Speakers

Lorin Anderson | Founder | Proponent Group

Lorin Anderson is the founder of Proponent Group, formed in 2007. Before that, Anderson spent 17 years in golf media. His expertise in golf instruction as a craft and a business was developed over a decade as Managing Editor for Instruction at GOLF Magazine, where he was best known as the creator of the Golf Magazine Top 100 Teachers list. It was the first ranking of teachers anywhere and has now been copied by golf publications around the world. As Managing Editor, he was charged with coordinating the editorial, public relations and marketing of all of GOLF Magazine’s instruction-related editorial franchises including GOLF Magazine’s Top 100 Teachers, GOLF Magazine’s Top 25 Golf Schools and the World Golf Teachers Hall of Fame.

 

Anderson was the magazine’s lead golf industry analyst, handling more than 60 television appearances covering golf equipment, golf instruction and the professional tours on CBS, NBC, CNN, ESPN and Golf Channel. From 2017-2020, Anderson took on additional duties as Golf Channel’s Vice President, Instruction and was involved in managing a variety of the company’s instruction-related properties before returning full time to Proponent Group.

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Randall (Randy) Anderson | Owner, General Manager | Fogg Brook Resort and The Meadows Golf Club

Randy grew up in Wyoming, won awards in basketball and music in both High School and College, and traveled internationally with Up With People. While studying at University of Wyoming, he needed to pay rent and went to the “now hiring” sign across the street from campus. That accidental call center job led to a 25 year career in the contact center industry. His most recent stint was setting up and running call centers in Latin America, mostly in Mexico, Dominican Republic, Belize, and Guatemala. Then in 2017, he formed PEAK Partners with lifelong friends and golf nuts. Their mission is to acquire small town golf courses and transform them into community hubs with a focus on golf, year-round entertainment and local philanthropy. They do this by engaging the community in the process and preserving the local character and history along the way. Randy is now the owner and general manager of two courses in Maine – Fogg Brook Resort and The Meadows Golf Club.

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Bobby Barrett, PGA | Director of Club Operations | Quail Lodge & Golf Club

Bobby Barrett, PGA is the Director of Club Operations at Quail Lodge & Golf Club in Carmel, CA.  Bobby has enjoyed a 13-year career in the golf industry, working at semi-private & luxury resort clubs in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and California. Prior to joining Quail Lodge & Golf Club in 2021, Bobby spent 8 years at Terranea Resort in Rancho Palos Verdes, CA. Bobby’s focus at Quail is to enhance the overall club experience to make Quail a premier semi-private resort club on the Monterey Peninsula.

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Anirban Basu | Chairman & CEO | Sage Policy Group

Anirban Basu is Chairman & CEO of Sage Policy Group, Inc., a Baltimore-based economic and policy consultancy he founded in 2004.  He serves the Chief Economist function for many organizations, including the Maryland Bankers Association and Associated Builders and Contractors. The Baltimore Business Journal named him one of the region’s 20 most powerful business leaders in 2010.  In 2022, he entered the Daily Record newspaper’s Circle of Influence.  He is the Distinguished Economist in Residence at Goucher College, where he teaches History of Economic Thought. He holds four graduate degrees, including a J.D. and a Ph.D.

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Jan Bel Jan, ASGCA | Golf Course Architect | Past President, ASGCA

Jan Bel Jan comes from a Pittsburgh, PA golf family and began her design career with Tom Fazio; she held a senior position in design, construction, and project management for more than twenty years before opening her own firm. Jan was elected to the ASGCA in 1990 and was the 2019-2020 ASGCA President. Ms. Bel Jan represents the ASGCA as a board member of the National Alliance for Accessible Golf (Executive Committee) and Women In the Golf Industry and is a member of USGA Green Committee. Her experience as a registered Landscape Architect, Certified Arborist, and former assistant superintendent provides Jan with a unique outlook on the playability, strategy, ecology, economics, and aesthetics of golf courses. Ms. Bel Jan is the creator of Scoring Tees™ to encourage course playability for all, better pace of play, and more fun. The USGA prominently featured Jan in its 2017-2018 Golf Museum exhibit, “Breaking New Ground — Women and Golf Course Architecture”.  Sports Illustrated Plus listed Jan among the “Top Ten Most Influential Women in the Game of Golf” in December 2000 and February 2005.

