Meet the Speakers

Learn more about who will be sharing exclusive industry insights and trends this September at the Golf Inc. Strategies Summit 2023.

Dallas Addison

Shareholder

Addison Law Firm

Dallas Addison is a shareholder of Addison Law with extensive experience in golf, hospitality and recreational real estate projects. Mr. Addison has provided advice and counsel regarding the acquisition, sale, development, management, financing and operation of golf, hospitality and recreational real estate projects throughout the country. T In a survey and peer study conducted by Golf, Inc., a national publication, Addison Law was named the most experienced and recommended law firm nationwide for golf course owners, developers and private club boards.

In addition to his legal practice, Dallas Addison is a founding principal of Ethos Club & Leisure. Ethos is a real estate advisory and investment firm dedicated to club and leisure assets. Ethos also owns GSI Executive Search, one of the nation’s leading executive search firms focused on the club and hospitality industries.

Mr. Addison received his law degree, cum laude, from the Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law, where he served on the Southern Methodist University Law Review Association. Mr. Addison received a Plan II honors degree from the University of Texas at Austin.

Terry Anglin

Principal

GSi Executive Search

Terry Anglin has over 40 years of experience in the private club and hospitality industry. He has served as General Manager of private clubs in Tennessee and California.Most recently, Terry served as GM/COO of San Diego Yacht Club (SDYC), a world renowned private club. Under his leadership, SDYC rose to the rank of number-two yacht club in the country and was selected as a Platinum Club of the World as voted on by the Club Leaders Forum. Terry has served as President of the CMAA Tennessee Volunteer Chapter, two terms on the board of the CMAA Golden State chapter, and on the Platinum Club Advisory Board for the Club Leaders Forum. He has also held the post of Host (President) of the CMAA International Wine Society and lectured at several World Conferences on Club Management. In 2016, Terry was named as the recipient of the Excellence in Club Management award by the McMahon Group and Club and Resort Business.

As a Principal with GSI Executive Search, Terry focuses on placements throughout the Western U.S. He is also available to consult on executive searches throughout the country. His experience in yacht clubs, golf clubs, and tennis and fitness clubs offers clients broad insight on the executive search process, as well as the essential qualities of private club leaders.

Greg Avant

Owner

Lone Tree Golf Club

Greg Avant is the current owner and Director of Golf Operations at Lone Tree Golf Club in Chandler, Arizona. He became the head golf professional at Lone Tree Golf Club in 2001 at which time was owned by Pulte Homes. In 2005, Greg saw an incredible opportunity and reached out to his long-time friend Tom Murphy. He proposed the idea of buying Lone Tree as a partnership. At first, Murphy was skeptical of purchasing the facility, however, Avant convinced him it was not about the money they could make, but the lifestyle along with the realization of a lifelong dream.

A testament to Avant’s business acumen and dedication to his staff of more than 50, five employees have been with him since the facility opened in 2001 and 10 additional employees who have been with him for over 10 years. He takes great pride in mentoring and preparing them for advancement in their careers.

Avant was honored as the Southwest PGA Player of the Year in 2000 and was presented the Volunteer of the Year Award by Chandler’s Hamilton High School in 2014.

Mark Bado

General Manager/COO

Houston Country Club

Mark has over 30 years of experience in the private club industry. He began his career with the accounting firm of Deloitte where he was a financial advisor to several private clubs. Oakmont Country Club then hired him to be their Controller. Mark continued his career in Club Management and became the General Manager/COO of Wildwood Golf Club. Currently, (since April 2021) he is the General Manager/COO of Houston Country Club.

Mark has held many positions within CMAA, including president of three different chapters and chairman of the Mentoring Council. Mark was elected to the National Board in 2014 and he has Chaired the Professional Development, Strategic Planning and Student Development Task Force Committees. He is a Past Chairman of the National Board.

Evan Belfi

Director, Membership Development

SCGA

For the past seven years, Evan has spearheaded membership growth at the Southern California Golf Association. During this time, the 125-year-old organization reversed a decade-long decline in both revenue and membership numbers, achieving an almost 50% increase in its ranks. This turnaround culminated in a record-breaking high of over 200,000 members in 2023.

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. John become 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 ninety-five 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 represents fifty-five golf courses

Kurt Burmeister

General Manager

La Quinta Country Club

Kurt accepted his first GM/COO position at age 28; and earned designations as Certified Club Manager (CCM), Honor Society, and Certified Club Executive (CCE). He was elected to The Golden State Chapter Board of Directors in 2016. Kurt started his club career as Clubhouse Manager at BIGHORN and Avondale Golf Clubs. He became GM/COO at Turlock and Butte Creek Country Clubs in CA.

He then went to Canterwood Country Club in Gig Harbor, WA, to complete their golf course master plan project. Following, he became GM of the Columbia Tower Club in Seattle. His heart, however, was in the private country club sector. To pursue this interest, he began private consulting, when the right opportunity arose at Redlands Country Club (RCC).

The Club at Pasadera in Monterey, CA reached out and offered the opportunity to work with a brand-new local ownership group and management team. Under his tenure, the club grew rapidly. Kurt wanted to get back to the CA desert and La Quinta Country Club was the perfect fit. LQCC has experienced record level initiation fee revenues and completed over $3M in clubhouse improvements in the last 2 years. Kurt is honored to lead arguably the best management team in the market. LQCC will host its 52nd consecutive AMEX tournament in 2024.

Rachel Carter

Sr. Director of Membership

National Golf Course Owners Association (NGCOA)

Rachel Carter is currently the Senior Director of Membership for the National Golf Course Owners Association. Rachel is responsible for growing both the number of national NGCOA Members and the engagement of the nearly 4,000 courses the association already represents. Through advocacy, education and information resources, purchasing programs and networking opportunities, the NGCOA helps golf course owners and operators run more successful businesses.

Rachel comes to the NGCOA with more than 20 years of golf operations experience. Having started her career in 1998 with American Golf Corporation at ArrowCreek Golf Club in Reno, Nevada, she gained valuable experience throughout her career in areas of golf shop services and retail, food and beverage, event sales, membership sales, and management. Highlights along the way include her time at Monterey Peninsula Country Club in Pebble Beach where she was Assistant General Manager, Member Services for several years before moving to Colorado.

Rick Coffey

Director, Private Clubs

NBC Sports Next

Rick Coffey leads the private club division of NBC Sports and has spent his entire career in the club space. Rick’s start came in the membership sales role, as he quickly became one of the top performers in the country and still consults for multiple clubs today.

As he and his team speak to club professionals all across the country, he is able to keep a steady pulse on the challenges clubs are looking to solve for. Last year at our conference in Kiawah, Rick was on a panel discussing key sales trends and he returns now to use his experience to speak on club operations.

Geoff Cottrill

Chief Brand Officer

Topgolf

As Chief Brand Officer, Geoff Cottrill leads all aspects of Topgolf’s global marketing, Player experience design, partnerships, consumer insights, communications, charitable giving, retail and membership program. He joined Topgolf in 2021 with a passion for building diverse and talented teams, and a reputation in the industry for innovative thinking and creativity. He’s a founding partner of Marvin Magazine & Media, and was previously head of marketing for Coca-Cola North America, where he led the strategic vision for all marketing channels and sports and entertainment properties for all Coca-Cola brands.

