National Golf Course Owners Association - Annual Conference and Trade Show

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Breakout Educational Sessions - In 2008 Conference attendees will have a multitude of education from which to choose - all delivered by experts and experienced owners in interactive, high-energy classroom settings!

Pre-Conference Workshops - Don't miss our pre-conference workshops, chock-full of hands-on learning about subjects guaranteed to prepare you for the future needs of your operation.

* Multi-Course Owners Track * - Craig Reid, Senior Vice President, The Americas Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts

*Closed to all industry suppliers other than Conference sponsors.
*The Multi-Course Owner Track is open to any NGCOA Conference attendee; operators managing three or more facilities will find these track sessions of particular relevance.

Carr Hagermann
FISH! Philosopher - NGCOA Opening Session
Keynote Speaker

The power of people can move mountains and influence customers, according to Carr Hagerman, a fresh voice in the business world who has helped organizations large and small develop more engaging and customer-oriented workforces.

A former street performer and artistic director, Hagerman will deliver the conference keynote address with a style and energy all his own. By incorporating his own unique observations and the principles of the FISH! Philosophy, Carr Hagermann introduces fun into the workplace equation, invites you to change your perspective, and challenges the way you might look at the world.

Carr has inspired hugely successful companies like American Express, Royal Bank of Scotland, Time-Warner, Guinness UDV, Wells Fargo, and countless others, introducing them to the power of curious play, deeper listening, and inviting them to create more effective, fulfilling and engaging workplaces. What Carr understands better than most, is that a single moment can leave an impression that lasts a lifetime.

Learn how to make top performers of everyone on your staff to create a more welcoming and supportive environment for customers. A place they'll want to come back to round after round.

Based on the work culture of the Seattle world-famous Pike Place Fish Market where employees brought incredible fun, passion and individual accountability to the job everyday, the FISH! Philosophy is flourishing in corporate and educational markets around the world.

It's being championed by business leaders, HR, training professionals and individuals committed to creating a culture of trust, accountability and innovation in the workplace. Those who embrace this culture will see the possibility of creating a more expressive, and rewarding work experience, and when applied, they begin to see and act on new opportunities in their relationships with staff, customers, and every person they encounter as they go about their work.

By incorporating his own unique observations and the principles of the FISH! Philosophy, Carr introduces fun into your workplace equation and invites you to change your perspective, challenging the way you might look at the world. Carr travels internationally and has inspired hugely successful companies like American Express, Royal Bank of Scotland, Time-Warner, Guinness UDV, Wells Fargo, and countless others, introducing them to the power of curious play, deeper listening, and inviting them to create more effective, fulfilling and engaging workplaces. What Carr understands better than most, is that a single moment can leave an impression that lasts a lifetime.

FISH! Culture: FISH! provides the process, tools and language to generate the skills necessary to design a workplace full of inspiration, creativity and innovation. Based on the work culture of the Seattle world-famous Pike Place Fish Market, the FISH! Philosophy is flourishing in corporate and educational markets the world - championed by business leaders, HR, training professionals and individuals committed to creating a culture of trust, accountability and innovation in the workplace.

There is a lot of talk about workplace culture, but what is it? What sets the overall atmosphere at your course? Is it you? Is it your staff? Whose job influences how your golfers feel about your course?

Your staff and their attitude can determine whether your business is successful or not. Whether people want to work for you - or not. Whether people want to come to your course - or not.

Carr Hagerman will inspire people to create workplaces that are joyful and innovative, lighthearted and wholehearted.

Based on the philosophy of the unique Seattle Fish Market where the employees brought incredible fun, passion and individual accountability to the job every day.

Attendees will see the possibility of creating a more expressive, and rewarding work experience, and when applied, they begin to see and act on new opportunities in their relationships with staff, customers, and every person they encounter as they go about their work.

Dan Thurmon
Success in Action
Plenary Speaker

Dan Thurmon began his entrepreneurial career when he was eleven years old after learning to juggle at a Renaissance Festival. That one event uncovered a passion for inspiring audiences that has only grown over time. As an entertainer, Dan has appeared at thousands of events across the country and overseas. His performing credits include national television appearances and collaborations with major musical artists.

Dan's performing experience taught him the essentials to consistently deliver superior performances on and off the stage. Those lessons, combined with a business education and thirst for motivational influences, led him to develop an original communication style as he built a successful company.