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Jimmy Bilsky | General Manager | Orange Lake Golf

Jimmy Bilsky III serves as the General Manager for Orange Lake Golf, a 54-hole GreatLIFE Golf facility in Kissimmee, FL. Born and raised in Jacksonville, FL, Jimmy has been around the game of golf for all his life. As an accomplished junior and amateur golfer, he tried his hand at a playing career before ultimately gravitating toward the golf operations side of the industry. Starting in 2011, he has worked as a cart attendant, pro shop attendant, assistant golf professional, head golf professional and ultimately a general manager. He has worked at multiple different facilities and has experience in the private, public and resort golf landscape. For the last 5 years, Jimmy has called Orange Lake Golf home and has watched the facility grow from 85,000 annual rounds in 2019 to 108,000 in 2023. With the recent addition of a TopTracer Range, he aims to continue growing Orange Lake Golf to become a premier golf destination in the Central Florida area.

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Michael Breed | Host, CBS Sports | Course Record with Michael Breed

 

Michael Breed is one of the most dynamic, engaging and entertaining teachers in the game. He is the host of Course Record with Michael Breed which airs on CBS prior to coverage of the PGA TOUR. He is also a regular contributor to CBS Sports HQ.

 

Michael also hosts A New Breed of Golf on SiriusXM PGA Tour Radio weekday mornings from 8–10 AM EST, and The Best of A New Breed of Golf weekend mornings from 9–10 EST. Michael has led the way in development of digital golf instruction. He further serves as the Chief Digital Instructor for Golf Digest, where he is focused on innovating how the game is taught. He also oversees the “Golf Digest Best Young Teachers” program. He previously hosted The Golf Fix, on Golf Channel, their highest rated golf instruction series. Michael is also a member of the PGA of America and contributes to their digital broadcast of the PGA Championship and Ryder Cup.

 

Golf Digest has ranked him as the top instructor in New York State, and #16 in America. Golf Magazine ranks Michael in the Top 100 Instructors in America, and the PGA of America named him the National Teacher of the Year in 2012. The Metropolitan PGA Section has recognized Michael for a number of awards, including Teacher of the Year in 2000 and 2009, the only two-time winner of the award.

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Shanna Bright | Founder | Private Clubs Online and Bright Life Media

Shanna Bright is the founder of Bright Life Media and Private Clubs Online. Shanna began her career in private clubs as the Member Relations Director at the City Club Los Angeles. Following her award winning tenure at City Club, Shanna moved overseas, spending five years in Japan teaching English before landing in Vietnam. It was there she served as the Sales & Marketing Director of a boutique hotel group, with properties in both Vietnam and Laos. Her stint in SE Asia began in December of 2008, just moments before the global economic crash.This is when she learned to embrace digital communication channels to re-engage travelers and maintain revenue streams. Shanna returned to the U.S. in 2011 and began a new adventure in entrepreneurship.

 

As Founder of Private Clubs Online, Shanna has spoken with several CMAA Chapters across the nation, and has presented at national/international conferences for CMAA, ACCP (Association of Club Catering & Event Professionals), and more. Shanna has provided consultation, education and training to hundreds of clubs in the U.S. She empowers club professionals to drive revenue through strategic communication and engagement. She currently resides in Portland, Oregon.

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Eleanor Brown | Director of Sustainability | Southworth

Eleanor Brown is the Director of Sustainability for Southworth, a privately held lifestyle company specializing in the development and management of private golf clubs and residential communities, where she oversees Southworth’s ongoing sustainability efforts and the implementation of new initiatives across the brand’s collection of private club communities.

 

Eleanor, an experienced attorney in both Louisiana and California, joined Southworth with a focus on environmental sustainability. With an LL.M. from the Univ. of California, Berkeley, focused on renewable energy policy and water law, a J.D. from Louisiana State University focused on environmental and regulatory law and a B.A. in Marine Science and Environmental Studies from the University of San Diego, Eleanor’s work bridges the gap between environmental concerns and its application in business and policy — paving the way for private developers to leverage more sustainable practices as competitive business advantages.

 

Southworth is a leader in sustainable community and golf development across its collection. The brand’s Virginia club, Creighton Farms maintains Audubon Society status and its club in Western Scotland, Machrihanish Dunes has been recognized several times over as one of the most sustainable golf courses in the world. In 2023, Eleanor was a guest on Golf Business LIVE with Micheal Williams and has been featured in other publications on the topic of sustainable development.

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John Brown | CEO | GreatLIFE Golf

John M. Brown, CEO of GreatLIFE Golf, has spent a lifetime in golf, learning the game from his father, a Master PGA Professional. John attended West Chester University, playing on the golf team, and graduating with a finance degree. Professionally, he began his career with Troon Golf where he spent six years in various roles, before beginning Brown Golf in January of 2011 with his father John A. Brown. John became the CEO of Brown Golf in June of 2017, overseeing a portfolio of twenty-five golf courses. John was instrumental in launching a proprietary booking engine platform called GolfBack in October 2020, which now serves over 100 golf course clients. In September of 2022, John was named CEO of GreatLIFE Golf. GreatLIFE Golf was formed when Brown Golf & GreatLIFE Golf & Fitness merged in September 2022 and has fifty-six golf courses across nine states that include VT, PA, SC, NC, GA, FL, TX, KS, and MO.