Geoff also served as the General Manager and Chief Marketing Officer for Converse during a time of unprecedented growth and has held marketing leadership roles at Starbucks, Procter & Gamble and the global advertising agency MullenLowe. He was recognized on the 2022 Forbes “Entrepreneurial CMO” list and the Business Insider “CMOs to Watch” list. Geoff currently sits on the advisory boards of several emerging music and technology companies. He also is a member of the board of directors for Giving Kitchen in Atlanta and the board of the Georgia Music Accord.

Joelle Creamer

Brand Development Lead

RealFood Hospitality

With a background in advertising, luxury product marketing, and private club management, Joëlle brings more than 15 years of unique branding and communications expertise to the industry. She helps clients to infuse personality into their hospitality experiences, relying on her discerning eye and intuitive sense of what guests really want to add unique, brand-forward insight to many projects.

Andrew Crosson

Managing Director

Arcis Golf and Arcis Equity Partners

Andrew R. Crosson is Managing Director of Acquisitions at Arcis Golf and Equity Partners. In this capacity, he focuses on sourcing and negotiating acquisition opportunities. Prior to joining Arcis, Mr. Crosson spent 25 years as a Founding Partner and Executive Vice President at several notable golf investment firms, completing more than $700 million of investments. Mr. Crosson holds a B.S. from the University of Utah.

Val D'Souza

VP, Operations

KemperSports

Mr. D’Souza has more than 30 years of experience in the hospitality and club industries, including more than six years with PGA Tour Properties and seven PGA TOUR and CHAMPIONS TOUR events prior to starting with KemperSports. During his long year tenure at KemperSports, Mr. D’Souza has been the General Manager at Butterfield Trail Golf Club, located in El Paso, Texas. In June 2013, he was promoted to Regional Manager and gained oversight of three other West Region properties. Two years later he was elevated to Regional Operations Executive, then Vice President of Operations shortly after, overseeing a portfolio of 11-13 properties spanning the country. Mr. D’Souza is a Class A Member of the PGA of America and earned several industry honors, including Merchandiser of the Year, Top 100 Golf Shop, National Customer Satisfaction Awards, and he served on the Board of Directors for the First Tee of Greater El Paso and Sun Country PGA Section. Throughout his career, he has amassed extensive experience in a broad array of club operations. He has established himself as an industry leader in driving revenue in all departments resulting in successful clubs with long-term financial stability.

Monica Davis

Regional Operations Executive

KemperSports

Monica Davis serves as a Regional Operations Executive for KemperSports. She has been in the golf industry for nearly 30 years. Most recently Monica served as General Manager at Rancho La Quinta Country Club in La Quinta, CA, a full-service country club hosting 940 memberships. Prior to that Monica spent most of her career working for golf management organizations, spending four plus years with Invited (formerly ClubCorp) and 20 years with American Golf.

During her career, she has been General Manager of short executive, municipal, high-end daily fee, resort and full-service country clubs. She also served as Regional Director having direct oversight of Coyote Hills Golf Course while supporting five additional golf courses in Southern California. Monica has had the privilege of managing clubs throughout the country in San Diego, Oahu, New York, Orange Country, the Bay area and in the Coachella Valley.

Ryan Doerr

President

Strategic Club Solutions

Ryan is an award-winning, industry-recognized Club expert and coach who specializes in providing strategies to help Clubs strengthen their operations, improve their Member experience, build winning teams and increase their overall Club health and success.

With over 28 years of experience in the hospitality industry, serving not only large corporations including Walt Disney World, ClubCorp and Arnold Palmer, but also 22 years working in Club Management, Ryan has both the hands-on skills and business acumen needed to create an unforgettable Member and guest experiences. Ryan’s understanding of the challenges faced by Clubs and their leaders inspired him to launch his hospitality and business consulting company in 2005. Due to the rising interest from Clubs, given Ryan’s expertise, he spun off a dedicated Club centric division in 2015 called Strategic Club Solutions. Through SCS, Ryan helps boards, owners and management teams unlock opportunities within their Clubs, taking them to previously unthinkable new heights.

Ed Doyle

CEO/President

RealFood

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.

Melissa Dupuis

Regional Operations Manager – Hawaii

Troon/Indigo Sports

Member of Regional Team overseeing operations for the Indigo Sports/Troon Golf Hawaii properties including financing, agronomy, marketing and golf operations. Facilities include: Ka’anapali Golf Courses (Maui), Ocean Course Hokuala and Kukuiolono Park & Golf Course (Kauai), Pearl Country Club (Oahu) and Volcano CC (Big Island). Melissa was a former auditor and CPA with KPMG in Washington, D.C. prior to working for Troon.

John Easterbrook

Chief Membership Officer

PGA of America

John Easterbrook Jr., PGA, joined the PGA of America in 2017, as the Association’s first Chief Membership Officer. He directs the core PGA Member-focused areas of the Association—including PGA Career Services, Education, Member Services, Section Business Operations, and Player Development. In addition, he oversees PGA Golf Properties, which includes overseeing the PGA Frisco project near Dallas; PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Florida; and Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky.

Steve Edmondson

Managing Director

USGA Handicapping & Course Rating

USGA

Edmondson has served in a leadership role in the USGA for over 25 years, with responsibilities for strategic planning and governance of the World Handicap System. He began his interest in amateur golf in 1993 with the Northern California Golf Association, followed by the Utah Golf Association shortly thereafter, both roles focusing on improving golfer experience and innovation to more fully enjoy and engage with the game.

In addition to the domestic handicap and course rating administration, Edmondson collaborates with national associations around the world to ensure the enjoyment of the game is elevated through the WHS, and that it continues to evolve serving the game for years to come.

Steve Ekovich

Executive Managing Director

Leisure Investment Properties Group

Since 2009, it has been The Leisure Investment Properties Group’s top priority to ensure our clients have sound market insights, superior marketing materials and a leading platform to most effectively service their investment needs.

After 12 successful years serving clients around the country, we are excited to announce our new, stand-alone national brokerage company, The Leisure Investment Properties Group, LLC. This change allows us to expand and enhance our constative-style focus on golf courses, marinas, master-planned communities and destination getaways to the benefit of every client. Through a combination of smart people and best practices, this seamless transition will leverage the team’s focused and experienced deal makers and problem solvers into greater resources and capacities for our trusted clients.

Gary Eversole

Vice President – Solutions Design

Clubs Insights

Gary Eversole has spent nearly 40 years assisting some of the world’s largest and most progressive organizations connect with their customers to create better products, services, and experiences. Gary is passionate about helping clients efficiently and effectively improve their experience. He is the chief designer of MemberConnect, a real-time business intelligence platform enabling private clubs to guide their actions and decision-making by genuinely and appropriately engaging with individual members and by assessing, prioritizing, and continuously improving overall club performance.

Don Frank

Member and President

Riverview Golf & Country Club

Donny built a successful career in the lumber industry through sales, management, and ownership starting in 1980. In 2000 he and his partners formed an S Corporation in California. In 2017 he bought out all shareholders of the S Corporation. In 2019 he formed an LLC in Nevada in the Lumber Prestain Industry and continues today as a member of this LLC. In 2020 he successfully sold the California S Corporation on an owner-financed basis and continues today as an employee and mentor part-time.

