Christopher Wyles CCM, CCE, ECM General Manager, Bald Peak Colony Club Michelle F. Tanzer Chair, Global Club and Branded Residences, Nelson Mullins Alan Achatz President, Club Safety Solutions
17TH ANNUAL
NATIONAL CLUB CONFERENCE
Casual Connections
May 23 – 25, 2021
OCEAN REEF CLUB
KEY LARGO, FLORIDA
Register
What Your Peers are Saying
“The NCA Conference is an event that I always try to get into my schedule. The quality of the clubs, managers, speakers, and planned activities are excellent, and it is a conference you don’t want to miss! The advocacy and information provided by NCA is valuable to me and my club throughout the year.”
“NCA is a tremendous resource to my club clients. They receive valuable insight and education on club governance and operational issues as well as critical information about legislative and governmental initiatives that impact all private clubs.”
“The NCA Conference was stellar! Cutting edge ideas and success stories from industry leaders were thought provoking … Highlights were Justice Kennedy in the Supreme Court chambers, David Rubenstein’s presentation, and the camaraderie and the hospitality offered at the various clubs!”
Schedule
The 2021 National Club Conference proudly offers the industry’s most exciting and educational events for club leaders to network, learn and have fun.
Download Full Schedule
Sunday, May 23
1:00 – 6:00 p.m. – NCA Golf Tournament at Card Sound Club
6:30 – 9:00 p.m. – VIP Reception and Dinner (NCA Boards of Directors, Corporate Partners, Conference Sponsors, and ClubPAC Contributors)
Key Largo Anglers Club
Monday, May 24
AM
7:00 a.m. – Breakfast and Exhibitor Showcase
7:00 – 8:00 a.m – Club Governance Symposium Breakfast
8:00 a.m. – Conference Welcome
8:15 a.m. – 8:45 a.m. – Education Session 1
8:45 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. – Education Session 2
9:30 – 10:00 a.m. – Exhibitor Showcase
10:00 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. – Club Governance Symposium (Concurrent Breakout)
The Club Governance Symposium will cover a broad range of topics relevant to club board members including general manager engagement, retention and compensation, empowering operational management, best practices to achieve organizational goals, involving members in strategic planning, developing future board members and practical application of committees in defining club programs and policies. The panel will include experts in club governance featuring Moderator Henry DeLozier, Principal, Global Golf Advisors, TBA
10:00 – 10:45 a.m. – Education Session 3
10:45 – 11:30 a.m. – Education Session 4
11:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. – Excellence in Club Management Panel
PM
12:15 – 1:00 p.m. – Lunch
12:15 – 5:30 p.m. – Optional Event: Blue Water Fishing Tournament
1:15 – 2:00 p.m. – Education Session 6
2:30 – 5:30 p.m. – Optional Events:
Snorkeling the John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park (Scuba for certified divers)
Backstage Tour of Ocean Reef Club
6 :00– 6:45 p.m. – ClubPAC Reception
6:30 – 8:30 p.m. – Chairman’s Reception
Club Chef Showcase – Ocean Reef Marina
Tuesday, May 25
AM
7:00 a.m. – Breakfast and Exhibitor Showcase
7:45 – 8:00 a.m. – Welcome/Opening Remarks
8:00 – 8:45 a.m. – Open
8:45 – 9:30 a.m. – Education Session 8
9:30 – 10:00 a.m. – Exhibitor Showcase
10:00 – 1:00 p.m. – Guest Event: Ocean Reef Club Cooking Class
10:00 – 10:45 a.m. – Education Session 9
10:45 – 11:30 a.m. – Education Session 10
11:30 – 12:00 p.m. – Education Session 11
PM
12:00 – 1:00 p.m. – Lunch
1:00 – 1:45 p.m. – NCA Political Update
1:45 – 2:30 p.m. – Education Sessions 13
3:00 – 6:00 p.m. – Optional Events:
Golf Cart Poker Run
Mangrove Eco-Kayak Tour
Backstage Tour of Key Largo Anglers Club
6:30 – 9:00 p.m. – Oceanside Reception and Dinner
Buccaneer Island
Conference Pricing
Bring Your Club President!
Learn best governance practices and strategies from Industry Leaders.
After the extremely successful debut at the 2019 Conference, the Club Governance Symposium is back to provide board leaders best practices and networking opportunities to help their boards reach new heights.
