that “we are where the game begins”.

Jake Mays has been the Grounds and Athletic Fields Manager at the Westminster Schools since 2022. He oversees 200 acres of campus grounds and 12 acres of athletic fields. Growing up as an only child with two parents that were high school head coaches, his passion for sports field maintenance came at an early age. Jake attended Virginia Tech and earned his B.S. in Turfgrass Management in 2019, gaining valuable experience with the Boston Red Sox, Washington Nationals, and Seattle Seahawks during his ungraduated years. Post graduation he jumped right into the industry as the Head Groundskeeper with the Fredericksburg Nationals and also spending time in the construction side with Nolan Thomas & Company.

A member of SFMA since 2017, Jake has tried to take advantage of every opportunity available to learn and grow from many industry professionals.  Jake has been involved with the GASFMA since 2023 when he was appointed as the representative for K-12 schools in GA. He also serves on the education committee and conference committee for the Southeast Regional Sports Field Management Conference.

He resides in Atlanta, Georgia with his fiancé Baillie, and their dog Turf. Jake has a passion working with the younger generation of sports field managers as his goal is to develop kids like him to be the next leaders of the industry. Those who have influenced him have played a major part in the sports field manager he has become.

VISION FOR SFMA

My vision for SFMA is to continue being the educational leader in the promotion of safe athletic playing surfaces for all levels. At the K-12 level, many decisions rely on athletic directors or school officials to make decisions on field safety and maintenance. With the amount of knowledge that SFMA provides, sharing our tips and knowledge outside of the sports field manager is a need. Sports field managers need to have a seat at the table when decisions are being made and, in many cases, the professionals opinion gets lost. I have been very fortunate to become a part of this community early on in my career and have gained more and more of a passion for it each year. Continued success of SFMA mission is vital to our industry with educational resources and shaping the next generation of sports field managers. By continuing the educational push to all levels and groups with SFMA’s platform, we can secure the future for sports field excellence for years to come. I would be honored to serve our membership and the board of directors.

Lee Van Meeteren is the Parks Director for the City of Sioux Center and the Head Groundskeeper for the City of Sioux Center, Dordt University and Sioux Center Community Schools. He started working for the city in 2008 as the Assistant Parks Director and joined ISFMA the state chapter for SFMA and quickly became very involved joining the board the 13 years serving at vice president, president, and past president in many different forms. He joined SFMA during that process after truly understanding that this peer group of professionals is much larger than just Iowa. Served this past year on the SFMA board of directors for the appointed at large position.

He became the Director and Head Groundskeeper in 2014 and now serves on Joint use board for our athletic fields, parks board for our city parks system, trails board for our local and county parks trail systems, American State Bank sports complex board for operations for the indoor artificial turf manager. We currently manage around 40 acres of athletic grounds, and 300 acres of general parks and city owned properties. We are an Environmental Certified Facility and proud to be one of the first ones to have that Certification in the state of Iowa but also nationally. Served on Chapter relations committee for SFMA and have enjoyed collaborating with many different people in that process.

Outside of work Lee enjoys spending time on the Golf course, boating with family and the many hours in the bleacher watching my five kids compete. He also loves to teach and help anyone that asks for opinions on anything grass or construction. His wife Emily has also got him started in the gardening world now. He is also a farmer growing corn and soybeans of around 600 acres in SE South Dakota.

Lee lives in Sioux Center, IA with his wife Emily and their combined 5 children Dillon (18), Sophi (17), Greyson (12), Carter (13), Jaelee (10).

VISION FOR SFMA

My perspective of vison might look different than most. I was lucky to find this profession. I was in lawncare for almost 14 years of my life and knew nothing about there even being jobs in the sports turf world even though I have played football and baseball my whole life and just never knew there were people that took time to take care of these places. I have made it my goal to educate kids of the world of these types of jobs and I would love to see SFMA continue to take a highly active role in not only educating the professionals of the world to do our jobs better but to also keep taking the next generation of professional serious. Whether we like it or not, most sports turf managers do not even know they are sports turf managers, they just happen to have it on their job list given to them. With that said we need to grow our relationships with all the local chapters by running SFMA events with local chapters and use our resources and connections to help managers and fields across the nation but to bring our professionals into the classrooms in every high school. After serving this past year on your Board of Directors my commitment to getting our association to dream about what the next 5 to 10 years could look like and setting the goals to accomplish these goals.

