Annual Golf Summit Tackles Club Marketing Strategies
Donna Coyne, president of Club Mark Corporation and executive director of Professional Club Marketing Association is among four featured speakers for the fifth annual New Jersey State Golf Association Golf Summit on Wednesday, March 18, at the NJSGA Headquarters at Galloping Hill Golf Course in Kenilworth.
The Golf Summit, conducted in collaboration with the N.J. PGA Section, the N.J. Club Managers Association, the Golf Course Superintendents Association of N.J., and the N.J. Golf Course Owners Association, is considered the premier event in the state for networking and discussing hot-button topics among those in the golf industry.
The Golf Summit welcomes all members, officials and staff from any private or public golf facility in New Jersey, as well as members of golf-based associations in the state.
Coyne, who in 2006 was recipient of the Gary Player Black Knight Educator of the Year Award, will speak on the topic of “Marketing Your Club.”
She will be joined by Jim Hankowski, partner in Condon O’Meara McGinty & Donnelly LLP, who will discuss “Current Financial Trends in the Country Club Industry.”
Frank Ferrugia, Esq., and Paul Marzell will address “Update on Property Taxes and Strategies for Lowering Your Assessments” aimed at country clubs.
The Golf Summit begins at 2:30 p.m. for registration and networking, then includes a welcome from NJSGA president Frank O’Brien..
Following the final presentation, cocktails and hors d’oeuvres will be served.
The registration fee for the Golf Summit is $35, which includes the reception and all handout materials.
ABOUT THE SPEAKERS
Coyne joined Club Mark Corporation in 1988 and has been instrumental in developing marketing initiatives and team training programs for well over 350 clubs. Donna has earned the reputation as one of the top recruiters for Membership Professionals and provides consulting to clubs and directors nationally on placement and compensation of key membership personnel.
She has vast experience in hiring and training of membership marketing personnel in country clubs, city clubs, yacht clubs and athletic clubs. She also provides extensive industry experience in marketing, advertising, public relations, sales and communications.
In 1995, Donna co-developed the Professional Club Marketing Association, an allied association to the CMAA and PGA, to represent Membership Marketing Directors in the industry with certification, placement services, educational programs, workshops, seminars and representation throughout the industry.
Hankowski’s firm specializes in the auditing and accounting for over 325 private clubs in 14 states. Jim predominantly handles the New Jersey Club practice. He is a board member of the Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals Association. He has presented seminars on Club operations to the Club Managers Association of America and The National Club Association.
He has written articles published in industry magazines and has over 30 years of experience in servicing Clubs. Jim served on the sub-committee for the revision of the Uniform System of Financial Reporting for Clubs. Hankowski also caddied at Essex County Country Club in his youth.
Ferruggia, Esq., is a partner at the law firm of McCarter and English, where he heads up the national property tax appeal group. In his 35 year career at McCarter, he has achieved substantial property tax reductions for his clients all over the country. Many of his clients are private golf courses. Frank is a graduate of Princeton and Harvard Law School. He is on the Adjunct Faculty at NYU and the Boston College Carroll School of Business. He has been recognized as a New Jersey Super Lawyer.
Marzell, MAI, is a Real Estate Tax Advisor and Licensed Real Estate Broker and Appraiser. Paul has been actively engaged in real estate for the past 45 years. He is a licensed real estate broker, a designated MAI appraiser, and a Realtor. He has been specializing in real property tax consulting since 1990. He is a member of the National Association of Realtors, the Appraisal Institute, and is a certified state general appraiser. Many of his clients include golf courses and country clubs.
