GATEWAY SECTION - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Executive Director
- Member of the Board of Directors
Ali Wells, born and raised in Rapid City, South Dakota, Executive Director of the Gateway PGA and Director of Operations for the Gateway PGA REACH Foundation, received her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Marketing & Professional Golf Management from the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs in 2009. Since, Ali has gained eight years of experience as a Class A PGA Professional, has worked for the Gateway PGA in different capacities for eight years with six years of program and tournament management and five years of sponsor procurement and fundraising experience. Ali is a passionate, driven and resourceful executive with significant experience in association and non-profit operations. She has a substantiated ability to lead diverse groups of stakeholders with a proven record of fostering organizational growth through increasing operational efficiency and gross revenue. Ali's work has led to numerous achievements and most recently helping the Gateway PGA to its first national award, the 2017 Herb Graffis Award.
Job Titles:
- Director
- President of the Board of Directors
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Assistants Committee
- Member of the Membership Committee
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Player Development Committee
- Member of the Membership Committee
- Secretary of the Board of Directors
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Membership Committee
- Vice President of the Board of Directors
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Job Titles:
- Chairman
- Member of the Membership Committee
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Golf Sale Committee
- Member of the Membership Committee
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Metro St. Louis Director
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Junior Golf Committee
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Member of the Membership Committee
- Secretary
- Honorary past President
Over the past 20 years, Mike has been fortunate to work at his family's 27 hole public golf course. Growing up in the game has given Mike an excellent advantage in the business. His current role is PGA Head Professional/General Manager/Vice-President. Mike has won the Gateway Assistant and Regular Division "Player of the Year" honor, Gateway PGA Professional of the Year, Gateway PGA Junior Development Award, and the President's Plaque. Mike has worked extensively on PGA Golf Day which raised over $100,000 for local charities. He's also raised over $9,000 individually for Folds of Honor. In the past 2 years, he's helped raise over $3,000 by running in the St. Jude Marathon.
"My goal in life is to leave "the course" better than I found it. PGA REACH is a perfect place for a PGA Professional to raise awareness and give back through the wonderful game of golf."
He was President of the athlete's organization(PAWS) at Northern Illinois University, sat on the NIU Athletic Board for 3 years, was a Paul Harris Fellow in the Rotary Club, and is the current Gateway PGA President.
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Long Range Planning Committee
- Chairman of the Tournament Committee
- Member of the Membership Committee
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- PGA REACH Gateway President
Robert Johnston, a St Louis native, earned his B.S.B.A. at University of Tulsa in 1993 and started his career in the banking and investment industry. In 1998 he received his Master of Finance at St. Louis University. After grad school, Robert, looking to give back to the community, joined the American Red Cross as a Major Gifts Officer.
In 2002 Robert decided to become a Licensed Real Estate Salesperson in Missouri. He worked at Trammell Crow Company from 2002-2006, with his focus being office/retail brokerage and investment sales. In 2006 Robert joined the White Company as a Principal and is currently focused on commercial real estate development and investment.
Robert has supported numerous nonprofits in the community over the years. Some of his involvement has included being a Development Board Member of Edgewood Children's Center as well as a Committee Member for numerous organizations including: BJC Hospice Pediatric Wings Program, Central Institute for the Deaf, Missouri Botanical Garden, The Mission Continues, United Way, and Saint Louis Zoo.
Having a passion for golf, Robert entered the golf business in 2014 as part owner of Pine Hollow Golf Club in Clayton, NC. His father had owned the golf course since 1982 and passed it on to his three children.
Robert has a 7 yr. old son, Foster who is his pride and joy.
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Professional Development Committee
- Member of the Membership Committee
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Chairman / Bio
- PGA REACH Director
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Vice - Chairman / Bio
Job Titles:
- Business Consultant at RubinBrown
- Treasurer / Bio
Zach Goers is a CPA and Business Consultant at RubinBrown in Clayton, Missouri, working primarily on Internal Audit, Litigation Support, and Gaming Regulation engagements.
He earned his Master of Science in Accounting from Maryville University in 2018 and graduated with honors from Fontbonne University earning his Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Business Administration in 2017.
Zach played on the men's golf team for four years at Fontbonne University and is an avid golfer in his free time. He first learned of the Gateway PGA REACH Foundation during the 2018 PGA Championship, during an awards ceremony held at Bellerive Country Club.