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Ed Doyle | President | RealFood Hospitality, Strategy & Design

Ed Doyle is President of RealFood, a premier hospitality strategy and design firm serving the global foodservice industry. A graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, Ed has worked in some of the finest kitchens and award-winning restaurant operations. He and his team have been helping clients to design and deliver memorable hospitality experiences since 1996. The original founder of the company, Ed was recognized as 2021 Adviser of the Year by Golf Inc. magazine for his contributions to club and resort food and beverage, and most recently inducted to the Massachusetts Restaurant Association Hall of Fame for his track record of success in the delivery of the dining experience.

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Jim Ehret | Founder | Ehret Construction Consulting

As the founder of Ehret Construction Company (1993-2017), Jim’s time as a general contractor was spent building all types of projects at some of the country’s most esteemed clubs, including several high-budget projects at Merion Golf Club, Philadelphia Country Club, Aronimink Golf Club and more than 20 others.

 

As of 2018, Jim is now solely consulting full time for golf clubs as the founder of Ehret Construction Consulting. Jim is or has been engaged by 50 clubs in 10 states including Congressional Country Club (MD), Valhalla Golf Club (KY), Lost Tree Club (FL), Cobbs Creek Golf Club (PA) and many others. Clubs see the immense value in having a former club builder be heavily involved from the beginning with conceptual budgeting, an assortment of true savings ideas with alternatives, constant budget monitoring, logistics, scheduling, and much more.

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Allison George | Wizard of Fun | Toad Valley Golf Course

Allison George is the Wizard of Fun at her family’s golf course. Having grown up on the golf course, there aren’t many jobs that Allison hasn’t performed. From picking up garbage, mowing fairways to working the snack bar until her current role as General Manager. She has helped to grow her family’s business by introducing programs to the public and staying up to date with modern content marketing. Allison served on the NGCOA Board from 2007 – 2019. Over the last fifteen years, she has spoken all over the United States and Canada at various golf conferences sharing ideas and how-to plans to help golf courses grow their number of rounds, players, and revenue. Allison’s love for the business of golf shows in her drive to make a difference in the industry by bringing in new players and sharing her successes with her fellow golf operators.

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Cathy Harbin | Owner, Pine Ridge Golf Course | Vice President, NGCOA

Cathy Harbin’s pedigree includes Class A PGA Master Professional status since 2000. She is also a member of the LPGA and NGCOA. With over 30 years as a golf course operator, Cathy has perfected training and operational systems that create a consistent world class experience and sustainable profits. Cathy has had a diverse path through golf that few others match. She was General Manager of the World Golf Village courses, Executive Director of Golf 20/20, Vice President of Golf for ClubCorp and now owns her own golf course. Cathy’s commitment to growing the game and making it accessible for all is unwavering. Recently she completed her role as the At-Large Director for the PGA Board of Directors and is Vice President of the NGCOA.

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Jeff Hoag | Co-Owner | Scott Lake Golf & Practice Center

Jeff is the co-owner of Scott Lake Golf & Practice Center, a daily fee 33 hole golf course in Comstock Park, MI, a suburb of Grand Rapids. Since 1975, Jeff and his brother Paul have been the drivers to growing the business at Scott Lake. Scott Lake was the recipient of the 2011 Michigan Golf Course Association Course of the Year, and the 2012 NGCOA Course of the Year. Together they have expanded from 18 holes to 27 holes with a large practice facility and a six-hole short course. Jeff’s nearly four decades of building and growing the business, even in the face of a national recession, has led to some exciting and progressive programs for building customer loyalty. Jeff is a past president of both the NGCOA and the Michigan Golf Course Association.

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Dan Hones | Chief Creative Officer | 2Hemispheres

Dan Hones is a 40-year industry veteran in the design, development, and implementation of branded experiential environments, including sports marketing events, trade show and museum exhibits, retail spaces, on-course member shops and golf simulator suites. A former Nike Lead Project Designer and Global Brand Creative Director for Columbia Sportswear Company, Dan brings a complete toolbox of creative resources and real world experience to any project. In his current role as Chief Creative Officer at 2Hemispheres, Dan leads a multi-faceted team supporting clients ranging from course management companies, equipment manufacturers, as well as brands and retailers in both direct to consumer and wholesale channels.

