Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/1051457
12 UCW NOVEMBER 14-20, 2018 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM It's been said that small businesses are the backbone of our nation's economy. It can be easy for consum- ers to forget the risks entrepreneurs face in building sustainable business- es and the impact these organizations have on a community. ursday, Nov. 15, Methodist University will host the 4th Annual Reeves School of Business Symposium and Awards Dinner to do just that – celebrate our risk-takers and change-makers. is year, the symposium will focus on keys to success and the changing landscape of the golf industry. e event will recognize the achievements of leaders and individuals associated with the PGA Golf Management Pro- gram who have made outstanding con- tributions. ere will be nine awards presented: Alumni Business Person of the Year, Business Person of the Year, Entrepreneur of the Year, Greater Good Award, Outstanding Woman Entrepre- neur of the Year, Silver Spoon Award, Small Business Excellence Award, University Service Award, and Friend of the Program Award. David Maher, president and CEO of Acushnet, will be the keynote speaker. Maher has worked at Acushnet since 1991. He started as a sales support representative and worked his way through field sales and sales manage- ment for Titleist. For the company's success, he credits its ongoing invest- ment in product innovation, commit- ment to quality, strong trade partner- ships, rich golfer connections and an enduring, rewarding company culture. In celebrating small businesses, Ma- her noted, "It's important to recognize and support talented business partners whether they are large or small. As you might expect, small business, in the form of golf courses and their golf pro shops, is an especially important component of the golf industry." Like any field, the golf industry faces headwinds that require thoughtful solutions. It's an unchanging fact of life and has been for years. Maher noted that Titleist's founder, Phil Young, back in the early 1930s, be- lieved he could make a better golf ball by employing a better manufacturing process. Young's entrepreneurial spirit lives throughout Acushnet today. "e game is filled with stories of equipment innovation, golf course design innovation and even golf course maintenance innovation," he said. "I expect these advancements will continue for as long as the game is around." He continued, "It is important to understand and build upon your strengths and competitive advantages while establishing strong customer connections. Golf has been around for hundreds of years and is as invit- ing and enjoyable as ever. … More recently, we have seen thousands of facilities become more family-friendly and more inviting to beginners and juniors over the past decade. "Today there are more junior golf- ers in the U.S. than at any other time, which is an exciting byproduct of these efforts." As for the future of golf and the golf industry, that's up to the next genera- tion of golfers and what they want from the game. In the next 10 years, Maher sees technology and connec- tivity playing a more prominent role for some, while for others it will mean an opportunity to disconnect for a few hours to enjoy the game, competition, camaraderie and exercise. "e point is, the golf industry must adapt to evolving golfer preferences, and I am confident that it will," Maher said. e 4th Annual Reeves School of Business Symposium and Awards Din- ner takes place at the Embassy Suites Fayetteville/Fort Bragg. Networking starts at 5:30 p.m. e symposium be- gins at 6:30 p.m. For more information, call Krista Lee at 910-630-7148. Maher to speak at Reeves annual business symposium by STEPHANIE CRIDER David Maher, president and CEO of Acushnet, will speak at the 4th Annual Reeves School of Business Symposium and Awards Dinner. EVENTS STEPHANIE CRIDER, Asso- ciate Publisher. COMMENTS? Editor@upandcomingweekly. com. 910-484-6200.