Special Pricing for clubs with 2+ attendees!
For more information, contact John Good at good@nationalclub.org or by phone at (202) 684-8749.
Special Events
VIP Reception and Dinner
NCA Golf Tournament at Card Sound Club
Chair’s Reception
Oceanside Reception and Dinner Snorkeling and Scuba
Eco Kayak Tour
Tours of Ocean Reef Club and Key Largo Anglers Club
and more!
NCA GOLF TOURNAMENT AT CARD SOUND CLUB
This exclusive golf outing sponsored by Paymerang at the stellar Card Sound Golf Club – a private golf club and course within the Ocean Reef Club – will feature lunch, beverages, carts, and Tempo Walk hands-free caddies sponsored by Club Car. (The number of Tempo Walk robotic caddies is limited to the first eight (8) registrants requesting them. Please contact John C. Good at good@nationalclub.org to reserve.)
EXCELLENCE IN CLUB MANAGEMENT AWARDS PANEL
The National Club Association is excited to host the Excellence in Club Management Awards Panel at this year’s National Club Conference. Winners from the 2020 awards will discuss the Private Club Industry and keys to success from their respective clubs. The Excellence in Club Management Awards recognize private club general managers and chief operating officers who have exhibited outstanding skills in managing their club. It is co-sponsored by McMahon Group, Club & Resort Business Magazine and the National Club Association.
Lawrence McFadden
Mel Rex Award
The Union Club
Cleveland, Ohio
Bill Morari
John Furlong Award
The National Club
Toronto, Ontario
Kris Glaubitz
Rising Star Award
Congressional Country Club
Bethesda, Maryland
Craig Cutler
Mead Grady Award
The Country Club of Detroit
Detroit, Michigan
Jack Slaughter
James H. Brewer Award
Carolina Country Club
Raleigh, North Carolina
Lodging at the
Ocean Reef Club
Ocean Reef Club and Resort offers a “unique way of life.” Located on a private, pristine peninsula beside America’s only living reef, ORC is bounded on three sides by water and on the fourth side by federal and state lands. It is located on the northernmost tip of Key Largo and is accessible by land, sea or air.
Usually reserved for members, Ocean Reef Club offers a rare opportunity for National Club Conference attendees to experience the world’s largest private club at this exclusive island destination. Located just an hour south of Miami on the island of Key Largo, the intimate oasis of ORC awaits with its tropical abundance of things to do. Its rare blend of natural beauty and fine-hewn luxury lets work flow easily into play.
NCA has negotiated special rates starting at $317 per night for single/double rooms for conference attendees. This price includes all taxes, service charges and club fees (business and fitness center access, high speed internet). Upgraded rooms are also available. All rooms are available on a first-come, first-served basis until the National Club Association Room block is filled. So you may extend your stay, National Club Association room rates will be offered three days prior to and three days after the conclusion of the National Club Conference, based on availability.
Book your room at the Ocean Reef Club
Attendees may also reserve a room by calling 305-367-5923 and referencing “National Club Association.”
For more information on room pricing, please click here.
TRAVEL
Address: 35 Ocean Reef Drive, Key Largo, FL 33037
Nearest Airports: Miami International Airport (53.8m) | Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (82.5m)
Ground Transportation: Enterprise rental cars allow you to book pick-up and drop off services at the Ocean Reef Club branch with no drop off fees. Book Online Here or call 305-367-2611.
Be sure to use Account code “OCEAN REEF GROUPS/CONV HIGH” when booking your car. Once at Ocean Reef Club you can drop your car and use the Club’s fleet of electric golf carts to get around.
Book your rental car online today!
Conference Health & Safety Information
2021 NCC Cancellation Policy
Cancellations received before April 30, 2021, will be fully refunded less a $125 administrative fee. Cancellations received after May 1, 2021, cannot be refunded, but substitutions will be allowed. If no substitutions are identified, NCA will credit 1/2 of your registration fee towards next year’s National Club Conference.
Sponsors
Sponsorship Information
The National Club Conference provides a unique opportunity for companies to engage with key private club decision-makers seeking products, services, and resources to assist them in their work. This is a singular opportunity to connect with your current customers and identify new ones; gather useful data about new product ideas and industry trends, and gain a competitive edge.