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Dan Iosue | Partner, Succession Advisor | The Rawls Group

 

Dan Iosue, CFP, is a succession planning consultant with extensive experience in corporate sales strategy, financial planning, and consulting. His multidisciplinary educational background and experience in psychology, finance, and organizational leadership equips him with a unique perspective in facilitating successful transitions. As a partner and succession planner with the Rawls Group, Dan works with business owners and their key executives to achieve continued success through the next generation of leaders and owners.

 

Originally from Florida, Dan pursued his undergraduate education at Macalester College in Minnesota, where he played both football and baseball. Beyond his professional endeavors, Dan is deeply involved in the development and support of fine arts in his community, having served as a board member for the Crealde School of Art and the Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival. 

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Kraig Kann | Founder | Kann Advisory Group

Kraig Kann founded Kann Advisory Group in 2016 and serves as Managing Director of the growing organization that provides strategic communications, marketing, branding, and media consulting to leaders of all organizations. His vast experience combining roles as a network television personality, C-Suite sports executive, and business entrepreneur has paved the way for a career as a respected keynote speaker.

 

After a 25-year television career that included 17 at Golf Channel/NBC where he was an original on-air member and ultimately the lead studio host, Kraig made an unprecedented career pivot into the professional sports business arena and elevated the Ladies Professional Golf Association as its Chief Communications Officer from 2011-2016. With years in front of the camera and great comfort interviewing athletes, politicians, and corporate executives, he was positioned as a unique voice on the LPGA’s board and its executive leadership team. During his tenure, he was named a member of the 2016 Rio Olympic Games Communication Committee and hosted press conferences on-site.

 

Kann continues to host the “Tracks to Success” podcast and enjoyed a five-year run as the weekly host of “Connected with Kraig Kann” on SiriusXM PGA TOUR Radio.

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Jay Karen | Chief Executive Officer | NGCOA

Jay Karen is the CEO of National Golf Course Owners Association, where he leads the golf industry’s trade association and initiatives to support the success of the golf course business. In his role at NGCOA, he has chaired the board of the industry-wide advocacy coalition, We Are Golf, and served on the Golf USA Tee Time Coalition board, a joint initiative with the PGA of America, and the advisory board of the World Golf Hall of Fame. The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, CBS Radio, New York Times, Washington Post, NPR, the Golf Channel, Golf Digest and many others call upon Jay for his insights on the golf industry. Jay has also served as CEO of two associations in the lodging and hospitality industry, and he is a certified association executive by the American Society of Association Executives. Jay currently serves on the board of directors of the US Travel Association and ASAE. Jay is an Honorary Commander for the Joint Military Base in Charleston and a mentor in the College of Charleston’s MBA program.

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Jon Last | Founder & President | Sports & Leisure Research Group

Jon Last is founder and President of Sports and Leisure Research Group, a full service marketing research consultancy that supports leading brands in sports, travel and media. Last’s 25+ years of professional experience includes seven years as VP Corporate Marketing for Golf Digest Companies, and eight years at the PGA of America, where he oversaw marketing research, consumer marketing and retailing. A frequent speaker and featured columnist for Media Post’s Marketing: Sports, Last holds an M.B.A. from Wharton and a B.A. from Tufts. He is a former national president of the U.S. Marketing Research Association (MRA) and served on the national board of directors for the Executive Women’s Golf Association. He is a former President of Marketing Research Institute International and continues to serve on their board of directors as Marketing Chair. He is one of the creators of the highly acclaimed “Back to Normal Barometer” in March of 2020, which has continuously pulsed public opinion surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ross Liggett | Founder & Managing Partner | Metolius Golf

Ross Liggett is the Founder & Managing Partner at Metolius Golf, a marketing and technology company focused on helping golf courses and private clubs leverage cutting-edge technology. Ross is among the industry’s foremost experts on cloud-based technology, digital marketing, and big data.

 

Before founding Metolius, Ross started his career in golf operations and later served as a marketing, sales, and technology executive for several national multi-course operators. Ross lives in Fort Collins, Colorado, with his family of four and is a proud Virginia Tech Hokie.

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Jim Lombardo | Head Golf Professional | Erin Hills Golf Course

Jim Lombardo, a native of Wisconsin, has been the Head Golf Professional at Erin Hills since its opening in 2006. Jim has been involved in 4 USGA Championships to date, including the 2017 US Open. In 2025, Erin Hills is set to host the US Women’s Open. Jim is heavily involved in innovative practices and ground floor golf opportunities, such as Tagmarshal and Toptracer, and was recently honored as a ‘Quarter Century Club’ member of the PGA of America.

