Meet our 2026 Conference Speakers! New speakers will be added as they are confirmed—be sure to check back for updates!
Jeff McManus, Keynote
Author, Industry Speaker and Team-Builder at the University of Texas, Austin.
Jeff McManus doesn’t just grow landscapes—he grows leaders. At the University of Mississippi, Jeff led his landscape team to national recognition from Forbes, The New York Times, Newsweek, USA Today, and PGMS. His bestselling book, Growing Weeders into Leaders, shares how his team became a model of excellence.
A member of the National Speakers Association, Jeff delivers high-impact programs on leadership, teamwork, and building world-class training cultures. Dan Cathy, Chairman of Chick-fil-A, said, “Jeff reminds us that all leaders can be cultivated with the right pruning and nurturing.”
Educated in horticulture at Auburn University, Jeff now serves at the University of Texas, continuing to cultivate high-performing teams—and refining his Texas barbecue standards.
Chase Straw, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Turfgrass Soils and Director of the Center for Sports Surface Research at Penn State University
Originally from Kentucky, he earned his B.S. in Turfgrass Science from the University of Kentucky and his M.S. and Ph.D. from the University of Georgia. He then served as an Assistant Professor at Texas A&M University and completed a postdoctoral research appointment at the University of Minnesota. His work focuses on using technology and data analytics to improve the performance and safety of golf courses and sports fields.
Alison O’Connor, Ph.D.
Professor of Extension for Colorado State University in Larimer County
Dr. O’Connor received her B.S. in horticulture from Iowa State University, her M.S. in horticulture from The Ohio State University, and her Ph.D. in horticulture from Colorado State University. She has worked for CSU Extension for 17 years, specializing in woody plants, turfgrass management, and annuals and perennials for the landscape. She coordinates 120+ volunteers in the Colorado Master Gardener Program and is an affiliate faculty in the Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture at Colorado State University.
Eric Hammond
Colorado State University Extension, Horticulture Specialist and County Director in Boulder County
He assists clients with issues related to landscape horticulture. Eric attended Colorado State University where he received an undergraduate degree in Natural Resource Management and later a Master of Science in Horticulture. His studies focused on drought tolerant plants and evaluating woody plant material.
Brad Jakubowski
Associate Professor of Teaching in Irrigation and Plant Sciences at Penn State University
Brad has more than 30 years of experience across golf, sports fields, and residential and commercial landscapes. He is a graduate of Colorado State University and teaches irrigation, turfgrass management, meteorology, and sustainability, with a focus on practical water management and conservation.
Brad is the 2022 recipient of the Irrigation Association Excellence in Education Award. He serves on the Irrigation Association Board of Directors and the Sports Field Managers Association Conference Education Committee, and has also contributed to the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America Conference Education Task Group.
Max Nikkari
Graduate student and instructor, Colorado State University in the Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture
Max conducts research that focuses on turfgrass water use and practical turfgrass management. Max teaches Turfgrass Management to between 30 and 40 undergraduate students in the fall semesters. In his free Max enjoys hiking, mountaineering, running, and cycling all with his fiancé, Rylie.
Adam Thoms, Ph.D.
Associate Professor and Turfgrass Specialist at Iowa State University
Adam works with undergraduate students as part of the ISU turf program as well as researching various turfgrass management strategies and fielding turfgrass extension questions. Adam is the Immediate Past President of SFMA. When not at work he enjoys watching his kids participate in sports.
Weston Floyd
Research Specialist II - Texas A&M University
In that role I oversee the daily operations at the Scotts Miracle Grow Facility for Lawn and Garden Research. I conduct industry trials, assist with teaching undergraduate courses, and aid graduate students with the planning and execution of their research.
Lisa Blecker
Pesticide Safety Educator at Colorado State University and Faculty in the in the department of Agricultural Biology
In this role she oversees the revision of study guides and exams for applicators seeking their private and commercial applicator certifications, delivers continuing education programs for pest management professionals, delivers worker protection standard trainings, and teaches an undergraduate course, AB 410 Understanding Pesticides.
Bart Eller
Founder and Executive Director, Paonia Soil Co.
For many years, Bart Eller was the director of Paonia.com Inc, bringing Internet service to under-served communities globally. Ten years ago he launched the Paonia Soil Co. As the Executive Director, Bart gets to combine his expertise in business and infrastructure with his love of horticulture, resulting in the joy of building organic soil mixes to share with you. Bart and his amazing team apply the work of soil science pioneers like Dr. William A. Albrecht, Dr Kristen Nichols and Dr. Elaine Ingham, combined with his own research, to help growers achieve the best yields with the least cost and effort. As a speaker, Bart is known for combining many natural and organic farming disciplines including permaculture, no-till, keyline and many other regenerative practices into a simple methodology that both novice gardener and professional farmer can understand and apply for a healthier crop this farming season.
As the founder and Executive Director of Paonia Soil Co. Bart Eller has helped hundreds if not thousands of clients with their soil. His unorthodox methods are rooted in soil science and he helps these folk to be the top organic producers in their region.”
Matt Anderson
District Sales Manager - The Toro Company
I have been a CSFM since 2012. My professional experience includes: consultant for the Athens Olympic Stadium for the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece, Head Groundskeeper for the Lansing Lugnuts, Assistant Turf Manager at Michigan State University, and the Campus Turf Manager and Grounds Superintendent at the University of Arizona. I have served in leadership roles with the Michigan Turfgrass Foundation, the Michigan and Arizona chapters of the STMA, the STMA Board of Directors. I am currently a District Sales Manager for The Toro Company, covering the western US.
