Annual Conference

Session 1

Who Owns the Field? Governance, Risk, and Defining “Success” in School Athletic Facilities
Presenter: Frank S. Rossi, PhD, Cornell University

This session examines how board policies, administrative structures, and informal decision-making shape field conditions far more than individual maintenance practices. Participants will explore how different stakeholders—superintendents, business officials, athletic directors, coaches, and community members—define a “successful” field, and how misalignment can directly affect athlete safety and liability exposure.

Key topics include:

• Common governance gaps that contribute to unsafe or declining fields
• Clarifying who has authority for field use, rest, investment, and standards of care
• Understanding negligence, liability, and what is realistically defensible in court
• Using field condition and use data to guide access, rest, and renovation decisions
• Implementing a clear governance framework that connects policy, practice, and accountability

This session is ideal for facilities directors, school business officials, superintendents, and athletic leadership who need to connect field management decisions to risk management and board-level oversight.

Session 2

Managing Demand with Limited Resources: Stewardship Strategies That Protect Fields, Budgets, and Athletes
Presenter: Carl Schimenti, Cornell University

Building on the governance foundations of Session 1, this session focuses on what facilities professionals can realistically do under tight labor, equipment, and scheduling constraints. Using findings from New York school and sports field research, participants will learn how to prioritize stewardship practices that deliver the greatest impact on safety and field longevity.

Key topics include:

• How field-use pressure, over-scheduling, and rest patterns drive deterioration
• High-impact practices to prioritize when labor, equipment, and funding are limited
• Evaluating drainage, construction, and renovation options through a long-term safety lens
• Aligning practice and game schedules with recovery needs to reduce injuries and emergency repairs
• Building a practical, district-level stewardship plan that balances athlete safety, field life, and community demand

Facilities leaders will gain realistic tools to advocate for necessary changes while demonstrating fiscal responsibility and risk awareness.

Featured Presenters

Frank S. Rossi, PhD
Associate Professor and Richard C. Call Director of the Agricultural Sciences Major
School of Integrative Plant Science, Horticulture Section, Cornell University

Dr. Frank Rossi leads a nationally recognized research and education program focused on the ecological aspects of turfgrass management. His work centers on improving the environmental compatibility and economic feasibility of turf systems across lawns, golf courses, and sports fields. Through decades of applied research, he has advanced reduced-input management strategies, integrated pest management, and data-driven decision-making for turf managers.

Dr. Rossi’s research has addressed nutrient use efficiency, pesticide reduction, climate and disease interactions, and long-term performance of reduced-chemical systems. He is widely published in leading turfgrass and agronomy journals and is a frequent speaker to industry and municipal audiences. His leadership and innovation have been recognized with multiple awards, including the President’s Award for Environmental Stewardship from the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America, the John Reid Lifetime Achievement Award, and Environmental Communicator of the Year honors.

Carl Schimenti
Urban Environmental Specialist, Cornell Turfgrass Team

Carl Schimenti serves as the Urban Environmental Specialist for the Cornell Turfgrass Team, where he manages a diverse portfolio of research and extension projects spanning school athletic fields, golf courses, and urban greenspaces. His work includes leading schoolyard stewardship initiatives in K–12 facilities, statewide golf course reporting, development of best management practice tracking tools, and modeling projects that evaluate pesticide risk, nutrient use, and turf growth under real-world conditions.

A Cornell graduate in environmental engineering and former member of the university’s golf team, Schimenti brings a unique blend of engineering analysis and on-the-ground field experience to his role. Since joining the team, he has helped build statewide collaborations and applied research that directly support superintendents, field managers, and municipal staff. Through his extension work—including leadership roles with the Spring Turfshow and the ShortCUTT newsletter—he has become a trusted voice translating complex research into practical, implementable strategies for busy practitioners.

Why This Track Matters for School Facilities Professionals

Participants in this two-session track will gain:

• Governance and decision-making frameworks that clarify responsibility and support defensible field-related decisions
• A stronger understanding of risk management, liability, and how field conditions intersect with student safety
• Cost-aware, labor-conscious stewardship strategies that prioritize what matters most under real constraints
• Practical tools and examples that can be applied immediately at the district level to improve field safety, performance, and sustainability

This program is designed for facilities directors, operations and maintenance leaders, school business officials, superintendents, and athletic administrators who are ready to move their districts from “problem fields” to proactive, well-governed, and sustainably managed athletic facilities.

Special thanks again to to our 2025 keynote speakers:

Kevin Burd – Kevin began his law enforcement career in 1998 and retired as Detective Lieutenant with the Hunterdon County (NJ) Prosecutor’s Office after 22 years. During his time with the Prosecutor’s Office, he served in the Major Crimes Unit and Commander of the Special Operations Unit. The Special Operations Unit consisted of SWAT, Homeland Security, Emergency Management, Active Threat Response and School Safety.

During his career, Kevin was instrumental in developing and coordinating the Hunterdon County Safe Campus Initiative which included the implementation of the “I Love U Guys” Foundation Standard Response Protocol and Standard Reunification Method, along with other nationally recognized grant funded programs and training.  This initiative was led through community partnerships to bring common terminology, actions and plans for a coordinated and integrated response during an active threat incident. During this initiative, Kevin was responsible for training thousands of first responders, educators and students, businesses, houses of worship and civilians. 

Post retirement, Kevin serves as the Training Director for the “I Love U Guys”

Foundation, is a Lead Instructor in Active Shooter Incident Management training with the National Center for Integrated Emergency Response (NCIER)/C3 Pathways, is an Instructor with the National Center of Biomedical Research Training (NCBRT) at Louisiana State University (LSU), and owner of Priority of Life Training and Consulting, LLC.

David Holloway – As one of the most requested speakers in America, 3 rd  generation world champion, David Holloway has traveled over half a million miles, captivating audiences from top FORTUNE 500 companies with his powerful stories and strategies for – Making The Impossible Happen + Winning at the Highest Levels!

Once an overlooked walk-on underdog; Holloway beat incredible odds to become an All-Star frontline competitor and was the driving force in turning around one of the worst franchises in sports, helping the Arizona Cardinals to the SUPER BOWL.

Today, he shares insider secrets and best practices to leaders who are committed to an extraordinary future. Giving audiences a behind the scenes look into the world of highly successful World-Class Competitors and World Champions – who will consistently outperform the competition.

David is much more than “just a former athlete.” Over the past decade, he has expanded his role from keynote speaker to Master Trainer – empowering individuals, teams, and companies to achieve new heights of excellence at both work and home.  With action-forward content designed to create meaningful change and connection to something larger than oneself. 

David also comes from a long line of prominent national leaders who helped shape America. This family legacy includes three college presidents, further cementing their lasting impact on education and leadership.

Thomas Murray – After serving at the elementary and secondary levels as both a teacher and a principal, and then at the district level, Tom now serves as the Director of Innovation for Future Ready Schools, a project of All4Ed located in Washington, D.C. He has testified before the United States Congress and has previously worked alongside that body and the US Senate, the White House, the US Department of Education and state departments of education, and school districts throughout the country to implement student-centered learning. Murray serves as a regular conference keynote, and has previously been named one of the “Top 100 Influencers in Education” by District Administration, one of “20 to Watch” by NSBA, the “National/Global EdTech Leader of the Year”, the “Education Thought Leader of the Year”, and the “Education Policy Person of the Year” by the Academy of Arts and Sciences. His last two books, Learning Transformed: 8 Keys to Designing Tomorrow’s Schools,Today; and Personal & Authentic: Designing Learning Experiences that Impact a Lifetime are both best-sellers.