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Rock Lucas | Owner | Charwood Golf Club

Rock was first elected local president of the Midlands Golf Course Owners Association serving the Columbia area, and he then served as a board member for the S.C. Golf Course Owners Association, eventually becoming president of the state association. During his tenure, Rock helped lead significant industry accomplishments, including helping to lead the charge advocating for a property tax change for golf course owners, as well as other key issues facing the industry. A PGA member, Class A Superintendent of the GCSAA, and land developer, Rock has dedicated his life and focused his efforts to serve other golf course owners. He has been a member of the National Golf Course Owners Association since 1991 and became the national organization’s president in 2016. As president, he guided the NGCOA through difficult times, but he turned the challenges into opportunities and has helped other owners be prepared to avoid the pitfalls he has faced as the owner of Columbia’s Charwood Country Club. He now sits on NGCOA’s Board of Directors. Rock has spoken at numerous golf industry events, including Golf Inc Strategies Summit, Golf Industry Conference, Golf Business Conference, PGA Show and Education Town Hall, Canadian PGA, NC Golf Course Owners Conference. He has also appeared on NGCOA’s Golf Business LIVE broadcast and has been published in Golf Business Magazine. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Management Science, at the Darla Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina. He is a USAF/SCANG Veteran and US Coast Guard Master Captain (inactive).

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Kevin McDonnell | Co-Founder |  Claymore Payments Consulting

Kevin began his career in the bank card industry in the early 1990s. Kevin, an avid golfer like his father, took his expertise to the world of golf. After years of working in partnership with Club Prophet, Kevin and his eldest son Jackson, who had recently graduated from Auburn University, created Claymore Payments Consulting in 2023. Founded as a father-son duo with a combined 30 years of experience in the business, Claymore Payments seeks to act as a shepherd to merchants in the world of bank card processing — with the simple vision that the ability to accept bank cards should not be another hurdle for the merchant.

Brent Miller | Chief Information Officer | GolfBack

Brent Miller serves as the Chief Information Officer (CIO) of GolfBack, a leading revenue optimization platform offering comprehensive digital solutions for golf courses. Bringing an extensive background in golf course management, technology solutions, and digital marketing, Brent is instrumental in harnessing cutting-edge technologies to enhance the golf experience for both courses and players. Under Brent’s leadership, GolfBack has not only carved out a niche but has also expanded its clientele to an impressive number of over 100 golf courses. His unwavering dedication to innovation, coupled with his in-depth knowledge of the golf industry, positions him at the forefront of merging technology with the sport of golf. Before GolfBack, Brent held multiple roles at Brown Golf Management and GreatLIFE Golf. It was during this phase that the seed for GolfBack’s groundbreaking technology was sown and first implemented.

Jason Pearsall | Chief Executive Officer | Club Caddie

Jason Pearsall grew up in a golf operations family in West Michigan and has worked every job at a club. After founding and selling an e-commerce company in 2010, Pearsall went on to invest in and become a managing partner of Flushing Valley Golf and Country Club near Flint, Michigan. In 2015, Pearsall started Golfler, a mobile and tee-sheet system for golf courses acquired by Supreme Golf. Pearsall went on to co-found Club Caddie — one of North America’s leading golf course management SaaS solutions. Club Caddie services public and private golf courses, and their clients include single-course operators like Pete Dye and Palm Beach Golf Club and multi-course operators like Great Life, Arcis, Touchstone Golf, and X-Golf America. Jonas Software acquired Club Caddie in 2020, which retained Pearsall as CEO. In addition to leading Club Caddie, Pearsall took over the restoration and management of a Donald Ross-designed golf course in metro Detroit called Warren Valley in August of 2022. Warren Valley reopened to the public in the Spring of 2023 after being closed for two years.

Whitney Reid Pennell | President | RCS Hospitality Group

Whitney Reid Pennell founder and president of the award-winning consulting company, RCS Hospitality Group (RCS), is internationally recognized as an expert in Club Management with a sharp focus on club operations, strategic planning and implementation and food and beverage management. She has been acknowledged twice in the past eight years as a top club influencer and was recognized as Gary Player Educator of the Year in 2018.

 

Her ability to develop, articulate, and deliver outstanding experiences has been Whitney’s career trademark. Since its founding in 2000, RCS has been recognized thirteen times with Excellence in Achievement Awards for Consulting Company, Strategic Planning Company, Club Service Firm and Staff Training Company.

 

Whitney is a frequent presenter for CMAA, Golf Inc. and NGCOA. Her ‘Food and Beverage Boot Camp’ training series and over 50 staff and management development courses delivered in person and virtually, are a testament to her training and operations expertise. Whitney has worked with hundreds of clubs of varying types and sizes with budget development, strategic planning, operations troubleshooting, events, and opening success.

 

Whitney has been responsible for overall hospitality management for six senior PGA tour events, two PGA tournaments and two LPGA events, including sponsor tents, concessions, and players’ areas.