A strong believer in community involvement and philanthropy, Donny was one of the original founders of ‘Take a Shot at Parkinson’s Foundation in 2018 and currently serves as president. Through a unique 3-day golf event each year in April, ‘Take a Shot at Parkinson’s Foundation has successfully raised funds for the local individuals and families afflicted with Parkinson’s for the last 5 years.

Donny and his family became members of Riverview Golf & Country Club in 1979 as junior executive members. In 1992 they became full Proprietary Members. In 2021 he was elected to the Riverview G&CC Board of Directors, serving on various committees. In the fall of 2022, he was elected President for 2023.

Ignacio "Nacho" Giraldo

Partner

TPG Growth/TPG Rise

Ignacio is a Partner with TPG Growth and TPG Rise in San Francisco. As a member of the Business Building team, he focuses his time on consumer goods, retail, the circular economy and ed-tech. Prior to joining TPG, Ignacio worked in management consulting, finance, startups and the corporate world, including Monitor Company, Goldman Sachs, MercadoLibre, Diageo, SABMiller, and Nike. Ignacio holds Bachelor’s degrees in Industrial Engineering and Mathematics from Universidad De Los Andes in Bogota, Colombia, and an MBA from the Stanford University Graduate School of Business.

Jody Graham

VP of Business Development

Heritage Golf Group

Jody Graham joined Heritage Golf Group in July of 2020 as Vice President of Business Development and have helped HGG grow to 30 clubs in 3 years. Jody has over 30 years in operations, sales, marketing and business development experience. Prior to joining the Heritage team Jody served in executive positions with American Golf Corporation as General Manager to Vice President of Revenue Management for over 10 years. In 2003 Jody joined Sequoia Golf as COO as well as responsible for business development for Sequoia’s management services division. Post the Acquisition of Sequoia Golf by ClubCorp in 2014, Jody joined KemperSports as Vice President of operations overseeing the east and international markets, eventually moving in to VP of Business Development.

Eric Gregory, CCM

Executive Director/ West Coast

Club Benchmarking

Eric is a recognized club industry expert on the subject of capital planning and capital strategies. His club career spans more than 25 years including 20 years in club management at clubs such as the Los Angeles Country Club, San Gabriel Country Club and Claremont Country Club. Eric earned a BA in Business Administration from Loyola Marymount University and studied hospitality management at the Collins College at Cal Poly Pomona, where he also had an adjunct professorship teaching Advanced Club Management. Eric Joined Club Benchmarking in 2018 as a regional CB Partner where he supports the entire range of Club Benchmarking Solutions for clubs in the Western US and Western Canada from his home base in Pasadena, CA.

Micah Hall

Southeast Regional Practice Leader of Hospitality

NELSON Worldwide

Micah Hall serves as Southeast Regional Practice Leader of Hospitality for Nelson Worldwide, an award-winning firm delivering architecture, interior design, and brand strategy services that transform the human experience. Within Micah’s 20-plus years of experience, he focuses on the conception of spaces where people gather, celebrate, and engage, specifically food and beverage, retail, and entertainment environments.

Jimmy Han

Principal – Business Development

Century Golf Partners

Jimmy Han has worked in the Golf & Country Club industry for the past 27 years. Jimmy is currently a Principal with Century Golf Partners, working specifically in business development. Over his career, Jimmy worked his way through key management positions at several of the most reputable golf companies in the world; Century Golf, ClubCorp, Nicklaus Companies, and Kemper Sports. His management experience includes a wide range of golf facilities from high volume daily fee properties, high-end private clubs, and newly developed Clubs that have hosted professional golf tour events. His experience includes international properties where he held several positions including the position of President of Nicklaus China and Partner at One Club Limited, a full “turnkey” golf company serving the Asia region design, development, executive planning and management consulting services. Jimmy graduated from California Polytechnic University, Pomona with a B.S. in Accounting.

Jim Hinckley

Founder & CEO

Century Golf

Jim is one of the most experienced executives. in the private club, resort, and golf management industry. He served as president of ClubCorp until 2002, at which point he joined in the formation of WMC Management Company with Olympus Real Estate Partners. In 2005, Jim acquired WMC and formed Century Golf Partners acquired the Arnold Palmer Golf Management (APGM) brand. In 2014, Century Golf and Jim were selected to oversee the American Golf Corporation and Jim served as CEO of both companies. That assignment was completed in 2019 and today Jim oversees Century Golf Partners

Jim serves on the boards of the National Golf Course Owners Association of America; American Junior Golf Association; American Golf Industry Coalition and a past member of the PGA. Jim is a National Trustee for the First Tee and a member of Young Presidents Organization (YPO). Additionally, he serves on the boards at the Baylor Scott and White Hospital Foundation, Outlive Yourself Foundation, and the Children’s Center for Self Esteem. Jim attended Southern Methodist University and California State University and earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration in 1978.

Larry Hirsh

President

Golf Property Analysts

Laurence A. Hirsh is the president of Golf Property Analysts, a leading golf and club property consulting, appraisal and brokerage firm based in Philadelphia. He and the firm have performed consulting, appraisal, and brokerage assignments on more than 3,500 golf & club properties in 46 US states, Canada, and the Caribbean.

Hirsh is an award-winning author, having written the Appraisal Institute’s text on golf property valuation (Golf Property Analysis and Valuation – A Modern Approach), which received the Appraisal Institute’s award for best text in 2016. A second edition is being published in 2022. Hirsh has written 3 articles on golf & club property valuation in The Appraisal Journal, co-authored The Urban Land Institute’s Residential Golf Community Development and authored many articles for a variety of industry publications.

Jeff Hoag

Owner

Scott Lake Country Club

Jeff has over 47 years of daily fee golf course owner experience and is the President and co-owner of Scott Lake Golf & Practice Center in Comstock Park, Michigan. Jeff grew up on a golf course and turned his love for the game into a love for the golf business. Jeff is currently a board member of the Michigan Golf Course Association and the treasurer of the National Golf Course Owners Association. In the decades of ownership, he and his brother built their business from an 18-hole golf course into a 33-hole facility. The Red, White, and Gold regulation courses and the Orange course, a 6-hole short course combined with a very active range, provide lots of opportunities for his customers to find their fun! Scott Lake was honored in 2011 with the Michigan Golf Course of the Year and in 2012 with the National Golf Course Association’s Golf Course of the Year. Jeff has 3 children and lives in Comstock Park with his wife, Nancy.

David Hope

General Manager, Golf

Lightspeed Golf

As General Manager, Golf at Lightspeed, David is fortunate to be able to couple his passion for both Golf and Technology in his day to day. Having started his career in Telecom, David has witnessed the smartphone’s evolution firsthand, emphasizing the necessity of staying relevant in a rapidly evolving landscape. Now, he leverages this expertise to run a team focused on delivering innovative technology to help drive golf club efficiency. When he isn’t on the golf course or enjoying quality time with his son, he treats himself to the culinary delights that his hometown of Montreal has to offer.

Robert (Bob) Jones

Principal

Ethos Club and Leisure

Bob Jones is a founding principal of Ethos Club & Leisure and has been one of the most
influential forces in the private club and real estate community development industry for more than
42 years. Has a proven track record for innovation, strategic planning, real estate
development and design, and implementation of programs and initiatives that have raised the bar for
private golf, recreational clubs, and real estate community developments throughout the
country. Ethos Club and Leisure is one of the Alliance of Companies with partnered ownership –
Addison Law, Ethos Club & Leisure and GSI Executive Search, all serving the Club, Golf, Real Estate
Community Development and Hospitality Industries.

