SPEAKERS

John Brown | CEO | GreatLIFE Golf

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

Rachel Carter | Senior Director of Membership | NGCOA

Rachel Carter is the Senior Director of Membership at the National Golf Course Owners Association (NGCOA), where she leads strategic initiatives to enhance member engagement and growth. With nearly 30 years of experience in the golf and country club industry, which began with American Golf Corporation in 1998, Rachel has held leadership roles at prestigious institutions, including the Monterey Peninsula Country Club in Pebble Beach, CA. She is a recognized thought leader, contributing to industry publications such as Golf Business, Board Room Magazine and Club Director. She is often asked to lead panel discussions for industry events including the annual PGA Show and Golf Inc. Rachel is a member of the Board of Trustees for the Colorado Open Foundation, which serves to foster and encourage the sport of golf in Colorado through financial support for educational programs aimed at developing the interest and ability of Colorado’s youth. She is an ad-hoc member of the Colorado Golf Coalition which advocates on behalf of the golf industry throughout the state. She is also a member of the Colorado Golf Association and the Meadows Women’s Golf Association.

Phil Cotton | CEO | Nicklaus Companies

Phil is a senior executive in the sports & entertainment industry with over 25 years experience working for some of the world’s top athletes, brands and agencies. He is currently CEO of Nicklaus Companies, who’s businesses include golf-course design, the development of golf and real estate communities, and the marketing and licensing of lifestyle products worldwide under the iconic Jack Nicklaus and Golden Bear brands.

Nicklaus Design, recognized as the world leader in golf course design, has over 440 courses open for play worldwide, across 46 countries and 40 U.S states. Prior to Nicklaus Companies, Phil was CEO & Founder of Elevate Sports, an integrated agency for athletes, brands and rights holders to ‘elevate’ their investments in sports and entertainment, creating better performances and a higher ROI.

Before founding Elevate Sports, Phil was Head of the EMEA and Asia Golf Division for the global sports marketing agency, 4sports & marketing, based in Switzerland. He managed a stable of elite professional golfers as well as created, promoted and staged professional tournaments. Phil also conceptualized a modern European-style private home golf community in Florida, now known as Panther National.

Whitney Crouse | CEO & Founding Partner | Bobby Jones Links

Whitney serves as company strategist and the idea generator for Bobby Jones Links and the company’s client clubs, primarily working on the company’s business and not in it. A Rice University graduate, he is a member of the PGA and CMAA member and is a former member of Merion Golf Club, where Bobby Jones won the Grand Slam. Whitney began his golf career managing resort properties on Hilton Head Island. For the past 30 years, he has been developing, building, and managing golf properties in the southeast. He has written for Golf Digest, published two golf books, and is a currently a member of the NGCOA’s Board of Directors.

Michael Dominguez | President & CEO | Associated Luxury Hotels International (ALHI)

Michael Dominguez serves as the President & CEO for Associated Luxury Hotels International (ALHI). ALHI is the largest Global Sales Organization with a team of nearly 80 professionals located among 26 offices across North America and Europe. Prior to joining ALHI, Michael served in executive sales leadership roles with MGM Resorts International as Chief Sales Officer and many brand and independent branded companies.

Michael is an award winning hospitality industry veteran. He has received multiple honors for his leadership and influence and has been recognized as a change agent by his peers. He’s also been a speaker with Fortune 100 Companies on topics ranging from disruption to the economy and a passion around Leadership and was an invited speaker at SXSW in 2018.

Bob Farren | Director GCM | Pinehurst Resort

Bob Farren CGCS is the Director of Grounds and Golf Course Maintenance at Pinehurst Resort, home of ten courses including the Donald Ross classic Pinehurst No. 2 and recently opened Pinehurst No 10 designed by Tom Doak. In his 38 year career at Pinehurst, Bob has managed course conditions for some of the world’s greatest golf championships including eleven USGA Championships including the historic Back to Back Men’s and Women’s US Opens in 2014. We were certainly proud to have hosted the inaugural 2022 USGA Adaptive Open Championship and followed up with the championship in 2023. Bob is very active in the golf industry and has served on numerous GCSAA Committees, the USGA Green Section Committee, The First Tee, the Musser Foundation and the Environmental Institute for Golf (EIFG). Bob was inducted into the Carolina’s Golf Association Hall of Fame in April of 2019. Bob was the first recipient of the Col. John Morley Award from the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America in 2022 and was honored with the USGA Green Section Award in March of 2024.

Jim Hinckley | CEO | Century Golf Partners

Jim is one of the most experienced executives in the private club, resort and golf management industry, having been involved in the ownership & management of more than 500 golf courses during the course of his career. Jim worked his way into the golf shop and soon became the assistant golf professional and then head golf professional while he earned his college degree. He moved to ClubCorp’s corporate office in Dallas in 1977 and, under the direction of ClubCorp Founder Robert Dedman, Sr., he learned the business and continued to grow within the organization and became President. During Jim’s tenure, ClubCorp owned and managed over 300 country clubs, resorts, private city clubs, golf courses, and real estate developments; had $1.6 billion in assets; $925 million in annual revenues; and 22,000 employees. Upon leaving ClubCorp in 2002, Jim joined in the formation of WMC Management Company, LLC (WMC) with Olympus Real Estate Partners. WMC managed over $3.5 billion in assets, including golf courses, hotels, resorts, multi-family, and real estate investments. WMC’s holdings also included the Arnold Palmer Golf Management brand. In 2005, Jim acquired WMC and formed Century Golf Partners. Together with his partners, he continued to build the company’s golf portfolio by acquiring the Arnold Palmer Golf Management (APGM) brand, plus a total of 80 courses over several years. 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 and its wide range of golf, resort, entertainment and private club related assets. Jim serves on numerous industry boards, including the National Golf Course Owners Association; American Junior Golf Association; We are Golf; and he is a past member of the PGA.

