McGladrey is All About Community

Guest post by Teresa Carlin, project manager – tax consulting services, with McGladrey LLP, the nation’s leading provider of assurance, tax and consulting services focused on the middle market. Teresa is the firm’s national Birdies Fore Love leader, who was chosen to attend The McGladrey Classic as a result of her leadership in raising funds for children- and family-based charitable organizations nationwide. 

Having been to Sea Island for The McGladrey Classic Media Day this past in September, I could not have been more excited to return this week for the tournament. Immediately upon my arrival at the Jacksonville airport, I knew I was no longer in Manhattan when even my rental car representative looked at my ID and wished me a HUGE happy birthday! I smiled, as I was glad to be back among the Southern hospitality for which this area is so well-known. Everything about Sea Island and The McGladrey Classic is spectacular. However, the people are what make it truly special and unforgettable.

I brought my mother as my guest and couldn’t wait for her to experience The McGladrey Classic and Sea Island, as she is an even bigger golf fan than I am. Wednesday was the Pro-Am, and we watched many of the groups come in while in the McGladrey Chalet on 18^th green, which also has a great view of the 9^th green. We even saw the group made up of PGA TOUR Professional and Team McGladrey Member Davis Love III, Country Music Superstar Darius Rucker, McGladrey Chief Finance Officer Doug Opheim and McGladrey Chief Marketing Office Andy Bosman come in. They provided endless amusement while we watched Doug and Darius take a selfie after the round, with Davis “photo-bombing” it in the background.

The Wednesday afternoon charity putting challenge was just one of my favorite events. McGladrey executives suited up in caddie bibs, as PGA Pros and kids from the local Special Olympics and Boys and Girls Clubs played a 12-hole putting challenge. The joy on these kids’ faces and the enjoyment of the McGladrey execs and Pro golfers was truly special to watch. As national leader of McGladrey’s Birdies Fore Love efforts this year, I’ve been able to see firsthand not only the engagement and excitement from our McGladrey offices, but also the local Sea Island community. McGladrey and the Davis Love Foundation have gone to great lengths to contribute more than $2 million to deserving charitable organizations through The McGladrey Classic, which is incredible.

It will be wonderful to watch McGladrey’s value of stewardship continue, as Managing Partner and CEO Joe Adams, Davis Love III, and PGA Commissioner Tim Finchem announced at a press conference Wednesday afternoon that McGladrey has agreed to sponsor The McGladrey Classic for another five years, through 2020! I’m sure the tournament will only get better and better as the years go on.

Wednesday night, we attended the annual “Live Under the Oaks” concert on the Plantation Course. I have been to many golf tournaments in my life, but never have I been to one that included such a fun and outstanding concert! Darius Rucker played for an enthusiastic crowd of local Golden Isles residents; McGladrey representatives, clients and potential clients; and many PGA golfers. My parents took me to see Hootie and the Blowfish as my first concert about 20 years ago, so I was delighted to be able to take my mom to see Darius perform both new and old hits. What was truly amazing is that he donated the entire concert – set, lights, band, crew, time, and talent – to the tournament. Talk about stewardship!

Our experience here has been an unforgettable one already, and it has only just begun. I couldn’t be more proud of McGladrey as a firm. All the employees truly pulled together to make Birdies Fore Love a success this year. The success of the program would not have been possible without our office champions – who put in so much time and effort to make it happen in their local offices. We would not have been able to affect our local communities if it were not for the work of the Davis Love Foundation, particularly James Stevens and his team, doing all the behind-the-scenes work for us. Lastly, all the people at McGladrey – it is truly unique to be part of such a firm where even the highest level executives are so engaging, caring and kind. My mother has been blown away by not only the people at Sea Island, but the people at McGladrey who I get to work with everyday! I’m truly lucky to be a part of such a great community.