Tag: candidate

Executive Search: CFO, Goodwill Middle Georgia & the CSRA

Date:

 

Goodwill Middle Georgia

CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
GOODWILL MIDDLE GEORGIA & THE CSRA
Augusta & Macon, GA

Our History

Dr. Edgar J. Helms, a Methodist minister, founded Goodwill in 1902 in Boston, MA. Dr. Helms collected used household goods and clothing in wealthier areas of the city, then trained and hired unemployed people to mend and repair the used goods. The goods were then resold, and proceeds paid the workers’ wages and were invested in the development of job training programs. The system worked, and the Goodwill philosophy of a hand up, not a hand out was born. Dr. Helms’ vision set an early course for what has become a $6.5 billion nonprofit organization with more than 165 autonomous member organizations worldwide.

Goodwill Industries of Middle Georgia, Inc. (GIMG) was founded in 1975 to serve individuals with disabilities and other special needs. Since that time, the organization has continued to grow, as illustrated by the following timeline:

1996 – Goodwill Industries of Middle Georgia, Inc. expanded its territory into Augusta, Georgia and Aiken, South Carolina, increasing the number of service counties to 35 to become Goodwill Industries of Middle Georgia and the Central Savannah River Area (CSRA).

2007 –  Helms College was established in Macon with the focus of creating an educational model for Goodwill Industries nationwide to provide skills training industry certifications, degrees in high-demand middle skill occupations in the culinary arts, medical/health, automotive technology, information technology and other occupational fields that lead to meaningful jobs for individuals.

2012 – A second campus for Helms College opened in Augusta offering education in culinary arts at its School of Hospitality.

2016 – The Augusta campus began offering classes at its School of Health Services. Helms College currently offers Associate Degree and Diploma programs in culinary arts at its Macon and Augusta campuses, and health services programs for Multi-Skilled Medical Assistant and Medical Administrative Assistant certification at the Augusta campus. The key differentiator of Helms College from other learning institutions is our abundant experiential learning.

Learn more at goodwillworks.org and  www.helms.edu

Goodwill Middle Georgia & the CSRA also operates Edgar’s Hospitality Group (EHG), consisting of  hospitality venues in Macon and Augusta with plans to build an agri-tourism campus at Lake Oconee Georgia. To learn more about the EHG properties, visit here.

What We Believe

Goodwill Industries believes work plays a critical role in the ability of individuals to achieve desirable life outcomes. The founder of Goodwill Industries, Dr. Edgar J. Helms, believed that individuals wanted and needed an opportunity, a chance beyond charity, and this basic philosophy has set the vision for the Goodwill movement since 1902.

Mission
We build lives, families and communities one career at a time by helping people develop their God-given gifts through education, work and career services.

Values
I am proud to be Goodwill.
Service – I will practice hospitality.
Ownership – I will go above and beyond with every job I do.
Accountable – I will keep my commitments.
Respect – I will base my interactions with others on honesty and integrity.

The Role of the Chief Financial Officer

Reporting to the President/CEO, the Chief Financial Offer (CFO) will work closely with the CEO and peers to achieve GIMG’s 2025 strategic plan success measures through strategies that will enhance profitability, productivity and efficiency throughout the organization.

This key executive leadership position will lead the finance department, (annual operating budget of $55 million) with executive responsibility for budgeting, banking relationships, IT system, franchising, and mergers & acquisitions.

As member of the Goodwill Executive Leadership Team, the CFO will be expected to understand and fully embrace the faith-based, “hand up” mission of Goodwill and demonstrate daily the core values of service, ownership, accountability, and respect.

Principle Accountabilities – CFO

Plan and direct GIMG’s real estate activities, including land/building acquisitions and leasing/landlord relations. Develops all pro-forma presentations for GIMG board of director’s consideration.

  • Participate in organizational strategic planning initiatives and direct/coordinate activities of department in compliance with this plan.
  • In concert with VP Finance, plan and coordinate preparation of organizations annual operating business plan and budget, after collaborative negotiation with department executive leadership.
  • Assume lead role in all contract reviews/negotiations and project fiscal forecasting due diligence. Develop proposals for CEO’s consideration and approval.
  • Provide oversight for all capital development, and acquisition of funds for new ventures.
  • Interact with senior staff to identify, evaluate and promote new business opportunities.
  • Oversight responsibility of all Information Technology functions.
  • Identify agency “vital” operating data elements. Create and manage IS system to capture and disseminate data on a timely basis.
  • Create, foster, and manage third party relationships for banking, financing and other collateral administrative functions.
  • Review for implementation by VP of Finance, statutory and regulatory compliance procedures for all fiscal functions of the organization.
  • Work with VP of Finance to source, manage and publish annual certified fiscal and compliance audits.
  • Prepare and maintain investment policy and long-term investments, direct and monitor performance.
  • Responsible for all Risk Management and Loss Prevention functions.
  • Ensure compliance within areas of responsibility of all regulatory and accreditation bodies.
  • Mentor and develop staff using a supportive and collaborative approach: assign accountabilities; set objectives; establish priorities; and monitor and evaluate results.
  • Build relationships with CFO’s from other Goodwill organizations and CFO’s from other colleges and universities to obtain best practice benchmark Ideas to incorporate into GIMG procedures.
  • Manage M/A and business collaborations and contract negotiations with prospective partner organizations.

