Stafford, VA – The MAPGA is proud to announce its 2014 Merchandisers of the Year: Marc Kimminau, PGA of Talbot Country Club in Easton, Maryland (Private Category), David Finocchiaro, PGA of Augustine Golf Club in Stafford, Virginia (Public Category); and Nick Spinnato, PGA of Turf Valley in Ellicott City, Maryland (Resort Category). This award is bestowed on those MAPGA Professionals who have demonstrated superior skills as merchandisers in the promotion of golf. The following winners will be recognized in front of their peers at the 2014 MAPGA Awards and Hall of Fame Banquet which will be held on March 8, 2014 at the Jefferson Hotel.
Marc Kimminau, PGA – Talbot Country Club
With extensive experience in private clubs, it’s no surprise that Marc Kimminau has keen eye for merchandising. He has worked in the hospitality industry for Marriott and Le Meridian as well as in retail for Polo/Ralph Lauren and these positions, coupled with his golf positions, have taught him the importance of unparalleled service. He continues to grow his merchandising operation and trains his staff to create memorable moments for members and guests.
Born and raised in Kansas, Marc Kimminau had his first golf experience at the age of five when his grandfather, Bud White, introduced him to the game. He continued to play through high school, having some amateur success while living in the Dallas, Texas area. In 1989, Kimminau decided to make golf his career and became a golf professional. He spent one year in the College of the Desert’s Golf Management program before transferring to Richard Stockton College in New Jersey where he earned a degree in finance. During this same time, he earned his PGA Membership.
Kimminau’s passion for the golf profession really started when he worked for facilities within the Marriott and Le Meridian corporations. He learned the importance of unparalleled service and trains his staff at Talbot Country Club to create memorable moments for the members and guests.
The golf shop at Talbot has experienced a 24% increase in sales throughout Kimminau’s five years on staff. Contributing to his bottom line are multi-vendor Demo Days in the Spring and Fall as well as an early season “mobile” golf shop at Talbot’s pool facility that hosts a trunk show to highlight the season’s latest fashions. He makes a memorable experience at this event by incorporating wine and hors d’oeuvres into the event and the event typically generates about $5,000 in sales. Kimminau’s philosophy with his merchandise operation is to “create a warm and inviting shopping experience” by having a haberdashery type of shop and offering seating options where members and guests can relax and socialize.
Kimminau’s personal golf philosophy is to interact with the members and to create a caring atmosphere. He attributes much of his success to being an effective mentor and communicator and paying close attention to detail. As a golf professional, he has met many people who have had a major influence on his career including Dennis Ewing, PGA; Gilbert Freeman, PGA; and Tom Carpus, Master PGA Professional. Of course, Kimminau’s greatest influence was his grandfather, Bud White, who taught Marc how important it is to “have a tremendous work ethic and to remember that nothing is given to you, you must earn it!”
David Finocchiaro, PGA – Augustine Golf Club
As the Head PGA Professional at Augustine Golf Club and Raspberry Golf Management Company’s merchandising manager for the four Virginia properties, David Finnochiaro, has a very full plate. He’s pulled from his experiences with Marriott Corporation to not only elevate Raspberry’s merchandising operations, but to also enhance the customer experience.
A New Jersey native, David Finocchiaro didn’t pick up the sport of golf until he was 21 years old. Like Kimminau, he graduated from Richard Stockton College but with a degree in Marine Biology. In 1991, at the age of 23, Finocchiaro started working as a tennis professional at the Marriott Seaview Resort near Atlantic City, N.J. He moved into the golf operation a couple years later after developing a strong relationship with Pat Bennett who was the Golf Shop Manager.
For the next four years Finocchiaro gained valuable work experience that he would carry with him throughout his career. In 1999, David earned his PGA Membership and acknowledges Pat Bennett, PGA, Darren Helfrick, PGA, and Rick Kline, PGA, as his mentors within the PGA. He states that they “helped shape my focus on the business, taught me what it was to truly be a golf professional, and had a huge impact on my retail operation practices.”
Finocchiaro manages the day-to-day operations at Augustine Golf Club, a Raspberry Golf managed property, and also oversees the merchandise operations at three other Raspberry Golf Properties – Raspberry Falls (Leesburg, Va.), Bull Run (Haymarket, Va.), and Old Hickory (Woodbridge, Va.). His planned promotions at all the facilities have been extremely successful with Augustine reaping the greatest benefits and gaining a 50% sales increase from 2012 to 2013.
Finocchiaro attributes much of his success in golf to the people he worked with and learned from while at the Marriott Corporation. His focus is on providing experience, direction, and culture to his staff to ensure that they are delivering a memorable experience for guests at the facilities. To reward his staff, he has implemented a points system based on reaching budgeted sales and profit margin goals. If targets are reached, the staff receives a percentage of the sales that is paid out on a quarterly basis. Finocchiaro is very proud of this program and believes that rewarding good performance will guarantee a commitment from staff and contribute to increasing profit margins.
Nick Spinnato, PGA – Turf Valley
Nick Spinnato has achieved this special recognition by understanding the needs of his customers and building sustaining relationships with top-level golf companies and their sales representatives. He believes in quality of service and product presentation which is evident in his regular promotions to resort guests.
Nick Spinnato grew up in Baltimore, Maryland living in a row house with his parents and five siblings. The tight-knit family would spend many hours playing sports in the neighborhood park, including golf. Spinnato had his first “true” golf experience at the age of 10 when his father took him to Cedar Lane, a nearby driving range. From then, he was hooked and started working in golf at the age of 15 at Clifton Park in Baltimore.
Following a successful high school career at Calvert Hall, Spinnato moved to North Carolina to attend Methodist University. He graduated in 1990 and became a golf professional in 1992. That year, he started working for Turf Valley as an assistant professional and has remained a member of the staff ever since.
Spinnato earned his PGA Membership in 2007 and became Turf Valley’s Director of Golf the following year. While in this position, he has generated a 30% sales increase in the merchandise operation. He continues to build strong relationships with companies like Nike Golf, Titleist, and Cobra-Puma, so he can enhance product presentation in his golf shop and improve his profit margins. He’s had great success with demo days, trunk shows, and member events like Turf Valley’s opening day party that offers great discounts on top-of-the-line products.
Spinnato is very thankful for all the mentors in his life including PGA Professionals Frank Laber, PGA; Craig Day, PGA; and the late Tony Marlowe, PGA; Bill Clarke, PGA; Charlie Bassler, PGA, and Bill Bassler, PGA. One of his biggest supporters since he started playing golf has been his father, Nick Sr. His father taught him the importance of integrity, courtesy, and strength, all of which are foundations to be successful in golf. He remembers his father saying that golf “is a competition against the course and the elements, not as much against a fellow competitor.” Today, the father-son duo continue to enjoy playing golf together whenever they get the chance.
About the Middle Atlantic Section of the PGA of America
The Middle Atlantic Section of the PGA (MAPGA), located in Stafford, Virginia, is one of 41 Sections of The Professional Golfers’ Association of America (PGA), headquartered in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. As a part of The PGA since 1925, the MAPGA consists of over 1,100 members and apprentices in Maryland, Virginia, the District of Columbia and small portions of Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Together, the MAPGA golf professionals, volunteers and staff support the mission of The PGA to promote enjoyment and involvement in the game of golf and to contribute to the game’s growth by providing services to PGA Professionals and the golf industry.
Contact:
Stephanie Jennings, PGA
sjennings@pgahq.com
(540) 720-7420 ext. 116
