Mr. Iorio is a Class A PGA of America member who has over seven years of experience in the golf industry as a club professional. He became a PGA member in February 2003 and has spent the majority of his time in golf facility operations where he has gained extensive experience in budgeting, merchandising, marketing, and teaching. Mr. Iorio has previously held positions at Fieldstone Golf Club in Delaware, Hartefeld National Golf Club in Pennsylvania, Flint Hills National Golf Club in Kansas, and Terradyne Resort Hotel & Country Club in Kansas. At Hartefeld, he assisted “Top One Hundred Teaching Professional” Brad Redding. Mr. Iorio is a graduate of Wichita State University where he played on the university’s NCAA Division One men’s golf team and earned a Sports Business Degree. He is a certified club fitter and is currently involved with the latest video analysis and teaching trends in the industry. Mr. Iorio was formerly the Associate Director, at Golf Academy of America – Phoenix.

Mr. Nicolaisen has been in the golf industry for 20 years and became a Member of the PGA of America in 1998. He worked as an Assistant Professional at Torrey Pines Golf Club from 1989 -- 1991. In 1992 he took a year off and caddied on the Hogan Tour which is now the Nationwide Tour. At the start of 1993 he became an Assistant Professional at The Olympic Club in San Francisco until 1999 when he was promoted to First Assistant Golf Professional. During this time, Mr. Nicolaisen worked two Tour Championships in 1993, 1994 and one U.S. Open in 1998. After moving to San Diego, CA in 2000 he became the Head Golf Professional at The Auld Course in Chula Vista, CA until the end of 2003 when he became the Director of Golf at The Crosby in Rancho Santa Fe, CA. These experiences have given Mr. Nicolaisen extensive background in facility management, tournaments and Member/Guest relations. Mr. Nicolaisen earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Quantitative Economics and Decision Science at U.C San Diego.

Mr. Neisch has been in the golf industry since 1989 and became a PGA of America member in 1997. Originally from Michigan, he graduated from the Professional Golf Management program at Ferris State University with a B.S. in Business in 1995. Directly after graduating Mr. Neisch served as the First Assistant Golf Professional at Hawthorne Hills Golf Club in Lima, OH. He continued his career in the golf industry as Assistant Operations Manager at Michigan State University - Forest Akers Golf Courses then directed his golf industry experiences toward the corporate golf sector holding a position as Sports Marketing Project Supervisor with The Golf Digest Companies then the position of Director of Rules with Buick Golf/Buick Scramble. While with Buick Golf/Buick Scramble he directed rules and handicapping for 75,000 amateur and 3500 PGA Professional golfers through Local, Sectional, and National Championship events across the United States and Canada. Mr. Neisch earned his MBA from Virginia College in 2009. He is a certified TPI Certified Golf Fitness Instructor and a certified Henry - Griffitts club fitter. These experiences have given Mr. Neisch an extensive background in rules, tournament operations, golf instruction, management, and marketing throughout the golf industry.

Mr. Kaese is a Class A member of the PGA of America. For the last five years he had been the Director of Instruction at Riverwalk Golf Club in San Diego, CA. He has also held Director of Instruction roles at Mission Trails Golf Club in San Diego, CA and Celebration Golf Club just outside of Orlando, FL. Originally from Chicago, he started his career as an assistant golf professional at Fresh Meadow Golf Course in Hillside, IL. Mr. Kaese graduated from University of Illinois - Champaign with a Broadcast Journalism Degree. Prior to being in the golf industry he spent time working for radio and television stations in Chicago.

Mr. Connole is a Class A PGA member with over 12 years of experience working in the golf business. He grew up in Montana loving golf. After studying business and Korean at BYU his desires to pursue golf as a career led him to the San Diego Golf Academy (now the Golf Academy of America) where he entered as a student in August 1997. Sixteen months later, Kevin graduated as the Valedictorian of his class and took a position as the Director of Nike Golf Schools and Junior Camps in Park City, UT and worked as an assistant pro at Wasatch Mountain Golf Course.