Qualifications

  • CPA licensed professional with an MBA is preferred.
  • A blend of for-profit and non-profit executive experience gained leading diverse profit generating business lines.
  • Minimum five years of senior management experience with a mid-size company where turn-key leadership was required.
  • Experience developing information technology systems that support organization-wide operational strategic growth and sustainment.
  • Banking finance and investment senior experience.
  • Experience with mergers and acquisitions.
  • Experience with financial management of accredited federally financial aid eligible post-secondary Institutions preferred.
  • Demonstrated experience creating and taking new business ventures from a concept to a successful, revenue generating operation.
  • Superior budget and/or financial planning and management skills involving multi-million dollar and multi-site operations.
  • General administrative skills including developing, implementing and monitoring company-wide policies and procedures.
  • Excellent verbal and written communications skills.
  • Strong people skills with abilities to partner with a dynamic leadership team and interact with all levels of employees.
  • Must be aligned with and energized by Rev. Edgar Helm’s faith based social enterprise model to eliminate poverty one career at a time.

Note: A pre-employment drug screen and background check will be required.

Salary & Benefits
Salary is open and commensurate with qualifications and experience. The company offers an excellent bonus and benefit package.

Inquiries

Interested candidates should submit résumés along with a detailed cover letter which addresses the qualifications and describes your alignment/experience with the prescribed position by Thursday, September 30, 2021.

Please email résumé with references. Documents must be saved and emailed in Word or PDF format (save as “Last Name, First Name, Goodwill CFO Cover Letter” and “Last Name, First Name, Goodwill CFO Resume”) respectively to: execsearchus@ggapartners.com.

Executive Search: Vice President, Hospitality at Edgar’s Hospitality Group

Date:

VICE PRESIDENT HOSPITALITY
EDGAR’S HOSPITALITY GROUP
Augusta, GA

 

The Company
Edgar’s Hospitality Group (EHG) is an LLC operated by Goodwill Industries of Middle Georgia (GIMG) that operates hospitality venues in Macon and Augusta with plans to build an agri-tourism campus at Lake Oconee Georgia. EHG is named after the founder of Goodwill Industries, Rev. Edgar J. Helms.

The hospitality enterprises include restaurants, conference centers, large food service contracts, a bakery café, a private city club, and a local farm to provide fresh products with a new agri-business that allows culinary agriculture certifications for students. Chef Frank Kassner is the Director of Culinary Operations for EHG and the corporate executive chef.

Edgar’s Hospitality Group was founded to provide a new source of revenue for GIMG and to create diverse applied learning venues for the students at Helms College’s School of Hospitality managed by Bruce Ozga, VP, Culinary Education.

What We Believe
Goodwill Industries believes work plays a critical role in the ability of individuals to achieve desirable life outcomes. The founder of Goodwill Industries, Dr. Edgar J. Helms, believed that individuals wanted and needed an opportunity, a chance beyond charity, and this basic philosophy has set the vision for the Goodwill movement since 1902.

Mission
We build lives, families and communities one career at a time by helping people develop their God-given gifts through education, work and career services.

Values
I am proud to be Goodwill.
Service – I will practice hospitality.
Ownership – I will go above and beyond with every job I do.
Accountable – I will keep my commitments.
Respect – I will base my interactions with others on honesty and integrity.

Our Properties

Edgar’s Above Broad (Augusta, GA), recently opened in September 2020 as an exciting new 17,000 square foot indoor-outdoor restaurant and entertainment venue. www.edgarsabovebroad.com

 

The Pinnacle Club (Augusta, GA), a premier dining membership club in downtown Augusta which provides incredible views of the Savannah River and Augusta cityscape. www.pinnacleclubaugusta.com

 

Edgar’s Grille (Augusta, GA), an upscale casual restaurant which offers New American cuisine with a Southern Flair. www.edgarsgrille.com

 

Anderson Conference Center (Macon, GA), centrally located in the state, the Anderson Conference Center features 15,000 square feet of meeting space, including a 700-seat banquet space and six break-out conference rooms with premier technology. www.andersonconferencecenter.com

 

 

The Snelling Center (Augusta, GA), a conference venue co-located with Edgar’s Grille which can accommodate events from ten to 300 guests.
www.edgarsgrille.com/meetings-events

 

Edgar’s Bistro (Macon, GA), offers weekday lunch and dinner, a full-service bar and catering service. www.goodwillworks.org/upscalebistro

 

Edgar’s Bakehouse (Augusta, GA), bookstore and café which specializes in gourmet coffees, smoothies, paninis, salads, and fresh baked breads and desserts. An Edgar’s Bakehouse production bakery is being built for commercial baking enterprise launch in late 2021.

 

Wright’s Farm and Lake Oconee Agri-Tourism Farm Campus (Augusta, GA), coming soon. www.wrightsfarmaugusta.com

 

The Role of the Vice President, Hospitality

Reporting to the President/CEO, the Vice President, Hospitality will work closely with the CEO and peers to achieve GIMG’s 2025 strategic plan success measures through strategies that will enhance profitability, productivity and efficiency.

This key executive will lead the start-up and operations of all new hospitality operations, maintain benchmark controls and outcomes for existing properties, manage budgets, lead a large team and promote a culture of high performance.

As member of the Goodwill Team, the Vice President, Hospitality is expected to understand and fully embrace the faith-based, “hand up” mission of Goodwill and demonstrate daily the core values of service, ownership, accountability, and respect.

Principle Accountabilities – Vice President, Hospitality

> Lead Edgar’s Hospitality Group to be three things: profitable, a provider of vibrant applied learning enterprises for the students at Helms College, and a daily stage to tell the Goodwill life changing story in a manner that leads to philanthropic Investment.