Chris Karamitsos, PGA

Senior Managing Director, Partner

Leisure Investment Properties Group

Chris Karamitsos is a former Vice President of Investments for Marcus & Millichap Real Estate Investment Services where, in 2008, he co-founded the golf and leisure division for the firm. He currently serves as the Senior Managing Director, & Partner of the Leisure Investment Properties Group, a Florida-based real estate brokerage and advisory services firm. He and his team of leisure property specialists, broker the sale of golf properties, marinas, resorts, and master-planned communities throughout the US and Canada. Chris has been involved in underwriting & brokering over $3 billion in leisure assets and is an award-winning member of the PGA of America. He served as a United States Army officer after graduating from St. Leo University.

Keith Karem

SVP, Marketing

KemperSports

Keith Karem is Senior Vice President of Marketing at KemperSports. He leads all corporate marketing and branding initiatives while overseeing property marketing strategies to support the company’s growing roster of daily fee golf courses, private clubs, destination resorts, and sports & entertainment venues in driving revenue, delivering exceptional guest experiences, and growing the game. Keith is a dedicated and passionate marketing leader with more than two decades of proven experience in marketing, brand management and strategic partnerships across multiple industries, ranging from national nonprofits to multinational healthcare, hospitality, and financial services organizations – including Hyatt Hotels, American Express, and The Second City. Keith has a BS in Commerce from the University of Virginia and an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.

Jay Karen

CEO

NGCOA (National Golf Course Owners Association)

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 (ASAE). 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, a mentor in the College of Charleston’s MBA program and an Associate Member of the PGA of America.

JJ Keegan

Envisioning Strategist and Reality Mentor

JJ Keegan+

As Managing Principal, Keegan has traveled more than 3,050,000 miles on United Airlines, visiting over 250 courses annually and meeting with owners and key management personnel at more than 5,000 courses in 58 countries. Having successfully combined his passion for golf with his business acumen, his experience makes him uniquely qualified to offer expert opinions on trends and issues facing golf courses today because of his direct knowledge and interaction with the golfing community. An accomplished writer, Keegan, has published six books making it the most successful book ever written on the business of golf. With a B.B.A. from Texas Christian University, Keegan earned an M.B.A. in corporate finance from the University of Michigan. He has also served as a captain in the United States Air Force and worked as a CPA and computer audit specialist at KPMG.

Todd Kelly

General Manager & COO

Marrakesh Country Club and Marrakesh Community Association

Todd Kelly, GM/COO of Marrakesh Country Club and Marrakesh Community Association started his current role in June of 2022. Native to the Desert growing up the first hole fairway of Palm Desert Country club he moved from Pasadena, CA in 1979 completing grade school and college in Palm Desert.

After graduating he spent over 9 years completing 3 oversees tours in the United States Army before starting is journey in the restaurant and hospitality business. He started his career as a dishwasher at a local fine dining restaurant focused on becoming a GM as he worked in every position in the restaurant world except owner and executive chef. In 2015 he started his golf industry career at Desert Willow Golf Resort in Palm Desert as a Food and Beverage Director. He has been a member of the CMAA since then and is actively involved in the Roadrunner Region, testing for his CCM certification this November.

Todd has an affection for the club business and the game of golf and everything relating to it. He has been a guest speaker for several courses at College of the Desert and enjoys spending time with his family and friends.

Scott Kmiec

Senior Director, Career Services

PGA of America

Scott Kmiec serves as the PGA of America’s Senior Director of Career Services. He has been a PGA of America employee since 2013, starting as the Association’s first PGA REACH, Senior Director responsible for supervision of the PGA’s charitable foundation until taking on his current role in Career Services in September of 2016.

Kmiec is a PGA of America “lifer” having spent 19 years with the PGA of America’s New Jersey Section prior to transitioning into his current role. The Rutgers graduate and former baseball team captain began his career as a collegiate intern with the New Jersey PGA in January of 1995. He quickly ascended to the role of Executive Director and was responsible for the operations of the Section activities including the Junior Tour and Foundation activities. In 2012, the New Jersey PGA was honored by the PGA of America with the “Herb Graffis” award for its efforts in Player Development. Similarly, the efforts put forth by Kmiec and his long-tenured team led the NJPGA to be announced as the 2014 recipient of the Metropolitan Golf Association’s Distinguished Service award. Kmiec was individually honored by the NJPGA and NJSGA in 2015 when he was named the NJ Golf Distinguished Service award winner. Kmiec lives in Palm Beach Gardens, FL with his wife Jennifer and daughters Katelyn and Addison.

Billy Knight

VP of Corporate Development

Invited

Billy Knight is an 18 year veteran of the private club industry. As Vice President of Corporate Development for Invited his primary duties include identifying clubs that fit their acquisition / lease or third-party management criteria, initiating conversations with board members of equity clubs and institutional owners, financial underwriting, market analysis, deal structure and negotiations. Mr. Knight has been directly involved in more than $500 million Golf and Country Club transactions. Mr. Knight is a regular attendee of the NGCOA Golf Business Conference, Golf Inc Strategies Summit, Urban Land Institute, ALIS conference, as well as contributor to industry publications. Prior to Invited, Mr. Knight spent 10 years with Sequoia Golf as Director of Business Development.

Jon Last

Founder/President

Sports & Leisure Research Group

Jon Last is founder and President of Sports and Leisure Research Group. 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. He 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. Last has been recognized by Golf, Inc. as both one of the top innovators in the golf industry as well as one of the top advisors in golf. 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.

Greg Lewis

Managing Director, Real Estate and Business Lending

Leisure Financial Group

Gregory E. Lewis (“Greg”) is Managing Director – Real Estate and Business Lending at Leisure Financial Group. Greg has more than 30 years of corporate lending experience. His background includes vendor finance, asset-based lending and 15 years at Textron Financial Corporation in real estate finance under hotel, resort and golf industries. During his tenure with Textron, Greg was responsible for originating first mortgage loans, including refinancing, acquisition financing, warehouse facilities, take-out financing, construction financing and mezzanine financing on hotel, resort and golf assets throughout the U.S.

Jess Lewis

Head of Product Design and Development

Gallus Golf

Jessica leads the product design and development for Gallus. She works closely with her team to define product vision and marketing strategies. She is responsible for UX and UI design. She specializes in long – term product development and organizes overall marketing efforts.

Ross Liggett

Founder and Managing Partner

Metolius Golf

Ross Liggett has spent his career operating at the intersection of marketing & technology in the golf industry. He has supported green-grass facilities as a property, regional, and national marketing director for some of the largest multi-course operators in the United States. In 2019, Ross founded Metolius Golf – a solutions provider that turns golf operators into marketing & technology wizards via its one-of-a-kind business intelligence, marketing automation, and agency services. Ross is a graduate of Virginia Tech and lives in Fort Collins, CO with his family.

Mike Loustalot

Co-founder, Chief Evangelist

Sagacity Golf

Mike Loustalot is a Co-Founder of Sagacity Golf, a software company that enables golf courses to unlock new revenue every day. The eldest son of a 3rd generation PGA family, Loustalot has spent a lifetime connected to the game and golf business. In 1993, he introduced the first electronic tee sheets to golf courses. Next, he connected golf courses to wholesalers and packagers, creating regional reservation networks. In 2003, Loustalot joined the founders of Cypress Golf Solutions (the predecessor company to GolfNow), led the B2B sales strategy, and drove course acquisition. Passionate about helping golf course managers and owners grow their businesses, Loustalot created the industry’s only round and revenue benchmarking report, ORCA, which evolved into Sagacity Golf.

