Joe Steranka, chief executive officer of The PGA of America, has been named to The Environmental Institute for Golf Advisory Council.
The invitation to the advisory council was extended to the PGA of America with the association appointing Steranka as its representative. He will join 15 others on the council, which is headed by World Golf Hall of Fame member Greg Norman.
Steranka was named The PGA’s CEO in October 2005, after having served in a senior leadership capacity since 1988 for the world’s largest working sports organization.
Steranka has been active in the sport industry for nearly three decades. After graduating from West Virginia University in 1979, he began working in the sports marketing department for the NBA’s Washington Bullets (now Wizards). He later worked for the Cleveland Cavaliers and for the renowned Washington, D.C.-based sports management firm, ProServ.
"In light of The PGA of America’s 90th anniversary in 2006, it seems only fitting that its chief operating officer should become part of the Advisory Council," said Norman, chairman of the advisory council and chairman and CEO of Great White Shark Enterprises. "Joe’s background in marketing and communications will serve us well in spreading The Institute’s message."
The advisory council provides guidance to The Institute’s board of trustees in the areas of outreach, fundraising and strategic planning. The members were selected to enhance The Institute’s ability to cultivate relationships with current and potential donors, as well as communicate the importance of the work conducted.
In addition to Norman and Steranka, the other members of the advisory council are: Tom Crow, founder of Cobra Golf and a retired trustee for The Institute; Robert H. Dedman Jr., chairman of ClubCorp USA Inc; Dana Garmany, chairman and CEO of Troon Golf; R.D. Hubbard, owner of Bighorn Golf Club in Palm Desert, Calif.; Paul C. Kanavos, chairman and CEO of Flag Luxury Properties, LLC; Vernon A. Kelly Jr., president of PGA Tour Golf Course Properties; Owen G. Larkin, president of the Vineyard Golf Club in Edgartown, Mass.; Gary N. McClung, president of Midway Ford/Sterling Truck Center and developer of Quintero Golf and Country Club, Peoria, Ariz.; Ken Melrose, retired chairman and CEO of The Toro Co.; Jaime Ortiz-Patiño, owner of Valderrama Golf Club in Sotogrande, Spain; Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, chairman of Nakheel; H. Thomas Webb III, senior vice president of residential development for Crescent Resources; Frank Weed, COO of Medallist Developments; and Weldon Wyatt, founder and CEO of Sage Valley Golf Club, Graniteville, S.C.
The Environmental Institute for Golf, the philanthropic organization of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA), is a collaborative effort of the environmental and golf communities, dedicated to strengthening the compatibility of golf with the natural environment. The Institute concentrates on delivering programs and services involving research, education and outreach that communicate the best management practices of environmental stewardship on the golf course. For more on The Institute, visit www.eifg.org.
Celebrating its 80th anniversary, GCSAA is a leading golf organization, which has as its focus golf course management. Since 1926, GCSAA has been the top professional association for the men and women who manage golf courses in the United States and worldwide. From its headquarters in Lawrence, Kan., the association provides education, information and representation to more than 21,000 members in more than 72 countries. GCSAA’s mission is to serve its members, advance their profession and enhance the enjoyment, growth and vitality of the game of golf. The association’s philanthropic organization, the Environmental Institute for Golf, works to strengthen the compatibility of golf with the natural environment through research grants, support for education programs and outreach efforts. Visit GCSAA at www.gcsaa.org.
Contact:
Jeff Bollig, GCSAA Director of Communications
(800) 472-7878, ext. 4430
jbollig@gcsaa.org