> Direct the start-up and operational leadership of all new hospitality operations to be launched as applied learning venues associated with Helms College within GIMG’s thirty-five county territory and franchise operations in other Goodwill territories.

> Maintain benchmark operational controls and outcomes in existing hospitality business lines.

> Oversee development and implementation of budgets for multiple hospitality enterprise operations; responsible for meeting budget objectives for growth in revenues, gross margins, operating profit, and net cash flow.

> Assure top-line business growth through increased accountability, innovation, increased sales, expanded operations, reaching new markets and diversification.

> Annually revise and develop short and long-range plans for all assigned areas; establish performance measures for multiple enterprise operations.

> Maintain continuous lines of communication, keeping the President informed of all critical issues.

> Lead a large team of direct and indirect employees to ensure the execution and completion of business goals; evaluate performance for compliance with established policies and objectives of the company and contributions in attaining objectives.

> Promote a culture of high performance and continuous improvement that values learning and a commitment to quality.

> Mentor and develop staff using a supportive and collaborative approach: assign accountabilities; set objectives; establish priorities; and monitor and evaluate results.

> Promote Goodwill externally as a community-based non-profit with a key human and economic development role.

Qualifications

> A graduate business or hospitality degree is required.

> Minimum five years of senior leadership of a restaurant group, an independent luxury resort or multi-faceted entertainment company.

> Multi-unit executive level hospitality operations leadership experience required.

> Demonstrated experience creating and taking new business ventures from a concept to a successful, revenue generating operation.

> Superior budget and management skills involving multi-million dollar and multi-site operations.

> General administrative skills including developing, implementing and monitoring company-wide policies and procedures.

> Excellent verbal and written communications skills.

> Strong people skills with abilities to partner with a dynamic leadership team and interact with all levels of employees.

> Must be aligned with and energized by Rev. Edgar Helm’s faith based social enterprise model to eliminate poverty one career at a time.

Note: A pre-employment drug screen and background check will be required.

Salary & Benefits
Salary is open and commensurate with qualifications and experience. The company offers an excellent bonus and benefit package.

Inquiries
Interested candidates should submit résumés along with a detailed cover letter which addresses the qualifications and describes your alignment/experience with the prescribed position by Friday, September 3, 2021.

Documents must be saved and emailed in Word or PDF format (save as “Last Name, First Name, Edgars VPH Cover Letter” and “Last Name, First Name, Edgars VPH Resume”) respectively to: execsearchus@ggapartners.com. Please email résumé with references.

 

For more information about Goodwill of Middle Georgia please visit www.goodwillworks.org; www.helms.edu; www.helmsgoldstandardculinary.com; www.edgarsabovebroad.com.

Executive Search: SVP Hospitality & Finance at Edgar’s Hospitality Group

Date:

SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT HOSPITALITY & FINANCE
EDGAR’S HOSPITALITY GROUP
Augusta, GA

 

The Company

Edgar’s Hospitality Group (EHG) is an LLC operated by Goodwill Industries of Middle Georgia (GIMG). EHG operates hospitality venues in Macon and Augusta with plans to build an eco-tourism campus at Lake Oconee Georgia. EHG is named after the founder of Goodwill Industries, Rev. Edgar J. Helms.

The mission of Goodwill Industries of Middle Georgia (GIMG) is to build lives, families, and communities one career at a time by helping people develop their God-given gifts through education, work, and career services. Edgar’s Hospitality Group was created to support this mission through its portfolio of applied learning venues.

The hospitality enterprises include restaurants, conference centers, food service contracts, a bakery café, a private city club, and a local farm to provide fresh products with a new agri-business that allows culinary agriculture certifications for students. Chef Frank Kassner is the Director of Culinary Operations for EHG and the corporate executive chef.

Edgar’s Hospitality Group was founded to provide a new source of revenue for GIMG and to create diverse applied learning venues for the students of Helms College’s School of Hospitality managed by Bruce Ozga, VP Culinary Education.

Properties operated by EHG include:

Edgar’s Above Broad (Augusta, GA), recently opened in September 2020 as an exciting new 17,000 square foot indoor-outdoor restaurant and entertainment venue. www.edgarsabovebroad.com

The Pinnacle Club (Augusta, GA), a premier dining membership club in downtown Augusta which provides incredible views of the Savannah River and Augusta cityscape. www.pinnacleclubaugusta.com

Anderson Conference Center (Macon, GA), centrally located in the state, the Anderson Conference Center features 15,000 square feet of meeting space, including a 700-seat banquet space and six break-out conference rooms with premier technology. www.andersonconferencecenter.com

Edgar’s Grille (Augusta, GA), an upscale casual restaurant which offers New American cuisine with a Southern Flair. www.edgarsgrille.com

The Snelling Center (Augusta, GA), a conference venue co-located with Edgar’s Grille which can accommodate events from ten to 300 guests. www.edgarsgrille.com/meetings-events

Edgar’s Bistro (Macon, GA), offers weekday lunch and dinner, a full-service bar and catering service. www.goodwillworks.org/upscalebistro

Edgar’s Bakehouse (Augusta, GA), bookstore and café which specializes in gourmet coffees, smoothies, paninis, salads, and fresh baked breads and desserts. An Edgar’s Bakehouse production bakery is being built for commercial baking enterprise launch in late 2021. New website coming soon.

