Category: Uncategorized

Marcus Freeman Pays it Forward

First Tee is celebrating its 25th anniversary this month, and over the years, it’s helped produce no shortage of game changers. 

One example is Marcus Freeman from First Tee – Greater Charlotte. He says the organization has helped him grow as a golfer and person. 

“Being a part of this community has helped me get through hard times. First Tee – Greater Charlotte was a safe place for me in 2020. During this time my grandfather was going through end stage pancreatic cancer and my family, like the world, was navigating COVID-19 and social distancing,” he says. 

The support he received from First Tee inspired Freeman to pay it forward. 

He completed more than 300 hours of volunteer work for First Tee in 2021. He collected more than 500 books for a First Tee book drive, and he’s a member of the chapter’s participant advisory council. Freeman has also volunteered for his swim team and tutored students in Japanese.

“An aspect of volunteer work that I enjoy is seeing the impact that giving to others can have,” he says. 

Freeman is one of 28 First Tee participants from across the country who’ll attend Innovators Forum this November in Dallas. The workshop empowers First Tee teens to develop a meaningful service project in their community focused on education, health or sustainability. Eight participants will be awarded scholarships totaling $32,000 after the event.

A junior at Palisades High School, Freeman is an accomplished violinist, and he won a medal for performing Japanese poems in 2019. Freeman aspires to study sports science in college. “I enjoy learning more about physical fitness and how the body works,” he says. Freeman spends his free time researching training tips and injury recovery. 

As he progresses as an athlete and student, Freeman says he’ll continue to use the lessons and qualities he’s learned at First Tee, including confidence. 

“When I first joined the program, I was a little shy when meeting new coaches, parents and other players. I spent time observing the instructors and how they interacted with all the different people coming and going. I saw them shake hands, make eye contact, smile and speak confidently,” he says.  

“I knew I wanted those skills as well. I pushed myself out of my comfort zone, and I started to apply what I observed to my own social skills. I practiced a strong handshake. I introduced myself to people I didn’t know, and I have met many interesting people, like professional golfer Davis Love III, all because I have improved in sharing my personality.” 

Learn more about Innovators Forum. 

Alumna Hannah Rens Reaches for the Stars

Lots of kids aspire to become astronauts but few go on to build careers in space exploration. That hasn’t stopped Hannah Rens from chasing her dreams into orbit. 

The 24-year-old is a systems engineer for Boeing Space and Launch, working on Boeing’s Starliner, a commercial crew and cargo vehicle that will be transporting NASA astronauts to the international space station.  

“My ultimate career goal is to be chief engineer of a permanent human habitat on the moon,” says Rens, a former participant at First Tee – Siouxland and First Tee volunteer. “To achieve that goal, I need to develop advanced business skills, gain industry experience and further my engineering technical education.” 

That’s why she’s attending the First Tee Alumni Summit presented by Gallagher this November in Dallas. The event provides an opportunity for selected alumni to advance their career by building new skills while reconnecting with fellow alumni and chapter leaders. 

“I’m looking to learn more about working in a rapidly evolving industry, startups and founding your own business, and how to develop an effective personal brand,” she says. 

Rens says her nine years in First Tee helped shape her future. “It provided me with a structured path to improving my golf game, peer and trusted mentors, and interpersonal and professional skills that have been essential in achieving my goals,” she says. 

While in First Tee, she was selected to attend the Leaders and Entrepreneurs Forum at Disney World. “Getting to meet other students from across the U.S. while listening and working with successful business owners and entrepreneurs was unlike any other experience I had in high school,” she says. “The business principles and goals I learned have stayed with me.” 

A graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, Rens began her career with internships focused on aircraft maintenance and repair. As Starliner prepares to expand its service to additional sites in Earth’s orbit, Rens works on vehicle life span and sustainment. Ultimately, Starliner will become one of the first spacecraft with turnaround times closer to traditional air traffic. Talk about a Game Changer. 