Dan is author of the book Success in Action and President of Motivation Works, Inc., an international speaking and entertainment firm. He teaches audiences how to manage the demands of their busy lives with increased focus and decisive action. His unique programs always blend meaningful content with emotionally charged performances.

Dan's flagship keynote program, Success in Action, has inspired and propelled thousands of individuals to achieve greater results in the midst of change. Are demands for your time and performance making it difficult to focus on what you are trying to achieve? Dan will help you regain control of your accelerated life. Success in Action is an inspirational program that teaches and illustrates personal management of multiple responsibilities. You can do more than you think you can, and during this presentation you will learn how to accomplish more of your important tasks in less time with precision, confidence and satisfaction!

Dan empowers people to take action, stretch their beliefs and abilities, and create a life abundant with achievement, rewards and fulfillment.

Doug Keely
The Mark of a Leader
Golf Industry Show Team Day

Through master storyteller Doug Keely's words, you will be inspired to think about your role and priorities as a leader, and to improve your leadership skills, with some clear ways to do that. You will be challenged to look at your team and how it is functioning, and the perceptual barriers that are holding you back. And ultimately you will be challenged to look at your story and the mark you are making on your organization and the world around you.

"Life is a story. My life, your life, your career - it is all a story. If you accept that it is a story, you have to accept accountability, because you are writing the story and you are the central character in the story."

With these words, master storyteller Doug Keeley begins a unique journey with his audience into the heart of leadership, with a look at how some of the world's most successful leaders and brands have changed the world. The journey is called THE MARK OF A LEADER.

THE MARK OF A LEADER is an unforgettable presentation like no other. The program is a treasure chest of inspiring stories about the world's greatest leaders and brands, and the principles that have made them successful.

You will be inspired to think about your role and priorities as a leader, and to improve your leadership skills, with some clear ways to do that. You will be challenged to look at your team and how it is functioning, and the perceptual barriers that are holding you back. And ultimately you will be challenged to look at your story and the mark you are making on your organization and the world around you.

THE MARK OF A LEADER program has gained acclaim from some of the world's most prestigious organizations, companies, and associations for the powerful and positive impact it has on audiences' lives, and businesses.

Service Excellence: Taking the Golf Experience to the Next Level
Rob Morton, The Disney Institute
9:45 am - 11:15 pm

Session recording: Click here to purchase this recorded session.

Rob Morton
Service Excellence: Taking the Golf Experience to the Next Level
Golf Industry Show Team Day

Rob Morton, The Disney Institute: Golf Industry Show Team Day The Disney Institute is pleased to return to share the next steps in enhancing the entire golf experience. This interactive presentation is designed to build upon the teamwork concepts shared in 2007 while providing exceptional value to first time attendees. This is an excellent opportunity to benchmark proven service strategies and tactics that are directly applicable to the golf industry and relevant to both internal and external customers. Program participants will be given a tool that can be used to evaluate their own current service delivery and identify areas of focus for improvement.

The Disney Institute is pleased to return to the Golf Industry Show Team Day to share the next steps in enhancing the entire golf experience. This interactive presentation is designed to build upon the teamwork concepts shared in 2007 while providing exceptional value to first time attendees. This is an excellent opportunity to benchmark proven service strategies and tactics that are directly applicable to the golf industry and relevant to both internal and external customers. Program participants will be given a tool that can be used to evaluate their own current service delivery and identify areas of focus for improvement.

In 2008 Conference attendees will have a multitude of education from which to choose - all delivered by experts and experienced owners in interactive, high-energy classroom settings!

Heidi Voss
Heidi Voss possesses a diverse background and over 20 years of experience in the club industry, including residential golf course development, revitalization of established clubs and an intense concentration in new club development.

Bauer Voss Consulting has worked with over 100 clubs nationally and internationally; many have been from pre-construction to opening. Voss assists private clubs in proper positioning of the club in the marketplace, development of a critical path, structuring of club membership programs, member equity buyout of a club, selection and training of a Membership Director, development of club collateral materials and documents as well as day-to-day monitoring of progress.

