2024 Gateway Golf Summit

Jay Delsing, PGA | Golf with Jay Delsing

ay Delsing hails from St. Louis, Missouri. While his father played Major League baseball for 10 years and was a member of the World Champion New York Yankees in 1949, Jay had a different kind of long drive in mind.

In 1979, Delsing received a coveted golf scholarship from UCLA where he became a two-time All-American. In 1984, Delsing earned his PGA Tour Card and played in nearly 700 PGA Tour events, earning more than 4 million in prize money. He has 7 professional wins to his credit, including the Fort Smith Classic, The Omaha Classic and the Gerald Ford Invitational in Vail, Colorado.

In 2014, Fox Sports added Delsing to its broadcast team. The recent US Open Championship at Shinnecock Golf Club in Long Island, New York marked his fourth consecutive national open coverage for Fox Sports. In addition, he is a commentator for PGA Tour Live. In April of 2018, Delsing was inducted into the St Louis Sports Hall of Fame.

Don Rea, PGA | Vice President, PGA of America

PGA Vice President Don Rea Jr. is the Owner and General Manager of Augusta Ranch Golf Club, a public golf course, in Mesa, Arizona, which has been rated the “Best Executive Golf Course in Arizona” by the Arizona Republic and selected as “Host Club of the Year” by the Arizona Women's Golf Association.

A PGA Member for 20 years, Rea was elected PGA Secretary in 2020; and PGA Vice President at the 2022 PGA Annual Meeting. A Member of the Southwest PGA Section, Rea served on the PGA of America’s national Board of Directors from 2016-’19. Elected as President of the Southwest PGA Section from 2013-’14, Rea also was a member of the Board of Directors for the Southwest PGA Section, National Golf Course Owners Association (NGCOA) and the Arizona Tourism Alliance. While on the PGA Board of Directors, he chaired the Junior Golf Committee and worked with the Coaching and Player Development, and Community Golf Committees.

Rea currently serves on the Arizona Lodging & Tourism Association Board of Directors to promote the golf and hospitality industry and help educate the public and Arizona legislators on golf industry water usage.

Since 2012, Rea has owned Your Course Consulting. He also founded Community Course Rescue Services, LLC in 2017.

Rea spent nine years as a Minor League Baseball umpire, ascending to Triple-A. In addition, he umpired several Spring Training Games for Major League Baseball. He was awarded the 2012 Southwest PGA Section Bill Strausbaugh Award and the Section’s 2011 President’s Plaque. Rea resides with his wife, Karen, in Gilbert, Arizona, and has two children, Don III and Katie.

Nathan Charnes, PGA | Secretary, PGA of America

PGA Secretary Nathan Charnes, PGA/CMAA is the General Manager and Director of Golf of WingHaven Country Club in O’Fallon, Missouri, and a member of the Gateway PGA Section. From 2004-11, he served as the club’s PGA Head Professional.

For the past 20 years, he has been involved extensively with the PGA of America, both locally and nationally. At the local level, he served as the Education Chairman for the Gateway PGA Section, which led to him being elected to the Gateway PGA Board of Directors from 2011-’18.

His national involvement grew when then-PGA President Allen Wronowski asked Charnes to join the National PGA Membership Committee, one of five national committees on which he has served. He was later elected to the PGA Board of Directors as District 7 Director (Gateway, Midwest and South Central PGA Sections), serving a term from 2019-’21.

Charnes was elected national PGA Secretary at the 2022 PGA Annual Meeting in Phoenix. He is a six-time Gateway PGA Section Award recipient, including the Section’s 2012 PGA Golf Professional of the Year. Recently, Charnes was selected to serve as a Life Trustee for PGA REACH Gateway.

Charnes previously served as an Assistant Golf Professional at Novadell in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. He began his career as an Assistant Golf Professional/Golf Shop Attendant at Oak Meadow Golf Club in Evansville, Indiana.

A 2001 graduate of the University of Evansville, Charnes played on the school’s golf team. Charnes and his wife, Eva, reside in Lake St. Louis, Missouri. They have three children—Lilly, Nathan and Grace.

Tracy Faenza

Tracy has been active in the Financial Services industry for 23 years, and has been associated with Corebridge Financial Services since 2018. She has worked directly with The PGA’s Golf Retirement Plus program for almost 15 years, and has been very fortunate to be able to work with PGA Professionals in all 50 states during this time. Her goal is to ensure each professional receives the individual service they deserve, and to partner with them as they strive to realize their hopes and dreams for the future!

Cathy Brashears

Cathy has been associated with the Corebridge Financial/AIG Retirement Services companies since 2018. Before Corebridge Financial, she was a stay-at-home mom of three children and a Special Education teacher. She has been working exclusively with the PGA Golf Retirement Plus program since 2019. Cathy is happy to be working with Golf Retirement Plus as my goal is to ensure PGA members have the knowledge they need to fully utilize the GRP program and know the importance of retirement and financial planning.

