Lead Golf Together Summit-OLD

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in the Leadership of Golf
October 6 - 7, 2021  |  Hotel Bennett  |  Charleston, SC

The National Golf Course Owners Association is hosting the industry’s first Lead Golf Together (LGT) Summit, an opportunity for the leaders of golf’s allied organizations to specifically address the pronounced lack of diversity on executive teams and governing boards throughout the sport and industry. This is not a new collaborative initiative as much as it is an opportunity for each invited organization to learn and improve in their own universe.

The Lead Golf Together Summit will be an industry catalyst for long overdue and critically necessary change. It will provide the governing and staff leadership of golf’s national allied organizations with support for their own Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) efforts through a collaborative opportunity for active listening, participatory learning and hands-on development of action plans that can transform the culture and complexion of the leadership tables that shape and serve the sport. LGT is meant to be a resource for each organization to make its own change.

Financial management and execution of the LGT Summit will be administered through the NGCOA Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization. Any net proceeds from the event will be used specifically on industry DEI initiatives.

Agenda


Tuesday, October 5

4:00 PM - 7:00 PM   Check-in and badge pick-up
We recommend you arrive on Tuesday if you're playing in the Golf Outing on Wednesday morning

Wednesday, October 6

The first day of the Summit will begin with the golf outing at the newly-renovated Charleston Municipal Golf Course (a newly renovated public gem that has been named one of the Top 20 Municipal Courses in the country with its own story about racial integration). The evening will include opportunities for attendees to connect socially, which will help create a positive environment for Day 2. The evening will also feature a "fireside chat" with Valentino Dixon, who spent over 25 years in prison for a crime he didn’t commit, before his drawing of Augusta National Golf Club started a chain of events that would eventually lead to his freedom.

8:30 AM - 9:00 PM   Grab-and-go light breakfast

9:00 AM - 3:00 PM   Golf Outing (shuttle service to course; lunch, refreshments on-course)

3:00 PM                  Shuttles return to Hotel Bennett

6:00 PM - 8:00 PM   Welcome Reception (heavy hors d’oeuvres and refreshments served)

8:15 PM - 9:15 PM    Fireside Chat with special guest Valentino Dixon

Thursday, October 7

The second day will feature a mix of conversations that address the process of creating an equitable and inclusive leadership culture throughout the businesses of golf, and breakout/workshop time for each organization to examine its own unique opportunities.

8:00 AM - 9:00 AM     Breakfast

9:00 AM - 9:30 AM     Welcome and Opening Remarks

9:30 AM - 10:00 AM    Presentation: Establishing the Language and Benefits of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion // Speaker: Michael Williams

10:00 AM - 10:45 AM   Panel Discussion: Challenges and Successes in Recruiting Diverse Populations for Boards // Panelists: Sheila Johnson, Ray Halbritter, Renee Powell 

11:00 AM - 12:00 PM   Panel Discussion: Challenges and Successes in Recruiting Diverse Populations for C-Suite and Management Level Positions // Panelists: Robin Herrington, Derek Douglas, Sheila Johnson

12:00 PM - 1:00 PM     Lunch

1:00 PM - 2:00 PM      Presentation: Establishing Best Practices for Diversifying Organizational Structures // Speaker: Maurice Jones

2:00 PM - 2:45 PM      Q&A with Majority Whip Jim Clyburn

3:00 PM - 3:45 PM      Breakout Session: Discussion on Best Practices for Diversifying Organizational Structures // Moderators: Maurice Jones, Michael Williams

3:45 PM - 4:30 PM      Mastermind session

4:30 PM - 5:00 PM      Closing Remarks

Thanks to our Supporting Sponsors



COVID-19 Information

As the world continues to make positive strides to end COVID-19, we want to do our part by continuing to aid in the reduction of the spread. We look forward to meeting in Charleston safely. We will be implementing a series of policies and procedures to ensure that we keep our attendees and staff safe while still providing a fun and engaging conference experience where our community can reconnect after a long period of separation. We are working closely with the Hotel Bennett, our sponsors and staff to ensure we provide a safe environment that meets local, state, building, and CDC procedures. As we get closer to the date of the retreat, we will provide updates via this website and email communications. In the meantime, feel free to email our staff with any questions. 

City of Charleston Municipal Golf Course
The Charleston Municipal Golf Course was built on James Island and opened in 1929. An almost year-long $2 million renovation and restoration project was completed in December 2020; click here to read about the course and its renovation.
Hotel Bennett, Charleston, SC
The LGT Summit program and accommodations will be at the Hotel Bennett, Charleston’s newest premier hotel and a Salamander Hospitality property. Salamander Hospitality is owned by one of the industry’s few Black golf course owners, Sheila Johnson. Please book your room by September 13, 2021; contact Sherea Malcolm, NGCOA's Events Manager, at smalcolm@ngcoa.org for assistance.