Jeffrey C. Smith
Principal

Following graduation from the University of Missouri – Columbia, Jeff began his career with McDonnell Douglas Corporation where he had the opportunity to develop his skills in marketing, financial planning/analysis, and strategic planning within a Fortune 500 company. An opportunity from a PGA club professional led him to the PGA of America as the Executive Director of the Association's Gateway Section. During his ten years with the PGA, this not-for-profit organization increased its revenue ten-fold through aggressive marketing of programs which ultimately provided benefits to its 400-plus members. Prior to his departure, he was awarded “Honorary PGA Membership” by the section.

In 1993, Jeff began working on a proposal for an upscale 18-hole public golf course with his long-time friend, Dennis Walters. This project, now known as The Missouri Bluffs Golf Club in St. Charles, Missouri, served as the foundation for what is now Walters Golf Management. In 1996, Jeff left the PGA of America and took his current position with Walters Golf Management. Since that time, the management company has grown beyond their expectations, currently responsible for the management of thirteen properties and over 700 employees.

Jeff's ability to recognize the needs of the customer, the trends of the golf course and housing industry, and the pulse of the economy, has enabled the WGM team to provide their properties with sound advice regarding both long and short-term financing, and realistic goals in regards to return on investment and cash management.

Jeff's innovative thinking and down-to-earth attitude have been instrumental in the success and development of the construction management and agronomic sector of the Walters Golf Management entrée.

Jeff often speaks at regional and national golf conferences, serves on the advisory board of Midland States Bank of Chesterfield, and has served as co-host on the popular sports radio talk show, “Fairways & Greens”, which has aired since 1992 and broadcasts annually from some of the most prestigious events in America.

Jeff is well-known for his philosophy that “you are often judged on the last project you completed”. His ability to manage and market projects undertaken by WGM has provided good insurance that WGM will be judged well. New business development, as well as the ongoing oversight of the properties managed by WGM, continues to provide challenges for Jeff that “make it exciting to head to the golf course early everyday with or without my clubs”.

Lucy Mitchell
Principal

Lucy is a classic example of the Walters Golf Management philosophy of promotion from within. Lucy began working for Mr. Walters in 1986 in Food & Beverage at Bogey Hills Country Club. In 1989, she was offered the position of Club Manager at Whitmoor Country Club. In 1997 she assumed her current role as Vice President of Operations & Corporate Administration for Walters Golf Management. Her hard work, dedication, and dynamic personality have been a true asset and one of the obvious reasons for the ongoing success of the WGM team.

With a strong background in food and beverage management, Lucy has an uncanny ability to not only communicate with vendors and strike very lucrative deals that benefit all WGM properties, but to communicate with employees at all levels and draw out their best qualities and strengths.  She is a past president of the local CMAA Chapter.

Lucy has been instrumental in the development of all of the properties managed by WGM today, including decorating the clubhouses at Whitmoor Country Club and The Links of Dardenne. She was instrumental in the design and development of the fitness facility that opened in 2004 at Whitmoor Country Club. If you take a tour of the facility, you will see that she has a true gift for seeing that the needs of the customer are not just met, but exceeded. This same level of attention to detail and expectation of the highest standards is obvious in any of the WGM properties you visit.

In addition to her commitment to exceeding the customer's expectations with the highest standards in the industry, Lucy has been instrumental in the development of standardized administrative policies and procedures throughout the WGM properties, including property, liability, and workmen's comp insurance, health insurance benefits, safety programs, employee handbooks, employee screening, and HR training to all managers on an annual basis. Her ability to not only develop these plans and procedures, but to see them through to implementation, has significantly reduced the cost of general insurance for all WGM properties, and allowed those properties to offer one of the best health insurance plans to their employees for a very reasonable rate.

Although you will not find her listed on the balance sheet of our financial statement, if you ever have the good fortune to work with Lucy, you will know exactly what we mean when we say she is truly one of WGM's greatest assets.

Aaron T. Gleason
Vice President of Operations

Golf has been a part of Aaron's life for more than 25 years.  From excelling in competitive junior golf at the national level to winning the Missouri State 5A High School Championship in 1992, Aaron's successes led to a scholarship playing Division I college golf at The University of Southern Mississippi. At Southern Miss, he studied business management and marketing. 

Aaron began his career with WGM in 2000 as the 1st Assistant Golf Professional at The Missouri Bluffs Golf Club and rapidly worked his way to Co-Head Golf Professional with responsibilities for membership and tournament activity.  During his tenure at The Missouri Bluffs he attained his PGA Class A Membership and spearheaded several ventures ranging from the privatization of the facility to various information technology (IT) projects.

In late 2003, Aaron moved to another WGM facility, Gateway National Golf Links, where he assumed the role of Head Golf Professional overseeing the facility's entire golf operation.  In his 3 years at Gateway, Aaron was instrumental in improving efficiencies and increasing revenue at that property.  Aaron has also focused his efforts on enhancing staff training and development.   He firmly believes that “you are only as good as the staff you surround yourself with.”  Aaron's ability to manage and motivate continues to be among his greatest assets.  As his past Assistant Golf Professionals will attest, Aaron's mentorship has been invaluable.

