Inaugural Melrose Leadership Academy class named

The first class of GCSAA members has been selected to participate in the Melrose Leadership Academy, which will be held at the 2013 GCSAA Education Conference and Golf Industry Show in February in San Diego.

A total of 17 GCSAA Class A and Superintendent Members earned all-expenses-paid trips through an application process that was based on financial need, geographic diversity, facility size, and progression toward GCSAA Class A membership status. The academy will offer education specific to risk management (health, safety, environmental compliance), operational efficiency, business, and environmental stewardship. Attendees will also participate in various leadership activities. The selected participants are:

Russell A. Appel Jr., Class A, Briggs Woods Golf Course, Webster City, Iowa
Rick A. Barstow, Class A, Shaker Run Golf Club, Lebanon, Ohio
Marshall N. Brown, Class A, Link Hills Country Club, Greeneville, Tenn.
Joseph J. Ettawageshik, Class A, Lochen Heath Golf Club, Williamsburg, Mich.
Christopher E. Johnson, Class A, Legacy Ridge Golf Course, Westminster, Colo.
David L. Johnson Jr., Class A, Kirkwood National Golf Club, Holly Springs, Miss.
Casey Kreuger, Superintendent Member, Yakima Elks Golf and Country Club, Selah, Wash.
Michael League, Superintendent Member, Meadowlake Golf Course, Enid, Okla.
Eli McGallian, Class A, Sandpines Golf Links Resort, Florence, Ore.
Douglas H. Palm, CGCS, Cattails Golf Club, South Lyon, Mich.
John J. Parker, Class A, Scenic Woods Golf and Country Club, Hannon, Ontario, Canada
Matthew Powell, Class A, Sycamore Golf Club, Ashland City, Tenn.
Jeffrey L. Seeman, Superintendent Member, Calverton Links, Calverton, N.Y.
Earl Snowden, Superintendent Member, The Golf Club at Fossil Creek, Fort Worth, Texas
Matt Taylor, Superintendent Member, Riverside Course at Atlanta Athletic Club, Johns Creek, Ga.
Jeffrey L. Travis, Class A, Cleveland Country Club, Cleveland, Tenn.
Chris Wiedenmeyer, Class A, Forest Hills Resort, Detroit Lakes, Minn.
The focus of the program is to assist GCSAA members in maintaining and/or achieving Class A membership status, the highest classification offered by the association. To be a Class A member, candidates must have a complete portfolio including formal education, experience as a golf course superintendent, continuing education and fulfillment of GCSAA’s integrated pest management competency requirement.

“We are pleased to offer GCSAA members a variety of professional development opportunities, and to add the Melrose Leadership Academy to the list is exciting,” GCSAA Chief Executive Officer Rhett Evans said. “Ken Melrose is one of the most visionary people in the golf course management industry … a true leader — so to be able to engage him in the development and implementation of this program is gratifying.”

Melrose’s relationship with the golf industry is longstanding as he joined the Toro Co. in 1970. He quickly ascended the ranks of the company, culminating with his appointment as CEO in 1983 and as chairman of the board of directors in 1987. He retired as CEO in 2005 and from the chairman position in 2006. In 2006, he formed Leading by Serving LLC, a company whose mission is to advance the principles of servant leadership in business organizations.