The Sports Field Management Association (SFMA) Board of Directors on May 23 announced a change in association leadership, as it has decided not to renew the contract of its CEO, Laura Simmons, MBA, CAE, effective immediately. The move was announced via a letter to members from SFMA President Sun Roesslein, CSFM. That letter is presented in full below. SportsField Management magazine will provide additional updates as they become available.
I am writing to inform you of a recent Board of Directors decision regarding SFMA Leadership. This decision consisted of many discussions and careful deliberations, with the health of our Association now and in the future at the core of all Board decisions. Your Board of Directors has voted to set a new direction for our association which consists of new leadership for SFMA as the current CEO’s contract will not be renewed, ending Laura Simmons’s service as CEO of SFMA today, May 23rd, 2024.
Our dedicated SFMA staff, led by the Executive Board, will assume Laura’s daily responsibilities. Additionally, a pre-established Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) will ensure a smooth transition until a new CEO is appointed. This SOP, implemented during the last CEO search, provides a clear structure for leadership continuity.
We understand you may have questions. A detailed transition plan is being developed, and we’ll communicate further steps soon. Keeping your association healthy and thriving has always been the Board’s top priority.
We thank Laura Simmons for her leadership and contributions to SFMA, which will have a lasting impact. We wish her all the best in her future endeavors.
Thank you,
Sun Roesslein, CSFM, SFMA President