The Sports Turf Managers Association (STMA) – the professional organization for 2,600 men and women managing sports fields worldwide – will host its 28th annual conference and exhibition from January 24-27, 2017, in Lake Buena Vista, Florida.
Approximately 1,200 leaders in the sports turf industry will gather at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort for more than 75 hours of sports turf education, dedicated networking functions and exhibitor demonstrations. This marks the first time the event has returned to Orlando since 2010.
Close to 50 educational sessions and panel discussions will feature sports turf managers along with academic and commercial representatives from schools, colleges and universities, parks and recreational facilities, and professional sports stadia.
With eight educational tracks, sample topics include agronomics, water, professional development, facility management, construction/renovation, industry developments, synthetic, and K-12.
“Each year we look forward to sharing best practices, networking and learning about new industry trends,” said Kim Heck, CAE and CEO of STMA. “We’re excited to return to the Sunshine State for the 2017 conference, which will offer comprehensive educational opportunities and inspire sports turf managers to re-energize for the upcoming year.”
Laura Katen, president of Katen Consulting, has been tapped as the event’s highly anticipated keynote speaker. A New York-based professional development trainer, Katen and her team travel nationally conducting seminars for organizations from Fortune 500 companies to not-for-profit companies. Katen will address the topic of professionalism, and how communication at an individual and organizational level influences how you are perceived by your peers, employer and community.
The “Seminar on Wheels Tours” will visit Raymond James Stadium, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Practice Facility, Barnett Park, the Citrus Bowl and Disney’s ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.
Conference attendees can also take advantage of continuing education units from the American Sports Builders Association, Golf Course Superintendents Association of America, National Association of Landscape Professionals, National Recreation and Park Association, Professional Grounds Management Society and STMA.
The SAFE Foundation – STMA’s charitable arm enriching communities by championing safe, sustainable sports and recreation fields – will host a variety of fundraising activities throughout the Conference. It also presents awards to the winners of the Student Challenge, a competition between teams of undergraduates in turfgrass programs with two groups taking home US$5,000 each.
January 18, 2017
