Women's Leadership Academy

Unleash your potential, empower your future, inspire the way

The GCSAA Women’s Leadership Academy, Nov. 11-13, 2025, is focused on providing women in the turfgrass industry with education, mentoring and networking enabling participants to unleash their potential, empower their future and become inspirational leaders.

The 2 1/2-day event (with a keynote reception the first night) will guide participants from all walks of the industry and various years of professional experience on a path of discovery aimed at breaking down barriers and producing a spark to inspire women to be successful leaders. This will be provided in four segments:

• Self-discovery: who you are and how to be the best you can be.
• Understand others: what motivates colleagues and team members.
• Communicate effectively: building relationships and collaboration.
• Inspire: make a difference in the world on a small or greater scale.

The Women’s Leadership Academy will once again be headlined by Suzy Whaley, PGA Master Professional and first woman to serve as president of the PGA of America. She is also captain of the 2025 United States Junior Ryder Cup Team. Whaley, who has a unique understanding of the work of turfgrass professionals, having worked side by side with many GCSAA members, will speak to her experience in the golf industry and relate it to turfgrass professionals during a fireside chat at the opening evening reception where participants will be able to ask questions in a conversational format.

Forty participants will be selected. The selected participants will be notified by Aug. 26.

Speakers

Suzy Whaley

Whaley, who will headline the event, is a  PGA Master Professional and first woman to serve as president of the PGA of America. She is also the captain of the 2025 United States Junior Ryder Cup Team. Whaley, who has a unique understanding of the work of turfgrass professionals, having worked side by side with many GCSAA members, will speak to her experience in the golf industry and relate it to turfgrass professionals.

Rear Admiral Jackie McClelland

McClelland, a native of Ocean City, New Jersey, earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Temple University in 1987 and was commissioned in 1990. She earned a master’s degree in criminal justice from Boston University in 2006 and is a graduate of the U.S. Naval War College Command and Staff Program. She completed executive development coursework at the University of North Carolina Kenan-Flagler Business School. McClelland assumed duties as vice director, Navy Staff in March 2021. She is dual hatted as deputy commander, Naval Supply Systems Command. Her previous flag assignments were commander, Navy Expeditionary Logistics Support Group and reserve director, Logistics, Fleet Supply and Ordnance, U.S. Pacific Fleet.

Additional speakers will be added as they are confirmed.

Benefactors

Thank you to our benefactors for supporting the Women's Leadership Academy

Trailblazer Level

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