volume 3/ issue 9/ 11.17.04
 
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Regional Director Program Launched by AJGA

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Regional Director Program Launched by AJGA
New program emphasizes the importance of local development
 
The American Junior Golf Association has appointed five staff members as regional directors in an effort to further promote the AJGA’s mission in five geographical regions of the United States.

The regional directors will be at the pulse of junior golf and each AJGA event in their region. Though based at the AJGA National Headquarters in Braselton, Ga., each regional director will travel throughout their region year round.

“This new program is part of a continuing effort to bring the AJGA closer to its key stakeholders with the ultimate goal of improving and increasing junior golf opportunities throughout the country,” said AJGA Executive Director Stephen Hamblin.

Leading the team will be Peter Ripa, promoted to Assistant Executive Director of the AJGA and responsible for the Southeast region. Making up the remainder of the regional director team are Lee Pinchouck (VP/Regional Director, Midwest), Beth Reuter (VP/Regional Director, South Central), Derrick Farnham (Regional Director, Northeast) and Joe Mazzeo (Regional Director, West).

Lee Pinchouck, seen here presiding over the Great Golf Ball Race at the Abilene Reporter-News/Lawrence Hall Abilene Junior, is one of five AJGA staff members appointed to the new regional director position.
A key component of the regional director program will be the building and maintaining of relationships with all AJGA stakeholders—players, parents, sponsors, tournament committees, host facilities, college coaches, volunteers and fellow junior golf organizations. Through the development of a broad network of supporters and partners, the Regional Directors will further promote the AJGA’s mission regionally.

“As our national Association continues to mature, it is imperative that we grow regionally to further our core mission—to provide exposure for the world’s top junior golfers with the hopes of garnering college golf scholarships,” Hamblin said.

Specific objectives will include further developing relationships with state, regional and local golf associations and PGA Sections; identifying, creating and enhancing competitive opportunities for juniors; providing support for existing tournament chairmen, tournament committees, championships and venues; providing information and educational opportunities to juniors, parents and college coaches; developing community-based support for junior golf; recognizing and assisting grassroots junior golf organizations; identifying potential sponsors, committees and venues for future championships; and promoting AJGA initiatives such as its financial assistance program—the ACE Grant.

An intense cross-training involving each AJGA department will aim to broaden the varied backgrounds of each of the five individuals. The educational period will focus especially on Development and Advancement. Regional Directors will be well versed on any topic relating to the AJGA, ranging from the Association’s history to its initiatives, such as Performance Based Entry and the ACE Grant, and to the various departments, such as tournament operations and sponsorship.

The wide-ranging backgrounds of the five-person team stand to complement this goal. Of the regional directors, each will transition from a different department of the AJGA—Chief Operations Officer (Ripa), Finance (Pinchouck), Player Services (Reuter), Tournament Operations (Farnham) and Communications (Mazzeo).

The regional directors are currently in the educational period of the program and will be operating within their regions by January 3.