Sports Turf Manager Association

Candidate Bios:

STMA Officers -

Mike Andresen, CSFM
For President

Mike Andresen, CSFM, joined the Iowa State University Athletic Department as Turf Manager in 1996. That fall STMA named Jack Trice Field its College/University Field of the Year. Mike is presently the ISU Athletics Facilities and Grounds Manager. The Iowa Board of Regents recognized Mike for his dedication to the athletic and academic mission of the university. Prior to ISU, Mike served as the Iowa Cubs Head Groundskeeper and was honored twice as the Groundskeeper of the Year.

Mike earned an A.A. degree from Grand View College in Des Moines and an A.A.S. degree in Commercial Horticulture from Des Moines Area Community College. He became certified in 2000. He serves on the board for the Iowa Alliance of Environmental Concerns.

He has served on the STMA board since 2000, has held the offices of Secretary, President-Elect and has served as STMA President for 2007.

Vision for STMA: I am humbled and honored to serve STMA. The friendships that have resulted benefit my employer and me daily. Knowing we contribute positively to players and fans recreation and competition experience is very gratifying. With that comes a responsibility to keep the public's confidence and respect for our profession at the highest level. Helping the Board of Directors and CEO ensure STMA’s financial health is a critical responsibility of this position. Educating members and the public is our key mission. When anyone wants to know and understand how to upgrade and maintain playing surfaces STMA needs to be their resource. I feel that our chapters have a responsibility to teach management practices that upgrade the quality of playing surfaces in their local area. I take seriously the responsibility of being a CSFM and encourage every member to achieve that standard. Our association is in an exciting phase and our membership’s willingness to volunteer is truly driving us in advancing this profession. Become active and help guide STMA to even greater heights. Many hands make short work. Your voice, passion, and effort make all the difference!

Abby McNeal, CSFM
For President-Elect

Abby McNeal, CSFM, holds a B.S. in Landscape Horticulture with an emphasis in Turfgrass Management from Colorado State University. She is a two-time recipient of the Rocky Mountain Regional Turfgrass Association Professional of the Year Award, and received the STMA 2005 Professional Soccer and Football Fields of the Year awards.

She has been an active member of the STMA since 1992, and chaired the Chapter Relations Committee from 1997-2004. She was the representative from the professional fields category for two years, then held the STMA office of Secretary in 2005 and 2006, and President-Elect in 2007. As President Elect, she oversees the STMA Annual Conference. Abby has served as a Board member of the Rocky Mountain Regional Turfgrass Association, the Rocky Mountain Turfgrass Research Foundation Board, and is a Past President of the Colorado Sports Turf Managers Association.

Her sports turf management experience includes opening Toyota Park Stadium in the spring of 2006 in Bridgeview, Ill. as Director of Turf Management from January 2006 thru September 2007, and serving as the Assistant Turfgrass Manager for INVESCO Field at Mile High in Denver from 2001 to 2005, the home to NFL’s Denver Broncos and MLS’s Colorado Rapids. Prior to that Abby was the Athletic Turfgrass Manager at the University of Colorado.

Vision for STMA: My experience at many levels throughout the sports turf industry provides a solid foundation on which to continue to build and improve the role of the sports turf manager. My vision for the STMA is to provide our membership with strong educational programs national, regionally, and locally (thru STMA Chapters). Provide the necessary support to further develop STMA Chapters, because they are the foundation and strength of our organization. I would like further to promote SAFE and the scholarship and research that it funds. I want to continue to develop and promote the certification program to help advance the professionalism of our members.

Dale Getz, CSFM
For Vice President-Commercial

Dale Getz, CSFM, is the Sports Fields and Grounds Sales Manager - US for The Toro Company. He is responsible for sales of all commercial products to the Sports Fields and Grounds Industry. Previously Dale was the Athletic Facilities Manager and Superintendent of Golf at the University of Notre Dame where he worked for 17 years. While at Notre Dame, Dale earned the Harry Gill Award from the STMA. Dale has taught turf management at Andrews University as an adjunct faculty member and currently is an adjunct faculty member at Kansas State University. Dale has published numerous articles on sports turf management. He holds Bachelors and Masters Degrees from Michigan State University in Forestry and a Masters Degree in Administration from the University of Notre Dame.