Wright’s Farm and Lake Oconee Eco-Tourism Farm Campus (Augusta, GA), coming soon. www.wrightsfarmaugusta.com

The SVP Hospitality & Finance Position

Reporting to the President/CEO, the Senior Vice President Hospitality & Finance (SVPH&F) will work closely with the CEO and peers to achieve GIMG’s 2025 strategic plan success measures through strategies that will enhance profitability, productivity and efficiency throughout the organization.

In addition to leading Edgars Hospitality Group this key executive leadership position will serve a dual role as the CFO for Goodwill Industries of Middle Georgia. Leading the finance department of this $50 million operating budget non-profit will involve executive responsibility for budgeting, banking relationships, franchising, and mergers & acquisitions.

As member of the Goodwill Executive Leadership Team, the SVPH&F will be expected to understand and fully embrace the faith-based, “hand up” mission of Goodwill and demonstrate daily the core values of service, ownership, accountability, and respect.

Principle Accountabilities – SVP Hospitality

 

  • Lead Edgar’s Hospitality Group to be three things: profitable, vibrant applied learning enterprises for the students of Helms College, and a daily stage to tell the Goodwill life changing story in a manner that leads to philanthropic Investment.
  • Direct the start-up and operational leadership of all new hospitality operations to be launched as applied learning venues associated with Helms College within GIMG’s thirty-five county territory and franchise operations in other Goodwill territories.
  • Maintain benchmark operational controls and outcomes in existing hospitality business lines.
  • Oversee development and implementation of budgets for multiple hospitality enterprise operations; responsible for meeting budget objectives for growth in revenues, gross margins, operating profit, and net cash flow.
  • Assure top-line business growth through increased accountability, innovation, increased sales, expanded operations, reaching new markets and diversification.
  • Annually revise and develop short and long-range plans for all assigned areas; establish performance measures for multiple enterprise operations.
  • Maintain continuous lines of communication, keeping the President informed of all critical issues.
  • Lead a large team of direct and indirect employees to ensure the execution and completion of business goals; evaluate performance for compliance with established policies and objectives of the company and contributions in attaining objectives.
  • Promote a culture of high performance and continuous improvement that values learning and a commitment to quality.
  • Mentor and develop staff using a supportive and collaborative approach: assign accountabilities; set objectives; establish priorities; and monitor and evaluate results.
  • Promote Goodwill externally as a community-based non-profit with a key human and economic development role.

Principle Accountabilities – CFO

 

  • Plans and directs GIMG’s real estate activities, including land/building acquisitions and leasing/landlord relations. Develops all pro-forma presentations for GIMG board of director’s consideration.
  • Participate in organizational strategic planning initiatives and direct/coordinate activities of department in compliance with this plan.
  • In concert with VP Finance, plan and coordinate preparation of organizations annual operating business plan and budget, after collaborative negotiation with department executive leadership.
  • Assume lead role in all contract review and negotiation and project fiscal forecasting due diligence. Develop proposal for CEO’s consideration and approval.
  • Provide oversight for all capital development, and acquisition of funds for new ventures.
  • Interact with senior staff to identify, evaluate and promote new business opportunities.
  • Responsible for oversight of all Information Technology functions.
  • Identify agency “vital” operating data elements. Create and manage IS system to capture and disseminate data on a timely basis.
  • Create, foster, and manage third party relationships for banking, financing and other collateral administrative functions.
  • Review for implementation by VP of Finance, statutory and regulatory compliance procedures for all fiscal functions of the organization.
  • Working with VP of Finance, source, manage and publish annual certified fiscal and compliance audits.
  • Prepare and maintain investment policy and long-term investments, direct and monitor performance.
  • Responsible for all Risk Management and Loss Prevention functions.
  • Ensures compliance within areas of responsibility of all regulatory and accreditation bodies.
  • Mentor and develop staff using a supportive and collaborative approach: assign accountabilities; set objectives; establish priorities; and monitor and evaluate results.
  • Build relationships with CFO’s from other Goodwill organizations and CFO’s from other Colleges/Universities to obtain best practice benchmark Ideas to Incorporate Into GIMG.

Qualifications

  • A graduate business or hospitality degree is required, CPA licensure is preferred.
  • A blend of for-profit and non-profit executive experience gained leading diverse profit generating business lines.
  • Minimally five years of senior leadership on both the finance and operations side of an independent luxury resort or multi-faceted entertainment company.
  • Banking finance and investment senior experience.
  • Multi-unit executive level hospitality operations leadership experience required.
  • Experience with mergers and acquisitions.
  • Experience with financial management of accredited federally financial aid eligible post-secondary Institutions preferred.
  • Demonstrated experience creating and taking new business ventures from a concept to a successful, revenue generating operation.
  • Superior budget and/or financial planning and management skills involving multi-million dollar and multi-site operations.
  • General administrative skills including developing, implementing and monitoring company-wide policies and procedures.
  • Excellent verbal and written communications skills.
  • Strong people skills with abilities to partner with a dynamic leadership team and interact with all levels of employees.
  • Must be aligned with and energized by Rev. Edgar Helm’s faith based social enterprise model to eliminate poverty one career at a time.

Note: A pre-employment drug screen and background check will be required. The position is available June 15, 2021.

Salary & Benefits

Salary is open and commensurate with qualifications and experience. The company offers an excellent bonus and benefit package.

Inquiries

Interested candidates should submit résumés along with a detailed cover letter which addresses the qualifications and describes your alignment/experience with the prescribed position by Wednesday, June 11, 2021.

Documents must be saved and emailed in Word or PDF format (save as “Last Name, First Name, Edgars SVPHF Cover Letter” and “Last Name, First Name, Edgars SVPHF Resume”) respectively to: execsearchus@ggapartners.com. Please email résumé with references.