Join Heidi for this insightful session that will delve into how to better manage your membership marketing and sales efforts at your club. She will offer solutions to track your progress, share reports that will help you to focus your sales people and provide you with examples from across the globe that are working for others. Be prepared for interactive dialogue and be ready to share.

Karen Furtado
A 15-year member of the 16-year old EWGA, Karen has experienced first-hand the benefits of organized play activities, championship competition, networking and game improvement programs at the Chapter level as a member of the Southern New Hampshire Chapter. Her involvement on the Association Board included serving a term as the Secretary of the EWGA and the EWGA Foundation as well as President of the EWGA Foundation Board of Directors.

Her proficiency with the game of golf complements her successful professional career track which involves over 25 years of business and technical experience with an extensive background in the management of professional services centered on application development, complex system implementations, vendor selection processes and technical and business outsourcing. Presently, Karen is an independent Executive Consultant specializing in implementing strategic vendor management programs to maximize key vendor-client relationships within the insurance industry.

In addition to her EWGA volunteer commitments, Karen also serves as the Vice Chair of the LPGA Foundation and is serving on the Wine and Dine for MS fundraising committee in Boston, MA.

Nancy Henderson
Nancy Henderson, a Class A member of both the LPGA and PGA is in her first year as LPGA Executive Director for the Teaching and Club Professional Membership. In this role, Ms. Henderson oversees the day-to-day operation of the association including its educational programs, tournament offerings, certification and testing.

Prior to this appointment Ms. Henderson was the Director of Golf and General Manager at LPGA International Golf Course, the home course of the Ladies Professional Golf Association for over seven years and was responsible for a staff of 120 employees.

A graduate of Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Henderson was a member of the women's golf team earning a four-year scholarship. A two-time US Open participant, her playing accomplishments include more than 300 tournament victories and thirteen hole-in-ones. In 2001, Henderson was named National LPGA Professional of the Year for the LPGA Teaching and Club Professional Division. In 2003, Henderson earned Player of the Year honors for the LPGA Southeast Section.

Utilizing the FISH! Philosophy can improve services to all who visit the course but how can you extend that type of welcoming environment with a special focus on the women golfer? We will discuss how an welcoming attitude will not only increase the number of rounds women will play at the course but also the financial impact to all services at the course. You will come away from this session energized to make the appropriate adjustments needed to grow this very important target market.

Larry Gulko
For 25 years, Larry has introduced and positioned brands for over 75 products from consumer and technology to healthcare and services for a variety of companies and organizations. Larry developed a new Branding & Customer Loyalty Retreat in association with the Disney Institute, created a new branding strategy for The LPGA Legends Tour, and is associated with the Babson College Executive Education Center where he speaks on Branding Strategies in their Leadership Program.

Larry's clients have included Saga International Holidays, Reebok Golf, Johnson & Johnson, Kodak, Fanny Farmer Candies, General Electric, James River, Siemens, Polaroid, Agfa/Bayer, International Paper, Boston Scientific, and Pantone. Gulko has served as president of the board of the American Marketing Association, Boston.

A "winning brand" is a brand that is strategically positioned, owns something special in the customer's mind, is embraced by employees so they become raving fans, dominates a product category, and showcases a great business story. Larry will inspire you to take a fresh look at your brand and shares 7 exciting ideas and strategies to target a mindset both externally and internally, to emotionally connect with the customer and to drive brand preference and customer loyalty to a new plateau of success.

The sum of customer experiences creates the brand. Not only is it important to focus your brand and create a unique value proposition but also to get employee buy-in to accurately reflect your brand image and deliver a wonderful customer experience everyday. By effectively communicating with your team to ensure they truly understand the purpose of your organization and their role to achieving success, you'll create an exciting, thriving organization where everyone is involved, everyone is fully engaged, and everyone is a player. And, as a result, your customers will feel "Your Brand…is Their Brand."

Following his speech, Larry will facilitate a brand marketing roundtable where you'll benefit from additional value - an opportunity to meet and interact in a unique marketing chat with Larry and your peers. This informal forum enables you to discuss topics of interest presented earlier as well as pose questions about the key marketing and branding challenges you're facing - to create brand differentiation, build brand awareness, be perceived as a trusted brand - not simply as a commodity, motivate staff to deliver exceptional brand experiences, drive revenue and improve business performance. Think of this session as having a free marketing coach for an hour - plan to attend!

