NICKLAUS GOLF CLUB - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Chief Financial Officer
- Treasurer
Andrew Lacko has served as our Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer since November 2019. Prior to that, he served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for Regis Corporation and has extensive experience leading Finance, Corporate FP&A, U.S. and international Business Unit Finance, Corporate Development and Investor Relations functions at multiple Fortune 500 companies. He has a proven track record of building and developing high performing, results driven finance teams and leading financial transformations, business optimization initiatives and large/complex corporate development transactions. His past roles include leadership positions at Hertz Global Holdings, First Data Corporation, Best Buy, Northwest Airlines and UnitedHealth Group. Lacko holds a Bachelor of Science in Business and Master of Business Administration from Carlson School of Management in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Job Titles:
- Member Experience Director
Job Titles:
- Director of Member Experience
Job Titles:
- Chief Information Officer
Brian Koch joined Invited in August 2021. Prior to Invited, Brian served as the Chief Information Officer for Diamond Resorts and was responsible for IT strategy and operations, supporting 10,000 associates and hundreds of sites and affiliates. Brian also worked with top leaders in the resort industry, such as Wyndham Destinations and Wyndham Vacation Ownership. Brian is an executive leader in global information technology with extensive experience developing and executing IT strategies in alignment with corporate objectives. He has successfully built global teams during all business cycles, including high growth, downturns, and acquisition integration. Brian has an established record as a business leader and holds a bachelor's degree in decision science from Indiana University.
Job Titles:
- Member Experience Director
Job Titles:
- Member Experience Director
Job Titles:
- Assistant Food & Beverage Director
Job Titles:
- Assistant General Manager
Caroline Hubbard is the Assistant General Manager and came to Invited after the 191 Club and the Commerce Club merged in 2010. With more than 25 years in the hospitality industry she began as hostess and used her affiliation with the Club Managers Association of America to rise from hostess, to Director of Services, Assistant General Manager and ultimately to General Manager at the original Commerce Club on Broad Street in Atlanta.If Caroline can ever be of service, please do not hesitate to call her!
Job Titles:
- Assistant Tennis Professional
Job Titles:
- Assistant Golf Professional
Christi Welsh has been with the Buckhead Club since 2013. Prior to coming to the Club as a Private Event Director, she was a Sr. Account Executive at Global Event Partners, President of Atlanta Classic Homes for Special Events, and a meeting planner for the American Cancer Society.
Job Titles:
- Executive Vice President of Club Operations
Chuck Feddersen has served as our Executive Vice President of Club Operations since January 2018. He previously served as Executive Vice President of Golf and Country Clubs, and Senior Vice President of the Business, Sports and Alumni Clubs and led the Atlanta golf region following the acquisition of Sequoia Golf. Prior to that, he served in multiple regional vice president roles in the Golf & Country Club division and in multiple operational roles during his career of more than 25 years with Invited.
Born and raised in France in the Northwest side of Paris near Versailles, Daniel started his culinary career as a graduate of Ecole Hoteliere de Paris, where he learned classic French cooking techniques. Daniel then trained at the restaurant Ledoyen on the famous Avenues des Champs Elysees, spent a year in the military service and then went on to Restaurant Les Trois Marches in Versailles with Three Star Michelin Chef Gerard Vie. Chef Vie then sent Daniel to the beautiful bounty islands of Bermuda.Daniel decided he needed a big move, and in 1989, he came to the United States and spent seven years with the Ritz Carlton Hotel Company including the Ritz Carlton Atlanta, Ritz Carlton Huntington in Pasadena, and then the Ritz Carlton Buckhead. After the Ritz Carlton, Daniel was the Executive Chef at Atlanta National Golf Club for more than three years. He has been at Buckhead Club for seven years. Daniel is happily married with two lovely daughters.
