AJGA Blog

AJC Top 100: Todd Corum

Todd Corum

Tour Representative

Bridgestone Golf

Q: What was your time at the AJGA like? 

My time at the AJGA was unbelievable.  I interned in 1999 and was a Tournament Director from 2000 – 2004. My last two years with the AJGA, I ran all of the Association’s major championships.  The players that were playing and winning those events are now winning events on the PGA and LPGA Tours.  [It’s] very cool to see these players continue to have success as they move through each level of golf. 

Q: What was your favorite memory from your time at the AJGA? 

I have so many great memories from my time at the AJGA.  The friendships you make with the AJGA staff last a lifetime.  Also, I had the opportunity to meet some of the greatest players to ever play the game which included Phil Mickelson, Sam Snead and Justin Leonard, but meeting Arnold Palmer at the first HP Boys Championship at Bay Hill is my favorite memory from my time at the AJGA.

Q: How did the AJGA help prepare you for your current role at Bridgestone? 

The AJGA prepared me to do things the right way.  All the little details make an event special for all those involved.  Also, many of the contacts I had at the AJGA are still contacts I see regularly on TOUR now that I am with Bridgestone Golf.  The AJGA has such a great fraternity of people in the golf industry and many doors open for you just because of your association with the AJGA.

Q: What about the Association makes Bridgestone want to be involved? 

The AJGA is not only the best junior golf organization in the world but also one of the best associations in all of golf.  We want to be associated with the best players in the world and being a partner with the AJGA allows us to do that.  We currently sponsor an event, the Bridgestone Golf / Brandt Snedeker Music City Junior, as well as sponsor the low first round award at each event.  This allows us to stay involved with golf’s next generation of superstars.

 

 

In June, Brandt Snedeker will partner with his sponsor, Bridgestone, to host the Bridgestone Golf / Brandt Snedeker Music City Junior presented by Toyota. Snedeker, AJGA alum and current PGA TOUR professional, is devoted to giving back to the community, and along with various children’s charities he supports, he believes in the importance of giving back to junior golf.  Snedeker posted three top-20 AJGA finishes and received Rolex Junior All-America honorable mention honors in 1998. Snedeker went on to attend Vanderbilt University where he was named SEC Male Golfer of the Year during his senior season.  Snedeker was named PGA TOUR “Rookie of the Year” in 2007 and won the TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola in 2012.

 

In case you’ve missed something, be sure to check out our full AJC Top 100 interview series. 

AJC Top 100: Sara Wagoner

            In 2010, Sara Wagoner made the transition from Braselton to Atlanta, golf slacks to scrubs, 56 co-workers to 6,830. But one thing remained the same as she left the AJGA for a job with Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta: she was leaving one AJC Top 100 Workplace for another.

(Sara Wagoner, front row, second from left, during her time with the AJGA.)

            “I was lucky to start my professional career at the AJGA,” Sara said. “I don't believe it's possible to understand how special the AJGA is unless you've worked there. The AJGA is a family through and through.”

            During her four years at the AJGA, Sara built a foundation for her career working for nonprofits. She covered the spectrum of responsibilities as the AJGA Director of Media Relations, including managing the video department, serving as editor of The Insider, coordinating the communications internship program, and overseeing the media relations plan.

            “I've never worked harder in my career or had as much responsibility handed to me, especially at such a young age,” Sara said. “I learned how to handle myself in a professional manner, no matter the circumstance, and I really learned how to be team player.”

            She is now a Senior Program Coordinator working with the Aflac Cancer Center at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, which checked in as the No. 10 large company in the AJC’s 2013 survey of top workplaces.

            While many AJGA employees graduate to high-level jobs in the golf and sports industries, Sara had always aspired to work for a children’s hospital. And like many others before her, Sara’s goals were realized thanks to the support of the AJGA family.

            "Working at the AJGA taught me many things. It was working there that made me realize where I wanted to go with my professional future,” she said. “The AJGA would have prepared me well for any profession, but especially one in nonprofit."