In addition to his accomplishments at Gateway, Aaron took on a number of projects for WGM, including various IT projects.  He also recognized the need for accountability in the workplace and thus created several training and policy and procedure manuals that have since been implemented at all WGM properties.  Aaron began his career with WGM in the position of Regional Operations Director.  Because of his dedication, diligence and high-quality work and true to WGM's philosophy of promoting from within, he recently stepped into the role of Vice President of Operations.  In this role, Aaron will continue to manage several properties for the company, lead the IT effort, including website development for WGM golf courses, facility software set-up, and staff training on software systems.  His talents and abilities in management and IT along with his strong work ethic and desire to build upon the successes of WGM continue to enhance his overall value to our organization. 

Kelli Kirchoff
Director of Accounting

One of our own…….As a Saint Charles County native,  Kelli fell in love with the game of golf as a participant in the junior golf program at Whitmoor Country Club.  The time spent honing her golf game proved valuable as it set the foundation for a competitive junior golf career that eventually led to individual medalist honors at the Missouri Class 4-A State Championship while attending Francis Howell High School.  These accomplishments allowed Kelli the opportunity to compete at the collegiate level as a member of the University of Missouri Golf Team. During her four year career as a Tiger, Kelli participated in the NCAA National Championship, two U.S. Women's Amateurs and was a four-time Academic All-American named by the National Golf Coaches Association.

Kelli graduated summa cum laude from the University of Missouri with a Masters Degree in Accountancy.  After graduation, she began her career in public accounting at Ernst & Young, LLP in the Assurance and Advisory Business Services Line. During her tenure at E&Y, Kelli earned her license as a Certified Public Accountant and was promoted to Senior Auditor where she led engagement teams through the corporate audit process for several large publicly traded companies. 

Kelli's professional experience coupled with her extensive golf background make her uniquely qualified to serve as our Director of Accounting.  In this role, Kelli manages both the accounting staff and financial statements of each WGM property to maintain an efficient operation.   

Denis Barron
Director of Agronomy

Denis Barron, Director of Agronomy at Walters Golf Management, graduated from Penn State University with a degree in Agronomy. With more than 25 years of experience as a golf course superintendent he has provided his talents at some of the finest courses in the St. Louis area including Whitmoor Country Club, Greenbriar Country Club, and served as General Manager at Cherry Hills Country Club. He has worked for Walters Golf Management since its inception.

Denis does public speaking at golf symposiums and superintendent training seminars throughout the United States in the area of soil and plant nutrition. He is also knowledgeable and experienced in golf course construction and has been involved in the construction of five courses in the St. Louis area.

Denis currently owns and operates Agro-Logics, LLC, a turf management company, and provides consulting to all of the WGM properties.

Denis's dedication and persistent, quiet manner have made him an undeniable asset to the Walters Golf Management group.

Kyle Lickenbrock
Marketing Specialist

Kyle serves as yet another example of the Walters Golf Management philosophy of promotion from within.  Kyle began his career within our organization working at Stonewolf Golf Club as an Assistant Golf Professional.  From there he made the transition to Far Oaks Golf Club where he spent one year honing his skills prior to being promoted to the position of Marketing Specialist for WGM.

Born and raised in Freeburg, Illinois golf has been a part of Kyle's life since the age of 10 when he was introduced to the game by his father.  In High School he competed for 3 years on the Varsity level where as a Junior and Senior was named Belleville News Democrat Play of the Year.  After High School Kyle went on to compete at Southwestern Illinois College and Southern Illinois University Edwardsville where he represented both schools in their respective national championships.

In 2007 Kyle graduated from SIUE with a bachelor's degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Marketing.  Although not a part of his degree Kyle has truly found his passion in information technology and is serving a great role within our organization.  With his golf background and the ability to learn new technologies quickly he is proving to be a great asset to the company.

Lauren Glanz
Administrative Manager/Personal Assistant

Although Lauren is a St. Louis native, she moved to Colorado to pursue a Bachelors Degree of Communications from Colorado State University.  She then moved to Denver where she began her career in hospitality for a Four-Star, Four-Diamond luxury hotel.  With a strong background in Food & Beverage, she served as the Assistant to the Food & Beverage Director, with an emphasis on the Culinary Division.  She was soon promoted to Hotel Coordinator, providing assistance to all operational departments such as Catering, Banquets, Sales and Marketing, Front Office, the Spa, and Concierge. 

Her role at WGM is not only to serve as the Administrative Manager for the corporate office, but also to provide a high level of assistance to Principal and Managing Partner, Lucy Mitchell.  Lauren is instrumental in the standardization of administrative policies and procedures throughout the WGM properties, including property, liability, and workman's comp insurance, employee handbooks, employee screenings, and much more.