David Pillsbury was named CEO of Invited in June of 2018. He has held numerous leadership roles in the golf industry over the past 30 years, starting his golf career at American Golf Corporation (AGC). At AGC, Pillsbury led innovations including the formation of American Golf Country Clubs, the Private Club Member Platinum Program, the Nike Golf Learning Centers, centralized tee time reservations, and much more. After American Golf, Pillsbury became GM of Nike Golf, responsible for all U.S. operations, marketing and sales. Following Nike Golf, Pillsbury was President of PGA TOUR Golf Course Properties Tournament Players Clubs (TPC's), and he was then promoted to President of PGA TOUR Championship Management including THE PLAYERS, and Executive Vice President of PGA TOUR Tournament Business Affairs. Most recently, he held CEO roles in the healthcare and consumer products industries. Pillsbury received his MBA from the USC and his BA from the University of California, Berkeley.
Emily Decker has served as our Chief Legal Officer since May 2019. Prior to that, Ms. Decker served as Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary for Buffalo Wild Wings, Inc. from 2011 to 2018, providing departmental oversight for Legal, Enterprise Risk Services, Government Relations, Corporate Social Responsibility and Philanthropy. While at Buffalo Wild Wings, she also helped create and implement strategies to grow the company and provided legal counsel in developing brand strategy. She holds a J.D. from University of Michigan Law School and a B.A. from Duke University.
Job Titles:
- Director of Food & Beverage
Emmanuel began his career in the hospitality industry at the age of sixteen where he worked as an apprentice with a local restaurateur in Southern France. During that time, his interest in wine was piqued, which led him to enroll in the Lycée Hôtelier de l'Hermitage sommelier program, graduating in 1996 & 1998. Following graduation, Emmanuel was honored to work with some of the most talented & award-winning 3 star Michelin Chefs in addition to some of the best sommeliers in Europe. Eventually, he found himself here in the state of Georgia working with Chef Gunter Seegar prior to relocating to Los Angeles where he honed his talents at some of the finest establishments in the region. He joined us once again in the peach state to serve as the Director of Restaurants at the Waldorf Astoria in Buckhead.
Fayette was born in Cheyenne, Wyoming and spent most of her childhood growing up in Lexington, Kentucky. She attended the University of Kentucky and managed a Hallmark shop until leaving Lexington. She married Dave in 2001, moved to Overland Park and began working at Nicklaus in August of 2001. During her tenure she has held several positions, front desk admin assistant, golf shop merchandiser and landing in the business office in 2005. Aside from her everyday duties, during the summer she supports the Dolphins swim team on behalf of the Club. The NGC Dolphins is run exclusively by the parents, as the Club liaison, Fayette helps to facilitate communication, swim events, swim meets and general support to the coaches and parents. .Fayette and Dave reside in Overland Park with their two teenagers, Katie and Nick.
Job Titles:
- PGA Head Golf Professional
Born and raised in Brewster, New York, James Morra, the youngest of three has always been enthralled with all things "sports." James graduated from Brewster High in 1994 where he lettered and excelled in football, skiing, lacrosse, tennis and wrestling.James followed his family to Georgia in September of 1995 where he attended the University Of North Georgia and paid his way through school by working as a cart attendant at Legacy on Lanier. He worked his way up to Assistant Golf Professional and later worked his way through the PGA Management Program to become a Class A Professional.James has experience working at several prestigious courses in the area including River Club, St. Ives, Chateau Elan (where he was fortunate enough to meet his wife Sarah) and most recently as Head Golf Professional at Reunion Country Club.James brings a high-energy drive to deliver exceptional customer service for Bear's Best Atlanta and truly enjoys growing the game of golf; he looks forward to bringin...
