Golf Course Maintenance Administrative Assistant brings eye for detail, passion for teaching to her Las Vegas course and community
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Florida – With nearly 2,000 employees in the TPC Network across the United States, Misty Kadel, Golf Course Maintenance Administrative Assistant at TPC Summerlin, has been named the 2023 recipient of the Network’s A. James Clark Award. Now in its ninth year, the annual award is given in recognition of an employee who upholds the values of the TPC Network and who exemplifies Mr. Clark’s same commitment, strong work ethic and inspirational leadership.
Misty joined TPC Summerlin more than a decade ago following a career in nuclear engineering, bringing with her an eye for detail and a passion for teaching. Whether organizing transportation, housing and meals for the throngs of volunteers each year at the Shriners Children’s Open, or simply training the golf course maintenance staff on using a new online payroll system, Kadel’s spirit and work ethic has left a lasting impression on TPC Summerlin’s employees, members and guests.
“Misty takes pride in following and administering company policies with fairness and accuracy, embodying the care and compassion one would expect from a mother of four and grandmother to four more,” said Brian Hawthorne, TPC Summerlin General Manager. “Despite her demanding professional and community commitments, Misty dedicates most of her afternoons and evenings to family responsibilities. It’s a wonder she finds time to sleep. However, when asked, she asserts that there is nothing else she would rather be doing. Misty Kadel embodies the epitome of what the TPC Network desires in an employee.”
Her qualities extend far beyond the professional world, as Misty also volunteers her personal time in the fall teaching Special Olympics athletes about the game of golf before coaching a Special Olympics basketball team in the winter. While volunteering with the basketball team recently, Kadel helped comfort a troubled player who had run off onto a nearby busy street, helping to avert potential disaster.
But that wasn’t the first time Misty’s heroics saved the day. Last November, her quick-thinking helped save a TPC Summerlin colleague who came in from the course feeling “a little off.” Using the skills she learned from CPR instructional classes, Kadel correctly diagnosed her colleague as having a stroke and immediately called 911, quite possibly saving his life.
“I am truly honored to receive this award, which is a credit to everyone here at TPC Summerlin and the incredible job they do day after day,” Kadel said. “I appreciate the TPC Network and PGA TOUR for extending me this wonderful honor, and I look forward to continue building upon our team’s great work for our members and guests in the years ahead.”
The inaugural A. James Clark award was presented in 2015 and past recipients of the award include Jody Boudreau (TPC Sawgrass), Dulce Muniz (TPC Southwind), Maggie Peebles (TPC River’s Bend), Jose Murillo Rodriguez (TPC Deere Run), Noel Hall (TPC River Highlands), Robin Morello (TPC River Highlands), Alex Rodriguez (TPC Harding Park) and Elizabeth (Beth) Stentiford (TPC Boston).
Each TPC club submits one nomination, with all nominees recognized on the A. James Clark plaque at each of their respective clubs. The overall winner is honored on the permanent plaque located at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. Misty will be recognized at the PGA TOUR Global Home, along with a plaque and donation to the charity of her choice. Misty selected Special Olympics Nevada where she regularly volunteers.
About Mr. A. James Clark
The PGA TOUR started working with Mr. Clark in 1987 and named him to what was its Investments Board in 1991. He became a member of the newly created PGA TOUR Golf Course Properties Board in 1994, a position he held until his death in March 2015.
The career of A. James Clark is a true American success story. As a young man, fresh out of the University of Maryland in 1950 with a degree in Civil Engineering, he joined a small local general contracting company that he would eventually own. Over the course of the next sixty years, his leadership and vision transformed it into one of the largest privately held and most successful construction companies in the nation. Clark Enterprises built power plants, hotels, military barracks, government research facilities, museums, sports arenas and transportation projects. Forbes Magazine once dubbed him the “King of Concrete.”
Clark Enterprises was contracted to construct the 77,000 square-foot Mediterranean Revival-style clubhouse at TPC Sawgrass, a project the company completed in 10 months, just in time for the 2007 PLAYERS Championship.
As an engineer, entrepreneur and philanthropist, Mr. Clark was the recipient of many academic, professional and civic honors. He was an honorary Trustee of the University of Maryland College Park Foundation, where he contributed tens of millions of dollars to the University, which named its engineering school after him. He was also an Emeritus Trustee of The Johns Hopkins University and Johns Hopkins Medicine.
About TPC Network
Owned, operated and licensed by the PGA TOUR, the TPC Network is comprised of 29 premier private, resort and daily fee golf properties designed by some of golf’s most elite architects. Sixteen of the clubs are operated by affiliates of PGA TOUR Golf Course Properties, Inc. Each TPC meets the requirements to host TOUR-sanctioned events. Since TPC Sawgrass first opened its world-renowned PLAYERS Stadium Course in the fall of 1980, TPCs have provided the PGA TOUR with rent-free venues for tournaments, helping to boost championship golf purses and increasing charitable donations to grass roots non-profit organizations. At the same time, TPCs have provided recreational golfers with the unique opportunity to test their skills on the same layouts where the world’s best golfers compete.
TPCs are known for their history of hosting PGA TOUR-sanctioned events, their outstanding conditioning and amenities, as well as a commitment to environmental excellence. The TPC Network is also distinguished by its unwavering commitment to further the PGA TOUR’s mission of giving back through support of charitable and grass-roots programs. For more information, please visit www.tpc.com. For the most up-to-date news, follow the TPC Network on Twitter (@PlayTPC), Instagram (@PlayTPC) or Facebook.com/TPCNetwork.
CONTACT: Lindsey Spatola, PGA TOUR, lindseyspatola@pgatourhq.com
