MPSFMA NEWS

Spring 2023

MLB Umpire Tim Tschida

Keynotes Spring Workshop

On March 9 in Saint Paul

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

By Derek Hollanitsch MPSFMA President City of Saint Paul

Greetings to all members as we look forward to a new year in 2023. Last year brought our organization a name change. After many months of discussion our Minnesota chapter decided to align ourselves with the National Chapter name change. The MPSFMA (Minnesota Parks Sports Field Management Association) was agreed upon to include “parks” as a important moniker to be included in that name change. I’d like to thank former President Mark Kruse, CSFM, from the City of Lakeville for his leadership in keeping the board on task as we navigated our name change and various other items that became before the Board.

New Board Members this year include: Trenton Waters, Minnesota Twins (Vice President); Marshall Syvertsen, City of Edina (General Member Representative); Mike Zwisler, The Tessman Company (Commercial Member Representative), and MMarcus Campbell, Saint Paul Saints (MTGF Representative). I encourage anyone to approach any current or former Board Member about becoming elected onto the MPSFMA Board. The networking and contacts you will make might be a invaluable resource as you continue with your career. Whether you work for a municipality, university, school district, own a business or work for a business; there’s a place for you at the table.

Our Spring Workshop is set for Thursday, March 9th at the University of Northwestern. Registration is available until the workshop. A big shout out to Jeff Hintz, the Director of Athletic Outdoor Facilities for his work behind the scenes hosting our annual Spring event to kick off the year. I’m proud to have used my St. Paul connections to secure former Major League Umpire Tim Tschida. He’ll be starting the day off being our Keynote Speaker. His many years of being on the field at various ballparks and around those guys called “The Boys of Summer” should make for a fantastic talk! Education sessions will follow after the keynote and as always an exceptional lunch. Remember to get your 50/50 raffle tickets at the workshop. Stop by and introduce yourself at the various commercial member booths and see what services and products that your organization might be able to use.

The annual MPSFMA Golf Tournament is set for Wednesday, July 26th at 9am. Royal Oaks Golf Club in Lake Elmo will again be the host site. Start rounding up your foursomes. I’m sure Mike McDonald is already scheming his team! Other dates to be on the look out for are Tour on Wheels, Field Day at the TROE Center, Demo Day, Community Service Project, and the November 16 Fall Workshop to round out the year.

Sincerely,