Vision for STMA: These are extraordinary times for the STMA and I would be honored to represent the commercial members during these exciting times. STMA’s professional membership will continue to grow into the foreseeable future; this means there will be unprecedented opportunities for the commercial membership. I will work to ensure this growth will provide equal opportunities for all commercial members, large and small. I will also work to ensure the products and services offered by our commercial members will help our professional members provide better playing surfaces for their constituents in a fair and equitable manner. I will work to make sure all commercial members have opportunities to participate in the growth of our association and will keep them informed of board activities that affect their businesses. Finally, my vision is to provide more avenues for business opportunities with our professional members both at the national level and through STMA chapters.

Chris Calcaterra, M.Ed., CSFM, CPRP
For Secretary

Chris Calcaterra, CSFM, is the Sports Facilities Manager for the City of Peoria, Ariz. The Peoria Sports Complex is the major league baseball spring training facility for the Seattle Mariners and the San Diego Padres. He joined the city-owned complex in 1998, and manages the maintenance and operations of the 16-field, 145-acre sports facility as well as the 54-acre Rio Vista Community Sports Park. His prior experience includes Assistant Field Director for the National League Atlanta Braves as well as working for the University of Georgia Athletic Department. While working for the Atlanta Braves, he was the 1996 Olympic Assistant Field Director for the Baseball Venue.

He was appointed Treasurer in June 2005 to fill out the remaining term of Boyd Montgomery, CSFM and was subsequently elected to the office in 2006. He currently chairs the STMA Finance and Audit Committee and has served on that committee for several years. He also served on the Conference Education Committee.

Chris earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture from the University of Georgia, a Masters in Educational Leadership from Northern Arizona University and became a Certified Sports Field Manager in 2003. He serves as an adjunct faculty member for the Glendale Community College. He has served as President of the Arizona STMA chapter from 2002to 2005. He is also a member of the Stadium Managers Association, National Parks and Recreation Association,Arizona Parks and Recreation Association, and the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America. Chris achieved the Certified Park and Recreation Professional designation this year.

Vision for STMA: I am honored to have been nominated for Secretary. It is humbling to be part of a professional organization that provides so much for its members, vendors, employers, and athletes of all levels. I want to continue to support the drive for a financially stable organization that contributes to its members. It is key to focus on developing a higher level of professionalism/image in our industry. Continuing in 2008, you will see a dedicated effort to create educational tools and resources for our members, putting your dues dollars to work even harder for you. I am committed to fostering the ability of members to network and mentor each other as STMA moves forward. I share in our common goal to provide safe, aesthetically pleasing and efficiently managed sports turf venues for our clientele.


Troy Smith, CSFM
For Treasurer

Troy Smith, CSFM, is a 1989 graduate of Colorado State University where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Landscape Horticulture with a concentration in Turfgrass Management. He also completed the University of Georgia’s Principles of Turfgrass Management course earning the Certified Turfgrass Professional status in 1999. Upon graduation, Troy worked for three seasons with the Milwaukee Brewers. He is beginning his 14^th season with the Denver Broncos, the last seven years, of which, he has served as turf manager at the team’s practice facility in Englewood, CO. He became the eighth person ever to earn the Certified Sports Field Manager status in 2001 through STMA. Troy is a past board member of the Rocky Mountain Regional Turfgrass Foundation and a past president of the Colorado Sports Turf Managers Association. He presently chairs the STMA’s certification committee.

Vision for STMA: I am eager and excited to run for the STMA Treasurer’s Office. I have been a member of the STMA since 1994, and have seen a number of positive changes in the direction of the organization. As turf managers, we need to keep the professionalism that we have worked so hard to achieve in the last 25 years. I would like to continue to see the STMA as the leading organization for sports field management and research around the world. To accomplish this, we need to engage the SAFE foundation to fund important turfgrass research projects and work locally with each chapter to disseminate this research. We also need to find a way to better fund university research through our chapters. We have worked very hard in the past year for certification and will continue to promote the effectiveness for all of our members in their profession. The STMA has made several new alliances with green industry associations in the past few years. We have seen an increase in membership numbers and other associations recognizing the STMA as the worldwide leader in sports turf management. I would like to see the STMA continue this work and for all of our members to be recognized for the professionals that we all are.