For more information, please contact Katina Cavagnaro
at cavagnaro@nationalclub.org or by phone at (202) 822-1291.
See Sponsorship Opportunities
Vendor Showcase
CaddieMaster
CC Tech
CedarCreek Systems
Club Car
Clubessential
Club Safety Solutions
Craig & Company
ForeTees
Greenberg Traurig
Medjet
Nicklaus Design
Northstar
Pacesetter Technology
Paymerang
Peacock + Lewis
PTE Golf
Reserve Advisors
Strategic Club Solutions
Studio JBD & Jefferson Group Architecture
Total E Integrated
Xhibitz
Michael Bryan
Partner
Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP.
Michael D. Bryan, is a Partner in the Charleston, SC office of Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP. Mike focuses his practice on a wide variety of transactions, including acquisitions, divestitures, joint ventures, licensing, and debt and equity offerings. He advises clients in the agricultural and industrial biotechnology, manufacturing, chemical, and healthcare industries. He also regularly advises clients on matters related to corporate governance, securities law compliance and reporting requirements, stock exchange rules, executive compensation, boards of directors, and compliance.
Henry DeLozier
PARTNER
GGA Partners
Henry B. DeLozier is a partner at GGA Partners, and one of the leading authorities on golf course asset development and financing. DeLozier joined GGA Partners after nine years as the vice president, Golf of Pulte Homes—the largest developer of golf course communities in the United States—where he developed 27 golf courses in 10 states and was responsible for the operation of more than 20 Pulte golf courses. He is recognized by Golf Inc. magazine as one of the “Most Influential People in Golf.” He is a past president of the board of directors for the National Golf Course Owners Association. He also serves on the Employers Advisory Council for the PGA of America. He is a frequent expert source to U.S. and international media on matters of golf-related resort and residential investment and development and social and economic trends affecting the golf business. DeLozier earned his B.A. in English from Oklahoma State University.
Dick Grasso
FORMER CHAIRMAN AND CEO
New York Stock Exchange
Dick Grasso, the founder of Gladiator Holdings, is the former chairman and chief executive officer of the New York Stock Exchange (1995-2002), guiding the Exchange to the most successful years in its 223-year history. During his tenure, the NYSE became the world’s most respected equities market, boosting its market share to 84% and setting annual records for new listings, IPOs and transfers. A champion of the small investor, Grasso brought unparalleled transparency to the marketplace. After the attacks of September 11, 2001, Grasso’s leadership was instrumental in the successful reopening of the U.S. equities markets.
Grasso served as a Director of publicly-traded Computer Associates, and Home Depot.
Grasso also currently serves as vice-chairman of the Nassau County Police Crimestoppers. and serves on the Board of Wagner College. He also served as chairman of the Economic Club of New York, the YMCA of Greater New York, and Junior Achievement of New York, and vice chairman of the National Italian American Foundation, and the Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation. Among other philanthropic activities, Mr. Grasso has founded the American Dream Foundation, and has served on the boards of the New York City Police Foundation, New York State Troopers Foundation and the New York City Public Private Initiatives, among other organizations.
John C. Tolbert
Senior Vice President, Asset Management, BRE Hotels & Resorts
Founder, Revelation Consultancy, LLC
John C. Tolbert is senior vice president, asset management at BRE Hotels & Resorts, overseeing sales and marketing initiatives including the development of creative revenue driving opportunities across the full-service portfolio and founder at Revelation Consultancy, a global business consulting firm with emphasis on resort and residential real estate, private clubs and hospitality.
Prior to joining BRE Hotels & Resorts, Mr. Tolbert served as President and Managing Director of Boca Raton Resort & Club for more than four years, leading a team of more than 1,800 employees. During his tenure, Mr. Tolbert spear-headed the creation of the Yacht Club, a luxury boutique hotel experience within the larger resort, developed a world-class the fitness program by bringing in the likes of Orangetheory and celebrity trainers as well as introduced the Artist-in-Residence program. In 2018, Mr. Tolbert managed the sale of the Resort and Club, one of the largest hotel sales in South Florida in recent years.
Tolbert founded Revelation Consultancy, LLC, which plays a key role helping developers, owners, financial institutions and management companies make crucial decisions on vision, strategy, marketing, sales, operations and organization. Tolbert and his Consultancy are uniquely effective at providing short and long-term consultation at the top level and at providing a total solution from a tactical and implementation perspective.
