THE
PGA
OF
AMERICA
EXECUTIVE
STAFF
NOW IN HIS 23RD YEAR WITH THE ASSOCIATION, JOE STERANKA IS IN HIS fiFTH AS The PGA of America’s Chief Executive Officer, leading a number of the golf industry’s most important initiatives.
Steranka’s vision guides the staff of the world’s largest working sports organization
in their dedication and service to the Association’s 28,000 men and women PGA
Professionals as well as the global golf industry. In addition to his CEO role with The
PGA, he serves as Chair of the World Golf Foundation and a member of the leadership
teams for the World PGAAlliance and the International Golf Federation’s essential
role in returning golf to the Olympic Games in 2016.
Since joining The PGA of America’s staff as Director of Communications in 1988,
Steranka has directed the marketing and business development of the Association’s
brand, its championship events and media assets including the PGA Championship,
Ryder Cup, PGA.com, Play Golf America, PGA Performance Trak and golf expositions, which
encompass the PGA Merchandise Show and PGA Fall Expo. Most recently, Steranka has
steered a new industry government relations program, We Are Golf, designed to achieve
legislative and public affairs goals on behalf of the multi-billion dollar a year golf industry.
Through his stewardship, the Association developed long standing broadcasting agreements with CBS, NBC, Turner Broadcasting and others to distribute the PGA’s premier events to unprecedented worldwide audiences. He also cultivated a relationship with acclaimed advertising agency Leo Burnett, leading to popular public service announcements for PGA members. Steranka also steered The PGA’s new media strategy, including the creation and expansion of an alliance with Time Warner to enhance PGA.com, one of the leading golf websites, with 1. 5 million unique visitors each month.
The sports industry veteran is one of just 11 PGA Honorary Members bestowed in the storied golf Association’s history, joining a prestigious list that includes former Presidents Dwight Eisenhower, Gerald Ford and George H. W. Bush. He is a Board member of the Children’s Healthcare Charity, which operates The Honda Classic; an Advisory Council member for the Environmental Institute for Golf; and serves on the Selection Committee for the World Golf Hall of Fame and as a National Trustee for The First Tee. In 2009, Steranka was honored with the March of Dimes Sports Leadership Award.
Steranka also serves on the Folds of Honor Board of Directors, a foundation created by PGA Professional Dan Rooney. The foundation provides post-secondary educational scholarships for children and spouses of military service men and women killed or disabled while serving our great nation.
A 1979 graduate of West Virginia University with a B.S. in journalism, Steranka and his
wife, Joann, live in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., and have two children, Alexandra and Stephen.
Joe Steranka Chief Executive Officer, The PGA of America
Christine Garrity
Managing Director and
General Counsel
Kerry Haigh
Managing Director, Championships
& Business Development
Tim Shank
Managing Director, Finance
22 THE OFFICIAL PROGRAM OF THE 2010 PGA CHAMPIONSHIP