Rens now serves as a mentor for high school and college students who want careers in the space industry, and she’s enrolled in an astronautical engineering master’s program at the University of Southern California focusing on human spaceflight. 

Rens still golfs, and she’s a certified open water and dry suit SCUBA diver. Learn more about the accomplishments of First Tee alumni. 

Intro to Golf Class a Success!

One of our goals at First Tee – NWA is to make golf, an oftentimes considered expensive sport, be more affordable and available to any youth who wants to give it a try. Our programming is affordable, we have scholarships available, and equipment that can be borrowed if youth do not have their own. Although we offer these solutions to some of the barriers that might keep kids from getting to experience the sport, we still found there were some that were hesitant to sign their child up for our program without knowing if their child would like it.

This fall we debuted our “Intro to Golf” program to allow participants to get a feel for what golf and First Tee was all about, before jumping into our membership program. We have seen huge success since offering this course. We’ve had many parents comment they had been eyeing First Tee, but were hesitant, and this program was enough to get them to jump in and let their kid try it. 

One participant, Liam, had never played golf before, and his mom was unsure if he was “too old” to join in a class, because at the age of 10, she thought others maybe had started younger and he would be behind other participants his age. Liam took our new Intro to Golf starter course, and he came away LOVING it. He confidently joined the next month’s First Tee class, and felt he had the knowledge of technique and terminology to feel comfortable. Liam’s success, and his mom’s praise, tells us this class is a perfect way to ease newcomers into the sport of golf as well as our First Tee curriculum and programming.

This new class was an idea that came to fruition thanks to one of our coaches, Coach Madison. Her goal going into the course was to help each kid grow individually and provide a personalized experience for them at First Tee. She worked hard to help each kid get familiar with not only golf, but the facility, the coaches, and the expectations set forth for golfers that come into our program. Her favorite part has been getting to know each kid from the very beginning of their golf journey, and seeing them come into the next month of First Tee classes with their heads held high, confident because they know what to do and what to expect. 

Confidence is key when Building Game Changers – we are glad to continue finding opportunities we can help youth build their confidence, make new friends, and find a sport they can spend the rest of their life enjoying!

The Key to Setting Reachable Goals

Have you ever thought about your achievements in life? What were the dreams and ambitions that you wanted to work towards? How did you get there? At First Tee, these are the type of questions we propose to kids and teens to help them understand the process of attaining goals; but to reach their goal, they must first understand how goals are formulated.  

A goal is something that you want to do, be or have, but it’s not something that you can do, be or have right at this moment. It’s something you must work to get in the future, and you can apply that to any challenge in life. For example, if your child wants to achieve Honor Roll and receive all As and Bs in school this year, what would that require them to do? They would need to do well on tests and assignments. How would they accomplish that? Encourage them to take good notes, turn in their work on time, and study for their tests. 

For kids, having guidelines or tools can effectively help them identify their goals and make them feel comfortable about reaching them. At First Tee, we utilize four guidelines to do this. Talk to your child about the dreams they currently have and try these out for yourself. 

Four Guidelines for Setting a Reachable Goal: 

  • The goal is Positive: 
    • I want to achieve a passing score of 80% or higher vs. I don’t want to fail this test 
  • The goal is Important to You: 
    • The goal needs to be important to you, not to someone else. You should be able to explain why you want to achieve it and why it will make a difference for you. 
  • The goal is Specific: 
    • You want to know exactly what you’re working toward. 
  • The goal is Under your Control: 
    • Your efforts will allow you to achieve this goal vs. Something that is out of your control like becoming famous or winning the lottery. 

Goal setting is a strategy kids and teens will apply for the rest of their life. When we set our goals, we want to be very clear about them so that we have the best chance to achieve them. The key to remember is that goals come in all shapes and sizes. Just because it doesn’t work for someone else doesn’t mean that you can’t achieve it. Your kids will learn from both their achievements and setbacks, but as they begin to set personal goals, they will learn and grow in ways that you did not think possible. 

Want to get involved with what we are building at First Tee? Click here to find out more. 

