The GCM staff is covering 2024 Women's Leadership Academy highlights and takeaways as the event unfolds. Check back
often for the latest updates.
Thursday, November 14
• “I’m getting comfortable with my uncomfortable,” Shania Lancour, a student at Madison Area Technical College and three-year GCSAA member, told the room as she got up to present the results of a breakout session. The women around her — who, over the last two days, had become a supportive professional network — erupted in cheers.
Thursday at the Women’s Leadership Academy was about embracing tough situations, whether hearing inspiring words from accomplished female leaders, continuing to dive into leadership styles and the Predictive Index, or getting guidance on how to handle difficult professional conversations.
Lisa Guilfoyle, assistant superintendent at Oakville Golf Club in Oakville, Ontario, is among this year’s cohort and offered advice for employees looking to speak with overwhelmed supervisors.
“I understand what you need, and I’m happy to talk about it with you, but I also need to be working,” Guilfoyle told the group, sharing her own leadership perspective. “I can give you about 10 minutes to talk about what’s on your mind now, and then we can talk about it again at the end of the day if we still need to discuss it more.”
Amy Leslie, continuing her session on the Predictive Index from the day before, urged the attendees to remember that while they may favor one style of leadership over another, it’s possible to change to fit a given situation.
“We need innovation, we need teamwork, we need process and results,” Leslie said. “You can try and do small things for your team to let them know they’re valued, because people remember that stuff. You can also lean into people with fresh ideas. You know your natural leadership style, but you should be effectively able to put on these other hats.”
In the afternoon, Kee Dunning, clinical professional counselor and owner of Dunning Counseling and Consulting, began a session on communication — co-led by Stacy Stellflug, health care researcher and associate professor at Montana State University — with an affirmation for the attendees. The last couple of days contained a lot of personal revelations and professional exploration, she said, and she knew that could be overwhelming.
“Your hearts are probably full, and your minds are on overload. It’s a lot to take in,” Dunning said. “My heartfelt wish for each of you is that you’ll love who you are. Because you’re all pretty cool.”
Dunning, who along with Stellflug has offered services to the Women’s Leadership Academy and to other turf professionals — notably retired superintendent and GCSAA past president Pete Grass, CGCS — is keenly aware of all the work that goes into managing a golf course and the people who work on it — for which, the avid golfer said, she’s grateful.
“There would be no golf without the superintendents and GCSAA. So, thank each of you,” Dunning said. “I love playing on golf courses and I love each of you, and I appreciate you showing up every day. This organization helps you be better, and you help it be better.”
Rhett Evans, GCSAA CEO, closed out the proceedings by encouraging the attendees to look out for the long-reaching effects of their experience in Lawrence.
“Little things matter. There are 70 people in this room. That’s just a pebble, and we’re dropping it in the ocean,” Evans said. “But I want you to leave here knowing that it’s caused a ripple. Eventually that ripple is going to hit someone else. What we just did here is create that little ripple. I want to encourage you and invite you to take that and lead out.”
— Abby Olcese
Wednesday, November 13
• When Shelia Finney, GCSAA’s senior director of member programs, was a superintendent, she asked Leeann Cooper, now GCSAA’s director of First Green and workforce development, how many GCSAA members were women. At the time, there were 54.
“We have more than 54 women in this room,” Finney told Women’s Leadership Academy participants on Wednesday morning.
Finney urged the women in the room to pay close attention to the skills they would learn and what they’d discover about themselves in the days to come. “You carved out two days of your life to come here,” Finney said. “When you go back to your job, don’t forget about this. Don’t let the hairball of the everyday take over your life.”
To that end, sessions on the first full day of the Women’s Leadership Academy focused on inward work. The morning was dedicated to the Predictive Index, a personality typing system that identifies inner motivations, drives and communication styles.
Amy Leslie, CEO of Perspective Consulting, led the session. She urged the attendees to establish credibility and use that credibility when presenting new ideas to supervisors or board members.
“I tried to impose my dominance rather than realize that my dominance served me best when someone else saw me as credible, capable and someone with ideas,” Leslie said. “It’s hard to resist the urge to rush that. Keep bringing ideas, keep researching and learning and being curious, and eventually it’s going to click.”
Others in the room, like Marcy Vonne, a value engineering manager at The Toro Co., encouraged superintendents, assistants and crew members who want to have their ideas heard to come to their supervisors with a plan already in place to implement initiatives they bring forward.
“If you propose an initiative, be prepared to take that on yourself. I want to know that you can lead it and that it won’t just be an idea,” she said.
In the afternoon session, leadership coach Melissa Arthur helped attendees develop strategies to quiet inner critics, ask for support and identify personal goals. “The things that make it challenging for women to lead are the things that make it challenging for all of us to lead,” Arthur told the participants. “By the time you leave today, your internal glass ceiling … we’re going to put some cracks in that.”
In addition to the inward work on communication styles, needs and growing confidence, Finney encouraged attendees to get involved in programs and volunteer opportunities through GCSAA that could grow their network and help recruit and support women in the organization.
“Get involved in First Green and FFA. Volunteer for task groups,” Finney said. “Be present, be impactful and make a difference. Because you can.”
— Abby Olcese
Tuesday, November 12
• “This is the time you can fill your own cup,” Carol D. Rau, PHR, career consultant with GCSAA, assured attendees at the 2024 Women’s Leadership Academy during the opening dinner. The 50 women gathered at Maceli’s Banquet Hall in Lawrence, Kan., cheered appreciatively.
Female superintendents, assistant superintendents, equipment managers, turf researchers and other turf professionals are gathered for the second annual event at GCSAA headquarters. Some, like Desdamona Vance, assistant superintendent at Cabot Links in Inverness, Nova Scotia, are veterans of the 2023 inaugural class, here to encourage first-time attendees as well as continue their professional growth.
Vance doesn’t cry much, she says, but last year’s event made her emotional.
“It’s valuable to hear everyone else’s stories,” Vance says. “I’m blessed with a supportive system where I work. Hearing about other people’s struggles, and being given the room to share yours, it really gives you some perspective.”
The two-plus-day event’s opening program began with a welcome from GCSAA COO Kevin Sunderman, CGCS, who encouraged attendees to rely on the organization for professional support as they advance their careers. “I depend on many of you. I want you to know you can depend on us,” Sunderman told the group.
The evening’s centerpiece was a fireside chat between Rau and returning speaker Suzy Whaley, current president of Golf Nation and president of the PGA of America from 2018-2020. Whaley began the conversation by assuring the turf professionals in the room that they’re an important part of the work she does.
“You need to know that we’re always talking about you,” Whaley told the attendees. “You are recognized, and you are noticed.”
Whaley had plenty of inspiring advice to share, including seeking out mentorship and for women to highly value the perspective they bring to the table. “You’ve got to promote yourselves,” Whaley said. “It’s not bragging. It’s proving your value and your worth to the properties you work at.”
— Abby Olcese