NGF welcomes three directors

The National Golf Foundation (NGF) is pleased to announce the elections of Sarah Hirshland, Laura Sequenzia, and Bill Brown to the organization’s board of directors.

Hirshland, Sequenzia and Brown are all accomplished executives in the golf and manufacturing industries. Sarah Hirshland was hired as the USGA’s senior managing director of Business Affairs in September 2011. She came to the USGA from Wasserman Media Group, where she was senior vice president in charge of business development. She also worked in Wasserman’s consulting division and led the development of sponsorship strategies for clients like American Express, Nationwide, Wachovia and Scotts.

Prior to Wasserman, Hirshland was with OnSport, a sports and entertainment consulting firm, where she was involved when Wachovia and the PGA TOUR launched the Wachovia (now Wells Fargo) Championship in 2002. Hirshland was also one of the founding employees of Total Sports, an online sports news and technology company, where she formed partnerships with more than 100 universities, conferences and the NCAA.

Laura Sequenzia was recently named senior executive director of corporate partnerships at Condé Nast Media Group.  Prior to this new assignment she was publisher of Golf World magazine. Under her leadership, Golf World became the title sponsor of The Golf World Pacific Amateur Golf Classic, an 800-person tournament which takes place in Sunriver, Oregon. She also expanded the brand’s relationship with the American Junior Golf Association by sponsoring a new initiative that educates young golfers on the process of getting into and playing golf in college. Sequenzia spearheaded the launch of Golf World Monday, a weekly digital product.

Prior to joining Golf World as associate publisher, Sequenzia was the national travel director for Golf World, Golf Digest, and Golf For Women. She was previously travel and equipment director as well as publisher of Golf World Business.

Bill Brown was appointed group vice president, international and commercial businesses for The Toro Company in March 2012. He oversees the commercial and international businesses as well as corporate accounts. Brown joined Toro in 1993 as marketing manager for the Wheel Horse lawn and garden tractor business. He held various manager and director positions in Toro’s landscape contractor business, and served as general manager for two years. In 2003, he was promoted to vice president and general manager of Toro’s commercial business. He also served as vice president of the Toro residential and landscape contractor businesses and vice president, international business.

“We are very pleased to have Sarah, Laura and Bill join our Board of Directors,” says Joe Beditz, President & CEO of NGF. “We are confident that their contributions will help NGF become a better organization for our members, and we look forward to benefitting from their diverse insight and experience.”

As the only trade association that serves all segments of the business, the NGF maintains what is arguably the most professionally diverse and respected board of directors in the industry. The board helps guide NGF’s business strategy and helps ensure that NGF’s research remains the most trusted and relevant in golf. Hirshland, Sequenzia, and Brown join nine serving members of NGF’s board of directors which includes (alphabetical order):

• David Abeles, Executive Vice President, Taylormade-adidas Golf Company
• Joe Barrow, CEO, The First Tee
• Joe Beditz, President and CEO, National Golf Foundation
• Chip Brewer, President and CEO, Callaway Golf (board Vice Chairman)
• Bill Golden, President, Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday
• Peter Hill, Chairman and CEO, Billy Casper Golf (board Chairman)
• Jerry Hinckley, Senior Vice President and Managing Director, Textron Financial (board Treasurer)
• Dick Raskopf, Publisher, GOLF Magazine/Sports Illustrated Golf Group
• John Watson, Chairman and CEO, Edwin Watts