I love that there are so many possibilities within SFMA and all it takes is dreamers and doers.

After 14.5 years as a turfgrass manager at the Division I and III levels, Weston became a Research Specialist at Texas A&M in July 2020. His responsibilities include conducting and supporting turfgrass research, maintaining research plots, assisting with reports, and mentoring undergraduate and graduate students.

With experience as both a turfgrass manager and now in academia, Weston represents a broad segment of the industry. He understands the challenges managers face and can offer practical and academic support. He values strong relationships with academic members and promotes research that benefits the field. With 20 years of budget management experience, Weston emphasizes careful planning and resource optimization. As a board member, he aims to educate, inspire, and strengthen the turfgrass professional network.

Vision for SFMA

My vision for SFMA is to promote the positive impact of turfgrass and highlight turf managers as key players in sports. Since rebranding, we’ve shown we’re more than just mowing and line-painting, and this message must continue. With workforce challenges, I aim to engage students and universities to promote our industry as a vital part of STEM. I want to help members grow their networks, support competitive salaries, and expand opportunities for all interested in this field. Promoting continuing education, research, and collaboration among universities is crucial. Using advanced technology and shared knowledge to provide safe, efficient sports surfaces should be a priority. Additionally, we need to advocate for ourselves, especially when facing legislation that impacts our work. While we can’t control all decisions, we must represent our interests as a strong, unified organization.

Eric Harshman, CSFM has worked in multiple facets of the turf industry over the course of his 19-year career. During that time, he has had the opportunity to work with countless talented individuals that have helped shape him into the man he is today. Managing people is difficult and can be a very humbling process. Eric learned years ago that entering a situation too brash, making changes too quickly only lead to setbacks and frustration. He needed to observe the processes and the people before making any type of change. Relationship building allowed him to make the cohesive changes necessary for the betterment of the places he managed. It allowed his teams to take ownership in the work they performed, voice their opinions and concerns and make additional change beyond his expectations. Providing best management practices and educational opportunities allowed many of them to flourish and help shape future decisions on items such as landscape designs, capital equipment purchases & career advancement.

VISION FOR SFMA

There is no other work I would rather give myself to. The connections I’ve been blessed with and the network of peers that I call friends is second to none. Sports Field Managers are resilient and always rise to the occasion no matter the circumstance. I want to continue advocating for our industry to anyone who will listen. We come from all walks of life with unique talents/skillsets. We are problem solvers – (budget, scheduling, labor etc.) We make the impossible possible. Networking is fundamental in our industry, and we do not keep trade secrets from each other. It is imperative that we continue getting a seat at the table, to advocate for our best interests. We need to keep reaching the younger/future generation of Sports Field Managers via social media outlets and educate ourselves on how we become a more marketable industry both personally and professionally. I’m proud of this Association and the people in this industry and want nothing more than continued progress for both the end users and those who manage the fields/facilities they play and compete on.

Dan Farnes was born and raised in Bountiful, Utah, Dan’s first job at 15 was working for the Bountiful City Parks and Recreation Mow Crew maintaining 20+ parks. He learned to love to work outside with his friends, mow straight lines, and take pride and responsibility for his work. After running the mow crew for a few seasons, Dan decided to attend Utah State University and eventually graduated with a degree in Parks and Recreation and a minor in Horticulture in 2009. His experience and degree led him to jobs in Boise, Idaho, Vermont, Las Vegas, and Southern Utah. In 2011, Dan accepted a part-time position at Real Salt Lake on the grounds crew. After a couple of years as Crew Leader for the RSL Grounds Crew, he was promoted to Director of Fields and Grounds and is now celebrating 13 seasons at the club.