Making An Impact With Mobile Unit Youth Through Golf Camp

When the Character Development Mobile Unit began classes at George Elementary there was a quiet, shy 5th grader in class. She kept to herself and didn’t talk much, even after attending for a few weeks, but still she kept showing up every single day. Her mom worked at George and felt her daughter would benefit from the program to help build her confidence, work on her social skills, and bring her out of her shell. Quiet as she was, she joined every Mobile Unit session that was offered at her school. She always had a good attitude, but continued to keep to herself.

This summer we had the opportunity to offer some scholarships to Mobile Unit participants to attend our Summer Golf Camps held at our Lowell facility. This girl and her brother had the chance to come to our facility for the first time to experience golf. It didn’t take long for her to realize that she really enjoyed golf, and that it made her happy. Before long, she wasn’t as quiet and she wasn’t as shy. She began to come out of her shell, started smiling more, and was engaging in class. The change didn’t happen overnight, but after consistent exposure to our programming, and coaches who were pouring into her on a regular basis, she started to show more of her true personality.

This girl’s name is Kynli. She will be an upcoming 6th grader this next year, and feels better equipped to head back to school. According to her mom, the reserved, quiet girl she once was has turned into a more confident, outgoing girl who is not as afraid to try new things. Because of Kynli’s newfound confidence, and her growing interest in the game of golf, our goal is to help her get plugged in with our programming classes that are more golf-centric than the Mobile Unit classes provide.

When we say we are impacting kids, Kynli is a tremendous example of what that looks like. Yes, we teach golf, but we are so much more than that. Donations to First Tee – NWA allow us the opportunity to take the Mobile Unit and our Character Strong curriculum out into the communities. Donations to First Tee – NWA allow us to help kids like Kynli – coming out of her shell, growing confidence, being more comfortable trying new things. Golf was not a sport she had tried before, and wouldn’t have had the opportunity to do so without our programming. We love seeing the game grow, but also seeing how golf can intrinsically teach such vital life skills and help to build character in today’s youth. We are BUILDING GAME CHANGERS and cannot wait to see what Kynli’s future holds. 

Why Girls + Growing through Golf = Empowerment

Did you know more than 80 percent of First Tee chapters offer programming specifically for girls?  

“Growing up playing golf, I never imagined being in the golf industry,” said Rebecca Caimano, assistant executive director at First Tee — Greater Philadelphia, who joined the chapter in 2011 to help grow its girls programming. “It was tough being the only female who played golf.” 

Now, Rebecca is among thousands of leaders/coaches who are involved in First Tee. 

First Tee views golf as a metaphor for life. It’s not the score that counts, but what you learn along the way. The game is a perfect practice ground for learning skills that extend far beyond the course. Let’s face it, digging deep when things get tough is a natural part of our sport – and life – experiences. 

As we celebrate our 25th anniversary (& Women’s Golf Day), First Tee is proud of the role we’re playing in helping more young girls embrace the sport and what they can learn through it. Thanks to many female coaches and leaders throughout our network – like Rebecca – we are a safe place where girls can come, be themselves and learn from coaches and role models on the course and in the business world.  

Also, thanks to organizations like USGA (a Founding Partner), LPGA-USGA Girls Golf and John Deere, sponsor of the Drive Your Future Academy, a national leadership development opportunity for female First Tee teens, we continue to intentionally offer opportunities for girls’ personal growth and development in many ways.  

Empowering girls for a brighter future 

While many First Tee alumnae have gone on to work in golf, others have excelled in different areas, including medicine, journalism and public affairs. And we think that’s great for them, and for the world around us. 

Studies have shown that women leaders are engaging and collaborative, yet it hasn’t always been easy for women to break into many top leadership roles. Golf can help. 

Ninety percent of Fortune 500 CEOs play golf, according to the PGA of America, and more than half of all businesspeople believe golf is a valuable networking tool. Women executives believe that a background in sport was helpful to career advancement because it prepared them to work better in teams, and behaviors and techniques can be applied to the corporate setting (Women’s Sports Foundation).   

