
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 18th
green, which also has a great view of the 9th 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.
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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.
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