GCSAA field-staff program continues expansion

A familiar face will be moving into a new role as GCSAA continues the expansion of its field-staff program.

GCSAA President Jim Fitzroy, CGCS, announced today that John Miller, CGCS, has been appointed as the field staff representative for the Great Lakes region. Miller, a 28-year GCSAA member who most recently served as the GCSAA-appointed agronomist for the LPGA Tour, joins Ralph Dain (field staff representative for the Florida region), and Steve Randall, GCSAA senior manager of chapter outreach, as current staff dedicated to the program.

“John has been an engaged GCSAA member and valuable association team member for nearly three decades,” Fitzroy said. “He will be a tremendous asset for the chapters and members in the Great Lakes region. He certainly brings a diversity of talents as a golf course manager, host of a PGA Tour event, instructor and agronomist.”

Miller is a resident of Centerville, Ohio, and his territory will include all GCSAA chapters within the states of Wisconsin, Michigan, Ilinois, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky. Randall, who has managed the field staff program since it was piloted in 2006, will be responsible for the day-to-day operations of the program, with all resident field staff representatives reporting to him. Fitzroy said the association expects to have representatives for the South Central (Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, New Mexico and Louisiana) and Southwest (California, Hawaii, Nevada and Arizona) regions in place by the first part of January 2011. A full map of the new GCSAA regions is included with this post.

“I cannot remember anything that has brought as swift and positive feedback as the implementation of the field staff program,” Fitzroy said. “Our members have spoken loud and clear in their support. This program is just another step in our efforts to enhance the effectiveness of chapters. Field staff will complement our chapter workshops, leadership academy, branding program, outreach grants, advocacy assistance and other areas.”

Fitzroy noted the desire is to have all nine GCSAA regions with a field staff representative by the end of 2013, subject to available resources.

The objective of the program is to help chapters utilize GCSAA programs to a fuller extent, with tangible outcomes such as higher member satisfaction, increased membership totals and retention, more effective governance and greater participation in chapter and national association events.