Mr. Tolbert also serves on several business and community boards. He most recently was appointed to Governor DeSantis’ Re-open Florida taskforce to assist hospitality industry in the ongoing COVID recovery. Additionally, Mr. Tolbert sits on the Cultural Council of Palm Beach County, Tourism Development Council of Palm Beach County, Boca Raton Historical Society, American Hotel & Lodging Association, Boca Raton Bowl, and Boca Raton Chamber of Commerce, among others. He is an advisor to the boards of FAU Business School, Lynn University, and NSU Hospitality Programs. A highly sought after public speaker, he has spoken about topics from business leadership to hospitality excellence, at events including Gary Vaynerchuk’s Agent2121. He has been featured on CNBC, ESPN, Yahoo! Finance, and the popular Netflix series Stay Here, and has been profiled in magazines including Palm Beach Illustrated, Boca Raton Magazine, and more. In addition, Mr. Tolbert has been Hilton Worldwide’s “Luxury Leader of the Year,” Greater Boca Raton Chamber of Commerce’s “Business Leader of the Year” and co-chair of numerous non-profit and charitable organizations.
Steve Tingiris
Founder and "Chief Dabbler"
Dabble Lab
Steve is a software engineer, entrepreneur and founder of Dabble Lab. Dabble Lab is a technology company that builds conversational bots and robotic process automation solutions for business. In his career, Steve has founded and sold three technology companies.
Tom Gartland
AUTHOR
Senior Advisor AEA Investors
Tom Gartland is the executive chairman of SGLT, a global logistics company. He is known as a compassionate, strategic and inspiring leader with nearly three decades of sales and leadership experience, who helped transform the culture of a Fortune 500 company into an engaged, collaborative, top-performing organization that experienced unprecedented growth. As former president of Avis Budget Group North America (2008 to 2014), his responsibilities included the management of more than 20,000 employees across 5,000 locations, and overseeing more than 350,000 vehicles that accounted for more than $5 billion in revenue every year. Gartland is currently a member of the board of directors of Xenia Hotels and ABM. He is also a senior advisor to a private equity firm founded by the Rockefeller and Mellon families. Gartland is the author of the book, “Lead with Heart: Transform Your Business Through Personal Connection,” which focuses on his message that business is personal and that by opening ourselves up and truly caring about each other, we can transform organizations. Gartland received his bachelor’s degree from the University of St. Thomas.
Heather Kim Degenhardt-Stifanic
Founder
IIICONIC
Heather Kim Degenhardt-Stifanic is the founder of IIICONIC, an inclusion and diversity-focused nonprofit consulting organization.
Heather’s hospitality career began in 1994 in hotel operations. She managed restaurants, stewarding and housekeeping with Marriott International, The Ritz Carlton Hotel Company and Global Hyatt Corporation. She transitioned into human resources with Hyatt as a human resources coordinator, then employee relations manager, training manager and finally as director of service training and education. The last 13 years of her career were spent at the Yale Club of New York City in the human resources department. Heather’s human resources experience specializes in employee relations, training and development, hiring, safety/compliance and the facilitation of all employee volunteer and community events.
Heather has written the hospitality career real-world textbook, H Guide to Career Success that chronicles the past 25 years of her hospitality career in New York City. Proceeds of book sales provide underserved individuals with career training and workshops, mentoring and scholarships. In addition, she created the Holden Hutchison Award in honor of her high school home economics teachers to promote careers in the private club and hospitality industries by raising awareness for the importance of keeping home economics in high schools. Heather created the Minority Management Council (MMMC) to attract diverse talent and ensure access to elevated training, networking and mentoring.
She studied culinary arts at Southern Maine College in South Portland, Maine, and transferred and graduated from Johnson & Wales University’s hospitality program in Providence, R.I. In addition to her university education, she certified in macrobiotic studies from the Kushi Institute in Becket, Mass. Heather also interned at the prestigious Ocean Reef Club in Key Largo.
She was born in Danang, Vietnam. She was adopted as an infant and raised by Edwin and Dawn Degenhardt as the youngest of nine adopted siblings, with multicultural ancestries. Heather was introduced to the hospitality industry at age of 8 by her father, a multi-unit McDonald’s owner/operator. She worked in the restaurants from age 8 through college. Heather resides in Dobbs Ferry Village located in Westchester County, New York, with her son, Adelino Edwin.