First Tee teaches valuable life skills that can help girls as they become leaders. Through our personal growth and junior golf programs, we encourage girls to build self-confidence that they’ll carry with them into their future.  

“I originally stuck with it [golf] because I wanted to beat my brother,” Rebecca continued. “And now, here I am, using a sport that changed my life to change others.”  

Now, that’s girl power.  

Approximately 25% of First Tee’s coaches are women, and we’d love to increase that number! If you are interested or know of a passionate female leader in your life, please point her here to get involved: https://firsttee.org/get-involved/coach-volunteer/  

Catching Up With the Inaugural First Tee Scholar

Sixteen-year-old First Tee – Lake County (Hammond, Ind.) participant, Steven Outlaw, was notified during the 2001 First Tee Network Summit, the annual gathering of those within the First Tee network, that he was going to have to make his speech earlier than originally scheduled. The events to follow happened in a way that only fate decides.  

Steven describes it as “being in the right place at the right time.” Using one of the first skills instilled into First Tee participants, as well as taught within his own household, on how to properly introduce yourself to others, Steven walked right up to one of the other speakers of the evening, former president of Georgetown College, Dr. William Crouch, and shook his hand. Steven’s demeanor stood out to Dr. Crouch and gave him quite the idea.  

Following Steven’s speech, Dr. Crouch scrapped his own prepared comments and surprised Steven with a full scholarship to Georgetown College and news that he planned to provide a full scholarship to First Tee participants every year following. This full-ride scholarship would alleviate the financial burden of furthering Steven’s education. 

Bob Krause, former vice president of institutional advancement at Kansas State University, followed suit with Dr. Crouch’s pledge. The First Tee Scholars Program was born and set to begin by 2003 with the inaugural class of Scholars, many of whom Steven is still in touch with today.  

L to R: Christopher Hawkins, First Tee – Metro Atlanta alumnus and First Tee Scholar Class of 2003; Adam Ruegg, Troon Golf; Steven Outlaw, First Tee – Lake County alumnus and inaugural First Tee Scholar; Rod Jackson, First Tee – Metro Atlanta alumnus; Brandon White, current Program Director First Tee – Lake County. 

As the inaugural First Tee Scholar, Steven graduated from Georgetown College with a degree in political science. After college, he enrolled in the PGA, PGM Accelerated Program. After completing two levels of the program, he secured an internship with Troon Golf, a leading golf management company. He has since worked with Troon Golf for nearly 15 years, starting in Arizona and traveling overseas to work in the Middle East, and in Malaysia managing The Els Club Teluk Datai (rated #83 in the world by Golf Digest in 2016).   

More recently, Steven serves as the PGA Director of Golf at Wickenburg Ranch Golf & Social Club, managed by Troon Golf.  Steven has been a PGA Class A Professional for more than 10 years and currently serves on the Southwest Section PGA Board of Directors and is very active with Troon’s D&I Council. Going forward, Steven aspires to ascend the ranks in the PGA of America, with a passion specifically around diversity, equity and inclusion and positive change within the game of golf. 

Though Steven had numerous amazing opportunities during his time as a First Tee participant, he now prides himself in exploring what he can do for First Tee as an adult. He works closely with First Tee – Lake County, often supplying the chapter with donations.  

“These opportunities would not have been possible without First Tee and the core values instilled in me such as perseverance and confidence. Much of what I learned during my time with First Tee I use now to strengthen and empower my team. I am forever grateful and honored to be part of such a great organization. I look forward to the future of First Tee and the path they will pave for the next generation.” 

Eleven years after Steven’s speech, the First Tee Scholars Program continues to thrive. It has since received a face-lift following Greg McLaughlin being named First Tee CEO in 2019.  

Relaunching officially in 2020, President George W. Bush, honorary First Tee chair, congratulated the first class of the revamped program. First Tee College Scholarship Program now extends its impact to alumni beyond financial support, providing personal and professional development throughout their post-graduate careers.  

