Leadership Development for Private Clubs: Ways to Achieve Exceptional Board Practices

Successful leaders often share several key traits: they provide direction and meaning; they generate and sustain trust; they show a willingness to take action; and they encourage others to work toward achieving a common goal. These attributes often involve recognizing and pursuing best practices -- for the good of the whole. This program highlights key content from NCA's Board Leadership Institute, which is supported by the NCA Foundation. It addresses leadership traits that encourage sound and effective club governance, topics to address in board orientations, and the importance of strategic planning and risk management. The program also highlights the ways in which effective board leaders can significantly impact the level of a club’s achievements.

Panelists: Dan M. Denehy Principal, Denehy Club Thinking Partners Richard Hite Past President, Philip R. Kiester General Manager, Country Club of Virginia Loren Singletary Past President, Country Club Tammy Tassitano Partner, McGladrey Moderator: Henry DeLozier Principal, Global Golf Advisors

Daniel Denehy, CCM, CHA

Dan Denehy is president of Club Thinking Partners, an executive search and management consulting practice specializing in private clubs and boutique resorts. Over the last 10 years the firm has served more than 100 clubs through more than 200 projects. From 2001 – 2009, Dan was president of the Consulting Group of John Sibbald Associates, the oldest and largest executive search and management consulting firm specializing in private clubs and resorts in America. Founded in 1975, the firm has conducted more than 900 search and consulting projects specific to this industry sector.

His background also includes senior management experience with the Walt Disney Company and the Boca Raton Resort and Club. Before joining the firm, he served for 12 years as chief operating officer of the Greenwich Country Club, a 113-year-old Platinum Club of America. His prior management experience includes several high profile and exclusive private clubs as well.

Dan earned his undergraduate degree in Hotel Administration and Finance from Bryant College and continued in the MBA program at Cornell University. He earned his CCM in 1988 at which time he was the youngest certified club manager in the country.

Richard H. Hite

Owner, President/CEO, Norton Ditto, Houston, • Norton Ditto is a fine men’s retail apparel firm established in Houston in 1908 • Former President/CEO of the Houstonian, Inc., a fitness, spa, hotel and real estate firm • Co-founder of the Urban Retreat Spa • Former CEO of the Hite Group, a marketing and consulting firm • Former partner, Houston Partners, a venture capital firm

Education – University of Kentucky, Business & Political Science

Community: • Currently on the Board of Health Museum of Houston • Currently on the Board of Goodwill Industries of Houston • Former Board Member and Past President of River Oaks Country Club

Philip R. Kiester

Phil Kiester currently serves as the General Manager of the Country Club of Virginia in Richmond, VA. Founded in 1908, the Country Club of Virginia’s 7,500 members make it one of the largest member–owned private clubs in the . CCV was founded in 1908, and its facilities include 1,100 acres containing two clubhouses situated seven miles apart, 54 holes of golf, 24 tennis courts, three squash courts, three paddle tennis courts, a fitness facility, five swimming pools, a croquet field, multiple dining outlets, special event venues, and more.

Formerly, he served as GM of Farmington Country Club in Virginia. During his tenure, the club has been chosen a Platinum Club of America four times, and in the most recent poll, the club was ranked number 16 in the United States.

Kiester began his hospitality career at the age of 15 by washing dishes, and has been involved in some aspect of the hospitality industry ever since. After graduating from Johns Hopkins University in 1979 with a degree in social science, Kiester served a culinary apprenticeship before attending the Masters program at the Cornell University School of Hotel Administration. Since completing his studies at Cornell, he has served as General Manager of various restaurants and country clubs in Washington, D.C., Chicago and Philadelphia.

Kiester has served on the NCA Regional Council for several years and has been a member of the board since 2007. He served on the Communications and Membership Committees and has chaired the NCA Long Range Planning Committee since 2009.

Also, Kiester served as president of Virginia’s CMAA chapter and as a guest lecturer in hospitality and club management programs at Cornell University, Virginia Tech University and James Madison University.