Mark Luthman

President

Touchstone Golf

During his 30-year career in the golf industry, Mark Luthman has held a variety of management and leadership roles including Superintendent, General Manager, and regional administration of multiple golf facilities. Mr. Luthman has led operations with Touchstone Golf since 2009. Prior to joining Touchstone Golf he was a Regional Director with oversight of ten premier golf courses and responsible for the planning, pre-opening, and operations efforts at three properties including Chambers Bay – the facility selected by the USGA to the host of the 2010 U.S. Amateur & 2015 U.S. Open Championships. Mr. Luthman’s wide-ranging background has provided him with extensive experience in the areas of revenue management, sales & marketing, guest retention, staff recruiting & training, and golf course maintenance.

Tony Marino

Vice President, Operations

Troon

Tony is a native of Western Pennsylvania and played collegiate golf at the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg. Tony is now based at the Troon World Headquarters in Scottsdale, AZ and oversees the business needs and best practices for Troon properties in several states. Prior to his current role, he served in multiple roles at facility operations and has managed properties in California, Florida, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

Tony creates and maintains client satisfaction by exceeding expectations, delivering superior results and establishing consistent and seamless communications with key stakeholders. He coordinates and with his leaders in the field to ensure resources are properly utilized, assets are protected, and courses operate in accordance with established Troon Policies and Procedures. Tony possesses high financial acumen, and oversees budgets, forecasts, marketing plans and business plans for each facility.

Erica Martin

Marketing and Communications Manager

Strategic Club Solutions

Erica is a seasoned leader in the marketing and communications industry. Bringing over a decade of experience driving impactful campaigns, she harnesses strategic marketing principles, effective communication strategies, and innovative approaches to build brand awareness, engage the right audiences and attract the ideal clients. She brings a passion for assembling a brand’s story and using out-of-the-box, creative storytelling techniques to make your Club stand out and attract ideal Members.

Mark Mattingly

Executive Vice President

Landscapes Golf Management

A 25-year, golf-industry executive, Mark Mattingly is Executive Vice President of Landscapes Golf Management, operator of more than 60 golf courses, country clubs, communities and resorts across America. His primary role is helping owners of golf properties formulate strategies toward greater profitability. In addition to overseeing business development and marketing, Mattingly manages special projects, including facility audits and analyses, market studies and executive searches. During his career and with an aptitude for programming and membership development, he was General Manager, regional portfolio manager and operations executive at daily-fee, resort, and private clubs. Mattingly is a quarter-century Class-A PGA Professional and was a longtime Board member of the Indiana Section PGA and member of the Club Management Association of America.

Chris May

Senior Vice President

Supreme Golf

Chris joined the Supreme Golf Solutions team in 2020 after almost 15 years at American Golf Corporation. In his role as Vice President of Revenue Management at AGC, Chris was responsible for formulating revenue strategy and driving top-line results across the entire AGC portfolio. At Supreme, Chris is committed to helping operators connect with their data in meaningful ways. From laying the groundwork for venturing into data analysis, to cutting-edge ideas like subscription membership and dynamic pricing, he helps clubs of all sizes drive their top lines.

Keith Miller

CEO

MCRA

Keith has served as CEO of the Montgomery County Revenue Authority (MCRA) for more than 15 years. In his role as CEO, Keith oversees operations for a golf course system that includes nine golf facilities, an aviation division, and a financing division. As a second-generation PGA member, Keith brings over 30 years of dedicated golf industry business knowledge and has overseen the operations of more than 25 facilities across a dozen states.

James Molina

General Manager

Renditions Golf Course

James Molina is an accomplished professional with expertise in the golf and hospitality industries. As the General Manager at Renditions Golf Course since 2023, he excels in overseeing day-to-day operations, managing staff, coordinating reservations, and ensuring a well-maintained golf course. James’s financial acumen drives exceptional performance through budgeting, revenue generation, and strategic marketing.

Previously, as the Business Analytics and Intelligence Manager at Dormie Network from 2016 to 2022, James played a crucial role in optimizing efficiency across all locations. His data-driven approach identified growth opportunities, guided strategic planning, and led to successful marketing campaigns for membership sales.

Michael Naccarelli

National Sales Director

ClubProphet

A native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Michael has spent the last seven years working in the golf industry with Club Prophet. Along with this, Michael also has over 15 years of experience working with other tech-based companies in various other industries including medical, legal, and construction. Working closely with clients to find solutions for their operations and leveraging strong technology to make that happen is one of the great pleasures of what he does. In his free time, he enjoys playing golf, traveling with his wife Elizabeth, and is an avid music and baseball enthusiast.

Ryan Norman

Director of Consultant Services

Alto-Shaam

With more than 20 years in the foodservice industry, Ryan Norman has held a variety of roles ranging from kitchen operations, culinary design, management consulting, and manufacturing. As Alto-Shaam’s Director of Consultant Services, following his role as regional culinary manager, Ryan supports consultant organizations, drawing on his knowledge and experience in cooking, operations efficiency, and functional design.

Bill O'Brien

Senior Vice President, Operations

Troon

As SVP of Operations for Troon, Bill O’Brien is responsible for engaging club teams in the development and execution of strategic business plans that support the overarching and disciplinary goals established by ownership. Although a 24-year veteran of Troon, Bill has been in the golf club industry for nearly three decades and has served in a wide range of roles, from greens maintenance and outside services to the leadership team at the Arizona Biltmore Country Club, before culminating his field career as the general manager of a top 100 club in San Diego. His ongoing exploration into human behavior drives his ability to build a culture of sales and retention by providing insight into why people make the decisions they do.

His collaborative style, when combined with Troon’s comprehensive resources, energizes like-minded teams to explore resourceful solutions focused on financial predictability while delivering meaningful experiences in spaces where folks can feel like the best version of themselves.

John O'Malley

Chief Revenue Officer

GOLFZON

John joined Golfzon America in September of 2022 as Chief Revenue Officer and has responsibility for the Sales and Marketing organizations. He recently spearheaded Golfzon Americas’ entry into the e-commerce space with the commercial release of the WAVE simulator and launch monitor.

Prior to Golfzon, John was the president and founder of Rockfleet Advisors, a management consulting firm focused on assisting technology companies shape and execute their plans for top-/bottom-line growth.He is a recognized business leader in the wireless communications and mobile security industries. Before Rockfleet, he was SVP and Head of the Telecommunications Division at G+D Mobile Security America Inc. John built up G+D’s North American telecom business from start-up to a dominant market position with sustained revenue growth and profitability for over a 20-year period. He pioneered the launch of G+D’s secure cloud services business. He’s a patent holder, author, and holds a MS degree in electrical engineering from George Mason University. A native of Philadelphia, John lives in the Washington, DC metro area.

Josh Paris

General Manager, CCM

Old Town Club

Josh Paris, CCM, is the General Manager of Old Town Club in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. With over 20 years in private club management, Josh has proven his leadership skills by successfully guiding diverse and dynamic teams. Born and raised in North Carolina, he is a proud alumnus of the Hospitality Management Program at Western Carolina University. Throughout his career, Josh has worked at renowned clubs across the country, cultivating a profound understanding of the industry.