STMA Directors -

2 Candidates for Director - Parks and Recreation Representative

Kevin Meredith - Candidate for Parks and Recreation Representative

Kevin Meredith is the Turf Manager for the National Soccer Hall of Fame in Oneonta, NY, a position he has held since 1990. Previously, Kevin owned and operated a full service maintenance business that provided lawn and landscape services as well as asphalt maintenance and striping. Winters were spent snow plowing and looking at seed catalogues.

Dedicated and persevering, Kevin is one of the founding members and past president of one of STMA’s newest chapters, the Sports Turf Managers of New York (STMONY) and has been volunteering as its Executive Director until the newly hired Executive Director assumes leadership. Kevin is an active participant on the STMA Education/Information Outreach, Chapter Relations and Editorial Committees. He received the prestigious STMA George Toma Award in 2004. He also was recognized for his turf management skills in 2000, winning Soccer Field of The Year in the Municipal category.

Vision for STMA: My vision for STMA is really quite simple. We need to continue to grow our membership and develop a network that empowers itself. It is my belief that this has to happen on the local level with national support. Our members have to feel as though they have access to the leadership of STMA and that their voices are heard. I think we need more local visitation by those that serve at the highest levels. There is no better way to involve the membership than to have them feel involved. To continue to grow we need a constant influx of new members willing to serve and support STMA. I would like to duplicate the success we have had attracting new members in New York. With well over 1000 members STMONY has demonstrated that providing quality education on the local level works. I would like the chance to help STMA continue its growth and be attractive to our members, new and old.


David Pinsonneault, CSFM - Candidate for Parks and Recreation Representative

David Pinsonneault, CSFM, was appointed in 2007 to fill the remaining term of the Parks and Recreation board position left vacant by a resignation. He has been the Public Grounds Superintendent for the Town of Lexington since 2000 and has been working with athletic fields in the municipal setting since 1990. His current responsibilities include the overall operation of the Park, Forestry, Streetlight and Cemetery Divisions within the Public Works Department, which encompass approximately 600 acres of land, 75 acres of athletic fields, four cemeteries, more than 3,000 streetlights and approximately 10,000 street trees. He supervises a staff of 22 full-time employees.

David holds a Bachelor of Science in Forestry from the University of New Hampshire. He also graduated from the Park Maintenance and Management School sponsored by the National Park and Recreation Association and North Carolina State University. He attained the STMA CSFM designation in 2007, and is a Certified Arborist, Certified Playground Safety Inspector, Certified Aquatic Facility Operator, and Certified Park and Recreation Professional. He is a member of numerous associations and a past President of the New England Sports Turf Managers Association (NESTMA). He has worked on the NESTMA Board of Directors for the past 10 years. During his presidency he led the affiliation of NESTMA into the STMA chapter network.

David is board liaison to the STMA Membership Committee and serves on the Finance and Audit and Chapter Relations Committees.

Vision for STMA: STMA should continue to be the leader and the unifying voice in the sports turf industry. People working in the sports turf industry and the people managing and using sports turf facilities need a strong national organization that they can turn to for advice, support and guidance. There is a lot of misinformation, lack of understanding and lack of knowledge about what we do. STMA can be the authoritative source on maintenance and field use to provide credibility and stability for the industry. The current Strategic Plan that the Board is working on is well thought out and puts the focus on communication, professionalism and education. STMA should continue providing quality educational programs such as the conference and trade show and informative technical materials such as the mound building video. Partnering with the SAFE Foundation is another way to enhance the programs offered to the membership. I envision STMA partnering with many more organizations as they did with the National Recreation and Park Association and the Irrigation Association. In this way we can pool resources and provide opportunities for learning and networking over a wider range of people. STMA should also continue to strengthen and enhance the CSFM Program, which helps to validate us as professionals at all levels. The direction for the future is bright and positive and we need to move forward and make STMA an organization people want to be members of and associated with.