Shep Murray
CO-FOUNDER
Vineyard Vines
Shep & Ian Murray are CEOs and founders of vineyard vines and brothers who grew up in Connecticut and spent every summer on Martha’s Vineyard. As youth, they played in various bands, recorded albums, started assorted small businesses and would combine earnings to buy the “best old boat” they could find to head out on the water and escape life from time to time. In the late nineties, both were unhappy at their respective Manhattan jobs, so they decided to trade in business suits for bathing suits by selling ties. Before quitting their jobs, they leased cars and signed up for credit cards to start their new business. Their first 800 ties hit the market in 1998 and sold out in the first week. Continued success allowed them to grow quickly, expand, hire staff, and open stores across the country. Today, they work from a brand-new office, sell more items than ties, have a new golf team, and are the official style of the Kentucky Derby.
Ian Murray
CO-FOUNDER
Vineyard Vines
Shep & Ian Murray are CEOs and founders of vineyard vines and brothers who grew up in Connecticut and spent every summer on Martha’s Vineyard. As youth, they played in various bands, recorded albums, started assorted small businesses and would combine earnings to buy the “best old boat” they could find to head out on the water and escape life from time to time. In the late nineties, both were unhappy at their respective Manhattan jobs, so they decided to trade in business suits for bathing suits by selling ties. Before quitting their jobs, they leased cars and signed up for credit cards to start their new business. Their first 800 ties hit the market in 1998 and sold out in the first week. Continued success allowed them to grow quickly, expand, hire staff, and open stores across the country. Today, they work from a brand-new office, sell more items than ties, have a new golf team, and are the official style of the Kentucky Derby.
Cal Thomas
Syndicated Columnist and Pundit
Cal Thomas is a syndicated columnist, political pundit, author and radio commentator. His column has appeared in hundreds of newspapers since he began writing it more than 35 years ago. He is also a veteran of TV and radio news. Cal worked for the Fox News Channel for 19 years and with NBC News and KPRC-TV in Houston. He began his journalism career at 16 years old.
Joe Trauger
VICE PRESIDENT OF GOVERNMENT RELATIONS
National Club Association
Joe Trauger is NCA’s Vice President of Government Relations, organizing NCA’s lobbying activities and ClubPAC, NCA’s political action committee.
As an experienced government relations professional with numerous legislative and regulatory successes on Capitol Hill, Joe brings extensive experience and respect as an association lobbyist with tremendous knowledge of the issues facing clubs today. . Joe has a unique perspective into the private club industry as he is entering his second year as president of Mount Vernon Country Club in Alexandria, Va., an NCA member club.”
He previously was principal and founder of Northfield Strategies, an advocacy consulting firm. Prior to Northfield, Joe was senior vice president of policy and government relations at the Air-Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute, and vice president of government relations at the National Association of Manufacturers. His Capitol Hill experience includes positions as senior policy advisor for then House Majority Whip Roy Blunt; policy advisor for then House Majority Leader Dick Armey; senior legislative assistant for former Congressman Sam Johnson; and legislative assistant for former Senator Rod Grams.
Joe is a competitive golfer, frequently playing in (and winning) charity and purse tournaments, and modestly boasts a single-digit handicap.
Richard Weinstein
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, MEMBERSHIP & MARKETING
Ocean Reef Club
Richard Weinstein is senior vice president of membership and marketing at Ocean Reef Club (ORC). Weinstein is responsible for the membership experience and the journey from prospective member to ORC’s unique way of life for generations of members and their families. Weinstein focuses on building the Ocean Reef Club brand and revenue development through conference sales and membership development. Prior to Ocean Reef Club, he was trustee at The Incentive Research Foundation at MCI, and vice president of corporate sales for Carnival Corporation (Carnival Cruise lines and Carnival Hotels and Resorts) Prior to that, he was responsible for Carnival’s Crystal Palace—an 800-room golf and casino resort in the Bahamas—and was part of turn-around team to enable Carnival Corporation to sell the property. He earned his bachelor’s degree in marketing and economics from University of South Florida.