For more information about Goodwill of Middle Georgia please visit www.goodwillworks.org; www.helms.edu; www.helmsgoldstandardculinary.com; www.edgarsabovebroad.com.

GGA Partners and USGA to Collaborate on Golf Course Superintendent Executive Search and Placement Services

Date:
New offering combines organizations’ expertise to improve golf facilities’ ability to deliver better playing conditions and enhanced golfer experience

BLUFFTON, S.C., and LIBERTY CORNER, N.J. (April 14, 2021) – The United States Golf Association (USGA) will join with GGA Partners (GGA), an international consulting firm, to launch a new service to place top-notch golf course superintendent candidates at facilities across North America.

As part of its suite of advisory services, GGA has long provided executive search services for facility clients. The collaboration will expand the company’s offerings, with the USGA Green Section’s agronomic and maintenance expertise serving as key factors in targeting the unique needs of each golf course and identifying superintendents with matching skills who can help facilities elevate playing conditions, improve course presentation and foster sustainable practices.

“For any golf facility, the ability to hire the right talent is crucial for long-term success, and we believe in creating and maintaining partnerships with facilities,” said Patrick DeLozier, GGA’s managing director of executive search. “The stakes are higher than ever for facilities looking to hire superintendents, and they are looking for candidates with a wide variety of skills.”

Added Craig Johnston, a GGA partner: “The ability to complement our services in strategy, facility governance, finance and operations with the USGA’s agronomic strength will ensure that we can continue to support our clients with the gold standard in best practices, education, innovative products and research.”

The collaboration will allow the USGA to expand its reach and enhance its ability to inform best management practices for golf course maintenance, including resource prioritization. As part of its mission to champion and advance the game, the USGA is helping to ensure a sustainable game in which course managers are empowered to create a positive experience for their golfers.

“GGA’s values and business areas are strategically aligned with our mission,” said Matt Pringle, managing director of the USGA Green Section. “With this new joint service, we can find the best match between the needs of the golf course and the skill set of their next superintendent, while providing ongoing support to deliver outstanding playing conditions and improved golfer satisfaction.”

The joint service will utilize the USGA’s nationwide network of agronomists, whose extensive knowledge of the facilities and superintendents in their regions will be pivotal to the program’s success. They will work closely with DeLozier, who heads up the firm’s executive search practice.

To learn more, contact Patrick DeLozier at patrick.delozier@ggapartners.com or Elliott Dowling at edowling@usga.org.

 

About the USGA

The USGA is a nonprofit organization that celebrates, serves and advances the game of golf. Founded in 1894, we conduct many of golf’s premier professional and amateur championships, including the U.S. Open and U.S. Women’s Open. With The R&A, we govern the sport via global set of playing, equipment, handicapping and amateur status rules. The USGA campus in Liberty Corner, New Jersey, is home to the Associations, Research and Test center, where science and innovation are fueling a healthy and sustainable game for the future. The campus is also home to the USGA Golf Museum, where we honor the game by curating the world’s most comprehensive archive of golf artifacts. To learn more, visit usga.org.

 

About GGA Partners

GGA Partners™ is an international consulting firm and trusted advisor to many of the world’s most successful golf courses, private clubs, resorts, and residential communities. We are dedicated to helping owners, asset managers, club and community leaders, investors and real estate developers tackle challenges, achieve objectives, and maximize asset performance.

Established in 1992 as the KPMG Golf Industry Practice, our global team of experienced professionals leverage in-depth business intelligence and proprietary global data to deliver impactful strategic solutions and lasting success. GGA Partners has offices in Toronto, Ontario, Phoenix, Arizona, Bluffton, South Carolina, and Dublin, Ireland. For more information, please visit ggapartners.com.

Staffing For Success: Part 2

Date:

Game Plan – Henry DeLozier‘s monthly column in Golf Course Industry Magazine – continues its series on staffing for success with the second of three installments. After looking at how the pandemic has afforded club and course managers the opportunity to reevaluate their teams and redefine job descriptions in Staffing for Success: Part 1, we turn to finding and hiring the right team members.

As businesses reshape themselves into leaner and more efficient operations, top performers are the best value their money can buy.

A great many Americans are currently unemployed and looking for a job. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 6.7 percent of the labor force — more than 10 million people — is out of work. Finding top performers for rising needs in club management roles should be easy work, right? If only it were a simple matter of statistics.

As management professionals in any business know, the magic is finding the right person for the right job. With the war for talent continuing to escalate, we turn to three experts to help us identify the best practices for optimum staffing in these turbulent times.

Jim Collins: Get the right people on the bus

Step one, as management thinker Jim Collins advises in his bestseller “Good to Great,” is to start by “getting the right people on the bus, the wrong people off the bus, and the right people in the right seats” before heading down the proverbial highway. In other words, focus on “who” before determining “what.”

Those who build great organizations make sure they have a busload of people who can adapt and perform brilliantly no matter what comes next. Selecting the right people is a matter of clearly deciding what types of people — attitudes, talents, backgrounds, skillsets — are needed to enable your team to accomplish great things.

Jeff Bezos: Ask these three questions

The Amazon founder uses a straightforward three-question guide for hiring key employees. Bezos’ three questions offer direct application to the management of golf and private clubs and are particularly useful during unpredictable circumstances.

