Welcome to the hotseat. :DI know many members wil be pleased to hear you have been selected to head the organization into the future. I'll do what I can to help. (sneaky way to get to Highbridge :))

From the Announcements thread:


The Board of Directors of the Professional Disc Golf Association is pleased to announce the selection of Brian Graham of Augusta, Georgia as the new Executive Director for the organization. The selection was made as a result of a nation-wide search process, which began in November of 2006. Candidates from both inside disc sports and from other fields were considered. That process was necessitated by the resignation of Brian Hoeniger, who has served the PDGA since 1996. A transition period of eight weeks has been scheduled as Mr. Graham will be starting work on April 2, 2007 and Hoeniger will be stepping down on May 31. Graham will be formally introduced as the new Executive Director at the Grand Opening and building dedication of the International Disc Golf Center in Appling, Georgia, which will be on April 20, 2007. One of Graham’s early responsibilities will be the selection of a new PDGA Memberships Manager as Lorrie Gibson will also be departing her position on the same schedule as her husband Brian Hoeniger, the current Executive Director.

Brian Graham brings a wide range of organizational experience and success to the PDGA position. Most recently he served as the Tournament Director for the 2006 PDGA World Championships, held in Augusta. He also has been a pivotal figure in the establishment of the International Disc Golf Center. He has been named the PDGA Volunteer of the Year and Tournament Director of the Year. His disc golf and sports association experience is extensive:

• Founded the Augusta Disc Golf Association
• Founder / creator of the PDGA International Disc Golf Center
• Co-owner Epicenter Disc Golf Services – EpicenterDiscGolf.com
• Board of Directors of the Greater Augusta Sports Council
• Board of Directors of the Pendleton King Park Commission
• Instituted the addition of disc golf as a sport in the Georgia State Games Championships
• PDGA Region 8 Coordinator (1999-2003)
• PDGA International Disc Golf Center committee chairman
• PDGA National Tour committee member (2003)
• PDGA Operations Marshal / Rules Official
• PDGA liaison to Deaf Disc Golf Association
• Major contributor / fundraiser for the Disc Golf Hall of Fame
• TD – Augusta Classic (PDGA SuperTour)
• TD – Disc Golf Hall of Fame Classic (PDGA National Tour)
• TD - 1996 PDGA Amateur World Championships (PDGA Major)
• TD – 2006 PDGA Pro World Championships (PDGA Major)
• TD – United States Disc Golf Championship (PDGA Major)
• TD – Georgia Games Championships (State Games)

He has also been an active course designer:

• Lake Olmstead Park - (Augusta, GA)
• Riverview Park - (North Augusta, SC)
• Pendleton King Park improvements - (Augusta, GA)
• Patriots Park - (Columbia County, GA)
• Odell Weeks Park - (Aiken, SC)
• Perry Park - (Aiken, SC)

Brian has also had great success as a fundraiser, being responsible for raising in excess of $600,000 for local, national and international disc golf projects.

In short, our new Executive Director brings a wealth of experience and enthusiasm to this challenging job. In accepting the post, Brian had these words for the members of the PDGA:

"I am extremely honored and excited to have been selected as the new executive director of the PDGA. I look forward to devoting my full energy and passion for the game into promoting the sport and serving the members of the association."



Awesome news!!! The PDGA is lucky to have Brian. Congratulations!

Congratulations, hope you enjoy the job.

Congratulations Brian!

Congratulations Mr Graham

I'm excited to where the PDGA will go with Brian!

Congrats Brian!

Congrats. Or should I say "condolences"? :)

Congrats Brian. I played the Am Worlds back in '96 and I'll never forget not just the great event that you and your crew put on but the way you were personally so hospitable to those of us who had come from far away to play.

Good luck and don't hesitate to holler if we can be of assistance to you here in SF.

Brian Graham,

Congratulations - You helped Deaf Disc Golf Association grow and i look forward to you steering the PDGA!!

congrats and good luck Brian!

-- -- -- --
edit:

i would suggest putting a text balloon with a caption reading "not marijuana" pointing to the plants behind you in the pic on the pdga home page, but then catering to those who would stereotype disc golfers is probably a bad idea :D

ps: i suggest everyone retain a sense of humor about these things because it is better to joke than to cry ;)

Congrats Brian! Looking forward to seeing you in April during the Hall of Fame Classic.

Thanks to everyone for your kind words and show of support. I have some really big shoes to fill but I am up for the challenge. I look forward to working on your behalf to move the sport forward and to improve the association.

Regards,
Brian Graham

Lucky us!

You'd think undertaking Pro Worlds on short notice, and the IDGC, would be enough for one disc golfer's resume. So congratulations as well---and thanks, Brian, for accepting the appointment.

Congrats!

This is an exciting time for disc golf.

Thanks to everyone for your kind words and show of support. I have some really big shoes to fill but I am up for the challenge. I look forward to working on your behalf to move the sport forward and to improve the association.

Regards,
Brian Graham



It's a thankless job, just ask Guru. Having said that, let me start off by saying THANK YOU for filling what i'm sure is a tough position.