Stephen F. Mona, CAE

Chief Executive Officer

Stephen "Steve" F. Mona, CAE, became GCSAA's chief executive officer (CEO) November 1993.

Mona, 50 (born June 9, 1957), has established a strong career record of service to the golf industry. He served as tournament director of the Northern California Golf Association from September 1980 to January 1982. He then became assistant manager of press relations for the United States Golf Association from January 1982 to June 1983. In June 1983, Mona became executive director of the Georgia State Golf Association, a position he held until assuming his duties at GCSAA in 1993.

On Sept. 26, 2007 Mona announced that he would be resigning from his post at GCSAA to take the newly created CEO position at the World Golf Foundation by March 2008, where his responsibilities will include overall management of the Foundation, as well as overseeing the Foundation's industry relationships and ongoing global focus, plus its newly announced anti-doping administration office.

Mona's talents and energies have been tapped by numerous groups in and out of the golf industry with appointments and/or elections to:

• President of the International Association of Golf Administrators (1990)
• President of the Georgia Society of Association Executives (1993)
• President of the Kansas City Society of Association Executives (2000)
• Chairman of the Lawrence (Kan.) Business/Education Partnership (1997-98)
• First Tee Advisory Committee (1998 – present)
• World Golf Hall of Fame Advisory Board (1998 – present)
• Golf 20:20 Executive Board (1999 – present)
• National Golf Foundation Board of Directors (1999 – present), secretary/treasurer (2005-present)
• National Minority Golf Foundation Board of Directors (2000 – 2001)
• Lawrence Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors (2002 – 2004)
• American Society of Association Executives Board of Directors (2004 – present)
• United Missouri Bank Advisory Board (2004 – present)
• The Environmental Institute for Golf Board of Trustees (2003-present)
• LPGA Commissioner’s Advisory Council (2006-present)

His background includes relationships with the turfgrass industry as well. He was a director of the Georgia Turfgrass Association (1988-93), a trustee of its Foundation Trust (1990-93) and also a member of the advisory committee for Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College’s Turfgrass Management Program (1989-93).

Mona's exploits have been well recognized. In the October 2007 issue of Golf Inc., Mona was selected to the magazine's "Most Powerful People in Golf" list for the seventh consecutive year. In 1999, Golf Digest listed Mona as one of the golf industry's "Most Powerful People in Golf." Only one person younger than Mona, Tiger Woods at No. 2, was ranked higher at the time. In 1997, the Kansas City Society of Association Executives named Mona Association Executive of the Year.

A native of New York, Mona received a bachelor’s degree in journalism (cum laude) from San Jose (California) State University in 1980. Mona lives in Lawrence with his wife, Cyndi, and have three children: Ken, Stephen and Meredith.

[NOTE: The "CAE" designation that appears after Mona's name stands for Certified Association Executive.]