PGA WORKS Fellow Natalie Long: ” My experience at the 2020 PGA Show”
By Natalie Long
2019-2020 Gateway PGA WORKS Fellow
My experience with PGA WORKS at the PGA Show was far more than I could have imagined! I believe that it will be a week that I will look back on as influential in my career. All nine PGA WORKS Fellows, making up the 3rd class of the Fellowship (including myself), took part in “WORKS Wednesday” at the PGA Show. Throughout the day we networked with industry and PGA of America leaders of diverse backgrounds, received career and industry advise, took part in a PGA WORKS Diversity & Inclusion Panel Discussion on the Forum Stage, and promoted the PGA WORKS Fellowship.
One of my most memorable experiences from the PGA Show was getting to meet with a panel of PGA Professionals that held leadership positions within the PGA of America and were from diverse backgrounds. Each shared their journey to becoming a PGA Member, what being a Member means to them and a piece of advice for us as PGA WORKS Fellows. I found these conversations to be incredibly impactful. Along similar lines, another one of my favorite moment from the PGA Show included getting to personally meet female industry leaders, PGA of America Chief People Officer Sandy Cross and PGA of America President
Suzy Whaley.
To say the least, I had an incredible week at the PGA Show! I left my week at the PGA Show confident and excited about my future in the industry and with the PGA of America. Upon returning, I immediately took the next steps in pursuing membership through the PGM Associate Program and have already began working through the Qualifying Level coursework! I am thankful for the opportunities that I have received through PGA WORKS and I cannot wait to see what the future has in store!