Job Titles:
- 1st Assistant Golf Professional
Jeff Goldworn is originally from Miami, FL. He graduated from Florida State University with a BS in Hospitality Administration. His past experience has included management with the Boca Raton hotel and Resort, where he was Maître d'Hôtel managing a staff of 50 employees in the Patio/Cathedral Dining Room, and Ritz Carlton Hotel, where he was Banquet Director and then Manager of the Gourmet dining room, which received the Mobil 5 Star award during his tenure. At Buckhead Life Restaurant Group, he was opening General Manager of Pricci Restaurant.His tenure with Invited for the past 23 years has included the following roles: Director of Operation for Buckhead Club, General Manager for Bankers Club in Cincinnati, General Manager for Buckhead Club and managing the move of the Club's current location to a new facility. Served in the capacity as Regional Manager over five clubs. Jeff has also served on Invited's National Beverage & Accounting committees. He has also been the recipient of...
Job Titles:
- Chief Marketing & Innovation Officer
Jim Berra joined the Invited team in December 2021. Before joining Invited, Jim was the Chief Marketing Officer for Royal Caribbean International where he oversaw all the company's advertising programs, marketing communications, social media, and customer marketing. He also led Royal Caribbean's digital efforts, including the audience and Website development. Prior to joining Royal Caribbean, Berra spent seven years at Carnival Cruise Lines as their Chief Marketing Officer. Before that, Berra spent three years at Rodale, Inc., a global media publishing company, and seven years at Starwood Hotels & Resorts in various managerial marketing posts, including SVP of Customer Marketing and Strategic Alliances. A resident of Miami Beach, Fla., Berra holds bachelor's degrees in economics and philosophy from Northwestern University.
John brings more than 20 years of hospitality industry experience to Commerce Club ATL, having served as general manager of acclaimed private clubs like Mixson Bath and Racquet Club in Charleston, SC and The Club at Moraya Bay in Naples, FL prior to starting his career with the Invited family of clubs. Most recently, John served the Members of Centre Club in Tampa, Florida, and some of his greatest accomplishments were in the way of service excellence, purposeful programming and creating outstanding Member experiences. Prior to that, John led the Capital City Club team in Montgomery, Alabama where he was promoted to general manager after just a short time in his role. During his tenure in Montgomery, the club was transformed by overall growth in membership and revenue, as well as a measurable increase in member satisfaction. At Commerce Club ATL, John's expertise and past successes will come into play as he and his team usher in the next era Commerce Club Member experience.
Hi! My name is Jon Robertson, and I am very excited to join the ClubCorp City Club Team as a Membership Director. Before accepting this position, I worked for the College Football Hall of Fame, Atlanta Falcons, and Nashville Predators. I am a proud Georgia Southern graduate and have been residing in Roswell as of May. I am a people person who enjoys conversation and prides myself in being able to connect with anyone. As someone who enjoys the outdoors, you can usually find me hiking, camping, golfing, or taking my dog on long walks in my spare time. Also, I am a passionate sports fan who enjoys going to games and watching on TV as well. I am a die-hard Philly sports fan and root for all Philadelphia teams except for the Phillies. GO Braves! I look forward to getting to know all my new teammates at the Buckhead Club and cannot wait to get started!
Job Titles:
- 1st Assistant Mirror Lake
Job Titles:
- Assistant Golf Professional
Job Titles:
- Private Events Coordinator
Job Titles:
- Office Manager - Member Accounting
Job Titles:
- Director of Golf Instruction
Meg Tollison has served as our Chief Membership Officer since 2020 and is responsible for transforming the Member experience using data driven strategies focused on Member engagement and retention. Meg has responsibility for all aspects of the Member journey and leads a team of talented Member Experience leaders with a relentless focus on delivering experiences that exceed expectations and member satisfaction. Her career at Invited spans more than 29 years and previous roles include Chief Marketing Officer, Senior Vice President Marketing, Vice President Membership Services and Programs, and Director of Membership Operations. She received a degree from the University of Texas.
