Sports Turf Managers Association, the professional organization for 2,600 men and women who manage sports fields worldwide – recently hosted the 25th annual Conference & Exhibition in San Antonio, Tex. with nearly 1,600 attendees and 164 exhibitors from a record eight countries.
The five-day event featured seminars, lectures, general sessions and exhibits from sports turf and environmental science leaders in 11 conference tracts: agronomic, construction / renovation, facility management, industry developments, pest control, professional development, safety, synthetic and water.
During the Jan. 23 STMA Annual Meeting, the new Board of Directors was installed. The Jan. 24 Awards Banquet recognized STMA “Field of the Year” winners. It also bestowed Founders Awards to four members to commemorate their significant contributions to the profession.
“Our annual Conference brings heightened awareness to the sports turf profession and the individuals who provide safe playing surfaces for millions of athletes every day,” says David Pinsonneault (CSFM, CPRP), newly-elected STMA President and Public Grounds Superintendent for the Town of Lexington, Mass. “We hope the educational experiences and best practices shared throughout the week will be implemented in communities across the nation to enhance safety and quality in sports fields.”
SAFE, the association’s charitable foundation, raised more than $30,000 during the Conference through its Jan. 21 golf tournament at The Republic Golf Club; Jan. 22 “Casino Night” with close to 70 players; and silent and live auctions throughout the week. Proceeds benefit educational programs, scholarships and grants with the goal of enriching communities through safe, sustainable sports and recreation fields for all athletes.
More than 100 scholars participated in the “Student Challenge Cup,” which culminated in a proctored exam on the final day. Attendees also participated in horticultural tours along San Antonio’s famed River Walk.
Since 1989, STMA has hosted its annual convention at major cities across the U.S. including Daytona Beach, Fla. in 2013. Next year’s event will be held in Denver, Colo. Jan. 13-16, 2015. Additional future sites include San Diego, Calif. (2016); Orlando, Fla. (2017) and Fort Worth, Tex. (2018).
For more info on STMA: www.stma.org, www.twitter.com/fieldexperts, 800.323.3875.
The Sports Turf Managers Association, the professional organization for 2,600 men and women who manage sports fields worldwide – recently hosted the 25th annual Conference & Exhibition in San Antonio with nearly 1,600 attendees and 164 exhibitors from a record eight countries.