Allison George
Allison George received her degree in English and Secondary Education. Her degree to be Toad Valley Golf Course's General Manager? It came from the school of hard knocks. Having grown up on the family's golf course, Allison has done it all. Beginning at the age of two when she helped her dad change cups, to washing and gassing carts at age eleven and then moving on to work behind the counter as a teenager and mowing tees and fairways when she was in college - it's been a lifelong school.

Allison, her brother, and their spouses took over reins with their parents in 2004. Since then, Toad Valley has been nothing but a whirlwind of changes. The family built a miniature golf course in 2004, remodeled the entire clubhouse in 2005, and finished a new conference center in 2006. Her energy and drive to teach everyone about the great game of golf keeps most of the family's heads spinning.

Just some of the programs she has implemented are a Tadpole Junior Golf Clinic where they teach nearly one hundred 5 - 15 year olds, a Ladies Night Out where 150 business professionals, mothers, and teachers learn how to hold their own on the golf course, plus she has also implemented many programs for non-golfers to keep income coming in during the off-season. Since taking over, the "new blood" has increased both rounds and revenue at a course that Allison's father, Tom Brady, designed and built 34 years ago. Allison and her husband, Kelly, enjoy their 3 children and take them golfing several times a week. Many ideas come from these experiences. You'll enjoy Allison's fresh approach and ideas for the golf industry.

George Kelley
George Kelley is the visionary behind Greenway Golf and is responsible for business development, facility assessments and strategic planning. George is a fifth generation descendant of a California Pioneer family. His family's business interests include farming, a dairy operation, cattle, real estate development and an upscale public golf course.

A 1973 graduate of the University of Colorado, Kelley spent the next three years traveling the world as a touring golf professional. At the completion of his golf career, Kelley became a real estate broker specializing in golf related ventures. In 1995 he developed and co-designed the highly acclaimed Stevinson Ranch GC on family owned land in the Central Valley of California. Stevinson Ranch has since garnered many awards including California's Best New Course and was the first Audubon International Signature golf course west of the Mississippi.

Wondering what you can do to attract new players? To encourage your current players to play more often? This session is chock full of tried and true ideas to fill your tee sheet. Come listen to this panel and be ready to take notes and ask questions.

Jim Baugh
While Jim is a consultant for various companies in the sports and recreation business, he has been a champion in growing sports participation at the grassroots level. Jim helped tennis grow over 23% in the past few years while being President of the Tennis industry Association and on the Board of the USTA, the governing body of tennis. Jim is the key figure in spearheading the largest industry-wide initiative to grow tennis participation: the Tennis Welcome Centers. This former President of Wilson Sporting Goods is also the founder of PE4Life, an initiative to combat obesity and the sedentary lifestyle of America's youth while rebuilding quality physical education programs throughout America.

So you find yourself wondering "where did all the players go"? So you want to grow your business but aren't sure how? This session will send you away energized and excited about growing new players and with an understanding of how new and returning golfers view the sport. The rest is up to you.

Brad D. Steele
Brad earned his Bachelor's Degree in Government and Politics, with Highest Distinction, from George Mason University and immediately put that degree to work. He began his work in politics in the early 1990's where he worked in the first Bush Administration for Vice President Dan Quayle.

In 2000, Brad returned to the political arena as a candidate for the United States Congress and, in 2002, he ran for the Indiana State House of Representatives. In 2006, Brad returned to Washington, DC and was practicing law in Northern Virginia prior to joining NCA.

Though well versed in politics, becoming an attorney was Brad's lifelong goal. So, after many years in DC, Brad left Washington to study law at Oxford University, Queen's College and he earned his law degree from the University of Oklahoma. Upon graduation, Brad returned to his home state of Indiana and practiced law for 12 years. In addition, Brad served as county, township, city and town attorney for communities throughout the state. He also served as a judge of an Indiana court. In 2006, Brad returned to the Washington, DC area and was practicing law in Alexandria, Virginia immediately prior to joining NCA.

Immigration has become one of the top legislative issues for Congress-and a hot-button topic that will affect the club world for years to come. With the baby boomers retiring, competition for qualified workers will increase rapidly. At the same time, many employers are struggling with answers related to questions about how to secure workers authorized to work in the U.S. This session will provide an assessment of what's going on in Washington, DC and analyze how managers and owners can successfully deal with H-2B visas and Social Security no-match letters, as well as many other issues that arise when employing immigrants.