Job Titles:
- Member Experience Coordinator
Job Titles:
- Senior Event Sales Director
Melanie Maxwell was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia - A True Georgia Peach. She attended Georgia State University, where she received a degree in Marketing and Business. She also received a Certification in Event Planning from Clayton State University. Melanie's job history includes being an Assistant General Manager of Arizona's Steakhouse, Marketing Assistant for the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, and most recently the Sales and Marketing Manager for The Capital Grille. Melanie is passionate about sports, rooting for all Atlanta Teams. She also enjoys traveling, wine and good food. Her words to live by: Treat others as you want to be treated.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Food & Beverage Director
Melissa Mullins joined the Buckhead Club family in 2019, after relocating. Prior to joining the club, she was employed with WVU St. Joseph's Hospital in Buckhannon, WV. Melissa earned her Associates Degree in Business Administration. When she is not assisting members, you can find her exploring Atlanta and spending time with her family.
Originally from Portland, Oregon, Michael accepted a golf scholarship to play for the University of Georgia in 1996. While attending, the Bulldogs were National Champions in 1999 as well as SEC Champions in 1998 and 2000. After playing as a professional for several years, Michael found his passion for teaching and has been the Director of Golf Instruction here since 2007. Michael still enjoys competing in local professional tournaments but his main focus is growing the game through club fitting and player development programs here at Brookfield Country Club.
Miguel Diaz joined Buckhead Club in 2002 as Food & Beverage Director. Prior to joining the Invited family, he served as the Resort Manager of the Playa Las Americas, Tenerife in the Canary Islands. During his tenure with Invited, he has been the recipient of the Rising Star Award in 2006, The Invited Front of the House Team of Excellence in 2008 and again in 2009 and the Invited SuperStar Award in 2011.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Golf Professional
Peggy grew up in the Chicagoland area and moved to Atlanta in 2005 with her husband and two children. She joined Bear's Best in 2020 as an Assistant Golf Professional and after earning her Class A membership in the LPGA and her U.S. Kids Golf Certification, Peggy is now the Director of Instruction. Peggy leads the adult and junior golf programs and clinics and provides individual instruction. Her popular programs include Golf 101 and 201 for female golfers. She loves how golf brings people of all ages, backgrounds, and experiences together and believes if you aren't having fun, you aren't doing it right, and she brings this philosophy to her teachings.
Peter Kent - Chief Commercial Officer
Peter joined the Invited team in November 2021. Before joining Invited, Kent served as Chief Commercial Officer for ILITCH Sports and Entertainment managing commercial aspects of the Detroit Red Wings, Detroit Tigers, 313 Presents, and Olympia Development. At Ilitch Sports, Kent managed all aspects of sales, pricing, revenue management, strategic partnerships, sponsorship sales, and more. Kent also worked as Regional Sales Manager at Nike Golf back in 2002. He then joined Dave Pillsbury, our CEO, four years later at the PGA Tour. In total, Kent spent 11 years with the PGA Tour as Senior Vice President Global Business Development/Tournament Revenue. He managed global sales efforts for all properties/tours under the PGA Tour umbrella. Early in his Tour career, Kent helped lead retail business for the PGA Tour and TPC properties.
Job Titles:
- Director of Member Experience
Job Titles:
- Chief Operating Officer
- President
Robert (Bob) Morse has served as our President and Chief Operating Officer since September 2020, and was Chief Operating Officer from January 2019 to August 2020. Prior to his role at Invited, Morse served as President of Hospitality for Caesars Entertainment Corporation in Las Vegas, where he was responsible for development, implementation and execution of Caesars hospitality strategy throughout the company's network of resorts. His experience throughout his vast nearly 30-year career in the industry also includes executive operations positions managing sales and marketing, human resources, information technology, hotel accounting, design and construction and the opening of new properties. Bob holds a B.S. in Hotel and Restaurant Administration from the University of Massachusetts.
Robert joined the Nicklaus team in January 2016, since then he has completed the PGM Program and is a Class A PGA Professional! Robert attended the Kansas City Kansas Community College where he won the National Jr. College Championship. He then went on to UMKC where he was a 2-time All-American. He played professionally for 10 years, and played in the 1999 U.S. Open. As a member of the Midwest Section PGA, Robert was the leading money-earner in 2015. He has been the Midwest Section PGA Player of the year for the last 2 years (2017 and 2018), playing in the last years Watson Challenge. As Head Golf Professional, Robert oversees and is directly involved in all aspects of the golf operations, he resides in Overland Park and has been married for 17 years to his wife Tara. They have two children, Lauren and Rhett.