Kwame Christian
DIRECTOR
American Negotiation Institute
Kwame Christian, Esq., M.A. is the Director of the American Negotiation Institute where he conducts negotiation and conflict management workshops around the country. As an attorney and mediator with a Bachelors of Arts in Psychology, a Master of Public Policy, and a Juris Doctorate (Law Degree), Kwame brings a unique multidisciplinary approach to making difficult conversations easier. In addition to his role with the American Negotiation Institute, Kwame also serves as a professor at The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law, the top ranked dispute resolution program in the country, and Otterbein University’s MBA program.
He is the author of the Amazon Best Seller, Nobody Will Play With Me: How to Find Confidence in Conflict. Kwame also hosts the top negotiation podcast in the world, Negotiate Anything. The show has been downloaded over 1,000,000 times and has listeners in 183 different countries. His TEDx Talk, Finding Confidence in Conflict, was the most popular TED Talk on the topic of conflict of 2017.
Henry DeLozier
PARTNER
Global Golf Partners
Henry B. DeLozier is a partner at Global Golf Partners, and one of the leading authorities on golf course asset development and financing. DeLozier joined Global Golf Partners after nine years as the vice president, Golf of Pulte Homes—the largest developer of golf course communities in the United States—where he developed 27 golf courses in 10 states and was responsible for the operation of more than 20 Pulte golf courses. He is recognized by Golf Inc. magazine as one of the “Most Influential People in Golf.” He is a past president of the board of directors for the National Golf Course Owners Association. He also serves on the Employers Advisory Council for the PGA of America. He is a frequent expert source to U.S. and international media on matters of golf-related resort and residential investment and development and social and economic trends affecting the golf business. DeLozier earned his B.A. in English from Oklahoma State University.
Tom Gartland
AUTHOR
Senior Advisor AEA Investors
Tom Gartland is the executive chairman of SGLT, a global logistics company. He is known as a compassionate, strategic and inspiring leader with nearly three decades of sales and leadership experience, who helped transform the culture of a Fortune 500 company into an engaged, collaborative, top-performing organization that experienced unprecedented growth. As former president of Avis Budget Group North America (2008 to 2014), his responsibilities included the management of more than 20,000 employees across 5,000 locations, and overseeing more than 350,000 vehicles that accounted for more than $5 billion in revenue every year. Gartland is currently a member of the board of directors of Xenia Hotels and ABM. He is also a senior advisor to a private equity firm founded by the Rockefeller and Mellon families. Gartland is the author of the book, “Lead with Heart: Transform Your Business Through Personal Connection,” which focuses on his message that business is personal and that by opening ourselves up and truly caring about each other, we can transform organizations. Gartland received his bachelor’s degree from the University of St. Thomas.
Shep Murray
CO-FOUNDER
Vineyard Vines
Shep & Ian Murray are CEOs and founders of vineyard vines and brothers who grew up in Connecticut and spent every summer on Martha’s Vineyard. As youth, they played in various bands, recorded albums, started assorted small businesses and would combine earnings to buy the “best old boat” they could find to head out on the water and escape life from time to time. In the late nineties, both were unhappy at their respective Manhattan jobs, so they decided to trade in business suits for bathing suits by selling ties. Before quitting their jobs, they leased cars and signed up for credit cards to start their new business. Their first 800 ties hit the market in 1998 and sold out in the first week. Continued success allowed them to grow quickly, expand, hire staff, and open stores across the country. Today, they work from a brand-new office, sell more items than ties, have a new golf team, and are the official style of the Kentucky Derby.
Ian Murray
CO-FOUNDER
Vineyard Vines
Shep & Ian Murray are CEOs and founders of vineyard vines and brothers who grew up in Connecticut and spent every summer on Martha’s Vineyard. As youth, they played in various bands, recorded albums, started assorted small businesses and would combine earnings to buy the “best old boat” they could find to head out on the water and escape life from time to time. In the late nineties, both were unhappy at their respective Manhattan jobs, so they decided to trade in business suits for bathing suits by selling ties. Before quitting their jobs, they leased cars and signed up for credit cards to start their new business. Their first 800 ties hit the market in 1998 and sold out in the first week. Continued success allowed them to grow quickly, expand, hire staff, and open stores across the country. Today, they work from a brand-new office, sell more items than ties, have a new golf team, and are the official style of the Kentucky Derby.
