Executive Women's Golf Association

	Shawn Kruger, President, president@dallasewga.com I joined the EWGA in 2006 in search of fun loving women that are passionate about the game of golf and I’ve made many new friends, not only in Dallas but in other chapters across the US. As a professional, I learned golf as a business tool and grew to love the game but didn’t truly start to improve until I joined the EWGA and had the opportunities to play more frequently, attend clinics and always find delightful ladies to hit the links with! I’m committed to delivering a quality membership experience to each and every member so if I ask you about your experience it’s because I’m truly interested in learning more about you and your ideas on how we can connect, play, learn and enjoy!
	Pia Ackerman, Secretary, secretary@dallasewga.com I am a CPA and the Senior Vice President of Tax for Ashford Hospitality Trust, a publicly traded real estate investment trust in the hospitality industry. I relocated to Dallas in December 2007 to take this position. Prior to that, I had a long career in public accounting, most recently in Atlanta, where I was a principal with Ernst & Young, LLP and served as the Southeast Area Real Estate Tax Operations Leader. I am a native northern Californian and also claims the Washington, DC, area as one of my previous home bases. I have been a member of the EWGA since 2003 and while affiliated with the Atlanta chapter, I served one board term as Treasurer. In both Atlanta and Washington, DC, I worked for charity golf tournaments benefiting women and girls and volunteered at professional golf tournaments. I am also a tennis player. I enjoy global travel and have only one more continent to check off my list! I live in the Dallas neighborhood of Preston Hollow with her two year old cat, Beauregard Ackerman. I joined the EWGA to meet people to play golf with and also to encourage myself and other women to use golf for business. In addition, I have found that the EWGA has been a great way to obtain introductions to charity golf events that benefit women and girls.
	Kristi Johnston, Immediate Past President, pastpresident@dallasewga.com I joined the Dallas EWGA in 2006 at a time when I had only played golf a few times. As a new golfer I felt intimidated to join a golf organization; however, the EWGA members welcomed me with open arms. It was the friendships and ladies that kept me coming back, not my golf game. I volunteered and became the Communications Chair late in 2006 and was elected as the Vice President in 2007. I hope that my story will encourage other new golfers to join the EWGA. I am the VP of Operations for Ellipse Communications Inc, a Dallas EWGA sponsor. I graduated from LeTourneau University with a BS in Business Administration in 2008. I have a wonderful husband, a new baby girl, two daschunds, and two cats.
	Patte Lee, Membership Chair, membership@dallasewga.com Patte Lee is a financial advisor who loves to work with women - she has a specialty working with those who are "suddenly single" due to divorce or widowhood. Patte considers golf her "therapy" and has belonged to EWGA in Charlotte, NC and Atlanta, GA prior to moving to Dallas. She loves being with other women who love the game. She is also learning to play bridge and is a master hula hooper.
	Krista Hartman ’KK’, Communications, communications@dallasewga.com In January 2009, I joined the Dallas EWGA and had one of my best golf years ever thanks to the opportunities to forge new friendships via golf and the great group of women who make up Dallas EWGA. Having been a member since 2002 while living in downtown Chicago. EWGA was a perfect way to meet Dallas women golfers after my husband and I relocated here in late 2006. My golf journey started at age 4, when Dad brought old garage sale clubs home for me and my big brother, cut the shafts to "fit" our heights, took us to the hardware store to pick out what color tape we wanted wrapped around the recycled grips and took us to a nearby public 9-hole golf course in Iowa City for our first lesson and introduction to golf. 40 years later, my golf journey has gone from successful junior competitor, to a "brief thought" about playing competitively in college, to becoming a teaching pro following college graduation, to leaving golf for a little while, to returning and loving amateur golf because it’s where golf is fun for me and my "love" of the game renews. I have my own Personal and Business Coaching business, She Kan! Kompany; and just as I love to see people discover their greatness on the golf couse, I love to see them discover their personal greatness in every day Life.
	Angela Ellexson-Hankins, Leadership Chair, leadership@dallasewga.com I joined EWGA to meet fun women to golf with. I have met so many interesting women! I was able to meet so many women by really participating in the multitude of events the EWGA offers.
	Wendy Welch, Social Events, socialevents@dallasewga.com I have been an EWGA member for 5 years, 1 with the San Diego Chapter and 4 with the Dallas Chapter. The organized events give me more opportunities to improve my game and meet new people who share my love of golf. My participation on the Board allows me to give back to an organization that has given me so much: a foursome anytime I need one, lessons and clinics that aid me in becoming a better golfer, and friendships that will last a lifetime. I have enjoyed playing golf at some amazing courses and making good friends along the way. I look forward to helping our members connect on a social level in 2010!