Each of the Scholars is paired with a dedicated, trained adult mentor who helps encourage and guide them throughout the college experience, including virtual and in-person meetups. The program also provides professional development workshops held in-person throughout the year, and up to $5,000 per year toward tuition.   

“First Tee aims to inspire and empower every young person in the program to set goals and begin pursuing them,” said McLaughlin. “The First Tee College Scholarship Program is intended to motivate young people to stay in the program and support alumni as they matriculate through the college.” 

In recognition of First Tee’s 25th anniversary, the Class of 2022 includes 25 First Tee Scholars. This time, Steven Outlaw has turned the tables, joining as a mentor to one of the Scholars.   

“I was extremely fortunate to be surrounded by great professionals as I progressed through my time with the First Tee.  These individuals helped me grow not only in golf, but personally and professionally.  I consider myself lucky to be able to return the favor to the next generation!” 

We believe in helping youth succeed – on the golf course and in life. Learn more about our programs and how you can get involved. 

Three Ways to Help Kids Develop a Positive Self Identity

Experiences are our greatest teachers. They shape how we treat others, how we see the world around us, and how we view ourselves. How we view ourselves is also known as our self identity and is defined as the qualities and potential you possess. It can influence the choices you make, the attitude you have day-to-day, and ultimately, it becomes your inner voice. For youth especially, a positive self identity can have a massive impact on who they become as adults. There are many ways parents can help their kids develop a positive self identity, and at First Tee we pride ourselves in nurturing a positive self identity for youth. Here are three ways you can help your kids develop a positive self identity inspired by our core values. 

Live Your Values

Kids watch and learn from the adults in their lives every day. Studying their actions and responses, they develop their identity based on their guardians and the other mentors in their life. If you live according to the values you want your kids to have, then they are more likely to absorb that into their own independent lives. That being said, having a mentor is a great way to ensure this happens. At First Tee,youth learn from their coaches by:

  • Treating others with respect and honesty 
  • Experiencing the value of teamwork, not just by being told to act as a team but by witnessing their coach lead with teamwork. 
  • Watching their coaches exercise positive self talk and kindness to others around them brings out the best in themselves and their self identity.  

Create a Culture of Acceptance

When there is no room for failure there is no room for growth. Fostering an environment that is not only safe for kids to fail but encourages them to try again, helps kids develop a strong sense of self. Acceptance also transcends just failure; it also means that every person, regardless of their background, is welcome. We work together to actively create a space of belonging for every kid— no matter what walk of life. Through example we encourage youth to accept their team members for who they are, treat each other with kindness, and create that culture of acceptance everywhere, so that when they reflect on themselves and their own identity they treat themselves with the same level of respect and positivity that they give others.

Empowerment Through Experiences

For kids, experiences shape their inner voice that gives them confidence and character. Not all experiences in life are easy, and when we empower youth to persevere and stay true to themselves, we bring out the best that’s inside of them. First Tee exists to enable kids to build the strength of character that empowers them through a lifetime of new challenges. As time goes on, that empowerment creates a strong sense of self, and encourages a positive self identity even in difficult situations. 

Though a positive self identity may seem like something only some people are born with, it is really something that can be cultivated through leading by example, an open culture of acceptance, and consistent empowerment through all experiences. What do you want your child’s inner voice to sound like when they grow up? Nurturing their self identity can make all the difference in that. We guide kids and teens to strengthen what’s inside and put it into action. If you are interested in getting your child involved with First Tee, you can learn more and sign up today! 

Why Choose Our Summer Camp For Your Child?