Rick Reilly
SPORT WRITER, CONTRIBUTING ESSAYIST
ESPN, ABC Sports, Sports Illustrated
Rick Reilly is a screenwriter, book author, keynote speaker and member of the National Sportswriters and Sportscasters Hall of Fame. He was voted National Sportswriter of the Year 11 times over a career that began in 1979. He is the author of 13 books, including “Meet My Sister … And Other Things I Probably Shouldn’t Have Said,” a collection of his best columns written at ESPN, with postscript updates of each column at the bottom and “Who’s Your Caddy?” (Doubleday), about Reilly caddying for everyone from Jack Nicklaus to Donald Trump to a $50,000-a-hole gambler. It rose to No. 3 on the New York Times bestseller list. His most recent book, “Commander-in-Cheat: How Golf Explains Trump,” is an uproarious indictment of President Donald Trump. It was #6 with a bullet in its first week on The New York Times bestseller list. For two years, he was the host of ESPN’s Homecoming with Rick Reilly, a one-hour interview show.
On June 10, 2014, he wrote his final column as a sportswriter. The next year, he produced his last TV piece for ESPN. He now writes sitcoms, screenplays, and books in Hollywood. He currently has two movies in development. Reilly won the 2009 Damon Runyon Award for Outstanding Contributions to Journalism. Reilly is the founder of the anti-malaria effort, “Nothing But Nets,” which has raised more than $60 million to provide mosquito nets for children in Africa where 2,000 children die every day of the disease—a partnership with the United Nations Foundation—with every dollar goes to buying the nets.
Joe Trauger
VICE PRESIDENT OF GOVERNMENT RELATIONS
National Club Association
Joe Trauger is NCA’s Vice President of Government Relations, organizing NCA’s lobbying activities and ClubPAC, NCA’s political action committee.
As an experienced government relations professional with numerous legislative and regulatory successes on Capitol Hill, Joe brings extensive experience and respect as an association lobbyist with tremendous knowledge of the issues facing clubs today. . Joe has a unique perspective into the private club industry as he is entering his second year as president of Mount Vernon Country Club in Alexandria, Va., an NCA member club.”
He previously was principal and founder of Northfield Strategies, an advocacy consulting firm. Prior to Northfield, Joe was senior vice president of policy and government relations at the Air-Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute, and vice president of government relations at the National Association of Manufacturers. His Capitol Hill experience includes positions as senior policy advisor for then House Majority Whip Roy Blunt; policy advisor for then House Majority Leader Dick Armey; senior legislative assistant for former Congressman Sam Johnson; and legislative assistant for former Senator Rod Grams.
Joe is a competitive golfer, frequently playing in (and winning) charity and purse tournaments, and modestly boasts a single-digit handicap.
Richard Weinsten
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, MEMBERSHIP & MARKETING
Ocean Reef Club
Richard Weinstein is senior vice president of membership and marketing at Ocean Reef Club (ORC). Weinstein is responsible for the membership experience and the journey from prospective member to ORC’s unique way of life for generations of members and their families. Weinstein focuses on building the Ocean Reef Club brand and revenue development through conference sales and membership development. Prior to Ocean Reef Club, he was trustee at The Incentive Research Foundation at MCI, and vice president of corporate sales for Carnival Corporation (Carnival Cruise lines and Carnival Hotels and Resorts) Prior to that, he was responsible for Carnival’s Crystal Palace—an 800-room golf and casino resort in the Bahamas—and was part of turn-around team to enable Carnival Corporation to sell the property. He earned his bachelor’s degree in marketing and economics from University of South Florida.
Eric Maddox
Interrogator / Author of "Capturing Saddam"
Upon graduating from the University of Oklahoma in 1994, Eric Maddox joined the U.S. Army as an infantry paratrooper for the 82nd Airborne Division. After spending three years as a paratrooper, jumpmaster and a qualified ranger, Eric reenlisted as an interrogator and Chinese Mandarin linguist. Since 9/11, Eric has conducted over 2,700 interrogations while deploying eight times in support of the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT) to include multiple tours in Iraq, Afghanistan, South America, Southeast Asia, and Europe.
In 2003, while assigned to a special operations task force in Tikrit, Eric conducted over 300 interrogations and collected the intelligence which directly led to the capture of Saddam Hussein. As a result, he was awarded the Legion of Merit, the Defense Intelligence Agency’s Director’s Award and the National Intelligence Medal of Achievement. After being hired as a civilian with the Department of Defense, Eric continued to help fight the Global War on Terror (GWOT) until 2014. In May 2015, he earned his MBA from Washington University in St. Louis and is now a private consultant and negotiator and lives in his hometown of Sapulpa, Oklahoma. Eric is also the author of Mission: Black List No. 1 (Harper Collins, 2008), which he wrote with the permission of the Department of Defense. For more information go to ericmaddox.com.