Loren Singletary

Loren Singletary is Vice President of Investor and Industry Relations for National Oilwell Varco, Inc. Loren Joined National Oilwell in January 2003 as Vice President Global Accounts. The responsibilities of Investor Relations were later added to his role.

Loren’s work history includes broad experience in sales, marketing, pricing and forecasting activities. From 1998 to 2003 he was a co-owner and President of LSI Interests, Ltd., an oilfield service company, which was acquired by NOV.

Loren attended the University of Texas and received a BBA in finance in 1971, and was also in the United States Marine Corps Reserves from 1970 - 1976.

Loren currently serves on the Board of Directors of Vanguard Natural Resources, the Texas Golf Association, Texas Alliance of Recreational Organizations (TARO), Texas Golf Hall of Fame, the Spirit Golf Association, and recently served on the Executive Committee of the United States Golf Association. Loren is also a member of professional organizations including the International Association of Drilling Contractors, Society of Petroleum Engineers, National Investor Relations Institute, National Ocean Industries Association, and American Petroleum Institute.

Tammy Tassitano

Tammy currently serves as the Director of National Club Services, responsible for overseeing the private club/association industry group for McGladrey, which currently provides services to more than 300 private club/association clients.

Tammy provides clients with a complete range of hospitality related audit, accounting, tax and advisory services. She has over 20 years of experience serving hospitality organizations and specializes in planning, executing and supervising audits for the private club/association industry.

Additionally, Tammy is responsible for the preparation of the Firm’s annual statistical review of more than 200 private clubs throughout Florida titled Florida Trends in Private Clubs.

Tammy is a frequent speaker and has given presentations on hospitality related topics at local, regional and national CMAA, NCA and HFTP conferences. Tammy was a member of the CPA sub-committee involved in the preparation of the Uniform System of Financial Reporting for Clubs. She is also a contributor to CMAA’s Understanding Club Finances and Managing the HOA Residential Golf Community, and sits on the Board of the National Club Association Foundation.

Henry B. DeLozier

Henry B. DeLozier is a Principal in Global Golf Advisors, the international specialist providing consulting services to the investment banking, real estate development and golf asset ownership and operations business segments. Mr. DeLozier joined Global Golf Advisors in 2008 after nine years as the Vice President – Golf of Pulte Homes (NYSE: PHM).

Given his background with residential real estate development and lifestyle strategy, he serves GGA clients throughout the world to identify and refine strategic options and to accelerate tactical solutions and financial returns. During his tenure at Pulte Homes the company became the largest developer of golf communities and of golf courses in the USA, having invested more than $500 million in the development of golf assets and building 27 new golf courses within ten states. In addition, Mr. DeLozier was responsible for the financial performance of more than 20 Pulte golf courses, the replacement value of which exceeded $300 million with annual revenues greater than $90 million. Recognized across the globe for his thought leadership in golf-related businesses, he is called one of the “Most Influential People in Golf” since 1999 by the Crittenden publications. Mr. DeLozier serves on the Employers Advisory Council for the Professional Golfers Association of America (PGA). He is a Past President of the Board of Directors for the National Golf Course Owners Association (NGCOA) in America.

Mr. DeLozier is acknowledged within the golf and club categories for his uncommon understanding of golf and residential properties. He is known as a no-nonsense profit producer, as an innovative marketer, and as an advocate of exceptional customer service. His career history reflects new concept introductions and numerous successful business turnarounds.

A ‘go to’ resource on matters of golf-related resort and residential investment and development, Mr. DeLozier is often called upon for comment on social and economic trends particular to golf business segments. He serves as an expert source for Journal-Constitution, Bloomberg News, Business Week, CNBC-Squawk Box, the Financial Times of London, GOLF magazine, Golf Digest, Golf Business, the New York Times, PGA Tour Network, the Wall Street Journal and the Washington Post.

Mr. DeLozier is a graduate of Oklahoma State University (B.A. – English) where he was an All- American golfer.