Four women who work in the golf industry here in Iowa will discuss how they got started, what challenges and obstacles they have faced and how they have become successful.  Participating will be Sarah Bidney, PGA, of Wakonda Club, Tess Goudy, PGA of the Iowa Section PGA, Katelynn Hogenson of the Iowa Golf Association, and Allison George, owner of Toad Valley Golf Course.

Sarah Bidney is the Director of Instruction at Wakonda Club in Des Moines. Sarah is a 2019-2020 Golf Digest Best Teachers In State (Iowa), a 2018-2019 Golf Digest Best Young Teachers in America, an Operation 36 Top 50 Coach, a 3-time Golf Range Association of America Elite Member Status recipient, a six time GRAA Top 50 Growth of the Game Teaching Professional. She is also a 3-Time Iowa PGA Section Teacher of the Year honoree and one-time Youth Player Development award recipient.

Having grown up on the golf course, there aren’t many jobs that Allison hasn’t performed.  From picking up garbage, mowing fairways to working the snack bar until her current role as General Manager.  She has helped to grow her family’s business by introducing programs to the public and staying up to date with modern content marketing.  Allison served on the NGCOA Board from 2007 – 2019 when she took on a new role as Teesnap’s Marketing Manager. After having much success at her own golf course, she now oversees the marketing plans of 180 golf courses across the United States.  The Managed Marketing Service program that Allison oversees at Teesnap has helped golf courses increase their revenue by an average of 8% over the previous year.  Allison’s love for the business of golf shows in her drive to make a difference in the industry by bringing in new players and sharing her successes with her fellow golf operators.

Tess Goudy is the Assistant Executive Director and also the Junior Golf Director for the Iowa PGA Section.  This is her 20th year with the Iowa PGA as well as her 20th year as a PGA Member.  Her main duties with the Iowa PGA are to develop and administer all Junior Golf Programs for the Iowa PGA. Some of these programs include the Junior Tour, Pee Wee Tour, Junior Golf Academy, PGA Jr League and the Drive, Chip & Putt Program.

Katelynn started with the IGA in 2011 as a P.J. Boatwright Intern and is in her 9th season overall with the organization. She grew up in Muscatine and attended Iowa State University, where she played on the women’s golf team. Her current role at the association is Director of Member Services and participated in a USGA Handicap Working Group, that was focused on the launch of the 2020 World Handicap System.  Katelynn is also involved in championship administration at the IGA and has served as a rules official at six USGA championships, the 2017 Solheim Cup and various state level events. She currently lives in Ames and still bleeds cardinal and gold!

A panel discussion on how to use golf as a way to help your career advancement and enjoyment.  Planned participants include Molly Altorfer (marketing), Laura Leszczynski (marketing), and Katie Reideman (realtor).

Molly is a partner in The Common Sense Collective, which is a full service strategic marketing and communications firm, with clients all over North America. She also started Molly Altorfer Golf, which is geared toward helping golf professionals reach more of their target demographic for increased coaching sessions or align them better for future employment opportunities.  She is a messaging specialist with 18 years experience in planning, design, implementation and evaluations of marketing campaigns crafted to influence public opinion and behavior.

Katie grew up 20 miles north of Ames in Jewell, Iowa.  She played high school golf for South Hamilton, winning the 2A state championship in 2010.  She continued her golf career at Iowa State, playing on the women’s golf team for all four years.  She graduated with a degree in Communication Studies and served one year as an intern with the Iowa Golf Association.  She began her real estate career in 2015, where she has utilized golf in multiple ways to connect with clients.

Fiona was a Finance and Accounting professional at Principal Financial Group for 14 years, where she quickly progressed from Intern, through the levels, to Managing Director. She credits her golf experiences, primarily 6 years working in the golf industry, as giving her an edge in leadership and playing a critical role in her success.

Staff members from the PGA of America, USGA and Youth on Course will discuss ways that their respective national organizations are trying to get more females interested in the game.  The panel will include Scott Kimiec (PGA), Hunki Yun (USGA) and Hugh Smith (Youth on Course).

Hugh bio will go here