Josh’s commitment to CMAA has allowed him to serve as Chairman of the Georgia Chapter and currently the Carolinas Chapter. In addition to his professional pursuits, he cherishes moments spent with his wife, Amy, and their daughter, Taylor Grace. Whenever he finds the chance, Josh loves to read and golf. His unwavering passion and expertise in the realm of private clubs serve as the driving force behind his commitment to the industry’s growth and advancement.

Jordan Peace

Senior Vice President

ConcertGolf Partners

Jordan Peace is a Senior Vice President at Concert Golf Partners, responsible for the company’s development and growth activities. Prior to joining Concert Golf, Jordan spent a decade as the Senior Vice President, Corporate Development for Access Information Management, the largest privately held records and information management provider in the world. In this role, Jordan directed acquisitions and assisted the President of Access in driving overall revenues and expanding the company’s global market presence. Along with his team, Jordan oversaw more than 125 acquisitions to completion at Access. Prior to this, he worked for a boutique investment banking firm in Knoxville, Tennessee. Jordan holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Tennessee and currently lives in Nashville, Tennessee with his wife and two sons.

Jason Pearsall

CEO

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.

Chad Pettingill

General Manager

The Ledges of St. George

Chad is a second-generation golf professional who has been in the golf industry for as long as he can remember. He spent many of his growing-up years on a course, as his mentor father was the PGA professional at the same club in Northern Utah for over 35 years. After graduating from the University of Utah, where he was a 4-year golf team member, Chad moved to Phoenix, Arizona, where he joined Troon. He gained his PGA Membership in 1999 and worked in the Troon system at many clubs nationwide for the next 15 years. During that time, he moved from PGA Golf Professional to PGA General Manager and has worked at various clubs in that role since 2007.

In 2013, he returned to his home state of Utah with his wife and four children to take the General Manager position at Jeremy Ranch Golf & Country Club. Chad spent the next ten years revitalizing one of Utah’s historic country clubs. Currently, Chad is the General Manager at The Ledges Golf Club, a public-resort golf course with plans to transition to semi-private this year.

Ron Phipps

General Manager/ COO

The Lakes Country Club

Ron Phipps, CCM joined The Lakes CC team in 2010 as the CFO/AGM and became the GM/COO in 2021. Born and raised in Southern California, he graduated with honors from the University of California, Riverside with a BS Degree in Business Administration.

His career began as an auditor with Price Waterhouse, LLP and in 1998, became the first full-time CFO of The Canyon Lake Property Owners Association, a Master Planned Community. Ron has obtained all certifications as it relates to Community Association management, at both the State and National level and holds the CCM certification from CMAA. He currently sits on the Board of Directors for The Golden State Chapter of CMAA and is actively involved in the Roadrunner Region.

John Pugliese

CEO

Landscapes Unlimited

John Pugliese is Chief Executive Officer of Landscapes. Landscapes Unlimited develops and constructs golf courses, country clubs and resorts globally, as well as sports fields, of myriad sizes and budgets. Sister company Landscapes Golf Management operates more than 50 golf courses and country clubs nationwide. Pugliese directs corporate development as well as strategy, operations and financial activities of the companies in concert with Landscapes’ vision, mission and values. Success is derived from producing high-quality products, healthy returns for clients and rewarding careers for team members. Prior to joining Landscapes in 2011, Pugliese was involved in finance, real estate and operations management ventures. He holds a degree from Southern Methodist University and an MBA from the University of Texas at Austin.

Don Rea Jr., PGA

Vice President of the PGA of America

Owner/Operator

Augusta Ranch Golf Club

PGA Vice President Don Rea Jr. is the Owner and General Manager of Augusta Ranch Golf Club, a public golf course, in Mesa, Arizona. A PGA Member for 20 years, Rea was elected PGA Secretary in 2020; and PGA Vice President in 2022. Rea served on the PGA of America’s national Board of Directors from 2016-’19. During his time as President of the Southwest PGA Section, 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 currently serves on the Arizona Lodging & Tourism Association Board of Directors.

Rea owns Your Course Consulting and founded Community Course Rescue Services, LLC in 2017. Rea spent nine years as a Minor League Baseball umpire, ascending to Triple-A, and has 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. Rea resides with his wife, Karen, in Gilbert, Arizona, and has two children, Don III and Katie.

Colin Read

CEO & Co-Founder

Whoosh

Colin Read is the CEO and co-founder of Whoosh, a modern club operations software company recently recognized as one of the most innovative technologies in the club industry. Whoosh is already partnering with over 100 private clubs around the country and saving the average club 20+ hours of staff time per week.

Known for his charisma and visionary leadership, Colin is passionate about modernizing the club industry’s technology through cloud-based software and partnerships with industry-leading providers. He is a reformed venture capitalist and successful serial entrepreneur with leadership experience scaling B2B & B2C companies in hospitality, automotive, and telecom. Colin is a 4X founder with 3 successful exits, including an IPO.

Colin is a lifelong golfer (scratch) and 2X collegiate All-American. When he’s not at work or on the golf course, he’s with his wife and two boys, likely rooting for the Phoenix Suns or Boston Red Sox

Whitney Reid-Pennell

President

RCS Hospitality Group

Whitney Reid is owner and President of award winning consulting company, Reid Consulting Services (RCS). She is a contributing writer to Board Room Magazine highlighting ideas culminated over 25 years of hospitality management experience with private golf clubs, golf management companies, and hotel industry leaders. She has held several top management positions prior to forming RCS with companies such as Marriott Management Services, The Desert Mountain Club, and Troon Golf.

Forrest Richardson, ASGCA

Golf Course Architect

Forrest Richardson Golf Course Architects

Forrest Richardson is a golf course architect based in Phoenix, Arizona. Established in 1988, Forrest Richardson Golf Course Architects have created celebrated projects for clients throughout the U.S. and internationally, receiving awards for excellence, innovation and attention to detail. The firm’s work spans from Hawaii and Alaska to the East Coast. International work has included projects in India, Mexico, Central America, Canada, Bulgaria, Albania, Sweden and Asiatic Russia. In addition to work designing courses, Forrest Richardson serves as a key consultant to feasibility, transformation and reconfiguration projects.

Tim Schantz

CEO

Troon

Tim Schantz has over thirty years’ experience specializing in corporate and real estate transactional matters, with the last twenty plus years focused on the golf and leisure sector. Prior to joining the Company in 1998, Schantz spent five years in the California offices of the international law firm Latham & Watkins, followed by three years as Vice President, Senior Corporate Counsel for the Phoenix based lodging company, Doubletree Corporation. Schantz leads the Company’s senior executive team and has responsibility for helping to guide all aspects of the Company’s general matters and strategy. A licensed attorney, Schantz received his B.A. from the University of Colorado and his J.D. from the University of Kansas. He currently serves on the Board of the National Golf Foundation (NGF).

Kristine (Kris) Schoonover, Ph.D.

Director of Operations

Erin Hills Golf Club

Professor University of Wisconsin Stout

Kristine (Kris) Schoonover, Ph.D., is a Professor in the School of Management at the University of Wisconsin Stout for the Golf Enterprise Management bachelor’s degree.