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David Pierce | President & Chief Advisor | Stellar Golf Advisors

David Pierce recently retired from his role as the Director of Research for the USGA’s Green Section. He and his team developed data-based solutions to advance the game by helping facilities provide an improved golfer experience and optimally manage their limited resources. Various initiatives targeted pace of play, resource management, turfgrass research, the environment, water conservation, playing surface quality, benchmarking, and the golfer experience. Dave was hired by the USGA as the program manager for the Distance Insights project — a joint project with The R&A — which published results in February 2020. Since then, he led Green Section research initiatives studying golfer experience and golf course distance effects.

 

Dave founded Stellar Golf Advisors at the end of 2023. He is president and chief advisor. Stellar Golf Advisors will serve golf industry clients by performing targeted research or through sharing industry best practices aimed at improving golfer experience and therefore reducing golfer attrition.

 

Prior to joining the USGA in early 2018, Dave worked for Dow Chemical as a New Business Development Director after several leadership roles in research. Dave earned both an MS and BS in chemical engineering from Drexel University as well as an MBA from Temple University. He is an avid golfer and volunteers as a committee member for the Golf Association of Philadelphia.

Loretta Raftery, Esq. | Founder & Managing Partner | Raftery Law Group and HR/Labor Solutions, Inc.

Loretta Raftery, Esq. is a Los Angeles-based attorney with over 40 years experience in the golf industry. She began her career as a civil litigator before spending 13 years as Corporate Counsel and Chief Human Resources officer for American Golf Corporation, after which she left her corporate role and launched a highly successful law practice and consulting firm that provides specialized legal and human resources expertise to the golf and hospitality industries.

 

With clients ranging from nationwide multi-course operators to independently owned and operated public and private courses and clubs, she is a nationally-known speaker and facilitator. Loretta is known for her proactive, practical approach to keeping up with the legal and operating challenges that golf course owners and operators face, from adapting policies to meet changing legal requirements, to managing threats of, or actual, litigation — and all manner of issues in between.

Del Ratcliffe | President | Ratcliffe Golf Services

Del is President of Ratcliffe Golf Services, Inc. and COO of Pinnacle Golf Properties. Del is the current president of the North Carolina Golf Course Owners Association and is a Class “A” member of the PGA of America as well as a member of the GCSAA. He is the founding member of Kodology, LLC, a software development company that specializes in innovative marketing software and related services for small and medium business applications. Del’s business ventures go beyond the scope of the golf industry, and include real estate brokerage, construction and even distilled spirits. He and his Pinnacle Golf Properties partner, David Taylor are involved in 19 different golf properties in various ways, from ownership to various management and financial services capacities. His various business ventures provide him with unique perspectives in areas such as marketing, pricing and using technology to help golf businesses operate more efficiently and profitably.

Don Rea, PGA | Vice President, PGA of America | Owner, Augusta Ranch Golf Club

Don Rea Jr. is the Owner and General Manager of Augusta Ranch Golf Club, a public golf course, in Mesa, Arizona, which has been rated the “Best Executive Golf Course in Arizona” by the Arizona Republic and selected as “Host Club of the Year” by the Arizona Women’s Golf Association. A Member of the Southwest PGA Section, Rea served on the PGA of America’s national Board of Directors from 2016-’19. Elected as President of the Southwest PGA Section from 2013-’14, Rea also was a member of the Board of Directors for the Southwest PGA Section, National Golf Course Owners Association (NGCOA) and the Arizona Tourism Alliance. Rea has co-hosted NGCOA’s Golf Business LIVE webcast series alongside NGCOA CEO Jay Karen since its inception in April 2020. While on the PGA Board of Directors, he chaired the Junior Golf Committee and worked with the Coaching and Player Development, and Community Golf Committees. Since 2012, Rea has owned Your Course Consulting. In addition, he founded Community Course Rescue Services, LLC in 2017. Rea spent nine years as a Minor League Baseball umpire, ascending to Triple-A. In addition, he umpired several Spring Training Games for Major League Baseball. He was awarded the 2012 Southwest PGA Section Bill Strausbaugh Award and the Section’s 2011 President’s Plaque.

Ken Reynolds | Chief Revenue Officer | aboutGOLF

aboutGOLF VP of Sales & Marketing, Ken Reynolds, began his career in the indoor golf industry in 2003 as an indoor golf center owner in New York. In the following years, Ken expanded his business and partnerships throughout New York and New England with over a dozen partner facilities and 40 aboutGOLF simulators. Ken continued to grow and focus his business as a dealer and distributor for aboutGOLF with a full team of installers, designers and sales. In 2013, Ken and his team joined aboutGOLF in an official capacity, bringing with them their knowledge of the simulator industry and aboutGOLF’s products. Since then, Ken has brought a relentlessly customer-focused approach to aG’s business with an emphasis on tailored strategies to meet the needs of both commercial and residential clients. Ken is based out of the aboutGOLF Northeast showroom/office, in Glens Falls, NY.

