GCSAA adds, subtracts staff

This just came out as a member email from the GCSAA. Most notably to me is the news that both Jeff Bollig and Greg Lyman will no longer be working at the GCSAA.

The addition of a business development manager is also noteworthy — something that could be a really valuable asset for the association.

Here’s the email:

GCSAA Organizational Restructuring

November 22, 2013

GCSAA Members and Colleagues,

Our ultimate responsibility and goal is to ensure GCSAA continues to be a viable and sustainable organization that delivers value to you, your facility, the golf industry and the game we all love. Since GCSAA’s founding in 1926, through a strong leadership and a devoted membership, your association has prevailed through many challenging times and prospered to become a leading golf organization, which is evidenced today as we enter 2014 with strong indicators from both a financial aspect and membership retention and growth.

Earlier this year, the GCSAA Board of Directors and staff underwent an extensive strategic planning session to review our mission and vision, and chart a path towards 2020 that positions GCSAA as the global leader in golf course management. With that vision, we are placing strategic focus and priority on:

Supporting superintendents in their local environment and strengthening chapters in order to better serve you, our members.
Leveraging technology to enable member success and to support effective networking opportunities among turfgrass professionals.
Strengthening advocacy efforts and stimulating greater influence on issues related to golf course management.
Expanding research development, access to technical expertise and promoting environmental awareness and best management practices.
Building global brand awareness through successful international business initiatives and member growth.
Therefore, today we are sharing a series of important changes within GCSAA that are designed to create alignment that better enables us to expand into areas of significant opportunity and help us implement our strategic priorities:

Beginning with executive leadership, we are pleased to announce our new chief operating officer, Matt Shatto. Matt has an extensive career in public management, most recently serving as city administrator for the city of North Kansas City (Mo.). Matt has also had success in the private business sector with the development of his family’s dairy business into a multi-million dollar organization (Shatto Milk Co.). As COO, Matt will focus on the execution and delivery of member programs and services with focus on areas such as technology solutions, enhanced professional development and advocacy. Matt will assume his new role Jan. 1.

We are also excited to introduce a new key executive position that will greatly enhance GCSAA’s ability to achieve growth in industry revenue and success in fundraising efforts for the Environmental Institute for Golf as well as to expand internationally as the global leader in golf course management. We are pleased to announce that J.D. Dockstader will be joining GCSAA as our new chief business development officer. J.D. has more than 17 years experience in strategic business development, most recently serving as director of commercial facilities for the city of Mesa, Ariz. Prior to that role, J.D. worked in various leadership roles in sales, marketing and event management. In this new role, J.D. will focus on revenue generation and increasing brand awareness, with focus on areas such as international initiatives, partnerships, and new business opportunities. J.D. will assume his new role Jan. 1.

As part of the changes, Jeff Bollig and Greg Lyman will be moving on from their roles with GCSAA. Jeff Bollig served in a variety of communications positions during his time at GCSAA, most notably his tenure as senior director, communications. Greg Lyman completes his tenure at GCSAA as director of environmental programs. We thank them both for their many years of service as well as their contributions to GCSAA.

Our responsibility as leaders of your association is to create an organization that continues to serve our members, while positioning ourselves to achieve our strategic objectives and enables GCSAA to be the global leader in golf course management.

On behalf of your board of directors, both Pat and I want to thank you for your continued dedication to the superintendent profession and support of GCSAA. We look forward to sharing more detailed plans in the new year and are available to address your feedback and any questions you may have as we transition into our new organizational structure.

Sincerely,

Patrick R. Finlen, CGCS
President

J. Rhett Evans
Chief Executive Officer

gcsaaboard@gcsaa.org
revans@gcsaa.org
pfinlen@olyclub.com