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President's message |
Congratulations, Steve Mona
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I write these words as my plane backs away from the gate. I am leaving California and heading back home to Texas, and will be in my office at Star Ranch Golf Club this afternoon.
It has been an exciting and rewarding four days. The weekend began with our GCSAA chapter delegates meeting. It was positive and forward thinking, and ideas were shared openly and frankly. I have been to more than 10 of these meetings consecutively, and this one was different.
The focus this year was on chapters and members and how GCSAA can be a part of that team. There was a new sense of trust and respect among the delegates, the board of directors and the GCSAA staff. The conversations were about the future, about shared visions and about how we can get there together much faster than alone. If you want the details and to hear about it first hand, please give your chapter delegate a call.
I jumped on a plane with fellow board member Pat Finlen, CGCS, as soon as we finished the delegates meeting. We attended the Northern California GCSA’s 75th anniversary celebration at Sequoyah Country Club. What a group, and what an example of professionalism, camaraderie and leadership. It gets to me when I see the kind of passion about our profession that I saw demonstrated there. I thank the Northern California members for sharing their time with me.
BRAKES ENGAGED! Back to reality and the new task at hand. It is now time to make the bittersweet announcement that our CEO, Steve Mona, CAE, will be leaving our association after 14 stellar years. Steve and his lovely wife, Cyndi, have been passionate about advancing the golf course superintendent and GCSAA since the day they landed in Lawrence, Kan., nearly a decade and a half ago.
Steve has been selected to be the CEO of the World Golf Foundation. To be picked for such an important and meaningful role in the game of golf bodes well for Steve and for GCSAA. I speak for the board and all our members in wishing this friend and leader the very best for many years to come.
Now the work begins, and our board is on task to find the right person to carry on the vision of GCSAA. We communicate daily and will meet as needed to accomplish this task. We will define the necessary qualifications for the CEO of GCSAA and will be firm in our resolve to find that person. This leader surely will be multi-talented, but first of all must be passionate about the game of golf. This person also will be required to understand and appreciate the role of the golf course superintendent in the game of golf.
Steve will work with us for up to six months during this search process. Our goal is to hire our new CEO in early January so he or she can be introduced at our Golf Industry Show in Orlando later that month.
Yes, my cruise to the finish line as your GCSAA president has encountered a bump. Rest assured that your board of directors has committed itself to hire the right person to lead this association and your profession forward for many years to come.
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