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Paul Roetzer | Founder & CEO | Marketing AI Institute

Paul Roetzer is founder and CEO of Marketing AI Institute; co-author of Marketing Artificial Intelligence: AI, Marketing and the Future of Business; host of The Marketing AI Show podcast; and creator of the Marketing AI Conference (MAICON). As a speaker, Roetzer is focused on making AI approachable and actionable for marketers and business leaders. A graduate of Ohio University’s E.W. Scripps School of Journalism, Roetzer has consulted for hundreds of organizations, from startups to Fortune 500 companies.

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Harvey Silverman | Consultant | Silverback Golf Marketing

Harvey Silverman is a long-time accomplished golf course marketing consultant, writer, and somewhat less-accomplished golfer. Harvey writes monthly about the golf business as a contributor for Golf Business magazine and Golf Business WEEKLY, and this year, he launched the NGCOA’s Golf Business LIVE – Tech Talks webcast series. Harvey also authored NGCOA’s Beware of Barter publication, a guide to the dangers of bartering valuable tee times and the ramifications of participating with third parties. An affinity for golf course owners and the challenges they face operating a complex business in difficult markets guides his work and words. Harvey’s clients benefit from his marketing prowess, research, and knowledge of the various technologies most effectively improving business operations. He’s presented at both NGCOA technology conferences, Golf Business Conferences and Affiliate meetings.

Samantha Swartz | Director of Marketing & Events | Honeybrook Golf Club

 

Samantha Swartz is the Director of Marketing & Events at Honeybrook Golf Club in Honey Brook, Pennsylvania. Sam is a second generation operator, growing up watching her Dad, Uncle & Aunt turn the family farm into a beautiful and successful golf course.

Lee Trevino | Six-Time Major Champion | World Golf Hall of Fame Inductee

Born in Dallas, Texas, Lee Trevino was raised next to Glen Lakes Country Club in Dallas where he got started in the game. After serving with the Marines from ages 17-21, Trevino became a golf professional in 1960, and took his first job working as an assistant in El Paso, TX, before joining the professional golf circuit in 1966. Outlasting Jack Nicklaus, Trevino’s first major victory came at the 1968 U.S. Open at Oak Hill, where he bursted onto golf’s global stage.

 

Over the course of his career, Trevino won 75 professional tournaments and 6 major championships: the U.S. Open twice (1968, 1971), back-to-back British Opens in 1971 and 1972, and the PGA Championship in 1974 and 1984, his final TOUR victory at age 44. The U.S. Ryder Cup Captain in 1985, Trevino played on six American teams. He was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1981. Trevino, who over the course of his legendary career has been affectionately known as “Super Mex,” is married to wife Claudia and has four sons, and two daughters.

 

Established in 2020, Super Mex Golf is a legacy brand by the one and only Lee Trevino. The debut collection reflects on his uniquely confident playing style, personality, and origin story, capturing Lee’s spirit and lifelong love of the game. Super Mex Golf offers a modern take on classic looks through innovative materials and design, in our range of polos, shirts, bottoms, outerwear, and accessories that can be worn on or off the course.

Holly Wade | Executive Director | NFIB Research Center

Holly Wade is the executive director of the NFIB Research Center, where she has 18 years of experience conducting original research on the small business sector focusing on small business economic conditions, business operations, and public policy issues impacting small firms. She produces NFIB’s monthly Small Business Economic Trends publication, the Covid-19 Small Business survey series, and surveys on topics related to small business operations. She is also a frequent media spokesperson on the small business economy and related public policy issues. Since 2020, Ms. Wade has been offering a regular webinar series for small business owners nationwide, helping owners navigate through the federal loan and tax credit programs. She is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Global Interdependence Center (GIC), and a former board member of the National Association for Business Economics (NABE), where she is the co-chair of the Small Business Roundtable.

Seth Waugh | Chief Executive Officer | PGA of America

Seth Waugh, former CEO of Deutsche Bank Americas, joined the PGA of America as Chief Executive Officer in September 2018. Waugh guides the business and overall strategy of one of the world’s largest sports organizations, serving the Association’s nearly 29,000 PGA Professionals.

 

Since becoming CEO, the PGA announced a transformational $500 million partnership with Omni Stillwater Woods, the City of Frisco, its Economic and Community Development Corporations and the Frisco Independent School District to relocate PGA Headquarters to Frisco, Texas — site of 26 future PGA of America Championships. Cadillac was also named as the Official Vehicle of the PGA of America, PGA Championship, KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship and KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. Additionally, the PGA rolled out a partnership with Mission Hills Group and PacificPine Sports Group to launch three PGA Golf Academies in China. Waugh served a prior three-year term as an Independent Director on the PGA of America Board of Directors.