2 Candidates for Director – Higher Education Representative

Steve Dugas, CSFM - Candidate for Higher Education Representative
Steve Dugas, CSFM, is the Manager of Landscape Services for California State University in Fullerton, Calif. A position he has held since 1998. He is responsible for all campus landscape and hardscape maintenance of the 226-acre campus, as well as field maintenance and preparation of the campus baseball, softball, stadium, track, and intramural fields. He also currently teaches plant I.D. part-time at Fullerton Community College. Prior to this position, he spent four years at Pepperdine University in Malibu – two as Assistant Manager and two as Landscape Manager. He began his career in higher education at Cerritos Community College where he spent sixteen years -- fourteen as Lead Gardener.

Steve holds a B.S. in Ornamental Horticulture with emphasis in landscape management from Cal Poly Pomona. He is also a Certified Arborist and holds both Agricultural Pest Control Adviser and Qualified Applicator Certificates from the State of California Department of Pesticide Regulation.

He has been a member of STMA since 1996 and participated on the STMA Education Committee in 2006. Steve has served in many capacities for his local chapter, Greater L.A. Basin, including Treasurer in 2007, and he is on tap for 2008, He was the Chair of the chapter’s Finance & Audit Committee in 2005 and 2006, and was Past President in 2004 and President in 2002-2003.

Vision for STMA: My vision for STMA is that it will continue to experience growth nationwide as well as internationally while educating not only those in the sports turf industry, but our customers as well. That, with the professionalism we promote, certification will become the standard by which professional turf managers are measured.


Amy Fouty, CSFM - Candidate for Higher Education Representative

Amy Fouty, CSFM is responsible for the Spartan Stadium field, the football practice complex and new athletic field construction for the athletic department at Michigan State University. Prior to MSU, Amy was a groundskeeper at the University of Michigan for five years managing the daily field operations for football and soccer.

Amy holds a two-year degree in turfgrass management from Michigan State University and is in the process of completing a B.A. in Psychology at MSU. She served as President of the Michigan Sports Turf Managers Association, serves on the education and grants committee for the Michigan Turfgrass Foundation, chairs two national STMA committees, and has authored several articles. She was awarded the prestigious STMA Field of the Year for College Football Fields in 2006. She is an accomplished presenter, speaking at more than 10 national, regional and state conferences and educational events. She earned the CSFM designation in 2003.

Vision for STMA: It is an honor to serve on the STMA Board of Directors, and I look forward to volunteering my time and energy for the association. Our mission of excellence, education, and professionalism through the passing of knowledge and experiences for the future of our industry reflects the goals and objectives that I personally value each day.


2 Candidates for Director – Academic Representative

Mike Goatley, Jr., Ph.D. - Candidate for Academic Representative

Mike Goatley, Jr., Ph.D., is the Associate Professor of Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences and Extension Turfgrass Specialist at Virginia Tech University, a position he has held for 4 years. Prior to that, he was a Professor in the department of Plant and Soil Sciences (Golf and Sports Turf Management curriculum) at Mississippi State University for 16 years. He received the MSU College of Agricultural and Life Sciences “Excellence in Teaching Award” in 2002, the MSU Undergraduate Advising Award in 2001, and the National Academic Advising Association Advising Award in 2002. Mike is a member of the STMA Certification Committee and serves as a technical advisor for the Virginia STMA chapter, at which he is a presenter at its annual field days. He also organizes and leads the sports turf educational sessions at the Virginia Turfgrass Conference.

Vision for STMA: I envision STMA further expanding its visibility and position as an educational and informational outreach source. In particular, I am interested in ways that STMA can increase its membership (and also better demonstrate its value) by targeting potential members at lower budgeted athletic facilities (e.g. secondary schools and many parks and recreation facilities) that currently either don’t know enough about us or are hesitant to join because of the erroneous perception that they somehow “don’t belong”. There is great potential for growth in these areas in membership, and there is much expertise to be shared by STMA and its members that will help this segment of the sports turf industry better serve its clientele with higher quality, safe playing surfaces. I also expect the CSFM program to continue to grow and I wish to be a part of the team working to ensure that the recognition and credit accompanying certification is more than recognition among peers. It is my hope that a CSFM will likewise gain in notoriety, respect, and professional compensation for demonstrating that they possess the highest levels of expertise, commitment, and professionalism in our industry.


John Sorochan, Ph.D. - Candidate for Academic Representative

John Sorochan, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor in the Department of Plant Sciences for the University of Tennessee, where he is responsible for turfgrass research and teaching. He serves on the STMA Conference Education and Information Outreach Committees and has served on its Scholarship Committee. He is a member of the Tennessee Valley STMA Chapter, has been a member of the STMA since 1995.

