Recent industry hires and promotions include new General Managers at Park Ridge CC in Gurnee, Ill., The Yacht Club of Stone Harbor (N.J.), and The TwinEagles Club in Naples, Fla.; new Executive Chefs at Charlotte (N.C.) Country Club and Champion Hills in Henderson, N.C.; and a new Director of the Spa at Sweetgrass Inn at Wild Dunes Resort in Isle of Palms, S.C.
Here are some of the recent new hires and promotions announced by club and resort properties and other companies in the club industry. Announcements and photos for this regular People on the Move report can be submitted at https://clubandresortbusiness.com/submit-industry-news/.
Wexford in Hilton Head Island, S.C. named Ryan Spence, CCM, CAM, as Chief Operating Officer. Spence was most recently Vice President / General Manager at Lake Nona Golf & Country Club in Orlando, Fla. and was General Manager at Isleworth Golf & Country Club in Windermere, Fla. prior to that.
Park Ridge Country Club in Gurnee, Ill. named Derek Sidley as General Manager/COO. Sidley has previously been Assistant General Manager at Skokie Country Club in Glencoe, Ill. and Food and Beverage Director at Columbine (Colo.) Country Club.
The Yacht Club of Stone Harbor (N.J.) named Dwight Jenson, CCM, as General Manager. Jenson was most recently General Manager at Chicago Yacht Club.
The TwinEagles Club in Naples, Fla. named Doug Brown, CCM, as General Manager/COO. Brown was previously General Manager/COO at Bears Paw Country Club in Naples, Fla.
The Washington (Conn.) Club named Boyd Holk, CCM, CCE, as General Manager. Hold was previously Clubhouse Manager at Andover (Mass.) Country Club.
Katie Detlefsen Dahl, Director of Instruction at West Bay Club in Estero, Fla., has been named to a national list of “Best Young Teachers in America.” Prior to joining West Bay Club in September 2020, Dahl spent eight years at Raptor Bay Golf Club in Estero, where she served as Director of Instruction including several years working for renowned golf instructor Rick Smith.
The Chevy Chase (Md.) Club named Meridith Picarelli-Khattar, CCM, as Assistant General Manager and Sarah Stone, PGA, Director of Instruction for the golf department. Picarelli-Khattar was most recently General Manager at The Field Club of Greenwich (Conn.). Stone, who will be starting at Chevy Chase Club in February, is currently a Teaching Professional at The Bear’s Club in Jupiter, Fla.
The Club Foundation announced the 2021 recipients of the Willmoore H. Kendall Scholarship, which provides tuition support to assistant club management professionals interested in pursuing the Certified Club Manager (CCM) designation. The 2021 recipients are: Sara Parker, Mid-Pacific Country Club in Kailua, Hawaii; Blake Parrish, Ansley Golf Club in Atlanta, Ga.; Qian Yang, Beach Point Club in Mamaroneck, N.Y.; Lauren Randall, The Acorn Club in Philadelphia, Pa.; and Timothy Szemplinski, Wee Burn Country Club in Darien, Conn.
PGA Master Professional Cathy Harbin, Owner of Pine Ridge Golf Course in Paris, Texas and Founder of OnCourse Operations, has joined the PGA Board of Directors as the second-ever At-Large Director. Harbin follows PGA Hall of Fame Member Renee Powell, who fulfilled her term.
Charlotte (N.C.) Country Club named Laurent Pillard as Executive Chef. Chef Laurent earned a Michelin Star while he was the Executive Chef at Hotel du Rivage in his home country of France. Charlotte CC also named Sous Chef David Cheeks as its 2020 Employee of the Year.
Champion Hills in Hendersonville, N.C. promoted Blake Johnson to Executive Chef. Johnson joined Champion Hills in 2018 and was quickly promoted to Executive Sous Chef. His background includes a compelling blend of club, hotel and restaurant experiences. Johnson was a Sous Chef at Hilton Hotels and Resorts, the Executive Sous Chef at Biltmore Forest Country Club in Asheville, N.C. and worked in the Founder’s Room kitchen in the main clubhouse at Augusta National during The Masters.
The Surf Golf and Beach Club in North Myrtle Beach, S.C. named Colm Kelly, CCM, as Director of Food and Beverage. Kelly was previously Clubhouse Manager at Concert Golf Partners and Seasonal Food and Beverage Manager at Sand Valley in Rome, Wis.
Sweetgrass Inn, Wild Dunes Resort’s (Isle of Palms, S.C.) new signature hotel opening this spring, named Dawn Spann as Director of the Spa at Sweetgrass Inn. Spann has more than 18 years of experience in the spa and wellness industry, including 10 years with Destination Hotels & Resorts.
GSI Executive Search announced that Principal Andrew Minnelli, USPTA, PTR, has been given oversight responsibilities for private club and hospitality association executive placements throughout the Northwest U.S., which includes Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota and Utah.
Buffalo Groupe is entering the event business later this year and hired Jeff Foster to launch the new business, along with assuming responsibilities for the company’s growing media network. Foster was most recently at the Golf Channel where he served as Senior Vice President for the suite of digital businesses under the Golf Channel brand led by GolfNow.
Kopplin Kuebler & Wallace added Jodie Cunningham, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, to its team. Cunningham joins as an HR/Talent Strategist, Consulting & Search Executive to assist in the mission of providing guidance and support to club leaders. She is the owner and talent optimization expert with Optimus Talent Partners.
Golf Surprize—a turnkey, revenue-generating tool for golf course owners and operators, and entertaining and engaging game for golfers—has hired Duane Sinkule as its Southeast Regional Manager. Sinkule, a Class A PGA Professional, comes to Golf Surprize from Monterey Club, where he was one of the golf and lifestyle apparel brand’s leading sales representatives. Prior to that, he spent more than a decade at storied Mountain Brook Club in Birmingham, Ala., where he was involved in every aspect of golf operations and member engagement.
David Meyers Associates (DMA) named Jason D. Hall, CMC as Culinary Specialist. Hall is the Vice President of Research and Culinary Development at Southbend/Crown Steam/Firex/Middleby and holds more than 25 ACF and international competition medals. Recently Chef Hall has signed on to be an advisor for Culinary Team USA 2024.
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