Sports turf industry partners with Z+C ahead of 2022 legislative session

The Mid-Atlantic Sports Turf Managers Association (MASTMA) announced that it will engage Annapolis government relations firm Z+C, LLC to serve as its lobbyist ahead of the Maryland General Assembly’s 2022 session. The partnership will advance MASTMA’s mission to educate legislators about its work and protect the sports turf management industry from unnecessary legislative barriers.

In recent years, misinformation about the sports field management industry has resulted in restrictions and bans preventing the implementation of known best practices without accomplishing their intended outcome of environmental protection.

“There are numerous bills introduced each legislative session to prevent the use of pesticides and artificial turf because of often-inaccurate allegations about environmental safety,” said Z+C President Barbara Zektick. “The industry experts at MASTMA have always operated in a clean and transparent manner, backed by science and industry expertise. We look forward to working on their behalf this session to advance and protect their broad membership in Maryland.”

MASTMA completed a Mid-Atlantic “Best Practices Manual” (BMP) highlighting industry-specific practices that prioritize safe playability and the environment. It also reinforces the professionalism of its educated and highly trained membership whose practices are grounded in science and experience. The BMP will serve as a roadmap for conduct in accordance with state and local regulations and environmental stewardship.

“Public and governmental perception is critical to our ability to continue to operate in the most efficient and effective manner possible,” said MASTMA Executive Director, Melissa Dornan. “We remain committed to transparency in our work and are thrilled to partner with Z+C on our journey toward greater protections for the Mid-Atlantic region’s sports turf industry.”