1. Will you admire this person?

“If you think about the people you’ve admired in your life, they are probably people you’ve been able to learn or take an example from,” Bezos says. This discipline requires that management first knows who he or she is and has a clear-eyed understanding of the strengths and benefits that are needed for any position. Hiring managers do well to ask themselves:

  • What traits and attributes inspire me to be my best?
  • What do we need?
  • To what do we aspire?

2. Will this person raise the average level of effectiveness of the group they are entering?

Will the candidate increase the efficiency within the organization? Is he or she able to see around the corner and anticipate needs? Are they willing to challenge established norms and traditions? (Should course setup be executed in the afternoon instead of first thing each day? Can mechanical work be executed after hours by veterans who need extra work?)

3. Along what dimension might the person be a superstar?

Listen to candidates’ answers. Push for details. Ask follow-up questions to understand how your candidate thinks and imagines your operation. One is more likely to be a superstar when he or she is encouraged to make others better.

Regina Hartley: Hire the scrapper

Throughout her 25-year UPS career — working in talent acquisition, succession planning, learning and development, employee relations, and communications — Hartley has seen how people with passion and purpose will astound you when given the opportunity. That’s why she says, “Hire the scrapper.” She defines scrappers as people who have had to fight against the odds to get ahead. They differ from those she calls the “silver spoons” — people who have had clear advantages in their lives and from birth seem destined for success.

Before tossing the résumé of someone who has obviously scrapped his or her way to the experience and skills that qualify them for a job in your organization, at least give them an interview, Hartley says: “A résumé tells a story. A patchwork quilt of odd jobs and experiences may signal a lack of focus and unpredictability. Or it may indicate a committed struggle against obstacles.”

This article was authored by Henry DeLozier for Golf Course Industry magazine.

Read Staffing for Success: Part 3

In Pursuit of Innovation

Date:

GGA Partners Releases Innovation Whitepaper as Part of Thought Leadership Series

‘In Pursuit of Innovation’ aims to provide managers with guidance to unlock creativity

TORONTO, Ontario – GGA Partners, a global consulting firm, has released In Pursuit of Innovation, the fourth in its series of thought leadership whitepapers. This authoritative guide explores how surviving in today’s competitive landscape depends on the ability of clubs and organizations to unlock their creative potential and offers up several guidelines to allow freedom of thought and imagination.

In Pursuit of Innovation highlights the way companies must continuously transform in order to survive and how a constant pursuit of innovation will guard against failure, whether gradual or sudden.  The paper clarifies exactly what constitutes innovation, where it comes from, and how club leaders can practice innovative thinking to unlock a culture of creativity.

“Our experience with thousands of private clubs over nearly three decades shows us that without innovation clubs become stale, membership falls until it eventually flatlines, competitive advantages diminish, members become dissatisfied, and talented staff look elsewhere,” explained GGA Partner Henry DeLozier, one of several authors of the piece.  “Innovation can come from anywhere inside an organization, and we think it should be encouraged from all corners, from the folks raking bunkers to the person answering phones to the accountant balancing the books.”

Innovation happens at the intersection of problems, opportunities, and fervent minds but must be deliberately sought, practiced, and encouraged at all levels. “It’s normal in any business to want to maintain the status quo. It’s comfortable, it’s safe, and it’s easier than making changes,” said DeLozier. “In reality, the status quo only works for so long. If you’re going to grow, you must innovate.”

In Pursuit of Innovation illuminates four common roadblocks to an innovative culture and identifies the steps necessary to unlock a culture of creativity.

In addition to innovation, GGA Partners has published new whitepapers on strategic planning, branding, and governance which are accessible via the firm’s website.

Click here to download the In Pursuit of Innovation whitepaper

 

About GGA Partners

GGA Partners™ is an international consulting firm and trusted advisor to many of the world’s most successful golf courses, private clubs, resorts, and residential communities. We are dedicated to helping owners, asset managers, club and community leaders, investors and real estate developers tackle challenges, achieve objectives, and maximize asset performance.

Established in 1992 as the KPMG Golf Industry Practice, our global team of experienced professionals leverage in-depth business intelligence and proprietary global data to deliver impactful strategic solutions and lasting success. For more information, please visit ggapartners.com.

Media Contact:

Bennett DeLozier
GGA Partners
602-614-2100
bennett.delozier@ggapartners.com

Leveraging Differences in the Boardroom

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GGA Partners Releases New Whitepaper on Private Club Governance as Part of Thought Leadership Series

‘Leveraging Differences in the Boardroom’ Now Available for Download

TORONTO, Ontario – International consulting firm GGA Partners has released Leveraging Differences in the Boardroom, the third in its new series of thought leadership whitepapers. This authoritative guide explores the benefits of clubs with diverse boards and suggests several steps to take when recruiting with diversity in mind.

Leveraging Differences in the Boardroom evaluates the consequences of unintentionally insular board composition and challenges the idea of “sameness” in the boardroom, which limits the ability of a board to effectively perform its duties and threatens a club’s health and longevity. The paper illustrates how multiple perspectives contribute to greater success in governance and argues for adjusting the profile of a club’s leadership to better serve members and prospects.

“We often see board members with similar professional, cultural, and ideological backgrounds and perspectives,” explained GGA Partner Henry DeLozier, one of several authors of the piece. “Boards that are neither representative of the membership nor reflective of their surrounding community risk losing the opportunity both to serve their current members and to attract new members.”

In addition, the whitepaper encourages that clubs intent on increasing diversity among their board take a holistic, multi-dimensional approach to its creation. “Forward-thinking boards understand that it is the breadth of perspective, not the mere inclusion of various diverse traits, that benefits the organization,” said DeLozier. “In addition to social diversity, professional and experiential diversity are also important in increasing the range of perspectives represented on the board.”

