NORWALK, Conn. (August 18, 2020) –The first PGA Show Connects Virtual Summit will welcome more than 1,200 industry professionals beginning at 11 a.m. (ET) today, Aug. 18, for the free online professional development event. The half-day Virtual Summit features industry leaders sharing insights on golf market trends, player development, customer experience, retail strategies and golf fashion trends. Industry professionals may continue to register at no cost for single sessions or the full Summit at www.pgashow21.com/PGAShowConnects.
The PGA Show Connects Virtual Summit will feature many industry leaders including PGA of America President Suzy Whaley, PGA; PGA of America CEO Seth Waugh; Sports & Leisure Research Group President Jon Last and influential thought-leaders representing the best in their fields from coaching, retail, fashion and customer service. The half-day summit will close with a fashion trends panel discussion and an engaging virtual fashion show, patterned after the successful London Fashion Week virtual event.
PGA Professionals participating in the PGA Show Connects Virtual Summit are able to receive MSR Education Credits. Full details and complimentary industry registration, single webinar or full Summit, are available at www.pgashow21.com/PGAShowConnects.
PGA Show Connects Half-Day Virtual Summit
August 18th, 2020
11 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. EST/8 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. PST
Free registration: www.pgashow21.com/PGAShowConnects
11 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. Welcome & Update
Presented by Suzy Whaley, PGA, President, PGA of America, and Seth Waugh, CEO, PGA of America
11:15 a.m. 12 p.m. The Golfer in the COVID-19 Era: Insights from Our Back to Normal Barometer
Presented by Jon Last, President, Sports & Leisure Research Group
12 p.m. – 12:45 p.m. Delivering What Customers Really Want Panel Discussion
Panel Guests:
· Tom Morton, PGA, Director of Coaching & Development, Haggin Oaks
· Ian James, CEO, RetailTribe
Moderator: Mike O’Donnell, Senior Director, Coaching & Player Development, PGA of America
12:45 p.m. – 1 p.m. Brief Intermission and Invitation to Explore Virtual Exhibitor Marketplace
1 p.m. – 2 p.m. Creative Retail Strategies During a Challenging Time Panel Discussion
Panel Guests:
· Buddy Christensen, President, Golfdom
· Devon Craddock Thew, Club Buyer, Kiawah Island Club
· Ken Morton Jr, Vice President Retail & Merchandising, Morton Golf LLC
· Tracey Stearns, Director of Retail, Congressional Country Club
Moderator: Mike Johnson, Senior Editor, Golf Digest/Discovery Golf
2 p.m. – 3 p.m. How to Get Better Results for Your Players and Make More Money in Less Time
Panel Guests:
· Dan Bubany, PGA, Assistant Golf Professional, La Paloma Country Club
· Tony Chavez, PGA, Tony Chavez Golf Studio
· Rion Groomes, PGA, Director of Golf at Keowee Key Golf Course
Moderator: Will Robins, PGA, RGX and WRGolf CEO and PGA.Coach Advisor
3 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Apparel Trends Insights Panel Discussion and Virtual Fashion Show
Featuring Guests:
· Jessica Marksbury, Multimedia Editor, GOLF Magazine/GOLF.com
· Bailey Mosier, Host, Reporter & Writer, Golf Channel
· Brittany Romano, Associate Editor, Golf Digest/Discovery Golf
The Virtual Summit is part of the PGA Show Connects year-round online platform, which also includes a twice-monthly series of webinars offering free access to live and on-demand education and insights from industry leaders. Virtual Summit and webinar series participants are able to connect directly to industry presenters with question and answer sessions and real-time polling, accessible on any browser and any device.
About PGA Golf Exhibitions and PGA Show Connects
PGA Golf Exhibitions, a division of Reed Exhibitions, organizes the PGA Merchandise Show in partnership with the PGA of America. Since 1954, the PGA Show has grown to annually welcome some 1,000 golf companies and brands and nearly 40,000 industry professionals from around the world to the industry’s annual global summit for the business of golf. The 68th edition of the PGA Merchandise Show is scheduled for Jan. 26-29, 2021, in Orlando. Learn more at www.PGAShow.com.
In the summer of 2020, PGA Golf Exhibitions introduced PGA Show Connects, a year-round, interactive virtual community designed to complement in-person events and engage PGA Show attendees and exhibitors by offering live and on-demand access to premium content, digital business sourcing and professional networking programs. Learn more at www.pgashow21.com/PGAShowConnects.
Media contacts:
PGA Worldwide Golf Exhibitions/Media: Sherry Major, (716) 662–3855, smajor@reedexpo.com
PGA Worldwide Golf Exhibitions/Exhibitor: Greg Scott, (203) 840-5399, gscott@reedexpo.com
PGA of America/Media: Michael Abramowitz, (561) 624-8458, mabramowitz@pgahq.com