Since 2007, Kris has simultaneously worked at Erin Hills Golf Course as Director of Operations & Assistant Competition Director. She worked closely with the USGA to host championships at Erin Hills, including the 2008 U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links, the 2011 U.S. Amateur, the 2017 U.S. Open, the 2022 U.S. Mid-Amateur, and is currently preparing for the 2025 U.S. Women’s Open.

A scholar-practitioner, Kris passionately studies the guest lifecycle at golf facilities, particularly interested in customer experience management, human capital development, and training practices. Within the rapidly evolving golf industry, facility leaders face increased pressure from guests, players, and members to exceed expectations by creating a memorable experience at each touchpoint within a golfer’s journey. A key element to the experience is understanding the impact of the pace of play on player satisfaction and building strategies to create and manage the golfer’s experience

Kelly Searight

Vice President of Sales

Alliance Management

With 40 years of experience in the Golf and Country Club industries, Kelly’s expertise lies in cultivating highly effective on-site teams through collaborative efforts with Sales Directors, General Managers and Golf Course Superintendents. Kelly excels at driving the growth of tournament and banquet event revenue through leveraging dynamic pricing, search engine results, and effectively harnessing the power of customer relationship management systems and their reporting capabilities to make informed sales decisions.

Bodo Sieber

CEO

Tagmarshal

Bodo Sieber is a German born entrepreneur, co-founder and CEO of Tagmarshal Golf Course Optimization Technology, which partners with 35 of Golf Digest’s Top 100 USA Golf Courses and other leading golf operations and organizations. Recognized as being one of the most innovative people in golf by Golf Inc. Magazine, Bodo has a strong understanding of process optimization, design thinking and user experience. Bodo’s focus is to enable positive changes that grow the game of golf and help golf operations into a sustainable technology and data enabled future.

He has been a keynote speaker for innovation in golf, at the Golf Business Conference, Golf Inc Innovation Summit, PGA Show, Golf Business Tech Conference, as well as appearing in Forbes magazine, Golf.com, PGA Magazine, Compleat Golfer and other leading industry publications.

Bobby Silva

Acquisition

Escalante Golf Inc.

Mr. Silva has been in the golf industry and the food & beverage business for over thirty-five years. His ability to grow business, introduce strategic initiatives, and lead investor group/finance teams has been instrumental in the growth of Escalante. As the leader responsible for club and resort acquisitions, raising capital, business development, and investor relations/communications, Mr. Silva has developed relationships that complement the vision and mission of Escalante. He has been married to his wife Ann for 32 years, and they have been blessed with four children. The Silvas are members of Watermark Community Church in Dallas, Texas.

Steve Skinner

CEO

KemperSports

Steve Skinner serves as the chief executive officer of KemperSports. Headquartered in Chicago with regional offices throughout the U.S., KemperSports manages more than 140 golf courses, private clubs, sports venues, and destination resorts nationwide. It has more golf properties named among the top 100 U.S. public and resort courses than any other management company. Its sports marketing and events division, KemperSports Live, manages nationally televised sporting events. An active member of the Chicago community, Skinner was one of the founders of The First Tee of Chicago and served as a National Trustee of the Boys and Girls Clubs of America. He is a member of the Economic Club of Chicago and the Executive Committee of the Chicago Sports Commission. Prior to joining KemperSports, Skinner practiced law at Mayer Brown and served in the public sector after earning a law degree from the University of Chicago and a Bachelor of Arts degree with Honors from Lawrence University.

Jared Solomon

Co-Founder and CEO

Five Iron Golf

Jared Solomon serves as Chief Executive Officer for Five Iron Golf. After pursuing his JD from Columbia Law School, he started working as an equity options market maker in New York City, where it was nearly impossible to play golf. An entrepreneur at his core, Jared majored in philosophy at Hamilton College, played professional poker, and was an investor in various business ventures from limousines to sports drinks. His vision for Five Iron crystallized after meeting Mike Doyle, who was teaching simulator golf in a men’s clothing store. Jared’s wife, Katherine (an attorney), and her long-time friend from summer camp, Nora Dunnan, completed the foursome to create Five Iron Golf, with the goal of making golf more inclusive and accessible.

Tom Son

General Manager

Arrowood Golf Course

Tom Son’s professional bio includes graduating from the United States Military Academy (West Point) with a BS in Economics in 1994. He later resigned as a Captain in the US Army, where he served as a Military Intelligence Officer stationed in Seoul, Korea, from 1995 to 1999. Following his military service, Tom ventured into the Investment Banking Industry, assuming the role of Managing Director at various firms: Merrill Lynch in Hong Kong (1999-2005), JP Morgan in Korea (2005-2008), and Deutsche Bank in Korea (2008-2016). In 2017, he completed his studies at the Golf Academy of America in San Diego, pursuing his passion for golf. Since 2017, Tom Son has served as the General Manager of Arrowood Golf Course in Oceanside, CA. He is a PGA Member and a CMAA Member since 2019. Moreover, Tom actively engages in leadership roles, such as being a Board Member of SCPGA since 2021, Secretary of the San Diego Chapter of SCPGA since 2022, and a Board Member of DEI & PGA Hope PGA National Committees since 2023.

Mike Suglich, CPA

Founder/President

Greenlight Advisors

Mike is an experienced entrepreneur and financial leader. In 1989, he founded MAS Consulting, a business he built and led for 21 years. In 2010, Mike merged the firm upstream with Sikich LLP. There, as a Senior Partner and Executive Board member, he helped the firm grow into a national practice. He graduated from Benedictine University in 1982 with a BA in Accounting. There, he also enjoyed a successful All-American baseball career and was honored by his induction into the Athletic Hall of Fame.

Mike created the vision, research and implementation team to develop a cloud-based Financial Benchmarking framework, which illuminates data in a competitive context, using aggregated financial and operational data with simple traffic lighting, to allow for easy decision making. The first industry application was the Golf Club Benchmark SaaS solution. The solution design was enhanced by completing an initial golf club study with six private and six public golf clubs to develop features, functionality, ask for feedback and test the software. Today, the software is live with golf clubs taking part throughout the United States.

Christian Thon

General Manager/ COO

Waverly Country Club

Christian has long-term general manager experience at Palo Alto Hills Golf and Country Club, Menlo Circus Club, and most recently, the Seattle Tennis Club. His experience includes familiarity with golf and its management, high-end food and beverage, and working with multi-generational, top-quality clubs with great pride in their history and traditions.

Bryce Voisin

Business Development

GolfBack

Bryce Voisin is the Director of Revenue for Brown Golf Management and GolfBack solutions. Bryce has a passion for building tools to help golf course operators maximize green fee and cart fee revenues. Having worked as both a golf course operator and for GolfNow.com, he understands the business from both the golf course and vendor perspective. Bryce is focused on helping operators drive direct bookings and own the direct relationship with their customer.

John Volbrecht

CEO & Founder

Flite Golf

John Vollbrecht is an entrepreneurial executive with nearly two decades of experience in golf entertainment and finance. As Founder and CEO of Flite Golf & Entertainment, John is responsible for all facets of the business and spearheads sales, marketing and company innovation. John founded Flite with his brother and CTO, James Vollbrecht, to fill a sizeable void in active entertainment offerings and customer expectations.

