The Professional Golfers Association of America s3

PGA News The Professional Golfers’ Association of America 100 Avenue of the Champions Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33418 Tel: 561-624-8400 Fax: 561-624-8448

IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Jamie Carbone July 31, 2007 561/624-8446 [email protected]

SOUTHWEST PGA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR KATHY WILKES NAMED PGA OF AMERICA DIRECTOR OF EMPLOYMENT

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. – Kathy Wilkes of Scottsdale, Ariz., who has served 17 years as Southwest PGA Section Executive Director, has been named The PGA of America’s Director of Employment. She will begin duties on Sept. 1, at the PGA National Headquarters in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. Wilkes, a native of Newport News, Va., and who spent her youth in Marshalltown, Iowa, joined the Southwest PGA Section in 1987 as an administrative assistant before succeeding Dave Engelking in 1990 as executive director. Wilkes is a 1971 graduate in marketing and management from the University of Iowa, and was recruited on campus for a position in management training with Marshall Fields & Co. in Chicago. She moved to Arizona in 1973, joining the golf industry at McCormick Ranch Golf Club in Scottsdale. From there, she took a position in 1981 in Phoenix as golf shop manager at Paradise Valley Park Golf Course. In 1987, Wilkes began her tenure with the Southwest PGA Section. Wilkes is serving her third term as the chairperson of The PGA of America’s Executive Director Group, and is one of the original Board members of the Golf Industry Association in Arizona. She is a Silver Supporter for the Arizona Humane Society and a member of the board of the Golf & Environmental Foundation (Cactus & Pine Chapter of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America). The PGA of America is the world’s largest working sports organization, comprised of 28,000 men and women golf Professionals who are the recognized experts in growing, teaching and managing the game of golf while serving millions of people throughout its 41 PGA Sections nationwide. Since its founding in 1916, The PGA of America has enhanced its leadership position in a $62 billion-a-year industry by growing the game of golf through its premier spectator events, world-class education and training programs, significant philanthropic outreach initiatives, and award- winning golf promotions. Today’s PGA Professional is the public’s link to the game, serving an essential role in the operation of golf facilities throughout the country. ###