Job Titles:
- Executive Vice President - Operations City & Stadium Clubs
Born and raised in Syracuse, New York, Executive Chef Samuel Jackson Greene has spent the entirety of his career focusing on culinary excellence and the pursuit of cohesive teamwork. From California to Miami, to Cape Cod, and now here in downtown Atlanta, Chef Sam has honed his skills and finds true satisfaction in bringing the best flavors, local produce, and engaging ideas to his guests. After being inspired as a child walking the markets in downtown London, he has developed a real passion for Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisine, with his favorite food and specialty being falafel. In his down time, he enjoys spending time with his family, skiing, and listening to music.
Samantha Cannon was born in Marietta, GA. She attended Milligan College in Johnson City, TN and received a B.S. in Business Administration with a Minor in Marketing and Management. While at school, she played soccer for all four years. Prior to joining the Buckhead Club, Samantha was a Group Sales Manager at Grand Hyatt Atlanta in Buckhead.
Job Titles:
- Chief People Officer
- Chief People Officer for Invited
Sherry Vidal-Brown serves as the Chief People Officer for Invited and brings experience from the hospitality and service industries including American Airlines, G6Hospitality, Accor, FedEx Office and Caliber. Her passion for talent management and diversity focuses to drive cultural change to improve the employee experience. Sherry is a strategic leader who drives change to accelerate growth and achieve business objectives. In addition to Sherry's responsibility for HR, she has overseen internal and external communications and corporate social responsibility departments. She is passionate about creating a culture that delivers a great experience for its customers and employees. She holds a doctorate in psychology from Texas A&M, as well as an MBA in Marketing/Management from The University of Houston and an undergraduate degree from Baylor University.
Teresa Atencio graduated from Indiana University with a degree in Business Administration. Teresa has been with ClubCorp since 1989, beginning first at the West Lake Club in Houston, TX as a Pro Shop Manager. She joined the team at the Buckhead Club in 2011 as the Office Administrator. She was awarded the ClubCorp Rising Star Award in 2015. Teresa is happily married, and they have two lovely sons and a granddaughter.
Terry is a great new addition to the Brookstone Staff! He joins us after spending six years at Dunwoody Country Club, five of those years as the Women's Tennis Director. Prior to his position at Dunwoody, Terry was the Director of Tennis at Eastside Athletic Club and the Stone Mountain Olympic Tennis Center.During his college years at UNC-Wilmington, Terry played #1 Singles and Doubles all four years. He has won multiple AA Alta City Championships and numerous state and southern championships.In total, he has over 25 years of experience coaching tennis at all levels, from beginners to touring professionals. He is a USPTA, and PTR certified tennis professional and is also a Master Racquet Technician.
Job Titles:
- Tennis Professional & Junior Tennis Coordinator
Job Titles:
- Chief Development Officer
Tom Bennison has served as our Chief Development Officer since 2018. Prior to that, he served as Senior Vice President, Business Development and in various other roles primarily in new business acquisitions and development throughout his 25+ years at Invited. He has more than 30 years of experience in the club business. His education includes a degree in liberal arts & sciences and additional studies in economics and finance.
Vladimir Anokhin joined the Invited team in September 2021. Prior to that, he served as a Chief of Staff and Head of Product Development for Diamond Resorts, a portfolio company of Apollo Global Management. Prior to that, he served in progressively expanding Investment Banking Coverage roles in Real Estate, Lodging and Leisure group at Credit Suisse across Moscow, London and New York offices. Mr. Anokhin holds a Master of Business Administration degree from Columbia Business School of New York, New York.
Job Titles:
- Golf Course Superintendent
Job Titles:
- Director of Player Development