Flite’s unique approach to the market has resulted in multiple patented innovations as well as groundbreaking in-bay applications that have driven and will continue to drive the future of golf and active entertainment. Flite is designing, building, and providing turnkey solutions to developers and golf course operators looking to enhance their customer experience domestically and internationally.

Caitlin Wesenberg

SVP of Digital

Buffalo Groupe

Caitlin Wesenberg is the Senior Vice President of Digital Services at Buffalo Groupe, where she leads the digital team in all aspects of digital marketing. Buffalo Groupe specializes in the golf and travel industry, and services B2C and B2B clients of all sizes. Caitlin is dedicated to growth marketing and providing results to Buffalo Groupe clients, particularly in the areas of marketing automation, digital advertising, social media and email marketing. She resides in Boulder, Colorado with her family and is an avid golfer and outdoor enthusiast.

Brooks West, PGA

Owner/Operator

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, doing internships with Belle Meade CC, The Country Club and 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., then 8+ amazing years with Yamaha Golf-Car Company while market share rose from 17% to over 30% as he rose to National Sales Manager. That incredible 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.

Joe Williams

Director of Golf

Troon – Indian Wells Golf Resort

Joe Grew up in Northern California and had lived many places in the state before calling the Desert home in 1996. Growing up in the Bay Area, Joe was an avid athlete, playing both baseball and basketball in high school, and working and playing golf at Palo Alto Hills Country Club. Joe had always played good golf, but while living in Lake Tahoe in 1990 thru 1994 he really began to see his golf career begin. He enrolled at PGCC in Temecula in 1995 and graduated in 1996 with honors. Joe moved to the Desert in 1996 and began his career at the Indian Wells Golf Resort as an Assistant Golf Professional. He progressed through a few different roles, Operations Manager, Head Golf Professional, and to his current role of Director of Golf in 2008. Joe is married, wife sandy, and has two children Jake(20), and Kate(17).

Ed Winiecki, PGA, CCM

Business and Career Consultant

PGA of America

Ed grew up in Colorado before attending college and moving to California, where he met his wife while giving her golf lessons–The real life Tin Cup Story.

Ed has been in the golf industry for over 30 years. He has worked in all facets of the business from Head Professional, Director of Golf, General Manager, Regional Manager and Executive Director for the PGA TOUR Event. He has also had the privilege of opening four new golf courses throughout his career. He now works for the PGA of America as a Business & Career Consultant & ExecuSearch Consultant. He resides in Oceanside, California and works closely with Industry Professionals, Employers and Allied Associations.

Ed is also a Certified PGA Professional in all six areas of expertise and is a Certified Club Manager with the Club Management Association of America.

Ed’s accolades include 14 PGA Chapter and Section awards along with the distinction of having been awarded PGA Golf Professional of the Year in two different Sections: Northern California and Southern California.

Jeff Woolson

Managing Director

CBRE, Golf & Resort Properties Group

Jeff Woolson is an Executive Vice President who serves as the Managing Director of CBRE’s Golf & Resort Group. Jeff has represented sellers, employing a variety of marketing techniques, in transactions involving golf clubs and resorts, ski resorts, marinas, master-planned communities, and developed land totaling $2.8 billion. Jeff also has a great deal of experience marketing assets through bankruptcy. Jeff is frequently interviewed by national news publications, often serves as a panel speaker and is widely acknowledged as an expert in the marketing of resort properties and real estate negotiations.

In addition to leading the Golf & Resort Group, Jeff is a member of CBRE’s Hotel Group and Land Services Group, as well as CBRE Capital Markets Institutional Properties, broadening his reach to investors and other CBRE professionals. Jeff is a leader in the Urban Land Institute’s Recreational Development Council and The Century Club, a non-profit organization responsible for conducting the San Diego PGA Tour stop at Torrey Pines, the Farmers Insurance Open.

Jonathan Wride

CEO

TenFore Golf

Jonathan is the CEO of TenFore Golf, a course software company that has developed powerful, easy-to-use, and fully mobile cloud-based point of sale, tee sheet, booking engine, and marketing software for public and private golf courses, retail shops, and food and beverage operations. He has been involved in golf technology since 2011, working with single and multi-course operators, course software companies, and large media brands. Jonathan is committed to delivering the best possible solutions to course owners so they can run their businesses however they choose.

Before joining TenFore, Jonathan was the co-founder and CEO of Supreme Golf, a technology company that bridges the gap between the golf course and modern technology. Whether delivering a golf course à la carte offerings like free marketing at leading tee time marketplaces such as Barstool Sports, Golf Digest, and CBS, adding or replacing subscription technology to drive recurring revenue, Jonathan built Supreme Golf organically and via strategic acquisitions to deliver on the specific needs of each company.

Before Supreme Golf, Jonathan was a founding partner in a Dubai private equity firm, where he was named a “Key Player in Dubai.” Jonathan is a former EY Entrepreneur of the Year nominee.

Hunki Yun

Director, Business Development

USGA

Hunki works on expanding the USGA’s efforts to provide outstanding golf experiences through Handicapping, GHIN, Rules and Green Section services that improve playing conditions and make resource consumption more efficient.

These activities support the USGA’s ongoing mission to improve the overall health of the industry by advancing a welcoming, sustainable game for all who wish to play golf. Hunki, who began working for the USGA in 2011, also has led efforts to improve pace and play and develop a better understanding of golfer experience.

Prior to joining the USGA, Hunki worked as a writer and editor for newspapers and several golf publications, including Golf Digest, Golf Magazine and Links.

Rick Zbranek

Senior Managing Director

Cushman & Wakefield

Rick Zbranek, MAI, is a Senior Managing Director and National Golf Specialty Practice Leader of Cushman & Wakefield, Inc. Prior to joining Cushman & Wakefield in 2006, Rick led his own real estate appraisal and consulting firm, The Richard A. Zbranek Company, from 1994-2006. Previous experience includes manager positions at PriceWaterhouse and Laventhol & Horwath.

As Director of Valuation of the South-Central region , Rick is responsible for client interfacing, complex assignment scoping, quality control, and oversight of all valuation related services transacting in the region. He is national single point of contact for several regional and national clients.

During his career, Rick has appraised all property types, including office, industrial, multifamily, hospitality, land development and recreational properties. As National Leader, he has directed and managed over 2,000 golf course assignments for the V&A Golf Practice Group since its formation in 2006 and has personally performed consulting and appraisal assignments on hundreds of golf properties in his career

Michael Zisman

Co-CEO

Golf Genius Software

Mike Zisman founded Golf Genius Software in 2009 after a long career in information technology, and he is currently Co-CEO of the company. Prior to founding Golf Genius, he was founder and CEO of Soft-Switch, Inc., CEO of Lotus Development Corp and a senior executive at IBM. Soft-Switch was one of the very first companies to participate in the electronic mail industry, and Mike is regarded as a pioneer in the field of electronic mail.

Prior to founding Soft-Switch, Mike was a member of the faculty at M.I.T’s. Sloan School and an Associate Member of the Laboratory for Computer Science. Zisman has been a long-time advocate of open standards, the Internet and privacy issues.

Zisman is co-chair of the Philadelphia Orchestra and Kimmel Center, and was formerly board chair of the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts in Philadelphia. He is a former director or trustee of the University of Pennsylvania, Lehigh University, the Board of Overseers of the Penn School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, the Philadelphia Orchestra and Main Line Health.