Neal to join Tournament Golf Foundation, Inc.
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., Dec. 1, 2005 – Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Commissioner Carolyn F. Bivens today announced the formation of the LPGA Professional Development and Membership Services department, a central component of the LPGA business that serves the needs of the LPGA membership, which includes LPGA Tour players and Teaching and Club Professional (T&CP) members. This new business department will be led by Mindy Moore, senior vice president of professional development and membership services, and Dr. Betsy Clark, vice president of professional development
"I am thrilled to announce the formation of the Professional Development and Membership Services area of our business," said Bivens. "The LPGA membership is the LPGA’s greatest asset. They are extraordinary athletes, wonderful ambassadors for the game of golf and among the best role models in all of professional sports. By dedicating a core team of experienced staff and services to ensuring these athletes’ future success, the LPGA will continue to thrive as one of the world’s most successful sports and entertainment properties.
"There is a wealth of talent currently on Tour and in the T&CP membership. This new division will proactively market the breadth of talent in women’s golf from grassroots programs to world-class competition around the world. We will actively draw from the accomplished group of veterans who can expertly contribute to a variety of priority business needs for the membership and tournaments. At the same time, these former players will gain developmental skills that can be used as they transition out of their LPGA careers into other industry and business endeavors."
There are two primary areas of concentration for this division of the LPGA. First, to guide development and implementation of member-related education, including research and career development programs and initiatives. Core to the strategy is a consistent pipeline of future LPGA Tour and T&CP members, as well as meeting the professional and developmental needs of the current LPGA membership. Second is the proactive marketing to corporations and associations of initiatives and programs related to a wide variety of relevant business topics, including but not limited to golf.
The Professional Development and Membership Services area will work directly with the LPGA membership and The LPGA Foundation to oversee member communication and research and development related to LPGA certification and career management.
The Professional Development and Membership Services Group is an expansion of the Professional Development business area that was originally formed in 2002 as part of the association’s strategic focus on all aspects of membership.
Neal to join Tournament Golf Foundation, Inc.
In addition, Bivens announced that Rob Neal, LPGA vice president of tournament business affairs, will be leaving the LPGA to assume the role of executive director of Tournament Golf Foundation, Inc. (TGFI), the tournament owner of the LPGA’s Safeway International Presented by Coca-Cola and the Safeway Classic Presented by Pepsi. Neal will work out of the TGFI headquarters in Portland, Ore.
"It’s with mixed emotions that I share the news about Rob’s departure," said Bivens. "I, along with the entire LPGA organization, will miss Rob, but want to extend a sincere thanks to him for his dedication to furthering the LPGA business and for his unwavering commitment to the LPGA tournament family."
"We are thrilled to welcome Rob as the new executive director of Tournament Golf Foundation," said Tom Maletis, president of TGFI. "His experience with both the LPGA and LPGA Tournament Sponsors Association will be an invaluable asset to our organization. Our members have worked closely with Rob over the past 12 years and look forward to working with him to create a focused and efficient operational structure to our two LPGA events."
Neal joined the LPGA staff as vice president of tournament business affairs in June 1999. Neal has been an integral part of the LPGA’s business success over the past seven years and is closely involved with tournament business transactions, including tournament sponsorship and contract negotiations. His responsibilities include development and management of the LPGA Tour schedule; management and execution of LPGA tournament and player services programs; and management of the LPGA’s relationship with the Tournament Sponsor’s Association (TSA).
Prior to joining the LPGA, Neal served as executive director of the LPGA’s TSA from 1994-99, where he was responsible for implementing and participating in the development of policies for the international association comprised exclusively of LPGA tournaments. Prior to the TSA, Neal maintained a private law practice in Atlanta that focused on business, sports and entertainment law after graduating from Emory University Law School in Atlanta.
Neal received a bachelor of arts degree in economics in 1987 from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn., where he was also a student assistant in the sports information department. He earned his juris doctorate and master of business administration degrees from Emory University in 1991.
Neal currently serves on the advisory board of the World Golf Hall of Fame. He is a member of the Entertainment and Sports Law Section of the State Bar of Georgia.
Contact:
Connie Wilson, LPGA
386-274-6200