Board diversification is likely to be met with resistance from the status quo, which the paper aims to help club leaders overcome by providing tactics for building a diverse board, developing new board member criteria, and making a commitment to diversity.

In addition to governance, GGA Partners recently published new whitepapers on strategic planning and branding. The firm has announced that another in the series focused on innovation will be published through the third quarter of 2020.

Click here to download the whitepaper

 

About GGA Partners

GGA Partners™ is an international consulting firm and trusted advisor to many of the world’s most successful golf courses, private clubs, resorts, and residential communities. We are dedicated to helping owners, asset managers, club and community leaders, investors and real estate developers tackle challenges, achieve objectives, and maximize asset performance.

Established in 1992 as the KPMG Golf Industry Practice, our global team of experienced professionals leverage in-depth business intelligence and proprietary global data to deliver impactful strategic solutions and lasting success. For more information, please visit ggapartners.com.

Media Contact:

Bennett DeLozier
GGA Partners
602-614-2100
bennett.delozier@ggapartners.com

Four HR Questions Club Boards Should Be Asking

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When was the last time your club audited its human resources? Alignment between a club’s strategy and its employee offering is essential in order to enhance the overall club lifestyle, culture, and experience for members and staff.

To determine whether it’s time to reexamine culture, Partner Derek Johnston lays out 4 questions private club boards should be asking. 

Among the most reverberant takeaways from the coronavirus pandemic is the importance of people to businesses. Global business leaders and executives at leading corporations have indicated that the shift toward talent as the most important source of corporate value has continued. The pandemic also seems to be leading an increasing number of talent-forward companies to take an “employees first” approach.

But this is nothing new for large-scale global businesses. Indeed, the third week of August marked the one-year anniversary of the influential Business Roundtable’s statement on corporate purpose – which puts employees, customers, their communities, and the environment on a par with shareholders.

“Human resources” is trending

It’s also nothing new for club businesses. Our continuous research on club industry trends has shown human resource management and labor challenges to be a persisting trend, one which club managers have reported to be rising in importance – before the coronavirus.

In 2019, human resources was ranked the 6th most-impactful private club trend (out of 27) in a global survey of club managers. And, in a separate Canadian club industry survey, it was identified as both a key risk and primary hurdle to modernizing club management while topping the list of areas which managers say are under-supported from an education standpoint.

The early-pandemic question as to whether COVID-19 impacts would accelerate the business community’s move to stakeholder capitalism, or slow it down as companies focus on short-term financial pressures, seems to have answered itself.

For clubs, the people-related challenges previously reported by managers have exacerbated, with topics like employee willingness to work, labor anxiety, staff recruitment and turnover emerging as key strategic questions which club leaders are currently wrestling.

Widespread COVID-19 impacts like club closures, layoffs, and furloughs certainly haven’t helped ease concerns. With significant changes afoot in staffing, retention, human resource availability, and operational adaptations, clubs are presented with a unique opportunity right now – the chance to reevaluate and perhaps reset their culture.

Got culture?

In clubs, culture IS governance. Sound governance is a strategic imperative primarily because it enables, supports, and nurtures effective strategy. And, as the Peter Drucker saying goes, “Culture eats strategy for breakfast.”

This is extremely important for club leaders.

It’s important because it means that no matter how strong a club’s strategic plan is, its efficacy will be held back by team members, staff, and employees if they don’t share the proper culture.

When the breaks are going against the business, as they are for some right now, the people implementing the club’s plan are the ones that make all the difference. While strategy defines direction and focus, culture is the habitat in which strategy lives or dies.

Now is the perfect time to reexamine your club’s culture to ensure staff square rightly with the club’s strategy. In other words, to ensure that your people are the best fit for accomplishing the club’s goals and objectives. Someone who was right for a specific role pre-pandemic may not be right for the same role now. Your business has changed, and some people may need to change too, either themselves or their roles.

How can club leaders reexamine culture?

The first place to start is by understanding what you’re currently doing for employees. Club leaders require a comprehensive understanding of the club’s current approach to human resource management so that they can determine the alignment of people and culture with the club’s goals.

When was the last time the club audited its human resources approach, policies, procedures, and performance? Ensuring alignment between the club’s strategy and its employee offering is essential in order to enhance the overall club lifestyle, culture, and experience for members and staff.

To help you get started, here are four HR questions private club boards should be asking:

1. How does our current organizational structure sit relative to best practice and what recent COVID-related changes should we make permanent or revisit?

Review your club’s current organizational structure, including both employees and contract workers, against best practice structures at comparable clubs locally, nationally, and globally. This review should focus special attention on the roles and responsibilities of human resources within the organizational structure with the goal of highlighting key gaps or divergences from best practice. Often times in clubs, an overly flat organizational structure tends to create ‘siloes’ that breed inefficiencies and bloat staffing levels.

2. Are we both efficient and competitive in the compensation and benefits afforded to employees?

Complete a comprehensive benchmarking exercise which compares compensation and benefit levels of all key staff and for the club as a whole to comparable clubs and other businesses with whom you compete for talent. The focus of this exercise should go beyond salary and hourly wages, factoring in relevant club financial and operating data, benefits packages, member and employee feedback scores, and other market-related information.

The goal is to identify current and accurate reference points for evaluating current compensation and benefits against best practice. There is a high degree of likelihood that there are opportunities in your current compensation and benefits structure to better align incentives and shift compensation to top talent, which tends to support increased productivity and reduced head count.