 

Waugh also previously served as a Senior Advisor and then a Managing Director at Silver Lake, a global leader in technology investing. He continues on as a Senior Advisor to the firm. In 2016, he was appointed Non-Executive Chairman‎ of Alex. Brown, following the sale of Deutsche Bank’s Private Client Services division to Raymond James. Waugh also served in the management of Florida East Coast Industries in 2014.

 

He spent 13 years at Deutsche Bank, including 10 years as CEO of the Americas, overseeing an unprecedented time of growth for the bank in the region. Waugh also served as Chairman of the Deutsche Bank Americas Advisory Board, an external strategic advisory team conceived under his leadership. During this time, he worked with the PGA TOUR to create the former Deutsche Bank Championship (now the Dell Technologies Championship) in Boston. Prior to joining Deutsche Bank, Waugh was CEO of Quantitative Financial Strategies (QFS). He also spent 11 years in various leadership roles at Merrill Lynch, culminating in serving as Co-Head of Global Debt Markets. Earlier in his career, Waugh managed the Corporate Bond and International Trading desks at Salomon Brothers.

 

Waugh sits on the Board of Franklin Templeton Advisors and the Advisory Board of Workday, Inc. He also served on the FINRA Board of Governors until 2015. Waugh’s philanthropic endeavors have included serving on the boards of the World Trade Center Memorial Foundation; YMCA of Greater New York; Multiple Sclerosis Society of Greater New York; Executive Committee of Partnership for New York City; St. Vincent’s Services of Brooklyn; Local Initiatives Support Corporation; and Harlem Village Academies, as well as serving as President of the Board of the Lawrenceville School, and Trustee at Wake Forest University. For several years, he championed the Women on Wall Street Conference, which seeks to advance opportunities for women in the financial services sector.

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Brooks West, PGA | Owner | Franklin Bridge Golf Club

Brooks grew up in an all-sports family, but never looked back once he tried golf! After playing two (2) years of JuCo golf, he proudly attended Mississippi State University’s esteemed Professional Golf Management Program, with internships at Belle Meade CC, The Country Club and the US Open at Olympia Fields. He also spent significant time caddying, highlighted by a 2009 Soboba Classic win with Jerod Turner at Rickie Fowler’s pro debut.

 

His early golf business experience was as a golf professional at Dorado Beach in Puerto Rico, before shifting to a Sales Professional with Ahead, Inc. Brooks enjoyed 8+ amazing years with Yamaha Golf-Car Company while market share increased from 17% to over 30% as he rose to National Sales Manager. That experience led to relationships with amazing people like Larry Galloway, who helped Brooks go out on his own and purchase Franklin Bridge Golf Club from American Golf in his hometown of Franklin, TN.

Michael Williams | Executive Director, Cyrano Communications | Contributor, Golf Business

Michael has had success in industries ranging from High Tech companies to foreign exchange banking. But his life has been defined by his abilities in the media and communications, for his experience in world affairs and his passion for the game of golf.

 

Michael has established himself as a leading voice for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. His “Open Letter to the Golf Industry from a Black Man Who Loves the Game” became a template that inspired the leadership of the game to implement long-needed change. In addition, Michael’s article for ESPN about his handling of a PGA Tour professional who admitted to dressing up in blackface garnered praise from around the world and was recently recognized as one of the best articles of 2020 by the Golf Writers Association of America.

 

Michael is also known as one of the political world’s most astute commentators as the moderator of “Issues in the News”, the flagship political and current events program for Voice of America. A sought-after speaker and communications expert, Michael has counseled some of the most influential individuals and organizations in the world on topics including crisis management, corporate re-branding and diversity/inclusivity issues.

 

In 2005, Michael launched his first radio show on FOX News Radio, “Sticks and Stones”. Since that launch, Michael has established a reputation as a savvy broadcaster and as an incisive interviewer and writer. An avid golfer himself, Michael has covered the game of golf and the golf lifestyle including courses, restaurants, business, travel and sports marketing for publications all over the world.

 

In his first year as host of The 19th Hole Golf Radio Show on CBS Radio in Washington, D.C., Michael led the show to becoming the top-rated golf show in the 7th largest market in the United States and was named the recipient of the 2014 Middle Atlantic PGA Earle Hellen Award for the Outstanding Media Person of the Year. The 19th Hole with Michael Williams is now a podcast with 40 thousand listeners per week on GolfWRX.com.

 

Michael is a member of the United States Golf Association, the Golf Writers Association of America and the National Association of Black Journalists.

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