It’s easy to sell a child on a summer camp – mention water games, scavenger hunts, races, obstacle courses, and prizes and they are going to be all in. But how can you, the parent, tell what camp is best for your child? Our camps are opportunities for your child to learn a little about golf, have fun doing it, as well as participate in fun activities that are seamlessly integrated with life skills and character development that can be taken beyond the golf course. Here is our list of reasons why your child would benefit from a First Tee – NWA summer camp experience:

  • GROW THE GRIT: Your child will be given opportunities to try new things, which in turn will lead to errors and mistakes as they grasp something new. They will grow grit and become problem solvers as they learn to navigate these new experiences and handle their mistakes on their own.
  • DISCOVER THEIR BEST SELF: Your child will have opportunities throughout camp to build confidence in themselves and develop new friendships with coaches and peers.
  • MEET POSITIVE ROLE MODELS: Our coaching staff is made up of some incredible adults and youth alike who are setting positive examples for your child in a fun setting. We practice what we teach – so your child will be exposed to coaches who are demonstrating respect, confidence, and good sportsmanship as they get to know your child and develop a positive relationship with them throughout the duration of the camp.
  • DEVELOP COMMUNICATION SKILLS: Communication is a key component in life, and camp provides many opportunities for face-to-face conversations, both with peers and coaches. Respect in the game of golf involves eye contact when speaking, and a handshake before and after a round. These are great communication tools that your child can take with them to be used in any setting.
  • UNPLUGGED: Our camps are completely unplugged. Your child will be getting a lot of fresh air and Vitamin D as they have some fun in the sun, away from the screen time.

The great thing about our camp is that we can provide these incredible opportunities while doing it all in fun, and exciting ways that keeps the kids engaged and wanting to come back for more. Let them think they are getting a week of games, races, water fun, obstacle courses, and more, but rest assured you won’t be disappointed in the other things they will be learning as well! Camps are offered 8 weeks throughout the summer – to register you can find the dates on our registration portal. For more information, call Penny at the golf shop (479) 419-5807.

Building Understanding, Trust and Empathy with Active Listening

Every conversation can be an opportunity to learn something new, build trust with someone, and deepen connections. This happens when we build the skill of active listening and learn to treat listening as an active process – not a passive one. 

What is Active Listening?

Active listening is a way of listening and responding to another person that improves mutual understanding. It’s about being present, listening to understand (not respond), and showing active interest and engagement in the dialogue.  

Why does it matter? 

Active listening is an important skill for all of us to cultivate. Not only is it an important leadership skill, it has been shown to promote mindful thinking, can reduce anxiety and depression, helps build relationships and can promote empathy.  

How do we practice it?

At First Tee, we use a process called A-L-R to help build connection through active listening. This helps us to deepen conversations, keep them going, and get the most out of them. Here’s how A-L-R works:

  • Asking questions: Asking thoughtful questions is not only a way you can keep the conversation going, but it gives you a deeper understanding of the person or topic you are engaging with. 
    • Helpful Tip: Be curious. Try asking questions that dig a bit deeper: How did they feel in that moment? What was going on in their minds during that experience? What would they do differently the next time? These make the conversation richer, rather than closed-ended questions that are typically answered with a simple Yes or No.  
  • Listening to understand: When you ask a question, it is important to listen carefully to what the person is saying. We can sometimes be fixated on what we are going to say next, or when it’s our turn to jump back into the conversation, but try not to think about what you are going to say next.. Your focus is on them and their perspective rather than your own. 
    • Helpful Tip: Make an effort to try to clear your mind first of any distracting thoughts. It can help to jot down a mental or physical note of things on your mind in order to give your full attention. 
  • Reflect & respond to the reply: Keep the conversation going by responding in a way that connects with what they just said. You can try to restate in your own words what the person said, share what you think or feel about it, or ask another open-ended question that connects with what the person just said.
    • Helpful Tip: Show engagement and interest in what they are saying: look them in the eye when they are talking, use body language like nodding your head.


Active listening requires work, but you’ll be surprised at how much reward there is when you approach conversations and communication with this skill. Active listening is just one of the skills we are supporting kids and teens to build at First Tee. Click here to find out more about our programs.

Welcome New Board Members!

