SportsField Management Podcast

Conversations from SFMA Conference: Dr. Chase Straw

On this edition of the podcast, SportsField Management magazine Editor John Kmitta is joined at SFMA Conference by Dr. Chase Straw, Penn State Assistant Professor of Turfgrass Soils and Director of the Center for Sports Surface Research. The conversation examines industry initiatives, turfgrass education, research, and much more.

A Conversation with SFMA Leadership

On this episode of the podcast, we meet with Sports Field Management Association leadership, as we are joined by SFMA CEO Paula Sliefert, SFMA Immediate Past President Adam Thoms, Ph.D., and SFMA President Alpha Jones, CSFM. The three share with us insight based on the SFMA listening tour, the state of the association and an overview of upcoming initiatives.

College and University Turfgrass Programs: Mt. San Antonio College

Mt. San Antonio College (Mt. SAC), located in Walnut, California, has a history of success in the SFMA Student Challenge, including sweeping first, second and third place in the 2-year category at the 2025 Student Challenge. On this episode of the SportsField Management Podcast, we speak with Dr. Chaz Perea, professor of Horticultural Science and co-chair of Agriculture Science at Mt. SAC, about that success, the turf management degree and certificate options at Mt. SAC, and much more.  

Rising Star Award Winner Jake Mays

Meet Rising Star Award winner Jake Mays, director of grounds at the Westminster School. Mays was nominated by his peers for the positive impact he has had on his community and on the sports field management industry. 
The Rising Star Awards program is proudly sponsored by STEC Equipment. Please visit StecEquipment.com for more information.

Rising Star Award Winner Danny Losito, CSFM

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. 
The Rising Star Awards program is proudly sponsored by STEC Equipment. Please visit StecEquipment.com for more information.

Rising Star Award Winner Andy Hebrard

Rising Star Award winner Andy Hebrard, founder and sports turf manager of Athletic Applications, joins the podcast to discuss growing up in the sports field management industry, his baseball career, launching his own company, personal challenges and lessons learned along the way.The Rising Star Awards program is proudly sponsored by STEC Equipment. Please visit StecEquipment.com for more information.

Rising Star Award Winner Morgan Hunter

On this episode of the podcast, we speak with Rising Star Award winner Morgan Hunter, director of field services for the Quad Cities River Bandits (High-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals). Hunter shares her journey in sports field management, advice for the next generation, and what it means to be recognized by her peers.The Rising Star Awards program is proudly sponsored by STEC Equipment. Please visit StecEquipment.com for more information.

Rising Star Award Winner Colt Boxler

Our conversation with Rising Star Award winner Colt Boxler, an Akron native who now serves as the  assistant groundskeeper for the Akron RubberDucks (Double-A affiliate of the Cleveland Guardians).
 
The Rising Star Awards program is proudly sponsored by STEC Equipment. Please visit StecEquipment.com for more information.

Building your brand on social media with Meg Kruger, Part 2

Meg Kruger of Pioneer Athletics joins us once again to recap her SFMA Conference education session, share additional social media tips, and discuss which platforms you should be utilizing. 

Building your social media brand with Meg Kruger

On this episode of the SportsField Management Podcast, Meg Kruger, content marketing lead with Pioneer Athletics, shares her expert tips on how sports field management professionals can grow their social media brand to impact their crew, their career and their community.