Jay Karen | Chief Executive Officer | NGCOA

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

Ryan Magnon | Sr. Operations Executive | Chick-fil-A Inc.

Ryan Magnon is a recognized leader in the service industry with expertise in service excellence, hospitality operations, quality management and leadership best practices. He currently serves in the role of Sr. Operations Executive, Field Operations for Chick-fil-A Corporate. Ryan’s primary responsibilities include partnering with Chick-fil-A Restaurant Franchisee Owner/Operators across the company to help them develop effective operational strategies to grow sales, improve the customer experience and realize Chick fil-A’s vision of becoming the “World’s Most Caring Company.”

Ryan has enjoyed a successful career, beginning with his service as a Quality Improvement Officer in the U.S. Air Force after selection to US Air Force Flight School. Prior to Chick-fil-A, Ryan served as Vice President of Quality for a new luxury hotel brand, Capella Hotels and Resorts, joining forces with Horst Schulze, the former creator of The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company to create a new standard of excellence in the hotel industry.

Ryan graduated from Georgia Tech with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business. He has spoken on the topic of service excellence, leadership, and quality management for organizations around the world.

Greg Norman | Two-Time Major Championship Winner | World Golf Hall of Fame Member

Greg Norman became hooked on golf at age 15 after serving as a caddie for his mother. His first golf instruction came through Jack Nicklaus’ book, Golf My Way, and after a mere 18 months, Norman played to a scratch handicap. At the age of 20, Norman continued to concentrate on his golf game while working as a trainee in the Royal Queensland Golf Club. In 1976 at the age of 21, he turned pro and won his first professional event, the West Lakes Classic, the same year.

Norman began competing on the PGA TOUR full-time in 1983 and became one of the most dominant players in the world in the 1980s and ’90s. In his prime, Norman’s practice sessions were notoriously grueling and he had a reputation as one of the hardest workers on TOUR. This renowned work ethic combined with his natural ability propelled him to become the top-ranked golfer in the world, a status he held for over six years. He is a five-time recipient of the Byron Nelson Award, a three-time Vardon Trophy winner, three-time Arnold Palmer Award winner, the 1995 PGA TOUR Player of the Year, and is the first player in TOUR history to surpass $10 million in career earnings.

In addition to his legendary golf career and extensive philanthropic work—including raising millions through the Shark Shootout—Norman now serves on the Board of Directors for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games, bringing his passion for sport and Queensland pride to the global stage.

David Pillsbury | CEO | Invited

David Pillsbury was named CEO of Invited in June of 2018. He has held numerous leadership roles in the golf industry over the past 30 years, starting his golf career at American Golf Corporation (AGC). At AGC, Pillsbury led innovations including the formation of American Golf Country Clubs, the Private Club Member Platinum Program, the Nike Golf Learning Centers, centralized tee time reservations, and much more. After American Golf, Pillsbury became GM of Nike Golf, responsible for all U.S. operations, marketing and sales. Following Nike Golf, Pillsbury was President of PGA TOUR Golf Course Properties Tournament Players Clubs (TPC’s), and he was then promoted to President of PGA TOUR Championship Management including THE PLAYERS, and Executive Vice President of PGA TOUR Tournament Business Affairs. Most recently, he held CEO roles in the healthcare and consumer products industries. Pillsbury received his MBA from the USC and his BA from the University of California, Berkeley.

Charlie Rymer | Executive Vice President | McLemore Club

A native of Cleveland, Tenn., who grew up in Fort Mill, South Carolina, Charlie Rymer dominated the South Carolina junior golf scene in the mid-1980s before earning All-America honors at Georgia Tech and playing on the PGA Tour. He moved from playing competitively to broadcasting golf in 1998, where he joined the Golf Channel and became one of the top analysts for over 20 years. Along with working in the golf media space, Charlie founded the “Yours and One other Foundation” in North Florida’s PGA Section, which aims to fix challenges facing North Florida’s youth and veteran communities. He currently serves as the Executive Vice President of McLemore Club in Rising Fawn Georgia.

Tim Schantz | CEO | Troon

Tim Schantz has over thirty years’ experience specializing in corporate and real estate transactional matters, with the last twenty five plus years focused on the golf and leisure sector. Prior to joining Troon 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 Troon’s senior executive team and has responsibility for helping to guide all aspects of their 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 following organizations: Troon Board of Directors, the Brophy Board of Trustees, the National Golf Foundation (NGF) and the Arizona Alliance for Golf. He is also a member of the Greater Phoenix Leadership Council, representing Troon.

Brian Vitek | Chief Operating Officer | Landscapes Unlimited

Brian Vitek has worked with Landscapes Unlimited for 20 years. Brian has a wide variety of experience through the hands-on work completed with LU. During his tenure, he has worked his way through the ranks from foreman to site superintendent to project manager to vice president.

Vitek has a thorough knowledge of both field techniques involved in golf course and athletic field construction and has managed various types of delivery contracts such as Cost Plus, Design/Build, Design/Bid/Build (Hard Bid), and CMR. Brian has expertise in cost estimating, project scheduling, and overall project execution. Whether working in the field or overseeing construction, irrigation, and landscape superintendents, Brian brings hands-on expertise and experience contributing to LU’s overall success.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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