Dan and his team manage two different facilities with 10 professional sports fields and surrounding grounds. America First Field is a 20,000-seat, natural grass, stadium with another natural grass training field nearby. 13 miles away, the Zions Bank Training Facility has five sand-based fields, two artificial indoor fields, and an artificial 5,000-seat stadium. All of his natural grass fields are Kentucky Bluegrass, and the artificial surfaces are from GreenFields USA. Both locations host many different teams in many different sports such as: Real Salt Lake (men’s pro soccer MLS), Utah Royals FC (women’s pro soccer NWSL), Real Monarchs (men’s minor league soccer MLS NEXT Pro), Utah Warriors (men’s pro rugby), Utah Archers (men’s pro lacrosse PLL), and many other events throughout the year.

Dan has been a member of SFMA since 2011, served as the President of the Intermountain Sports Field Manager Association for 4 years, is on the Utah Nursery and Landscape Association board as the Turf Track Committee Chairman, and proudly volunteers with the Utah Down Syndrome Foundation. Dan and his team have been fortunate to win SFMA Field of the Year in 2019 and 2022, and RSL Foundation MVP in 2019. He met and married his wife Carly while up at Utah State University and they have three kids Leo, Penny, and Abe. Dan is a big soccer guy and loves to support his favorite clubs Real Salt Lake and Liverpool FC. You’ll find him watching Bluey with his kids and rocking out to Foo Fighters, Fleetwood Mac, and Talking Heads.

Vision for SFMA

I’m humbled to be asked to serve on the SFMA board that is filled with friends, legends, and mentors. Being a member of SFMA has introduced me to so many different people and ideas and has made me a better groundskeeper, manager, and person. I hope we as an organization can continue to do that for new and old members alike. I want to be a resource that members can trust to come to and talk openly about all that’s good and bad about our industry and be open to new ideas about what they want the SFMA to be. Members should feel comfortable to reach out to me either on social media or by phone with any questions or concerns as that’s how I have learned over the years. The groundskeeper world is small, I love that through SFMA we have access to thousands of professionals all willing to help each other.

I’m especially excited to be a voice for soccer on the board and am so grateful to be a part of that group. Professional soccer is growing rapidly in the US with more and more teams added each year. That is opening a lot of jobs for turf managers, so I want to be able to be a resource for anyone wanting to get into our field. And with the World Cup coming in 2026, we are going to see new technology and exciting innovations that any groundskeeper will be able to learn from. SFMA will be at the forefront of spreading that knowledge and opening opportunities for its members.

I’ll not only be an advocate for soccer but for all sports and I want to inspire other field managers to have a voice at whatever organization they belong to. Sometimes we must stand up for ourselves to coaches, managers, owners, fans, etc. because we are the only ones speaking for the fields. I’d love to see the SFMA become more of a household name across all sports and that will in turn see more resources going to crews, equipment, and resources to the field managers. I have a lot to learn but am excited to see where SFMA is going and how I can help the membership reach their goals!

Maritza Martinez is the Associate Director of Stadium Grounds at St. Louis CITY SC and a passionate advocate for making the sports field management profession accessible and inclusive for individuals from all backgrounds. Growing up without access to well-maintained sports fields fueled her determination to promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging within the industry.

With a master’s degree in Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communication, Maritza champions these values by mentoring future leaders and inspiring the next generation of turf managers. As a Hispanic, queer woman, she is dedicated to breaking barriers and creating a welcoming, diverse environment in sports turf management.

VISION FOR SFMA

My vision for SFMA is to foster an industry that welcomes people from all backgrounds, ensuring that anyone passionate about sports turf management has a clear path forward. Growing up without access to well-maintained sports fields or golf courses, I never knew this profession existed until I was 20. This experience drives my commitment to making SFMA accessible, inclusive, and supportive of all who love this field. I am unbelievably passionate about this industry and its members, and I want to help lead this association forward, continually improving and providing more to its community. I envision SFMA as an organization that reaches beyond traditional boundaries, connecting with youth in underserved areas to show them that a rewarding career in sports field management is within reach. By expanding outreach efforts, offering mentorship, and building partnerships with schools and community groups, SFMA can open doors for future turf managers from all walks of life. At the same time, I want SFMA to be a place where anyone who loves this industry feels like they truly belong. My vision includes actively promoting diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, ensuring that all voices are valued and represented. By fostering a welcoming, diverse environment, we build a stronger, more dynamic community that reflects the passion and dedication of its members. Ultimately, I want SFMA to inspire and empower the next generation of turf managers by providing the resources, support, and sense of belonging they need to thrive.