Leah Withrow
Assistant Field Manager, Arizona State University
Leah Withrow is a young professional sports field manager who has been blazing her own trail in the industry. She graduated from North Dakota State University with a Bachelors of Science in Sports Field Management in 2018. She’s spent the last 6 years working for the Reno Aces; the triple A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks, 5 of which were as the Head Groundskeeper. The promotion in 2020 made her the youngest Head Groundskeeper in triple A baseball and only one of 2 women to hold the title at the time. While in Reno her and her crew won Professional Baseball Field of the Year in 2023, Withrow received Sports Field Magazines Rising Star award in 2024 and had a two part article in Forbes highlighting and advocating for the industry. She now currently works for Arizona State University Athletics as an Assistant Field Manager that helps over see 25 acres of athletic fields for multiple sports.
Travis Shaddox, Ph.D.
CEO of Bluegrass Art and Science, Soil Scientist specializing in soil fertility and turfgrass nutrition
Travis has a Ph.D. from the University of Florida. He is the CEO of Bluegrass Art and Science and a former assistant professor at the University of Kentucky and University of Florida. Dr. Shaddox has authored numerous peer-reviewed and industry publications focused on nutrient management for lawns, sport turf, golf, and sod production. He is widely recognized for his work translating scientific research into practical, evidence-based recommendations for turfgrass professionals.
Rick Phelps, ASGCA
Owner of Phelps Golf Design LLC
Rick Phelps, ASGCA, formed Phelps Golf Design, LLC in 2006 when Dick Phelps decided to slow down his 40+-year career in golf course architecture. Phelps Golf Design LLC operated under the business name of Phelps-Atkinson Golf Course Design from 2007 to early 2021.
Rick is in his 37th year of full-time golf course design work experience. However, he has been working in some capacity in the business since the age of 10 (nearly 50 years ago)!
Rick has been an active member of the American Society of Golf Course Architects since 1999 and served as President of the organization in 2011-12. He is also a member of the Rocky Mountain Golf Course Superintendents Association and served on the Board of Directors for that association in 2014-15. Rick has been a speaker and educator at the Golf Industry Show and other local events many times over the past twenty-five years.
Zach Bauer, CGCS
Director of Agronomy and Reserve Operations at CDA National Reserve in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
Zach Bauer is the Director of Agronomy and Reserve Operations at CDA National Reserve in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. With 27 years of experience spanning four states, he brings national perspectives to turf and golf course management. Zach is a past president of the Rocky Mountain GCSA, current Board of Director for the Inland Empire GCSA and yearly contributor to GCSAA Committees. His resume includes major golf championship preparation and significant renovation experience that has helped define his career while giving him firsthand understanding of what it takes to perform under pressure.
Amanda Folck
Statewide Extension Educator for Turfgrass Management at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Amanda received her A.S. from Clark State Community College in Springfield, Ohio; her B.S. in Sustainable Plant Systems: Turfgrass Science from The Ohio State University; and her M.S. in horticulture from Purdue University. Folck’s current work at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln provides Extension programming and applied research to help turfgrass stakeholders and industry partners in Nebraska and surrounding states. She also teaches the undergraduate Turfgrass Systems Management capstone course at UNL.
Abby McNeal, CSFM, CPRP
Pitch Manger, FIFA World Cup 2026
A nationally respected leader in parks and recreation operations, turfgrass management, and large-scale public space stewardship, Abby brings more than 30 years of experience across municipal, collegiate, and international environments.
She currently serves as Pitch Manager for the FIFA World Cup 2026, overseeing pitch strategy, quality control, and maintenance planning for 19 FIFA training sites across North America.
A Certified Sports Field Manager, Certified Parks and Recreation Professional, and NRPA Maintenance Management School Regent, Abby has also been deeply involved with the Sports Field Managers Association for more than three decades, including serving as President and as a longtime board member.
Her outstanding contributions to the profession have earned her multiple national honors.
C.J. Coy
Genesis Distribution
C.J. Coy has been in the Turf/Green Industry for almost 30 years since beginning in the landscape industry when he was 16. He has a Horticultural Technologies degree from Vincennes University. He also has a Turf Science degree from Purdue as well as a Minor in
Food/Ag Business Management. You may know him best as Founder of Turf Warriors 4 Him for over the past 10 years. He had a calling from God while at Purdue to help spread God’s Light
into the Darkness. Most recently he has joined the Genesis Distribution Sales Team in the state
of Florida.
Sarah Martin, CSFM
City of Phoenix, Parks Department
Sarah K. Martin, CSFM has worked for the City of Phoenix, Parks Department for 24 years, and worked in minor league baseball prior to that. Ms. Martin has a degree in Landscape Horticulture
with a concentration in Turf Grass from Colorado State University and is a Past President of the National Sports Field Management Association.
Kayla Kipp, CTEM
Equipment Manager at Ledges Golf Club in South Hadley,
Massachusetts
Certified Turf Equipment Manager Kayla Kipp is currently the Equipment Manager at Ledges Golf Club in South Hadley,
Massachusetts. Kayla served in the US Air Force from 2006 to 2012 as a Material Handling Equipment Journeyman, working on everything from baggage conveyors to container movers.
In 2013, she began her golf course/turf industry maintenance journey at Wisp Resort in McHenry, MD filling roles as a snow maker, pumphouse operator, snow removal, and general Jill
of all Trades through the winter months. In 2022, she took the lead in the Turfgrass Management Facility at Nemacolin in Farmington, PA maintaining everything from plow attachments and water tanks to excavators and skid steers for the 5-star, 5-diamond 2200 acre property that includes two 18 hole golf courses. Kayla's real passion is turf maintenance equipment for it's precision and detailed maintenance.