Search Committee Formed to Identify Successor
PHOENIX, AZ – One of the golf industry’s longest serving leaders, Desane Blaney, the Executive Director of the Association of Golf Merchandisers, has announced her retirement effective year-end 2022. Blaney has been instrumental in the growth and development of the AGM since her hiring as the Deputy Director in 1998. A celebration of her career will be held on Tuesday, January 24 during the AGM Annual Conference and a search committee chaired by AGM President Patrick Casey has been formed to identify a successor.
“The AGM has big shoes to fill after all that Desane has done to transform our association to a leader in the world of retail,” said Patrick Casey, PGA, and President of the AGM board of directors. “We have much work to do to prepare for another successful annual conference at the 2023 PGA Show and this vital transition of leadership.”
Blaney assumed the helm of the AGM in 2003 when it had 325 members and a handful of industry partners. Today the organization boasts an international membership of over 850 members including joint members of the PGA’s of America and Canada along with alliance associations namely the Club Management Association, National Golf Course Owners’ Association, National Golf Foundation, National Club Association and Boutiques Pro Golf. Additionally, more than 160 companies are now Vendor Partner members of the AGM supporting a host of research, education and retail initiatives.
“The high-profile the AGM enjoys today is because of the hard work of Desane with the support of many AGM board and committee members,” said Jennifer Roddy, the Merchandise Manager for the Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort & Spa and the Vice President of the AGM. “There are many opportunities for the AGM to explore in the years to come and our next leader will not only have the support of an energized association membership, but also the legacy of the AGM under Desane’s guidance to draw on for inspiration.”
“Serving our membership has always been my highest priority and it has been an honor and a privilege to have led the Association,” stated Blaney. “The programs and systems created and implemented over the years have solidified the AGM as the ‘Educational Voice in Golf Merchandising,’ enhanced the professional development of our members and promoted the success and profitability of retail operations.”
Candidates for the Executive Director/CEO position of the Association of Golf Merchandisers should submit inquiries to pfcasey@pga.com.
About the AGM
The Association of Golf Merchandisers (AGM) is an international, professional association consisting of more than 800 buyer members and over 180 vendor partners all dedicated to strengthening the golf merchandising industry. These members, both the Merchandisers and the Vendor Partners, are among the best and most recognized in the golf industry.
The AGM’s mission is simple: ELEVATE RETAIL. ENHANCE RELATIONSHIPS. EDUCATE ALWAYS.
In short, we help make golf buyers better buyers by focusing our educational content on key metrics, visual merchandising, promotions, and buying strategies. We work to break down the barriers between vendor partners and golf retail buyers so that “both sides of the table” are more profitable.
Visit http://agmgolf.org/ for more information.
Media Contact:
Desane Blaney, AGM Executive Director- desane@agmgolf.org – office: 602-604-8250
Jennifer Morton, AGM Director of Marketing & Sales – jennifer@agmgolf.org – office: 916-871-2709
