PGA Show Connects Virtual Summit Features Multiple Free Webinars from Industry Experts Tuesday, Aug. 18th

Market trends, player development, customer experience, retail strategies and golf fashion trends are focus topics, 11 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. (ET) today, Aug. 18^th.

NORWALK, Conn. (August 18, 2020) –The first PGA Show Connects Virtual Summit will welcome more than 1,200 industry professionals beginning at 11 a.m. (ET) today, Aug. 18, for the free online professional development event. The half-day Virtual Summit features industry leaders sharing insights on golf market trends, player development, customer experience, retail strategies and golf fashion trends. Industry professionals may continue to register at no cost for single sessions or the full Summit at www.pgashow21.com/PGAShowConnects.

The PGA Show Connects Virtual Summit will feature many industry leaders including PGA of America President Suzy Whaley, PGA; PGA of America CEO Seth Waugh; Sports & Leisure Research Group President Jon Last and influential thought-leaders representing the best in their fields from coaching, retail, fashion and customer service. The half-day summit will close with a fashion trends panel discussion and an engaging virtual fashion show, patterned after the successful London Fashion Week virtual event.

PGA Professionals participating in the PGA Show Connects Virtual Summit are able to receive MSR Education Credits. Full details and complimentary industry registration, single webinar or full Summit, are available at www.pgashow21.com/PGAShowConnects.

PGA Show Connects Half-Day Virtual Summit

August 18^th, 2020

11 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. EST/8 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. PST

Free registration: www.pgashow21.com/PGAShowConnects

11 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.

Welcome & Update

Presented by Suzy Whaley, PGA, President, PGA of America, and Seth Waugh, CEO, PGA of America

11:15 a.m. 12 p.m.

The Golfer in the COVID-19 Era: Insights from Our Back to Normal Barometer

Presented by Jon Last, President, Sports & Leisure Research Group

12 p.m. – 12:45 p.m.

Delivering What Customers Really Want Panel Discussion

Panel Guests:

Tom Morton, PGA, Director of Coaching & Development, Haggin Oaks
Ian James, CEO, RetailTribe

Moderator:

Mike O’Donnell, Senior Director, Coaching & Player Development, PGA of America

12:45 p.m. – 1 p.m.

Brief Intermission and Invitation to Explore Virtual Exhibitor Marketplace

1 p.m. – 2 p.m.

Creative Retail Strategies During a Challenging Time Panel Discussion

Panel Guests:

Buddy Christensen, President, Golfdom
Devon Craddock Thew, Club Buyer, Kiawah Island Club
Ken Morton Jr, Vice President Retail & Merchandising, Morton Golf LLC
Tracey Stearns, Director of Retail, Congressional Country Club

Moderator:

Mike Johnson, Senior Editor, Golf Digest/Discovery Golf

2 p.m. – 3 p.m.

How to Get Better Results for Your Players and Make More Money in Less Time

Panel Guests:

Dan Bubany, PGA, Assistant Golf Professional, La Paloma Country Club
Tony Chavez, PGA, Tony Chavez Golf Studio
Rion Groomes, PGA, Director of Golf at Keowee Key Golf Course

Moderator:

Will Robins, PGA, RGX and WRGolf CEO and PGA.Coach Advisor

3 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Apparel Trends Insights Panel Discussion and Virtual Fashion Show

Featuring Guests:

Jessica Marksbury, Multimedia Editor, GOLF Magazine/GOLF.com
Bailey Mosier, Host, Reporter & Writer, Golf Channel
Brittany Romano, Associate Editor, Golf Digest/Discovery Golf

The Virtual Summit is part of the PGA Show Connects year-round online platform, which also includes a twice-monthly series of webinars offering free access to live and on-demand education and insights from industry leaders. Virtual Summit and webinar series participants are able to connect directly to industry presenters with question and answer sessions and real-time polling, accessible on any browser and any device.

About PGA Golf Exhibitions and PGA Show Connects

PGA Golf Exhibitions, a division of Reed Exhibitions, organizes the PGA Merchandise Show in partnership with the PGA of America. Since 1954, the PGA Show has grown to annually welcome some 1,000 golf companies and brands and nearly 40,000 industry professionals from around the world to the industry’s annual global summit for the business of golf. The 68^th edition of the PGA Merchandise Show is scheduled for Jan. 26-29, 2021, in Orlando. Learn more at www.PGAShow.com.

In the summer of 2020, PGA Golf Exhibitions introduced PGA Show Connects, a year-round, interactive virtual community designed to complement in-person events and engage PGA Show attendees and exhibitors by offering live and on-demand access to premium content, digital business sourcing and professional networking programs. Learn more at www.pgashow21.com/PGAShowConnects.

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Media Contacts:

PGA Worldwide Golf Exhibitions/Media: Sherry Major, (716) 662–3855, smajor@reedexpo.com

PGA Worldwide Golf Exhibitions/Exhibitor: Greg Scott, (203) 840-5399, gscott@reedexpo.com

PGA of America/Media: Michael Abramowitz, (561) 624-8458, mabramowitz@pgahq.com