	Katheryn Pieters (K.P.), Golf Education and Player Development, education@dallasewga.com I began golfing in 2006 and joined EWGA to find other women interested in the game. What I found was friendship and women who share a passion for excellence in all aspects of life. Working in the telecom sector for a large corporation, it is easy to let the "hustle and bustle" move your life out of balance; so in finding golf and the EWGA, I have restored balance to my life. I enjoy being active and outdoors, forgetting about the work, and most importantly, have met women who inspire me.
	Tracy Huber, Golf Events, events@dallasewga.com I grew up in the Dallas area, moved away for college, and then my job at the time had an opportunity to bring me & my husband back to Texas in 2001. Currently, I am an Enterprise Sale Executive with WageWorks, selling pre-tax benefit programs to Fortune 1000 companies. I have been a member of EWGA since 2002. I joined when I was pregnant with my first child (amazing how much your golf swing changes with baby). Prior to joining, I played sporadically with friends (and did not know the rules too well). My boss at the time told me about the EWGA in order to play more frequently with other women golfers. I have loved the opportunity to meet wonderful & fun ladies, learn the rules, play some amazing courses, and see my handicap drop about 50% with the regular golf events and play days. I now have two kiddos, but still will find time to get at least one event in a month. It is my ‘me time’ and, hopefully, my love of golf will inspire my children to pick up the game and enjoy it with me one day.
	Juley Welch, Handicap Chair, handicap@dallasewga.com I joined EWGA in 2008 to expand my golfing opportunities. My affiliation with EWGA has allowed me to meet and golf with some amazing women and to play on courses and in events that I wouldn’t normally have the opporutnity to experience. I have played golf off and on since I was a teenager, but most of that time I was affiliated with coutnry clubs. Having served on many boards during those many years, it seemed appropriate to take a leadership role in EWGA. Besides, working with these talented ladies keeps me young and constantly in a learning mode.
	Audrey Yazbek, Treasurer, treasurer@dallasewga.com I joined the EWGA in the summer of 2008 when my husband and I were new to Dallas. The EWGA was a great way to meet new golf friends and build a business network in the local area. I have met so many amazing women in the Dallas Chapter and I always have friends to play with whenever I can get out on the course! The EWGA has enabled me to play courses all over the Metroplex and has exposed me to many aspects of the game that I was not previously familiar, such as the wonderful world of match play! I am originally from Denver, but have been in Texas since 2003. My husband and I relocated to Dallas after living in the Austin area for 5 years while Paul was on active duty in the Army. I am a CPA and a Controller at Pulte Homes for our Gulf Coast Area (Texas and Florida).
	Diana Gats, Sponsorship Chair, sponsorship@dallasewga.com Diana enjoys speaking engagements that range from industry topics, to business issues, to golf and active involvement with non-profits. Today, she is on the Board of Girl’s Golf of Texas and just published in the book “Unstoppable Woman.” Diana is the recent Sectional Director, South Central for EWGA (Executive Women’s Golf Association) and co-chair for MENG (Marketing Executives Networking Group), Dallas Chapter. Prior non-profit and business board positions were YMCA, Easter Seals, and Lady Fairway golf products. Diana is the CEO and owner of two businesses: The Alternative Board–DallasMetroWest andVPT Enterprise, LLC.
	Heather Beaudoin, Vice-President, vicepresident@dallasewga.com I started playing golf at around six-years-old and played competitively through high school. I took a break from golf for a few years while attending UT Austin (Hook ’Em!) and then moved to Dallas in 1996. I joined the EWGA in 2004 to meet other women who love to golf in the Dallas area. I love being able to attend a couple events a month -- especially since they work well with my schedule in the evenings and on weekends. I live just north of Frisco in the new community of Savannah with my two greyhounds, Chelsea & Harley. I work at a small software company in Frisco, Corepoint Health, where I am in charge of our corporate training program. I design and develop instructor-led and self-paced recorded training to teach our customers about our healthcare IT products. I also work closely with our sales and marketing teams to develop materials and video communications we use to communicate with prospective clients.
	Suzi Bartek, Leagues, Chair, leagues@dallasewga.com I joined EWGA for the opportunity to play at different golf courses around the area with women of all levels. EWGA has exposed me to many ways to improve my game like the excellent golf teachers. I am an independent insurance agent and this allows me to conduct business on and off the golf course. I started playing golf many years ago in Utah and really enjoy the challenge.