Ed Several, a marketing and trade show professional with nearly four decades of experience in the marketing, event and golf industries, is the new chief marketing officer for the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America.
As GCSAA CMO, Several will focus on the continued elevation of the GCSAA Brand, marketing the value of membership and promoting the positive impact GCSAA members provide to their golf facilities and communities. He will also focus on leading the GCSAA staff in transforming the GCSAA Conference and Trade Show into a more immersive experience as the cornerstone of a new year-round approach to delivering value to GCSAA members, industry partners, stakeholders and the communities GCSAA serves.
Before coming to the GCSAA, Several most recently served as executive vice president of events and conferences for EnsembleIQ where he created a successful virtual events business. That followed 14 years as a senior vice president with Reed Exhibitions, where he led the turnaround of the PGA Merchandise Show, as well as a portfolio of 15 events across multiple sectors.
At Reed Exhibitions, Several worked with a variety of major associations, including the PGA of America, Security Industry Association, and North American Retail Hardware Association. His previous golf industry experience includes five years as vice president of marketing services for Spalding/Top-Flite Golf. He also spent 10 years with Kraft Foods as director of consumer promotions.
“Ed has a long track record of growing and transforming brands, conferences and trade shows,” GCSAA CEO Rhett Evans said. “He is passionate about golf and the industry that surrounds it, and he appreciates the dedicated hard work and experience of the members of GCSAA. We are excited to add his knowledge and talent to our team.”
Several will have oversight of GCSAA’s marketing, corporate sales, trade show, communications, publications and creative services departments.
“GCSAA has been an unofficial part of my professional and personal life for many years, so it is an incredible honor to now officially be part of the GCSAA team,” Several said. “Professionally, I led the PGA Merchandise Show for 10 years during which time I enjoyed collaborating with the GCSAA team to support the then-GIS event. Personally, as an avid golfer, GCSAA members are important to me for their amazing work. I am excited to officially join the team and look forward to working alongside the extremely talented GCSAA HQ staff and dedicated GCSAA board and committee members to help write the next chapter of success.”
Several is a Northeastern University alum, where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in marketing.