Matt Duncan, CSFM is currently a Professional Turf Account Manager for DLF consulting with customers and selling grass seed across the USA. Prior to joining DLF, Matt has worked 17 seasons as a Head Sports Field Manager in Minor League Baseball in Williamsport, PA- Niles, OH- and Akron, OH. He has also worked 16 years on the Grounds Crew for the Cleveland Browns. Matt was also a Turf Consultant for Central Farm and Garden, a turf distributor in Central Ohio. He has served on the Board of Directors for the Ohio SFMA chapter for 11 years and was awarded the Founders Award in 2016. He was awarded the Darian Daily Award through the Ohio Turfgrass Foundation in 2018 for his service to the turf industry.

Matt has been a volunteer groundskeeper at the Little League World Series in his hometown of Williamsport, PA for the past 12 years, and has also volunteered for the ACC Baseball Tournament, AAA Minor-League All-Star Games in OH, KY, and NY, OHSAA Softball State Championship Tournaments, and MAC Conference NCAA Softball Championships as well as other athletic events both locally and nationally.

Matt has recently finished his schooling online through Penn State University in Turfgrass Management where he also served on the Penn State World Campus Student Advisory Board and was awarded the 2023 For the Glory Award which goes to a student that most exemplifies Penn State’s values, tradition and Pride. He also completed the certificate in Sports Turfgrass Management program through the University of Georgia

He lives in Youngstown, OH with his wife Kristen, daughter Haley, and son Connor who is looking to attend Ohio State University next fall and pursue a career in Turfgrass Science as well.

VISION FOR SFMA

My vision for SFMA is to help the association gain recognition as the leader and in the forefront of people’s minds when it comes to information on how to maintain safe and aesthetically pleasing athletic fields and green areas. This association has helped me in so many ways with information, networking opportunities and is such an important group with the knowledge and experience of its membership, that I would be honored to be part of the team to lead this association into the future. Being a positive voice for the Sports Turf Industry is such a passion of mine, I want to use that energy to help the group move forward.

Warren Gorowitz is the Director of Sustainability and Social Impact at Hunter Industries. He provides global leadership and strategic guidance for the organization’s sustainability initiatives. Warren manages the company’s Climate Action Plan, the annual impact report, and their employee volunteer and giving programs, including Hunter’s Community Impact grants committee.

Warren has over 30 years of experience in the irrigation industry, with a focus on water management and environmental issues. He is the SFMA Commercial Director for 2024. He serves as a board member for the National Association of Landscape Professionals and has previously been President of the Irrigation Association. Warren has also worked with other industry associations, including the Alliance for Water Efficiency, the California Landscape Contractors Association, and the Professional Grounds Management Society. He has participated in the SFMA Environmental Committee. His career at Ewing Outdoor Supply spanned 25 years, where he held positions such as Vice President of Sustainability. Warren holds a Bachelor of Science in Ornamental Horticulture from California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo and an Executive Master of Sustainability Leadership from Arizona State University in Tempe. Additionally, he has been an instructor in the UCLA Extension Sustainability Certificate Program and a Faculty Associate at Arizona State University’s School of Sustainability.

VISION FOR SFMA

We have long acknowledged the significance of the environment, having been part of the “original green industry” well before it became a popular topic. Managed outdoor green spaces, including sports fields, play a crucial role in the health and well-being of society. The pandemic has underscored their importance, although they are often underappreciated. I am committed to advancing the recognition and importance of SFMA and our members, ensuring they receive the acknowledgment they deserve. I firmly believe in collaborating with other organizations, as working together we can amplify our collective voice.