A blue-ribbon lineup of presentations and panel discussions on growth of the game, teaching and coaching, PGA HOPE and other PGA and golf-industry programs will headline the PGA of America Industry Stage presented by CapTech Wednesday through Friday at the 71st PGA Show.
Centrally located within the PGA Hub near the main entrance to the PGA Show floor at the Orange County Convention Center, the PGA of America Industry Stage presented by CapTech will feature a full schedule of programming focusing on timely industry issues. PGA of America Golf Professionals will join industry professionals and business experts provide an inside look at various programs from around the golf world.
“The schedule this year for the PGA Industry Stage is filled with incredible individuals who are leading our industry in topics that PGA of America Golf Professionals and other industry professionals will greatly benefit from,” said PGA of America President John Lindert, PGA Director of Golf at the Country Club of Lansing in Lansing, Michigan.
“The PGA Show is the perfect place every year to not only network with others, but learn from industry leaders in their respective field. We hope that by making these individuals accessible for discussion you will come away with greater knowledge that will help you improve the game and your business.”
The PGA of America Industry Stage, formerly the PGA Forum Stage, was introduced in 2007 by the PGA of America to provide the game’s leaders with an unprecedented opportunity to reach thousands of attending industry professionals on key matters that impact the golf industry.
Here is the 2024 schedule of events at the PGA of America Industry Stage presented by CapTech:
Wednesday, Jan. 24
10 a.m.-11 a.m. — Grow the Game, Grow the Player
Moderated by Roger Steele, Kemper Sports Community Advisor, #MakeGolfCool & Youth Golf Advocate
Joe Smith, PGA, KemperSports, PGA General Manager, Swenson Park Golf Course
Cameron Dinkins, PGA WORKS Leader
Abby Liebenthal, President & Founder, Fore the Ladies, Inc.
11 a.m.-12 p.m. — Recruitment & Retention
John Easterbrook Jr., PGA, Chief Membership Officer, PGA of America
Dr. Rich Ballinger, PGA, Director, Sam Houston State University PGA Golf Management
Todd Sammons, PGA, Director, Member Education Programming, PGA of America
Kyle Helms, PGA, Director, Accreditation & University Programming, PGA of America
Noon-1 p.m. – Technology Driven Team Golf
Andrew Macaulay, CTO, TMRW Sports
Scott Armstrong, VP Competition Technology, TMRW Sports
Roberto Castro, Director, CapTech
1 p.m.-1:45 p.m. — Growing Junior Golf – Engaging Customers of Today and Tomorrow
Ryan Dailey, PGA, Operation 36, Co-Founder, GM
Ryan Graff, First Tee, Vice President, Programs
Adam Heieck, Youth on Course Executive Officer
Steve Tanner, PGA of America, Sr. Director, Player Engagement
Tom Watson, Watson Links Founder
Moderated by Lauren Thompson, NBC Sports Next Media Personality
1:45 p.m.-2:30 p.m. — GameChanger & Player Engagement Awards
Moderated by Lauren Thompson, NBC Sports Next Media Personality
3 p.m.-4 p.m. — We Love this Game, PGA of America Brand Campaign Conversation
John Lindert, PGA of America President, Director of Golf at the Country Club of Lansing
Fahad Zahid, Senior Director, Brand and Digital Marketing, PGA of America
Kristen Herlihy, Head of Marketing, Omaha Productions
Eric Lohman, PGA
David Martin, Founder & President, Catalyst Branding
Moderated by Jeff Price, Chief Commercial Officer, PGA of America
4-4:30 p.m. — 2024 PGA of America National Award Winners
Moderated by Brian Crowell, PGA, General Manager, Trump Golf Links at Ferry Point
2024 PGA National Award winners followed by PGA of America Golf Professional Happy Hour 4:30-5:30 p.m.
6 p.m.-7 p.m.– U.S. Kids Golf Awards Ceremony
John Bryan, Vice President, U.S. Kids Golf
Thursday, Jan. 25
8:45 a.m.-9 a.m. — CapTech Kick-Off
9 a.m.-9:30 a.m. — Share Your Story
Moderated by Kennie Sims, PGA, Senior Director, PGA REACH Impact, PGA of America
Jim Beatty, President, Jim Beatty Golf Ventures, LLC
- Shawn Summerville, Founder-CEO Ebony Greens, LLC
Stacey Stewart, golfmarie
9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. — Make Golf Your Thing
Michael Williams
Laura Diaz
10:30 a.m.-11 a.m. — 2024 Golf Business Trends, Questions & Outlook
David Lorentz, Chief Research Officer, National Golf Foundation
11 a.m.-12 p.m. — Coaching for Success
Moderated by Will Robins, PGA, CEO, RGX
Joey Anders, PGA , Head Teaching Professional, Brookhaven Country Club
Eric Thielsen, PGA, PGA Director of Instruction, X-Golf Columbus
Jake Hutt, PGA, Co-founder, Chief Golf Officer, Dryvebox
Noon-1 p.m. — New Golfer Engagement
Adeel Yang, Co-Founder and CEO, Dryvebox
Ryan Engle, Founder and CEO, Golf+ VR
Damian Cosby, PGA, Executive Director, National Links Trust
Roberto Castro, Director, CapTech
1 p.m.-2 p.m. PGA HOPE (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere) Programs
Kennie Sims, PGA, Senior Director, PGA REACH Impact, PGA of America
Judy Alvarez, PGA, Director of Instruction, Monarch Country Club
Chris Nowack, PGA HOPE Ambassador
2 p.m.-3 p.m. — SIRIUS XM Coaches Town Hall
Michael Breed, PGA, Host, A New Breed of Golf
David Leadbetter, PGA, David Leadbetter Golf Academy
Trish Holt, PGA, Head Professional, Fields Ranch at PGA Frisco
Tim Cusick, PGA, Head Coach, PGA of America Coaching Center
Moderated by Debbie Doniger, Director of Instruction, GlenArbor Golf Club & SIRIUSXM PGATOUR Radio Co-Host
3 p.m.-3:30 p.m. — Poster Signing
PGA Show Poster Signing with Lee Wybranski, President of Lee Wybranski Art & Design
3:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m. — Pitch Tank
David Leadbetter, PGA, Founder of Leadbetter Swing Aids and Leadbetter Golf Academies
Kevin Herrington, CEO and Founder of Harrington Enterprises
Mike Locker, Co-founder of Locker Innovations
Derek Locker,Co-founder of Locker Innovations
Carolin Pinegger, Social Media Personality & Golf Entrepreneur
Santiago Mari, Product engineer & business development expert
Jay Adya, Managing Partner, Elysian Park Ventures
Moderated by Hally Leadbetter, Host, Commentator, Producer
4:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m. — Pitch Tank Happy Hour
Friday, Jan. 27
9 a.m.-10 a.m. — Leadbetter Coaching Presentation
David Leadbetter, PGA, World renowned PGA Hall of Fame instructor
Santiago Mari, Senior Leadbetter Certified Instructor
Anthony Netto, Founder “Stand Up and Play Foundation,” Inventor of the “Paragolfer-Vertacat”