BOYLSTON, Mass. – The New England PGA is happy to announce multiple staff promotions as well as role and responsibility updates heading into the 2024 season. Brianna (Sovring) Moesch, Casey Litwack, Lauren Neilan, and Chris Clayton will all assume new titles and roles within NEPGA Section operations.
“We have such a talented team here at the New England PGA and as the demand to support our membership has grown, so has their skill sets and willingness to take on more. I am very excited for everyone to transition into their newly expanded roles, and even more excited to watch them succeed in those roles,” said NEPGA Executive Director, Michael Higgins.
Moesch enters her fourth season with the New England PGA in 2024 and her position has been elevated to the Director of Junior Golf & Player Development. Litwack, who recently served as the Section’s Tournament Director and is also entering his fourth season, will now take on the role as the Director of Tournament Operations. Neilan, who is beginning her third season with the Section, sees her position elevated to the Director of Marketing & Communications. Lastly, Clayton, who has been with the Section for seven years and most recently served as the Section’s Director of Tournament Operations will transition into the Director of Operations role in 2024.
As the Director of Junior Golf and Player Development for the New England PGA, Moesch will continue to focus on all success of junior golf programs (Junior TOUR, Drive Chip and Putt, and PGA Jr League), but with an increased focus on player development and heightened management of the expanded NEPGA Internship Program.
The new focus on player development will include all organization and management of Women’s Golf Week, the Women’s Networking Summit which will be entering its third year of providing networking and golf instruction to over 100 women from across New England. This initiative falls under the Diversity and Inclusion pillar of the New England PGA Foundation and will continue to serve as a stepping stone for more unique opportunities for women in golf in our region.
In recent years, the New England PGA Internship program has continued to grow and provide vital work experience for countless young adults. This new role will involve a complete facelift of the internship program with a more in-depth training process covering all departments and an increased frequency of involvement in all programs. Growing the total number of interns brought on each season, building a more robust team, and potentially creating a road map to more full-time positions with the NEPGA and in the golf industry.
“I’m excited to continue growing the game for the next generation of golfers while focusing on networking opportunities and professional development. I’m eager to take on these additional responsibilities and enter this new chapter of my career with the New England PGA,” said Moesch.
In his newly appointed Director of Tournament Operations role, Litwack will continue with his current duties overseeing the operations of the Cape Cod, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island Chapters. He will now also take on a managerial role overseeing the Operations Managers in the Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont Chapters assisting them with communications, governance, finances, and their overall tournament programs.
He will also grow his responsibilities within the Section tournament program. He will now oversee the on-site operations of Section events, coordination of staff, interns, volunteers, and will increase his engagement with Section partners with the goal of continuing to grow the Section’s partnership program. As the Section continues to build tournament offerings, Litwack will oversee a future Tournament Operations Manager that will assist in Section Tournament Operations in a seasonal capacity.
“This new role is an extremely exciting opportunity for me as I continue to grow my career here at the New England PGA,” said Litwack. “I look forward to the challenge of continuing to improve the NEPGA’s amazing tournament program and increasing my relationships with our Section’s partners and PGA of America Professionals.”
The New England PGA Section will continue to promote and grow the enjoyment and involvement in the game of golf and the golf industry as well as elevate the standards of the golf Professional’s vocation, stimulate interest in the game of golf, and promote the overall vitality of the game. As the Director of Marketing and Communications, Neilan will continue to uphold this mission while expanding coverage of the NEPGA Member as well as the charitable efforts of the Section’s Foundation, PGA REACH New England. Neilan will oversee all Marketing and Communication efforts throughout the Section, including Tournaments, Junior Golf, Membership Services, Chapters and the Foundation. The development of this position will allow for the New England PGA to grow on a regional and national level, as well as add value to our Section and Foundation partners.
“I am thrilled to take on the title of Director of Marketing and Communications at the NEPGA. There are many growth opportunities in this department, and I look forward to expanding our impact in the game of golf for years to come,” said Neilan.
In the newly appointed role as Director of Operations, Chris Clayton will now oversee the day-to-day operations of the Section office and the Section Staff. Clayton will work closely with the Executive Director to help manage Section financials, events, partnerships, communications, staffing transitions and general business. Clayton will be responsible for the organization and coordination of office activities, as well as the execution of the myriad of tasks and lines of business relative to creating success for the 1,100 Members and Associates of the New England PGA. Clayton will also retain oversight and operative duties of the New England Series amateur program.
“I am extremely honored and excited to help lead the New England PGA Staff into what is a very promising future. The team we have in place is filled with incredibly talented individuals and I am very lucky to work with each of them on a daily basis. The staff’s commitment to serve the Section Member each and every day in the best way possible is at the forefront of our minds in everything we do, and I am very much looking forward to all the things we can accomplish in the near future.”
Lily Oksanen, who has been with the Section for two years, will continue to serve the NEPGA Members as the Section’s Member Services Manager. In this newly defined role, she will handle all member events and communications, while elevating the offerings and experience for our members.
The current team also includes Max Doctoroff, PGA, Director of Rules and Competition, Joan Stuart, Director of Accounting and Finance, Michael Packard, PGA, PGA REACH New England Director, Chad Eades, PGA REACH New England Program Manager, and Michael Higgins, the NEPGA Executive Director.
Learn more and visit our staff page here.