A native of Calgary, Alberta, Canada, John began working on the grounds crew at Earl Grey Golf and Country Club in 1988. He attended Michigan State University (MSU) and graduated from the 2-year Golf Turfgrass Management Program in 1993. John starting working for Dr. John (Trey) Rogers, III and Dr. John Stier (University of Wisconsin) for the Pontiac Silverdome World Cup Soccer Project. Enjoying the sports turf research, he began his Masters of Science research while being duo enrolled as an undergraduate and graduate student in 1995. He graduated with a Masters of Science Degree in Crop and Soil Sciences (MSU) in 1999. During his Masters, John became Dr. Trey Rogers’ Research Technician responsible for all sports turf research being conducted at MSU. In 2007, John won the W.F. & Golda Moss Outstanding Teaching Award for the University of Tennessee College of Ag and Natural Resources, but his proudest accomplishment since being at UT has been the success of his students as STMA scholarship winners and the student challenge trophy in 2007.

Vision for STMA: As the STMA Academic Director, I envision my role as continuing the excellent growth of the association and public awareness of the professionalism of the industry. I think it is important for the STMA to be recognized as a major resource for all people involved in the turfgrass industry from sports turf managers to commercial turf professionals to academicians. It would be a goal of mine to have more university academicians and students actively involved with the STMA.


Returning Board Members

Mike Trigg, CSFM - Immediate Past President – automatically ascended from President in 2007

Mike Trigg, CSFM, Superintendent of Parks, has been with the Waukegan Park District, Waukegan, Ill., since 1986, and is a Certified Park and Recreation Professional through the Illinois Park & Recreation Association. Mike has a Bachelor of Science, Urban Forestry, from Michigan Technological University, and is a graduate of the Park & Recreation Maintenance Management School conducted by North Carolina State University, co-sponsoring NRPA.

As superintendent, Mike’s responsibilities include administration of the Parks Department with maintenance of all grounds and properties of the District’s 46 park sites, three golf courses, and athletic field maintenance of Park District and School District ball diamonds and soccer fields.

Mike has been a member of STMA since 1990, and has served eight years on the STMA Board of Directors, currently as immediate Past President. He served a two-year term as the Board representative for parks and recreation sports turf facilities managers, one year as STMA secretary, two years as President-Elect, and two years as President. He is past president of the Illinois STMA Chapter and has been an active member since its inception.

Vision for STMA: As Immediate Past President, I am honored to serve with a Board of individuals who share with me the passion and dedication to make this Association the very best it can be. STMA is striving to be the definitive source of information and education for its members and the industry. Our members are helping us every day to carry out this effort by sharing information, peer-to-peer. Another important asset to the association is our volunteer members who serve on committees. Their efforts guide the development of programs and services that help advance the knowledge, skills and abilities of our members. I am committed to the tradition of sharing information to promote the advancement of the sports turf management profession. I look forward to my continued participation and contribution as Past President to the future success of this organization.


Jody Gill - Director Representing Schools K-12

Jody Gill has been buliding and maintaining sports fields for over 20 years. For the last 10 years, he has been the Grounds Coordinator for the Blue Valley School District in Overland Park, Kansas. He was a co-founder of the Mo-Kan Chapter of the STMA and is the current President. He has served as a Board member for the Missouri Valley Turfgrass Association and as an Advisory Board Member for the Longview Community College Turf Management Program. His crew earned the STMA Football Field of the Year award in 2004. He has also written numerous articles and presented at regional and national conferences.

Vision: The STMA is truly an awesome organization. Just think about the impact that the members of this organization have had on sports all over the world. Our skills, abilities and efforts help teams and individuals win State, National and even World Championships. I am very honored to serve as a member of this Board. We must reach out to the hundreds of non-member K-12 Schools and Junior Colleges through our local Chapters. To do this we must continue to find new ways to support, strengthen and encourage our local chapters through new member incentive programs and additional incentives to bring in more first time conference attendees. We have so much to offer these organizations, but more importantly, they have knowledge and skills that will make the STMA even better when they become members. I believe this membership category has the greatest potential for growth. The time is now to market and grow the STMA!