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.

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.

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.

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, 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.

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.

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.

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.