Bill Schwartz
Bill Schwartz, CHTP is president and CEO of System Concepts, Inc., developer of the FOOD-TRAK Food and Beverage Management System. An experienced lecturer and author of numerous articles on food & beverage cost management, Bill is listed on the CMAA Speaker's Bureau, and is a frequent contributor to The Boardroom magazine, At Your Service, Club Management, and many other industry publications. For over two decades, Bill developed and taught seminars for the National Restaurant Association, CMAA, HFTP and others. Bill is a dynamic speaker, and provides new ways to think about his various topics. Attendees appreciate the humor and unique perspective Bill brings to his presentations.

This seminar explores the problems associated with traditional approaches using budgets and P&L's to control F&B costs, and provides numerous alternatives for gaining solid control of the department. Peek behind the kitchen door and learn how to reduce purveyor and employee theft, reduce waste, and track expensive key items to identify problems as they happen. Significantly reduce F&B costs without raising prices or changing the menu.

Jill Fjelstul Dr.
Jill Fjelstul joined the Rosen College of Hospitality Management faculty in August, 2005 as an Assistant Professor. Her teaching expertise includes golf and club management and her research interests are in golf management, club management, and online education. She is presently writing a new degree proposal with a golf and club management focus for Rosen College. Dr. Fjelstul completed her doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction from the UCF College of Education in January, 2006. She designed and implemented the first online education course for LPGA Teaching and Club Professional Membership. She is a Class A LPGA T&CP Member.

Your staff is your most important asset. Who you hire, how you train them and how well they work together will dictate the level service your course can deliver to your customers. This session will give you interesting ideas on how you need to work with your staff as the season progresses.

Gregory T. Lyman
Greg Lyman has served as the Environmental Programs Director for the Golf Course Superintendent Association of America since 2003.

The Environmental Programs group at GCSAA has been working on an Environmental Profile for Golf Courses over the last 18 months. This project is a series of surveys which will provide reliable data on the land use characteristics, management practices, water use and environmental stewardship of US golf courses.

Prior to joining the GCSAA, Greg served as the Environmental Education Specialist at Michigan State University from 1992 until 2003. At MSU, he developed the Michigan Turfgrass Environmental Stewardship Program for golf course properties. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Michigan State University and a Master of Science degree from Penn State University.

The GCSAA through funding from the Environmental Institute for Golf has begun a series of surveys that will provide a comprehensive view of the property features, management practices, inputs and outputs associated with golf courses and golf course maintenance. Information from the first surveys will be presented and NCGOA members will gain an understanding of the current environmental stewardship practices and how the golf industry can become leaders within their communities.

Larry A. Hirsch
Golf Property Analysts was established in 1988 by founder and president Laurence A. Hirsh. Mr. Hirsh has amassed considerable experience in the valuation and analysis of a wide variety of income and special use properties as well as having been active as a principal in the development of office, recreational and retail properties and as a broker on selected occasions. Hirsh has provided appraisal, consulting and brokerage services across the United States and Canada, has lectured at seminars and universities and has frequently served as an expert witness or litigation support consultant in several golf property related matters. He is also a widely published author on the topic of golf property valuation and economic matters in both professional and industry publications.

Maureen A. McGinnity
Maureen A. McGinnity is a partner with Foley & Lardner LLP. As chair of the Tax, Valuation & Fiduciary Litigation Practice, she has a business litigation practice that consists primarily of litigation of federal, state, and local tax issues; resolution of complex contract and tax disputes; and litigation of contested estate and trust matters. She has litigated valuation issues in the context of shareholder disputes and with respect to complex property tax matters, including the assessments of a landfill and golf courses. She also has litigated various sales and use and property tax exemptions, including manufacturing, waste treatment, recycling, and computer exemptions. She has extensive civil litigation experience and has tried many cases to verdict.

Ms. McGinnity is a featured author of Inside the Minds: Tax Litigation Best Practices (Aspatore, Inc., 2006) and is a regular contributing author to the Tax Law section of the State Bar of Wisconsin's Annual Survey of Wisconsin Law. She was named to the 2006 list of Wisconsin Super Lawyers by Law & Politics Media, Inc. for her tax litigation work.