-Chris Richards (@AJGARichards) 

In case you’ve missed something, be sure to check out our full AJC Top 100 interview series. 

AJC Top 100: Kevin Floyd

Kevin Floyd: Prestige Staffing

Tell me about your time with the AJGA:

 I graduated college in May of 1998 and did the communications internship on the East Coast. I think I literally came to training the day or two after graduation. I was a communications intern, one of two, and Tonya Oskarson was my partner. We traveled through the summer with four operations interns and ran events. At the end, I felt like there could be a full time opportunity for me, but I wasn’t sure when I left. A while later I got a call from Joel Schuchman (currently Director of Communications for the PGA TOUR) and he offered me a full time job in communications. I was all about it – I said I’m all in.  There were only four or five people at that point and we had this little corner of the building back when the AJGA was headquartered at Horseshoe Bend. A year later I got an opportunity a year later to start a staffing company in Atlanta and I couldn’t pass it up. 

What did you learn during your time at the AJGA?

I learned time management and how to work in a kind of organized chaos - getting the course set up on the front end and then post tournament with deadlines and getting the releases out. Most certainly teamwork. I’m in a leadership position now at Prestige and one of our core values is teamwork. I think the elements of teamwork that I learned while working with a team that summer and full time at the AJGA was invaluable. No one person is going to get the job done by themselves. It’s an absolute requirement that you work together and cater to each other’s strengths. Living that 24/7 during that intern summer and year afterwards was critical and I definitely carried that over to my current business.

 What was your favorite memory from your time at the AJGA?

The first tournament I worked, we played at Bellefonte Country Club in Ashland, Ky. That week Hunter Mahan qualified into the event. I remember Hunter Mahan just sitting at tournament headquarters while the scores were coming in just dying to get in to the event. I believe it was one of his first AJGA events, and he ended up just blowing everyone away and finishing in second place.  I tell that story now and considering where he is, it’s pretty cool to have been there.  

What would you tell someone about the AJGA if asked?

[The AJGA] is a phenomenal organization. It is the most competitive training in junior golf, extremely well run with efficient tournament events and a great experience and what I saw was it became a home away from home for a lot of these players. Some traveled and played as many as possible and some just stepped in for a few events, but the AJGA was very intentional in giving positive experience for everyone and training in life values. You saw this in the pace of play policy, code of conduct and making players take their hats off inside. These were sound principles that [Executive Director Stephen] Hamblin and the other guys set up front. I saw kids come to these events and there was this standard they had to live by that was consistent throughout the organization. There was no tolerance for people who didn’t play by the rules. A lot of parents appreciated the code of conduct and realized how these values were beneficial to their kids at the next step.

I always recommend the internship to everyone. It’s a wonderful opportunity to see places and do things; it’s just phenomenal. I still talk to those guys I traveled and worked with all the time. The relationships are the essence of the AJGA. The relationships I built have been some of the most fruitful and beneficial I have had in my career. As you live and work together for several months, the AJGA is great at forming a family structure among its employees.  

 

Complete list of AJC Top 100 Series interviews

One of my favorite things about being involved in interviewing past staff members for our AJC Top 100 series has been hearing stories and history about the organization that I've never heard before. While preparing this blog and reading over Kevin's Q&A, it was awesome to read his answer to the question about his "favorite AJGA memory." I've worked the tournament at Bellefonte for two years now and had never heard the story of Hunter Mahan qualifying into the event... Very cool to hear. 

Do you have a great AJGA memory or story you'd like to share? Find me on Twitter and tell me about it. 

Until next time -

Alexis (@AJGAWitman)

AJC Top 100: In case you missed it

It's been one week since the AJGA was named one of the Top 100 Workplaces in Metro Atlanta by the Atlanta Journal Constitution. Over the last week, we've run some great content across our different outlets and we have more great content for you in the week ahead. 