Tommy Bohnert | Membership and Marketing Director, Meadowbrook CC & 2023 STL Chapter President, PCMA

Tommy is the current Director of Membership & Marketing at Meadowbrook Country Club in Ballwin, Missouri. Prior to joining the club industry five years ago, he spent five seasons in Corporate Sales and Marketing working for the St. Louis Cardinals. He attended Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri where he obtained his degree in sports marketing and was a student athlete. After college, Tommy interned at the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. In his free time, he enjoys golfing and rooting for the Tennessee Titans. He currently lives in Lake Saint Louis, Missouri with his wife, Alex, and two dogs, Chip and Bruno. Tommy's family will be welcoming its newest member, Baby B, in June 2024.

Emmy Whitehead | Marketing & Communications Manager, Meadowbrook CC & STL Chapter Vice President, PCMA

Emmy is the Marketing and Communications Manager at Meadowbrook Country Club. Her role encompasses all aspects of internal and external marketing and communications for the Club. She is responsible for creating and distributing emails to the membership, designing and producing print materials such as monthly newsletters, flyers, menus, and other relevant items, maintaining a robust social media presence, capturing photographs and videos for the Club, and collaborating with Meadowbrook’s many departments to fulfill their marketing and communication needs. Emmy's expertise in email marketing and social media along with her passion for photography and golf have been instrumental in elevating Meadowbrook's social media pages, building the Meadowbrook brand, giving each department a voice, and ensuring Members are educated on all Club news and happenings.

Emmy is a Maryville University alumna and has been in her current role since spring of 2021.

Hannah Rowland | Former Communications Manager, Westborough CC

Hannah graduated from Missouri State University in 2021 with a Bachelors in Science focusing on English Creative Writing, with a double minor in Mass Media and Communication. She started as Westborough Country Club's Communications Manager in 2022 and held the position for 2 years (after 3 years on their Food & Beverage Team) and is grateful for all that she learned. She is now taking time to travel and explore what's out there for her next career opportunity. She is excited for what's to come and to present at the summit!

April Lopinot | Chief People Officer, Keeley Companies

April is the Chief People Officer at Keeley Companies where she strategically leads a team serving all aspects of HR, Recruiting, Performance Management, Benefits & Compliance, Culture, Learning & Development, Health & Wellness, DEI, and numerous other people-related functions for Keeley Companies, Keeley Construction Group, Keeley Properties, and Keeley Restoration Services. April has been instrumental in providing strategic HR and Talent Acquisition support to multiple other partners in Keeley’s capital investment portfolio. April got her start at Southern Illinois University of Edwardsville where she completed a Business HR Degree. Prior to joining Keeley she was with Husch Blackwell for over a decade where she focused on talent acquisition efforts across the nation.

April has been featured in numerous speaking events for the Construction Forum, LEAP TA, Red Shoe Society STL, Maryville University, STL CAPS, and more. April is proud to be one of St. Louis’ top Human Resources Leaders helping other companies and leaders in any way she can. She received the HR Award from the St. Louis Business Journal in 2020 and was named the 2021 Keeley Companies Person of the Year, 2024 Titan 100 Winner. In 2021, April and her team also won the Healthiest Employers Award for their work in building KeeleyLife into the robust cultural pillar it is today.

Outside of her passion for developing people and creating a work environment team members can enjoy, April is a proud member of TALK STL’s board, the Ronald McDonald House Board Member, Southside Early Childhood Board Member, and NAWIC Board Member.

Russ Luedloff, PGA

Fleet Golf & Utility Manager
Phone: (636) 379-8243

Chris Frame

Played collegiately for Rutgers University in New Jersey. Spent the last 10 years in golf soft goods marketing. Started career with Imperial Headwear then Dunning Golf, and now Director of Marketing for Holderness & Bourne.

Revo Sunglasses

Dr. Zach Cutler | Owner, Golf and Training Institute - Powered by Performance Chiropractic

Dr. Zach is the owner of Golf and Training Institute - Powered by Performance Chiropractic. He is a sports chiropractor, located at Family Golf and Learning Center, that works primarily with golfers of all ages and skill levels. His focus includes mobility, power, swing speed, longevity, and pain-free golf, while incorporating the combination of chiropractic care, soft tissue therapy, passive modalities, and TPI golf movements. Prior to starting the business, Dr. Zach graduated from Timberland High School in 2014 and then went on to play 4-years of Division 1 golf at Valparaiso University in Northwest, Indiana. While at Valpo he won a D1 Tournament, as well as played in the 2016 US Amateur at Oakland Hills CC. He graduated from Valpo with a degree in Exercise Science and went on to attend Logan University College of Chiropractic. After graduating as a Doctor of Chiropractic Degree, he was connected with Dr. Mike Murphy (Owner of Performance Chiropractic) and Adam Betz (Owner of Family Golf and Learning Center) and this is where the journey began!