J. Kieran Jennings, Esq., CPA
J. Kieran Jennings is a partner in the law firm, Siegel Siegel Johnson & Jennings Co., L.P.A., serving institutional clients such as real estate investment trusts, pension funds and many of the largest national retailers.

Mr. Jennings is the lead attorney for the Western Pennsylvania region of the American Property Tax Counsel (APTC) and is the director of Siegel Siegel Johnson & Jennings's national real estate tax practice. Concentrating much of his time on real estate tax litigation and planning, Mr. Jennings has represented taxpayers on a variety of tax appeal cases, including limited and full service hotels, amusement theme parks, convention centers, gaming resorts, and golf courses. Mr. Jennings has litigated and obtained tax savings for a multitude of clients ranging from small apartments to million square feet manufacturing facilities and regional malls.

He received his B.S. in accounting from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and his J.D from Cleveland Marshall College of Law cum laude.

Golf courses are easy targets for unfair and inflated valuations and property tax bills. If you are concerned about your property tax bill, you need to attend this session. We will have tax and golf industry experts to discuss elements of tax assessments and bills, land valuation components and methods and options for dealing with grievances. So, bring your assessments, your bills and your property tax grievance to this session. You'll walk away armed with information and strategies on how to be treated fairly.

Joey Garon
Joey Garon is vice president of operations for Bonita Bay Group, a premier developer of master-planned communities, recreational amenities and commercial facilities in Southwest Florida. He also serves as vice president of New Leaf, the company's amenities management division, which includes a number of world-class clubs, championship golf courses, beach clubs, spas, fitness centers, marinas and homeowners associations.

Previously, he served as vice president of golf and club operations for KSL Recreation, where he was responsible for five resorts including La Quinta Resort & Club, PGA WEST, La Costa Resort & Spa, Doral Resort & Spa and Lake Lanier Islands. During his more than 20-year career in the club and resort industry, he has spearheaded company-wide standards of quality, managed four nationally televised PGA TOUR events, and brought in tens of millions of dollars in membership and greens fees.

Whether you are the hands-on operator of a single golf course or owner of many golf operations, getting staff out of the silo mentality and into "team play" is a bottom-line winner. Take a revealing look at how one company used teamwork to achieve significant operational changes that drove millions in savings. Learn how spearheading a culture shift, consolidating processes and communicating effectively with employees and customers can lead to increased success.

John W. Easterbrook
John Easterbrook, Jr. has over 20 years' experience in the golf industry. He is currently the Executive Vice President of Operations for Troon Golf Worldwide. Prior to joining the Company in 1997, Easterbrook spent five years' as head of Golf Operations for all Hyatt Hotels' golf properties, as well as nine years with Marriott Golf in various capacities, including Regional Director of Golf Operations. Easterbrook was appointed to his current position in 1998, and is responsible for oversight of operations at all Troon Golf facilities. In 2001, Easterbrook was selected as one of America's top 40 under 40 most influential people in the golf industry by Golfweek magazine.

Russ Libby
Russ Libby is the Owner & General Manager of Hidden Hills Country Club in Jacksonville Florida. He is an NGCOA Member and a PGA Member of 16 years. Russ and his wife Tracy have three boys - Russell, Patrick and Joseph. They have owned Hidden Hills since 2003. Russ has also served as the Director of Golf at Deerwood Country Club, Head Gold Professional at Sawgrass Country Club in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL and at Ipswich Country Club in Ipswich, Massachusetts. Russ is past President of the North Florida PGA and North Florida PGA Professional of the Year in 2000. He is past Chairman of the Florida's First Coast of Golf Operators Committee, serves on the PGA of America Board of Control and is a member of the PGA Performance Trak Task Force.

This interactive clinic will show you how to benchmark your course's performance against local, regional, and national markets. Hear from owners just like you who are already on board and have improved their business operations based upon these monthly reports.

Mike Waldron
Mike has served as the GSGA's Executive Director since 1994. He is a past president of the International Association of Golf Administrators, serves on two committees of the USGA and is a member of various other advisory committees and task forces in the golf industry. Mike has worked in the golf tournament and administration business since 1979, including nine years with the LPGA and one year with the USGA.