In case you missed out on some of the stuff we shared last week, here's a wrap up of what you missed: 

Our awesome Multimedia Production Manager Greg created a video celebrating the AJGA's place as a Top 100 Workplace. Watch the video and hear from past and present AJGA staff as they talk about why they loved working for the AJGA and what makes it such a special place to work. 

 

“Whether it is a full-time career or a stopping point, it’s a great opportunity to learn what it’s like to have a job and be responsible.” – Jim Heard

(Read more from Jim’s interview here.)

“AJGA staff members are very hard workers. They are the type of people who can work a long day and still laugh at the end. It is very rare to find people who can work 15 hour days, getting up at 4:30 a.m. in the morning and working until 9 p.m., who can still laugh after. Everyone really cares about each other. It starts from the top, Stephen [Hamblin] cares about developing staff members personally and professionally.” – Kristi Bradley

(Read more from Kristi’s interview here.)

Last Thursday, we did a quick throwback to 2009 when the AJGA hosted a “Film Festival,” and staff members from all departments mades videos explaining why the AJGA was such a great place to work. The following video won “Best Picture,” but you can check out all the entries here.

 

This week on the blog, you can look forward to more interviews from AJGA staff alum that have gone on to other jobs in the Atlanta area, as well as hearing from current AJGA staff members about opportunities they have had as a result of their employment here.

Have you worked for the AJGA in the past as a full-time staff member or an intern? Be sure to connect with us on Twitter and tell us about some of your favorite memories.

 

Until next time,

Alexis (@AJGAWitman)

 

 

AJC Top 100: Throwback Thursday

In 2009, AJGA staff across all departments went behind the camera and made videos to share some of the things that make the AJGA such a great place to work. As we continue to celebrate the AJGA being named to the AJC's Top 100 list, enjoy taking a look at this blast from the (not so distant) past.

 

 

 

 

 

Are you featured in one of these videos? Give us a shout on Twitter and tell us about some of your favorite AJGA memories (be sure to use the hashtag #AJCTop100). 

Complete list of AJC Top 100 Series interviews

Until next time -

Alexis (@AJGAWitman)

 

 

AJC Top 100: Kristi Bradley

When I first interned with the AJGA in the summer of 2011, I had the pleasure of working with Kristi Bradley at my second event. In that week and the rest of the summer, I learned so much from Kristi. From my intern tasks to my current full time position as a Communications Coordinator, I'm confident that Kristi helped me do all facets of my job better. I’m excited to share with you our second phase of the AJC Top 100 blogs, an interview with Kristi Bradley, former AJGA Media Relations Manager and current Marketing Coordinator with Sequoia Golf Management. 

(Kristi Bradley, front center, pictured during her 2008 intern summer)

What makes the AJGA such a special place to work?

Every day you wake up and want to go to work because the end result is something so positive. You are making a difference in the lives of junior golfers and the future generation of golf. There are so many players on the PGA and LPGA Tours who came up from the AJGA so we really are developing the next generation of golfers.

How would you describe the AJGA culture?

You can’t find a culture like this anywhere else. It is the way the AJGA picks people from the internship, people who care about the outcome and the mission. From day one you are taught the mission and you become surrounded by people who care. People who work hard and have fun doing so.

What qualities do you see in the AJGA staff?

AJGA staff members are very hard workers. They are the type of people who can work a long day and still laugh at the end. It is very rare to find people who can work 15 hour days, getting up at 4:30 a.m. in the morning and working until 9 p.m., who can still laugh after. Everyone really cares about each other. It starts from the top, Stephen [Hamblin] cares about developing staff members personally and professionally.

What is your favorite memory from your time at the AJGA?

So many of my greatest memories come from the AJGA internship program. You are out there doing something that no one else is. You drive from city to city, experiencing some of the nicest courses in the country. When I went home after my internship, no one could understand the experience I had. I grew up in a small town and it was hard for me to come out of my shell, but the internship helped me grow and develop as a person. I couldn’t be more thankful for the opportunities it afforded me.