Jim Hackenberg, PGA | Owner, Orange Whip Golf & Fitness

• Horton Smith Award Winner, 2017 Carolinas PGA Section
• Member of the Carolinas PGA Section.
• Played collegiate golf at Arizona St and Oregon St (1988-1992)
• Introduced the Orange Whip in 2008.
• The Orange Whip has been voted the #1 Teaching & Training aid by PGA and LPGA Professionals for the last 6 years.
• The Orange Whip is used by over 300 PGA, LPGA and Champions Tour Players.
• The Orange Whip has sold over 450,000 units worldwide.
• Jim has presented his teaching philosophy to over 21 PGA Sections, and many other golf associations worldwide including the LPGA and USGA.
• Jim has written articles published in many golf publications.

Jacque Madison, PGA | Career Consultant, PGA of America

Jacque is a PGA of America member with a specialization in Executive Management, launched her golf career in 1992 during college. As a Kansas State University Academic All-American, Jacque has since been pivotal in executive placements — aligning General Managers, Head Professionals, and Directors of Golf with top U.S. clubs. She has work experience in both private and semi-private facilities before transitioning to golf administration.

Starting as an Assistant Golf Professional at Crestview Country Club in Wichita and later serving as Head Golf Professional at Meadowbrook G&CC in Kansas City, Madison has had the privilege of contributing to various roles in the golf community. While serving as Director of Member Services & Women’s Championships at Central Links Golf, she established the elite Midwest golf event, The Prairie Invitational.

Madison is grateful for the opportunities to contribute to the industry, having participated in PGA LEAD Cohort IV, supported the Women’s Golf Alliance as President, and represented on the PGA Magazine Women Leaders Platform. She deeply values the relationships with PGA members and employers and hopes to continue making positive contributions to the golf community.

Ryan Holland, PGA | Career Consultant, PGA of America

Ryan serves as the PGA Career Consultant for the PGA of America serving the Illinois and Wisconsin PGA Sections. After spending 12 years on the green grass side as Assistant Golf Professional in the Chicago area at Royal Melbourne Country Club and Barrington Hills Country Club, Holland spent 10 years with PGA Magazine as Senior Relationship Manager. In that role, he was directly responsible for over 400 conferences and events across the country for PGA Members and industry professionals, including the annual PGA Golf Professional of the Year Conference, PGA Assistant Golf Professional of the Year Conference, and PGA Merchandiser of the Year Conference. In 2022, he joined the PGA of America Career Services team covering the Illinois and Wisconsin PGA Sections. Ryan has been active in the Illinois Section throughout his career, serving on the Education Committee, the Public Relations Committee, and as an Officer for the Section’s Assistants Association. He became a Certified Professional in 2007 and in 2008, he was honored as the Illinois PGA Assistant Golf Professional of the Year. Holland lives in the western suburbs of Chicago with his wife Tünde and two children, Preston & Allison.

Tony Martinez, PGA | Owner, Multiple Facilities

Tony took up golf as a child in his hometown, Tucson, Arizona. He completed a successful college golf career in 1991, earned his PGA membership in 1994 and relocated to North Texas in 1997.

Tony’s expertise in public golf includes daily operations, management and consultation, course construction, renovations and acquisitions. His personal passion has always been to grow the game with an all-inclusive approach. Tony’s students range from new golfers to professional tour players and highlights include coaching at multiple major championships. He has collaborated with fellow PGA Professionals to create national growth of the game initiatives.

His professional accomplishments include PGA of America National Director 2018-2021, past president of The Northern Texas PGA, 2017 Northern Texas PGA Golf Professional of the Year and multiple coaching awards. He currently serves as Co-Chairman of The PGA Works and The PGA Junior League national committees.

Tony currently resides in Dallas, Texas with his wife, Gretchen and their Golden-doodle, Owen. Their three grown children have all pursued careers in golf.

Chandler Withington, PGA | Owner, Archive 22

Chandler Withington is a PGA Member of nearly 20 years. Prior to launching his company, Archive 22, Chandler was the head golf professional at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minnesota (2012 – 2021). Before arriving at Hazeltine, Chandler was an assistant golf professional at Merion Golf Club (2007 – 2013) and Seminole Golf Club (2004 – 2006). Chandler is originally from Basking Ridge, New Jersey and grew up as a caddie at Somerset Hills Country Club in Bernardsville, New Jersey.

In February of 2022 Chandler launched Archive 22, a company focused on celebrating the history of golf and other sports. Chandler is currently a licensed
artist for the PGA of America, United States Golf Association, R&A and National Hockey League. Through his hand drawn artwork, Chandler is able to celebrate the history of championship golf, the champions and host clubs.

Chandler lives with his wife Maureen and three daughters in Victoria, Minnesota.