Chris Cupit
Chris Cupit is the owner and GM of Rivermont Golf and Country Club in Alpharetta, GA. He serves as President-elect of the board of directors of the Georgia State Golf Association and is a member of the board of the Atlanta Junior Golf Association. Her serves on the USGA's Mid-Amateur Committee and is a member of the NGCOA. Cupit comes from a large golf family in Texas that includes five PGA professionals: his late father and four uncles. Cupit received his bachelor's degree from the University of Virginia.

Richard Staugthon
A member of GCSAA since 1977, Richard was an active committee member from 1994 to 2003, and served as president of the Georgia Chapter of GCSAA from 2006 to 2007. As Committee Chairman for BMP's for Water Conservation since 2004, Richard has worked to find solutions to the serious draught problems facing the Southeast and, most particularly, Georgia. Staughton obtained an A.S. in Horticulture-Turf from the University of Guelph and a B.S. in Business Administration from the Univ. of South Carolina.

Mark Esoda
Mark is a Past President of the Georgia Golf Course Superintendent Association and also served on the Georgia Golf Environmental Foundation Board of Trustees. He currently serves as chair of The Georgia Allied Golf Water Task Force. Mark received the GCSAA Excellence in Government Relations Award in 2004 and received the PGA Georgia Section Distinguished Service Award in 2005. Mark was the Georgia Golf Course Superintendents Association Golf Course Superintendent of the Year in 2001. He is a graduate of the University of Georgia with a BS in Agriculture/Agronomy.

Wade Thomas
Wade Thomas is the Golf Course Superintendant at Idle Hour Club in Macon GA. He is a graduate of the University of Tennessee at Knoxville with a degree in Ornamental Horticulture and Landscape Design. He is a Past President of the Georgia Golf Course Superintendents Association and the Georgia Turfgrass Association. He currently serves as Chairman of the Georgia Golf Environmental Foundation and the Georgia Allied Golf Council. He is the Georgia voting delegate for the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America. He was the Georgia Golf Course Superintendents Association Golf Course Superintendent of the Year in 2007.

Having faced a drought situation from 1998-2002, the water resources of the state of Georgia and water users were under high scrutiny by the citizens, legislature and state agencies. To deal with the impending water crisis on golf courses, the Georgia Golf Course Superintendents, Georgia Department of Natural Resources and university scientists worked collaboratively to form a practical approach to conservation and state drought policies. Come learn about how this approach is expected to pay off for the golf industry, Georgia citizens and future water resources.

Jeff Hoag
Jeff Hoag is the President of Golf Systems, Inc. that owns and manages Scott Lake Country Club, a 27-hole daily fee golf course in Comstock Park, Michigan. Since 1975, Jeff and his brother Paul have grown their business from a small 18-hole facility to its current high volume 27-hole operation. As a Past President of both the Michigan Golf Course Owners Association and the NGCOA Jeff has had the opportunity to meet and exchange ideas with other golf course owners. "Our development and growth is the results of exchanging ideas with other golf course owners at the NGCOA annual conference." Think of your attendance at this session as the best opportunity to tap the minds of other owners, the best resource in the golf business.

This is the session for all owners who consider themselves a Mom and Pop operation. Come, meet and network with other owners in your same situation. Discuss your concerns and come away with some new friends and new solutions to old problems.

This is the time for Private Club owners and managers to hear how others address issues and concerns at their clubs. Come and network with NGCOA members who face your same challenges. Make some friends and come away with solutions to your problems.

Chance Maguire
Chance was born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky where hr now resides with his wife and two young boys. He studied Community Recreation at the University of Kentucky for four years before he decided to enter in the family golf business. For the last 15 years Chance has been the proud owner of Woodhaven Country Club ("The Friendliest Club in Town") in Louisville, Kentucky. They have an 18-hole golf course as well as a 9- hole par 3 course, a driving range, 2 large swimming pools, a 25,000 sq. ft. clubhouse and a membership that is 900 strong.

Chapter Formation Roundtable: So You Want to Start A Chapter!

Session recording: Click here to purchase this recorded session.

If you think a NGCOA chapter is needed to address issues in your state, drop in for this roundtable to find out what is involved in chapter formation. Leslie Remme, NGCOA Director of Membership, will be joined by current chapter directors to answer your questions and hear your concerns.