 

Complete list of AJC Top 100 Series interviews

Until next time -

Alexis (@AJGAWitman)

2013 AJC Top-100

If you haven’t heard already, the Atlanta Journal Constitution (AJC) named the AJGA one of their top-100 places to work for 2013. I can’t say enough how lucky I feel to be a part of this organization, a statement I’m sure you’ll be hearing from many people, across many platforms over the next couple of days.

For more information about the AJC and the award, check out the press release on our website, and the video below.

 

Over the next few days, we’re going to be featuring interviews and stories from past AJGA employees that have gone on to other positions with companies in and around Atlanta. They’ll be sharing their stories about how working at the AJGA impacted their lives personally and professionally.

Jim Heard, President of Windham Brannon Financial Group (April 30)

Kristi Bradley, Marketing Coordinator, Sequoia Golf Management (May 1)

Todd Corum, Tour Representative, Bridgestone Golf (May 7)

Interviews and stories aren’t the only things on the agenda here, great videos and additional stories from AJGA staff are coming your way. Make sure you check out our Facebook and Twitter pages for more information and details about how we’re celebrating be honored with a position on this list for the second year in a row.

Alexis (@AJGAWitman)

 

Meet the Spring Interns!

Over the next few weeks, the AJGA blog is going to feature quite a few posts from staff at our tournaments across the United States. You've read posts from some of my fellow colleagues in the communications department, but we'll have some new faces writing these posts - our 2013 spring interns! 

As you might have gathered from the posts I did about Intern Recruiting Weekend (where we select our summer intern class), the AJGA couldn't do what we do without our interns, and the spring season is no exception. During the spring, the AJGA sends three teams of six interns to various parts of the country to assist in running our tournaments. Two members of each of these teams are designated as "communications staff," and assist in taking photography, doing paperwork, writing press releases, blogging, and many other duties. 

All that said - I'm pleased to introduce to you some of the new names that will be bringing you information from the West Coast, Texas/Midwest, and the East Coast. 

Team 1 (East Coast): Ian Yelton

Team 2 (Texas, Midwest): Matt Hanlon & Samantha Glover

Team 3 (West Coast): Allison Cottrell & Caitlin Davis

I hope you're as excited as I am to read the posts from all of the fantastic staff we have as part of our team for the next few weeks. Be sure to keep an eye out for new posts coming anytime now from #AJGAPreseason events at Oak Valley, Brookhaven, and Innisbrook! 

Are you playing at one of our Preseason events or other spring events? Be sure to check out the tournament microsite, find your tournament hashtag, and give us a shout on Twitter. We love to see your photos and hear about your event experiences! 

Until next time-

Alexis (@AJGAWitman)

News & Notes: TaylorMade-adidas Golf Junior All-Star at Chateau Elan

By Chris Richards (@AJGARichards), AJGA Communications

The TaylorMade-adidas Golf Junior All-Star at Château Élan was a 54-hole stroke play competition played on the par-71 Château Course at Château Élan. The event featured 102 boys and 36 girls, ages 12-15, from 28 states and six countries. The Boys Division played the course at 6,601 yards and the Girls Division played the course at 5,604 yards.

The junior Junior All-Stars…
Both the youngest boy and youngest girl in the 138-player field made the cut in their AJGA debuts. Tyler Lipscomb of Carrolton, Ga., (12 years, 23 days) and Isabella Fierro of Mexico (12 years, 3 months, 5 days) were among the 56 boys and 19 girls to qualify for Sunday’s final round.

…the senior Junior All-Star…
By contrast, 15-year-old Lauren Stephenson of Lexington, S.C., competed in her fourth AJGA tournament at Château Élan. Her track record at the Château Course remains stellar, as she added a win to a resume that includes co-medalist honors at the 2011 Preseason Junior at Château Élan and a third-place finish at this event in 2012.

