Nick McKenna has spent his entire professional career on the grounds floor — literally. From Texas A&M University to Iowa State University and back to Texas A&M, he has run the gamut of responsibilities in grounds management, including construction management of several facilities, and he has been deeply involved in the profession’s national association.
Facilities Maintenance Decisions: What was your first facilities-related job?
Nick McKenna: Honestly, I could probably point back to my childhood growing up on a farm as my true first facilities related job, as that was a portion of our farm upkeep. As far as my current career goes, my first actual facilities related position was as a student intern with the Iowa State athletic department where I worked for their sports fields and grounds department. I primarily worked on the sports fields, but we also frequently worked closely with our facilities and custodial staff in maintaining portions of the stadium, like the concourses, restrooms and locker rooms.
Upon graduating from Iowa State, I accepted my first full-time job with Texas A&M University athletics that had similar responsibilities. I primarily worked on the sports fields but at that time, we also essentially served as the facilities department and assisted with the oversight and maintenance of all the various stadiums and facilities that the athletics department operated.
FMD: What led you from that job to your current position?
McKenna: I spent just under three years at Texas A&M, and when I left, I eventually found my way to Virginia Tech where I worked on an advanced degree and worked full time for their athletic department. As with my other positions, my primary focus was geared towards the sports fields and grounds, but our crew officed and worked very closely with the facility and custodial staff, and so it was very common for me to be involved with various facility-related tasks and projects.
After four years at Virginia Tech, an opportunity to return to Texas A&M presented itself to rejoin their sports field and grounds staff. I returned to Texas A&M 14 years ago and have steadily progressed through various roles into my current position overseeing the care and maintenance of all our natural grass and synthetic playing surfaces, as well as landscape areas. We have a separate facilities department now, so a large percentage of my responsibilities are focused on sports fields and grounds. But there is a significant amount of crossover with our facilities team where I do still get involved in some aspects of facility management and maintenance.
FMD: What projects or other accomplishments in your career are you proudest of?
McKenna: Anytime that you complete a major project and can do it successfully, it’s rewarding. In my first year in my current role, we had four construction projects going on simultaneously, and I had to be directly involved in three of them. While that was somewhat challenging and a bit overwhelming, it also was a fulfilling experience for me because it allowed me to help build something literally from the ground up.
As far as professional accomplishments go, attaining my status as a Certified Sports Field Manager through the National Sports Field Management Association (SFMA) is something I’m very proud of. I’ve also had the opportunity to serve on the board of directors for that association and served as the association president in 2021. It was an honor and privilege for me to give back and serve the association and a profession that I’m so passionate about.
In a more recent and humbling experience, in January 2025, I was awarded the George Toma Golden Rake Award through the SFMA, which is meant to recognize a member for their work ethic, job performance and service to the community while exemplifying Mr. Toma’s “and then some” attitude of going above and beyond.
FMD: What has surprised you the most about facilities management?
McKenna: The biggest surprise for me is how the profession continues to evolve. I’m blessed to work for an employer that has prioritized and built some amazing facilities and has made a commitment to building and developing a staff to oversee the care and continued maintenance of those facilities, whether it be the fields, stadiums or auxiliary areas.
In the sports entertainment industry, there is always going to be some type of stadium, field or building that is essential to successful operations, so I think there is lot of opportunity in the facility management industry for those that are interested and willing to put in the time and work.
FMD: What is one thing you would change about your career if you could?
McKenna: I’m pretty happy with how my career has developed. If I were to pick one thing it would maybe be to get an MBA instead of pursuing an M.S. degree, as I think it would have created more opportunities outside of just the sports field management industry. I would combine that with maybe getting a little more well-rounded experience in the actual facility management aspect of the things so that I could continue developing and advancing into new roles.
Dan Hounsell is the senior editor of the facilities market. He has over 30 years writing for the facilities market.
