|
|
J. Rhett Evans, director of the parks, recreation and commercial facilities division for the city of Mesa (Ariz.) has been selected as chief operating officer for the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA).
“I am pleased that Rhett will be joining the GCSAA team,” says GCSAA Chief Executive Officer Mark Woodward, CGCS. “I witnessed his talents first hand working with him in Mesa and have always been impressed with how he goes about his work. He is great in developing relationships and his business acumen is sharp. He will be a great fit with our team and our members.”
Evans, who will begin July 9, will plan and direct key aspects of organizational operations, including policies, objectives and strategic initiatives. He will be responsible for developing and implementing key programs that support GCSAA’s short- and long-term financial and operational goals to ensure future sustained growth.
“I am honored to have been selected as GCSAA’s chief operating officer and look forward to joining the team and working with the members,” Evans says. “All of my previous experiences with GCSAA have been terrific. The association has a great reputation. I have had a wonderful time in Mesa and will miss the city and the great people I have worked with and for. It takes a special opportunity for me to leave, and I consider GCSAA to be just that.”
Evans earned both his undergraduate (sociology major/emphasis in business) and graduate (recreation management and leadership/emphasis is public administration) degrees from Brigham Young University. He is also a graduate of the Public Assembly Facility Management School.
Evans has been with the city of Mesa since 2001, serving as director of the convention center and amphitheatre until 2005 before he advanced to his current position. He currently manages a staff of more than 700, through a team of 12 supervisors and three assistant directors, in all program areas, including a convention center and amphitheatre, spring training baseball complex (Chicago Cubs), cemetery, two golf courses, recreation and aquatic complexes and 2,600 acres of park space. He manages a $32.5 million annual operating budget and a $28 million capital improvement budget. In his time as director, he grew ancillary revenues and customer per-capita spending by 43 percent by improving concession and merchandise operations. He also recently enacted a staff reorganization that resulted in a 25 percent increase in daily productivity and 23 percent increase in customer satisfaction.
Evans, 40, (born Sept. 29, 1968) also has experience in facility and events management at the Delta Center and Franklin Quest Stadium in Salt Lake City (1992-97) and the McKay Events Center in Orem, Utah (1997-2001).
With the appointment of Evans, Woodward has completed his executive team, which includes Cam Oury, managing director, finance; Teri Harris, managing director, development; Carrie Riordan, managing director, member programs; Jeff Bollig, managing director, marketing and communications; and Eileen Bangalan, executive operations administrator.