Don Peebles
Founder, Chairman and CEO
The Peebles Corporation
Recognized as one of the most successful entrepreneurs in the nation, Don Peebles is founder, chairman and CEO of The Peebles Corporation, one of the country’s few privately held national real estate investment and development companies. Mr. Peebles engages in practices of Affirmative Development™ with a multi-billion dollar portfolio of projects in New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., Charlotte, Miami, and Los Angeles.
Mr. Peebles is also the author of top-selling books, “The Peebles Principles” and “The Peebles Path to Real Estate Wealth,” a regular guest host on CNN, CNBC and FOX and a highly sought-after speaker who has addressed educational, business and professional audiences across the United States.
Mr. Peebles is a passionate proponent of mentoring programs that expose youth to the value of entrepreneurship, as well as an active political supporter and fundraiser for local, state and federal campaigns of both major parties. He serves as Ambassador to the University of Southern California, on the Board of Directors of YMCA of Greater New York and on the Business Roundtable of Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez.
Previously, he has served on the National Finance Committee of President Barack Obama, on the Board of the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau and is the former Chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation.
Henry DeLozier
Partner
Global Golf Advisors
Henry DeLozier is considered one of the leading authorities on golf course asset development and financing. Henry is recognized within the golf industry for his uncommon understanding of golf and residential properties. He is known as a no-nonsense profit producer, an innovative marketer and an advocate of exceptional customer service. His career history reflects new concept introductions and numerous successful business turnarounds.
Henry joined GGA in 2008 after nine years as the Vice President – Golf of Pulte Homes, the largest developer of golf course communities in the U.S. While at Pulte Homes, Henry developed 27 golf courses in 10 states. During his tenure, Pulte Homes became the largest developer of golf communities and of golf courses in the U.S. with more than $500 million in developed golf assets. In addition, he was responsible for the operation of more than 20 Pulte golf courses.
Henry has been recognized by Golf Inc. magazine as one of the “Most Influential People in Golf”. He is a Past President of the Board of Directors of the National Golf Course Owners Association and serves on the Employers Advisory Council for the PGA of America.
A “go to” resource on matters of golf-related resort and residential investment and development, Henry is often asked by U.S. and international media to comment on social and economic trends affecting the golf business.
Henry earned his B in English from Oklahoma State University.
Ambassador Mick Mulvaney
Co-Founder of Exegis Capital and Former White House Chief of Staff
Michael “Mick” Mulvaney is the former director of the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and a former acting White House chief of staff for former President Donald Trump. Mulvaney served as the official director of the OMB from February 2017 to July 2020, though he dedicated all of his time to his chief of staff duties from January 2019 to March 2020. Mulvaney officially left the Office of Management and Budget on July 20, 2020.
Mulvaney also served as the acting director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau from November 2017 to December 2018. He is a former Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives serving South Carolina’s 5th Congressional District from 2010 to 2017.
Mulvaney is familiar with the private club community as he is a former board member and president of Carmel Country Club in Charlotte, N.C.
Mulvaney graduated from Charlotte Catholic High School. He then earned his B.S.F.S. in international commerce and finance from Georgetown University in 1989. He went on to receive his J.D. from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill in 1992. He then received training in owner and president’s management from Harvard Business School in 2006.
Curtis Dubay
Lead Economist
U.S. Chamber of Commerce
Curtis Dubay is the lead economist at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Prior to that he served as senior economist at the American Bankers Association and research fellow in tax and economic policy at The Heritage Foundation. He has also worked at the accounting firm PwC and the Tax Foundation. Dubay has researched and published on a wide range of tax and economic issues. He is frequently quoted by the press and has appeared regularly in the media, including on CNBC, Fox News, Fox Business, MSNBC, CNN and C-SPAN. He has testified before Congress and was cited in newspapers such as The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The Washington Post, USA Today, and Politico. Dubay received his master’s degree in economics from the University of Connecticut and his bachelor’s degree from the University of Richmond. He resides in Washington, D.C., with his wife and three sons.