We are excited to announce the addition of several new board members starting in January 2022. Tony Katzer, who has been on our board for a few years, will now be our President. Dave Pollard will be our Vice President, and Randall Hurban, will be our Secretary and Treasurer moving forward. We are grateful to have some board members continuing to serve – Chris Woodard, Shauna Estes-Taylor, and Brad Blankenship. We appreciate our new members of the board and hope you will help us welcome them. The way our program is set up and expanding into the community to grow our reach with youth from different backgrounds, we are excited to have a diverse board that mirrors the diverse communities we serve. We feel strongly that each board member brings their own personal experiences, professional contacts, and life situations with them, and this will help us to take into consideration several factors when moving forward and planning for the future of First Tee – NWA. We are also thrilled to be adding our first Honorary Board Member, former Razorback, LPGA professional, Maria Fassi. Get to know our newest board members:

Roger Vessell – Roger is a result oriented global strategic marketing business leader with broad experience in diverse competitive business settings, both domestic and international. He is known for building marketing business units from the ground up. Roger moved to NWA in 2011 and worked for Cobb-Vantress, Inc. where he created and led a comprehensive global marketing business unit. He retired from Cobb-Vantress, Inc. as the Senior Director of Global Marketing in 2021.

Noel Sosa – Noel brings with him 21 years of broadcasting experience. He is currently the general manager of Rox Radio Group, the largest independent radio provider in Northwest Arkansas. Noel has produced and hosted thousands of on air programs, as well as served as MC for hundreds of concerts and special event promotions. His main goal in his current position is is to connect with other local companies, brands and businesses to make a positive impact in the community as well as create a strong, reliable and consistent means of business.

Leslye Perna – Leslye comes to us with a Bachelor’s Degree in Diagnostic Medical Sonography from UAMS. Born in Fort Smith, she has also lived in Memphis, TN, Charleston, SC, Colombia, MO, and now resides in Bentonville, AR with her husband Mark and two kids, Greyson (9) and Lyla (7). Leslie’s family enjoys attending First Tee programs and her heart is giving back to the NWA community through volunteering.

Jimmy Prencipe – Jimmy is currently the head of People Operations at Tyson Foods. He has been with Tyson since 2017. He is accountable for the leadership of the People Operations delivery organization, driving HR excellence and leading others to achieve Tyson’s broader HR goals. Jimmy has 14 years experience in the executive search and corporate talent acquisition arena. Prior to working at Tyson, he worked with Walmart’s talent acquisition department and was a key member of Korn Ferry’s global aerospace, defense, and aviation practice.

Carlos Chicas – Carlos has nearly two decades of experience in broadcasting, and is currently serving as a sports anchor for the Spanish television station, Azteca TV. He is known to many as the “Spanish Voice of the Razorbacks.” After graduating from John Brown University with a Masters of Science in Counseling, Carlos took on a counseling role at the ALLPS School of Innovation in Fayetteville, Ark. Carlos has decades of soccer experience which culminated when he suited up in the Guatemalan professional soccer leagues. Since then, he has accumulated over 20 years of coaching experience, and holds an NSCAA Premier Diploma, a Goalkeeping Diploma and a National “Y” coaching license. Currently, Carlos enjoys coaching the U17 Bentonville (Ark.) Prodigy boy’s club and has led the squad to three consecutive Arkansas State Cup championships. Carlos and his wife, Deysi, live in Rogers with their three children, Kelly Melissa, Carley Isabel and Carlitos.

Maria Fassi (Honorary Member) – Maria is originally from Pachuca, Hidalgo, Mexico, and came to NWA to be a Razorback for the University of Arkansas. She is now an LPGA professional and recently the Maria Fassi Foundation started a new program called Fassi’s Friends which calls First Tee – NWA its home. Inspired by a cousin with special needs who grew up watching Maria play golf and wanting to learn herself, Fassi’s Friends was born. It was difficult to find a golf instructor or program that was adaptive to youth with special needs; that along with Maria’s heart for kids is where Fassi’s Friends began. Her goals align so closely with ours at First Tee, and help with programming and our facility becoming more inclusive. We are proud to have her as an honorary member on our board.