…and the AJGA All-Stars.
The extended AJGA family came together at Château Élan this weekend, as the volunteers were largely made up of former staff, future staff, current players and staff families.

Among the guest rules officials were recently departed tournament directors, including Annie Giangrosso (@Annie_jo_g), who is a rules official on the Symetra Tour. Two members of the AJGA Intern Class of 2013 got their first taste of AJGA competition by serving as timing station volunteers alongside 2011 Rolex Junior All-American Rinko Mitsunaga (@RinkoMitsunaga), who traveled 38 miles from her home in Roswell, Ga., to volunteer Easter Sunday.

Spouses of current employees drove shuttles, while the parents of Tournament Director Katie Tahara (@KatieJoTahara) managed FJ Live Scoring and monitored their daughter at work.

The roots of the AJGA Family Tree are deep, and they were on full display during one of the AJGA’s busiest weekends.

Candidates Speak: Intern Recruiting Rewind

After a day spent traveling from Oregon, South Dakota, Massachusetts, Kentucky, and everywhere in between, the 95 final candidates for the AJGA’s summer internship arrived at AJGA Headquarters last Friday night for Intern Recruiting Weekend.

From the moment candidates were greeted by staff at the airport until they boarded vehicles to take them back to the airport on Sunday afternoon, the weekend was a whirlwind of 36 hours where intern candidates learned about the AJGA’s mission, met the full-time staff, participated in various activities and interviews, and had the opportunity to hear from special guest speakers.

As I was trying to figure out how I wanted to recap Intern Recruiting Weekend on the blog, I realized there would be no better way than for some of the intern candidates to tell you themselves about what they learned about golf, the AJGA, and themselves. So, without further adieu, Intern Recruiting Rewind… from our intern candidates:

“Everyone I spoke to about IRW told me that it would be a once in a lifetime experience and that I would grow as a person because of it. What they didn’t tell me is that I was going to have the opportunity to see how an internship with the AJGA would impact others… [The AJGA] does not simply give junior golfers an opportunity to play, but it enhances, positively shapes, and changes the lives of those involved.”

            -Megan Arnold

“Each day I have been taught something new that can benefit me both as a person and help me elevate my professional career.”

            -Ryan LaBell

“Overall, the weekend was not what I expected, but I can say it was way better than I expected… I have already taken away so much from this weekend that will help personally and professionally.”

            -Jessica Self

“This weekend, I realized the AJGA is more than just an internship. Yes, it consists of a lot of work and long hours, but that is not what the organization is about. The internship program is about the relationships that are made and development of each intern. [During the weekend] I have learned about teamwork and the importance of each and every team member.”

            -Ashlyn Stone

“I have learned that each person in a group is a valuable asset. Everyone in the group brings certain ideas to the table that the other may not have thought of. We each have to give a little to all reach our goal of finishing the project. The American Junior Golf Association Intern Recruiting Weekend has been fun, eye-opening, and eventful. I have learned a lot and will use what I have learned in everyday life.”

            -David Nichols

“Along the way of working with my team, making decisions, and working toward the same goal, I have bonded with my seven other team members and have built relationship that I never expected coming here this weekend. I feel as though I have already grown as a person and have grown for my professional career.”

            -Megan Stiffelman

On Friday night, Bill Hughes, General Manager of TPC Sawgrass, spoke to the intern candidates and left them with the quote, “Success begins with a state of mind.” This quote was not only something that could be carried with the interns candidates over the course of the weekend, but also something we can all take with us in our everyday lives.

When I participated in Intern Recruiting Weekend in 2011, my thoughts were similar to those that are quoted above. Even if I had not been hired by the AJGA as an intern, or subsequently, in a full-time position, I learned so much that weekend that left a positive impact on my life.

It was awesome to get to meet all of the fantastic intern candidates that were selected to attend Intern Recruiting Weekend 2013, and I can’t wait to have some of them join us as part of #AJGA2013 and the #AJGAInternship.

 

Until next time,

Alexis (@AJGAWitman)