IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 26, 2010
PGA OF AMERICA TO REPORT UPDATE ON GOLF INDUSTRY
SUPPLIER DIVERSITY INITIATIVE AT 57th PGA MERCHANDISE SHOW
PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. – As the game’s most influential leaders gather for the 57th PGA Merchandise Show, The PGA of America will provide an update and encourage these leaders to support the Golf Industry Supplier Diversity Initiative.
The Initiative is a unique program designed to give procurement executives confidence and information needed to develop long-term business relationships with qualified minority and women-owned suppliers that successfully completed a detailed vetting process created for The PGA of America.
Through this endeavor, the goal is to increase spending with minority and women-owned businesses while at the same time, growing participation from these same consumer segments in the game of golf.
National Diversity Solutions, a certified minority-owned supply base optimization company developed a business case in 2007 and has since been hired by The PGA to facilitate the initiative from which 26 women and minority-owned businesses have successful completed the vetting process. The research found that a 3% increase in converting those minorities interested in playing golf to full participants could yield an additional 2 million new golfers by 2014.
With the collective buying power of this same consumer group approaching $2 trillion, the potential financial impact to the golf industry was clear.
“Over the past few years, The PGA of America has taken the lead in building diversity and inclusion in the golf industry through our workforce, membership, player and supplier programs,” said PGA of America Chief Executive Officer Joe Steranka. “We created the Golf Industry Supplier Diversity Initiative to develop a network of qualified minority- and women-owned businesses and provide the platform to start or enhance strategic alliances between golf industry procurement officers and PGA Qualified Diverse Suppliers.
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“It is most gratifying to report that our plan to spend 25 percent annually with our women and minority-owned suppliers in our tournament operations was achieved in 2009. We have incorporated this diversity supplier success into our corporate purchasing as well and encourage the entire industry to focus on the benefits of economic inclusion. The PGA Merchandise Show presents an invaluable opportunity for us to examine what next steps in the Golf Diversity Supplier Diversity Initiative must be made to engage industry support to expand relationships by bonding with minority and women-owned businesses.”
Successes within the initiative include Qualified Diverse Suppliers providing services directly to The PGA and other opportunities. Enterprise Content Solutions (ECS), a minority-owned provider of Enterprise Print Management (EPM), marketing and creative services, printed the 2009 PGA Championship Journal and pairing sheets. “As a minority-owned organization that can provide golf industry, and other companies with quality service, cost savings and incremental efficiency – and has recognized new opportunity as a result – ECS validates that the Initiative works,” says Keith Elzia, President of ECS.
“We were chosen to provide all of the employment and pre-member screening solutions to The PGA of America,” said David Foxx, CEO of Validex Employment Screening Services, another PGA Qualified Diverse Supplier. “Anytime you secure a relationship with an organization that has the status of The PGA of America, it’s a credibility builder.”
The Convention Store, a Certified Woman-Owned Business, continues as the prime contractor in providing transportation services at all PGA-sanctioned events. In addition, multiple foodservice providers, including Thompson Hospitality and Americana Catering, have all continued to provide their services in support of PGA tournament operations.
Some Initiative suppliers, including National Diversity Solutions and Americana Catering, have used their connection with the Initiative to cross over into other sports industries, including the creation of contracts with the 2010 FEI Alltech World Equestrian Games, considered to be the Olympics of the equine industry, as well as other private sector businesses.
To further this growth, the role of the Golf Industry Supplier Diversity Initiative has been dramatically expanded at this year’s PGA Merchandise Show.
Suppliers will be exhibiting at Booth #4256 on the Show floor within the PGA Licensees and Sponsors Pavilion, have access to the newly-created Executive Club, attend the 2009 PGA of America Awards and PGA Partners Gathering.
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A Qualified Diverse Supplier Roundtable has also been scheduled to provide an exclusive forum for Suppliers to share ideas for further improving the success of the Initiative.
Additionally, PGA executives will be meeting one-on-one with golf companies and association executives at the Show to further explain the goals of the initiative and ask that they consider the Initiative’s qualified Suppliers when looking to reduce expenses and enhance their existing strategic sourcing and procurement efforts.
The PGA of America plans to integrate the Golf Industry Supplier Diversity Initiative with the PGA Minority Collegiate Golf Championship, the PGA Championship, and other PGA-sanctioned events throughout the year as well as other appropriate golf industry venues.
For more information about The PGA of America Golf Industry Supplier Diversity Initiative, please visit www.PGA.com/SupplierDiversity
The PGA of America has laid the foundation by establishing a database of qualified women and minority-owned businesses, which have served at all levels of the industry.
The PGA Merchandise Show brings together the game’s most influential leaders, including executives from worldwide PGAs, global golf companies and national golf organizations who join grassroots PGA Professionals and retailers totaling nearly 40,000 attendees focused on growing the business of golf.
About The PGA of America
Since 1916, The PGA of America's mission has been twofold; to establish and elevate the standards of the profession and to grow interest and participation in the game of golf. By establishing and elevating the standards of the golf profession through world-class education, career services, marketing and research programs, the Association enables PGA Professionals to maximize their performance in their respective career paths and showcases them as experts in the game and in the multi-billion dollar golf industry.
By creating and delivering dramatic world-class championships and exciting and enjoyable golf promotions that are viewed as the best of their class in the golf industry, The PGA of America elevates the public's interest in the game, the desire to play more golf, and ensures accessibility to the game for everyone, everywhere. The PGA of America brand represents the very best in golf.
Contact: Shannon Boozman
561/624-8446
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