Two years later he had the opportunity as the Tournament Director to help open Whirlwind Golf Club, a Troon Golf property that hosted 5 Nationwide Tour events. He spent the next 10 years in Arizona working in various positions in the golf business, including teaching at the Kent Chase Golf Academy, 1st Assistant at Oakwood Golf Club and the first Head Professional at Robson Ranch Golf Club.

Most recently he operated his own sports and training company teaching golf to youth from charter schools and running after-school golf programs in 3 public school districts. As an advocate of junior golf, Kevin served as a member of the Southwest Section PGA Junior Golf Committee. He is certified as a TPI Golf Fitness Instructor. His years spent in the golf industry have given Kevin extensive background in tournament operations, teaching and management.

Mr. Flanagan has over 20 years of experience in the golf industry and became a PGA of America member in 1986. He held positions as Assistant Golf Professional, Head Golf Professional, Director of Golf Operations, and General Manager. His most recent position was as Director of Golf Operations for a period of 16 years at Doubletree Resort, San Diego, California. Mr. Flanagan was awarded “Golf Professional of the Year” from the San Diego Chapter PGA in 1994 and 1996. He has served on the Board of Directors for the San Diego Chapter PGA for a period of 12 years as President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Junior Golf Chairman. He hosted the weekly “Golf Tip of the Week” during the evening news for a period of over 10 years on KUSI-TV, Channel 9/51, in San Diego. Mr. Flanagan earned his A.A.B. degree at the San Diego Golf Academy in 1982. Mr. Flanagan was formerly the Campus Director at San Diego.

Mr. Sable is a Class A PGA Member who comes to Golf Academy of America with over 10 years of golf professional experience at public, private, and resort facilities. Originally from Wisconsin, he enjoys travel and has worked in Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, Oregon, and California. Most recently, he was 1st Assistant at Ridge Country Club, the only private country club in the city of Chicago. Prior to working in the golf industry, Mr. Sable had a distinguished 10-year Army and Coast Guard aviation career. He received his B.S. Degree from the University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point in 1985 and also graduated with Honors from the Golf Academy of San Diego in 1999.

Brian Smith began his golfing career prior to the age of two. He grew up in New Hampshire where he golfed in season and played hockey in the winter. Being fortunate enough to be a junior Member of Nashua CC, he spent his youth involved in the states junior program. Upon graduation from the University of New Hampshire, Brian relocated to sunny San Diego.

After serving as an apprentice at Fairbanks Ranch CC in Rancho Santa Fe, Brian obtained his PGA Class A certification in 1997. An opportunity became available to instruct at Shadowridge CC in Vista, CA. Brian spent ten years at the Club doing ninety percent of the instruction, coordinating the year round junior golf program, and directing outside tournaments.

When the opportunity presented itself at Golf Academy of America, Brian found it to be the perfect way to give back to the game. Brian is a certified club fitter, and is currently enrolled in the TPI Certified Golf Fitness Instructor Program. He has two professional victories to his name in San Diego PGA chapter events and now just enjoys playing with the students.

Mr. Wecksler is a Class A PGA of America member with over five years of experience in the golf industry. After graduating from San Diego Golf Academy at the time in 2003, now being Golf Academy of America he worked as an Assistant Golf Professional at Coto de Caza Golf and Racquet Club in Coto de Caza, California and at Big Canyon Country Club in Newport Beach, California. He obtained his PGA Class A membership in 2006 and obtained certifications in Golf Operations, General Management, Executive Management, Retail, Instruction, and Ownership and Leasing in 2007. He serves a Mentor in the Southern California Section and operates a website providing tutoring support to PGA apprentices and PGA members enrolled in the Professional Golf Management Program and the Certified Professional Programs. Prior to starting his golf career, he spent over twenty years in the medical laboratory business where he held a number of positions in both research and operations management. Mr. Wecksler has a bachelor’s degree in biology and a doctorate in biochemistry from the University of California at Riverside and an MBA in Finance and Marketing from UCLA.