3. Are our personnel positioned to help us achieve the club’s goals and objectives? Are we helping them achieve theirs?

Assess your club’s performance tracking and review processes. The goal here is to analyze current performance evaluation processes and procedures to ensure alignment with the club’s overarching goals. This requires the board and executive committee to have a focused, clear, and comprehensive understanding of the club’s mission, vision, core values, and objectives.

For maximum benefit, to both member and employee satisfaction, it is incredibly important that performance is measurable and incentivized. The trick is determining the right way to track and measure performance and tie it to the right incentive.

4. Are our staff equipped with the tools they need to succeed? Are they empowered to do so?

Evaluate your club’s current recruiting, onboarding, training, and ongoing relational efforts. This will likely require management meetings and staff interviews to learn about the current approach and unearth any ideas or recommendations your team may have to suggest.

The success of every private club is dependent on the quality of their staff. Recruiting the best talent, integrating them into the envisioned culture, training them for success, ensuring their satisfaction, and ultimately retaining them is an important goal. The outcome from which tends to have a positive financial impact on the club and on the member experience.

After all, an investment in people is an investment in culture and clubs will benefit from this investment.

Murray Blair, Club and Branding Executive, Joins Global Golf Advisors as Director

Date:

Blair to expand the firm’s club and resort strategy, operations, transformation, and monitoring services

TORONTO, Ontario – Global Golf Advisors (GGA) – the leading authority on successful ownership and management practices for golf, private club, resort, and residential real estate businesses – has announced that respected club, resort, and branding executive, Murray Blair, has joined the firm’s Canadian office as a Director.

As a Director with GGA, Murray specializes in club and resort strategy, operations, brand building, transformation and performance monitoring. “The reimagination of club and resort businesses is in full swing with strategically crafted and nurtured brands driving value creation for savvy owners and operators,” explained Blair. “We at GGA are proud to support superior clubs and resorts around the world in developing and implementing the very best strategy and brand position in order to maximize club investment and lifestyle objectives.”

Murray will continue building upon GGA’s market-leading strategy and operations consulting services and leverage the firm’s robust research and analytics offerings to help clients transform their businesses and implement a game plan for long-term success and sustainability.

Derek Johnston, a partner in GGA’s Toronto office, provided insight into how the firm’s expanding team enhances its commitment to client success, “GGA’s mission is to help our clients solve their toughest problems. We are increasingly asked to remain involved in our club client’s projects on an ongoing basis; to monitor progress and, when needed, effectively evolve strategy to truly maximize performance over the long-term. Murray’s club leadership experience, history of managing premium brands, and dynamic charisma are perfectly aligned to deliver on these services. He is an incredible addition to our team and an invaluable resource for clients.”

Murray rejoins GGA after a successful eight-year stint leading transformations for a large retail brand and one of the top private clubs in the Greater Toronto Area.

“I am eager to rejoin the GGA family,” said Murray Blair, “I have remained in close contact with the GGA team during my time in club management and operations, and have enjoyed watching the firm grow and prosper. I have particularly enjoyed seeing GGA’s younger team members grow into industry leaders. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to work alongside such a dedicated and capable group again and contribute to the firm’s continued growth.”

Murray joins GGA to expand on what has already been a multifaceted career in the club and resort industries. Most recently, Murray was the General Manager at Granite Golf Club, one of Canada’s most innovative private family golf clubs, successfully rejuvenating the club’s brand and membership.

Prior to joining Granite Golf Club, Murray spent three years as Vice President at Joe Boxer, modernizing the garment brand for the Caulfield Apparel Group and leading Joe Boxer through an award-winning rebranding process that revitalized the brand, ultimately earning a 2014 Cassies Bronze medal.

Over the course of his career, Murray has also worked for the TPC organization as part of the opening team at TPC Scottsdale; spent four years with Marriott hotels in Arizona and Napa, California; ten years running the golf division for Fairmont Hotels, during which time he was ranked as one of the top 25 most influential people in Canadian Golf; and three years as a Vice President with ClubLink before his initial four years of consulting with Global Golf Advisors.

Through these experiences, Murray has been involved in the development and restoration of a number of great golf courses in North America including Banff Springs, Jasper Park Lodge, The Algonquin Resort, and Mayakoba in Mexico. Murray is active across the club industry serving on a number of advisory boards, including the Golf Ontario board, and delivers education sessions at various industry conferences.

About GGA

Global Golf Advisors (GGA) has provided industry-leading advisory services to more than 3,000 clients worldwide including private clubs, hotels, resorts, residential golf communities, developers, homebuilders, government agencies and municipalities, financial institutions, investors and lenders. Operating out of three global offices in Toronto, Phoenix, and Dublin, GGA is a highly specialized consulting firm focused on club and leisure related assets with a professional services heritage as the KPMG Golf Industry Practice. The firm’s expertise lies in its ability to effectively meld club management and operational expertise with highly capable professional strategists and experienced business analysts. GGA personnel include former club managers with experience leading exceptional clubs, along with alumni of Deloitte, Fairmont, KPMG, Marriott, Pulte Homes, PwC, and Scotia Capital. For more information, please visit www.globalgolfadvisors.com.

Media Contact

Derek Johnston, Partner at Global Golf Advisors
djohnston@globalgolfadvisors.com
905-726-0701

Murray Blair, Director at Global Golf Advisors
mblair@globalgolfadvisors.com
416-728-4186

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