GMIC Faculty

Jarrod Barakett, T.Ag, CCEP is the Owner / Operator of J.Barakett & Associates, a golf and fine turf grass consulting firm that specializes in helping golf courses and superintendents overcome their own unique challenges. Through his a 17 years of experience, Jarrod has developed wide-ranging knowledge of the golf industry, its partners and organizations. This knowledge has served him well in the development of a broad understanding of corporate governance, course design and maintenance and overall club operations. Jarrod has served as the Ontario Director of the Canadian Golf Superintendents Association, the Government Relations Director of the Ontario Golf Superintendents Association, and a Board member of the IPM Council of Canada. Jarrod is a graduate of the University of Guelph, Cornell University, and the Golf Management Institute of Canada.

Ian Chan, C.M.A.,  C.P.G.A.
Marketing Management in Golf Operations
Retail Management in Golf Operations

Ian Chan is the former General Manager and Director of Golf at the Paris Grand Golf & Country Club. Prior to this role, Mr. Chan served as the Director of Golf at The Club At Bondhead and the Head Golf Professional at the Oaks of St.George Golf Club in Paris, Ontario. Before joining the Oaks he spent two seasons running the golf operation at Westwood Plateau Golf and Country Club in Coquitlam, British Columbia. Prior to moving to British Columbia, Mr. Chan served as the associate professional at the Glen Abbey Golf Club for four seasons. Mr. Chan has a degree in Mathematics from the University of Waterloo, a degree in Marketing from York University and recently received his Certified Management Accountant (C.M.A.) designation.

Vito Cirone, M.A.
Golf Course Design & Construction / Turf Management

Vito Cirone is an environmental planner and the Executive Director of Burnside Golf Services. Burnside Golf Services is a multi-disciplinary engineering and environmental consulting group specializing in golf course planning and development. Mr. Cirone obtained an undergraduate degree in Urban and Regional Planning and Development and a Masters Degree in Environmental Management and Planning from York University (Toronto, Ontario). Since then he has worked extensively in the areas of environmental planning and assessment for both public and private sector development projects. For the past five years Mr. Cirone has focused his efforts on managing golf course development projects and in securing permits and approvals for over 70 clients. Mr. Cirone is an accomplished writer, having written numerous articles on golf course development and environmental planning for several Canadian golf magazines.

Julia Crate, B.Comm. (Honours), C.A.
Finance for Non-Financial Managers in the Golf Industry

Julia Crate is a Chartered Accountant with an Honours Bachelor of Commerce degree from McMaster University. Ms. Crate worked with the KPMG Golf Industry Practice from 1998 to 2006 and is now an associate member of Global Golf Advisors Inc. Julia’s experience in the golf industry includes: market and feasibility studies, operational reviews, strategic plans, valuations and benchmarking / diagnostic studies for both public and private golf facilities across North America.

Chris Dew, C.G.S.A, G.C.S.A.A.
Golf Course Design & Construction / Turf Management

Chris Dew has served as the superintendent of the National Golf Club in Woodbridge, Ontario for the past seven years. Before joining the National, Mr. Dew served for seven years as the superintendent at the Royal Woodbine Golf Club in Toronto. Prior to that, Mr. Dew was the assistant superintendent at the Weston Golf and Country Club. Mr. Dew has attended turfgrass management programs at the University of Guelph, Ohio State University, and Cornell University. Mr. Dew serves as a Director for the Ontario Turfgrass Research Foundation and is a member of the Canadian Golf Superintendents Association (CGSA) and the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA).

Kevin Fanjoy is a Certified Management Accountant with 17 years experience working as an entrepreneur and small business consultant. Mr. Fanjoy's experience includes financing, operational management, acquisitions, joint ventures, product development, benchmarking, cost management accounting, organizational development and strategic planning. Mr. Fanjoy currently serves in a senior management role at Nestle Waters Canada. His logistics team was recently awarded the #1 Logistics Region for Nestle in North America. In addition, Mr. Fanjoy is one of the founders and board member for the "Work For A Cure” Charity,an organization that coordinates various fundraising events for Cancer Research. Mr. Fanjoy has an undergraduate degree and MBA from Wilfrid Laurier University, where he has taught for the past 10 years in its business school.

Grant Fraser, M.Ed., M.B.A.
Strategic Management in the Golf Industry
Entrepreneurship in the Golf Industry

Grant Fraser is the founder of the Golf Management Institute of Canada (GMIC). Prior to launching the GMIC in 1999, Grant established the first professional golf management program (PGM) in Ontario at Humber College. Three years after starting the program, he received Humber College’s Innovator of the Year Award. In 2000, Grant was involved in establishing another PGM program in Ontario at Niagara College where he continues to teach aspiring golf professionals the "business of golf". Grant is also an avid photographer and writer and is the author of “50 of Ontario’s Greatest Public Golf Courses” and “Golf Access”. In addition, he has been a member on the ranking panel for two of Canada’s leading golf magazines - Score Golf and Ontario Golf News. He is also a member of the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW), the Travel Media Association of Canada (TMAC), the Golf Writer's Association of America (GWAA) and the Golf Journalists Association of Canada (GJAC) where he currently serves as secretary/treasurer.

Hussein Hamdani, M.A., LL.B.
Business Law for Golf Managers

Hussein Hamdani is a lawyer with the law firm of Simpson Wigle LLP in Burlington, Ontario specializing in the areas of corporate and commercial law. Mr. Hamdani received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and History from McMaster University, a Master of Arts degree in International Relations from the University of Toronto and a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Western Ontario. In addition to teaching for the Golf Management Institute of Canada, Mr. Hamdani is a professor of business law at Niagara College and is a golfer at heart.

Susan Hodkinson, B.A.
Human Resource Management in Golf Operations
Marketing Management in Golf Operations
Entrepreneurship in the Golf Industry

Susan Hodkinson is the Chief Operating Officer at Soberman LLP Chartered Accountants, where she has management responsibility for the operations of the firm, including finance, information technology, human resources, facilities and marketing. Susan’s background includes over twenty years of management experience in professional services firms, as well as five years acting as Senior Vice President, Operations, for ClubLink Corporation, Canada’s largest owner, operator and developer of private and resort golf courses. Susan is a graduate of the University of Western Ontario and has completed Executive Education at Queen’s University and the Anderson School of Business at UCLA. Susan is very active in community activities, and is particularly committed to groups that focus on creating opportunities for women to work together to achieve greater levels of business and personal success. Susan is a member of the Women’s Leadership Council of the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants and the International Women’s Forum, and in 2009 was awarded the Women’s Post Glass Slipper Award for her contribution to the advancement of professional women, and her work in the community. Susan was named one of the Women’s Post Twenty Top Canadian Businesswomen of 2009.

Kevin Hurd, B.A.
Entrepreneurship in the Golf Industry
Marketing Management in Golf Operations
Retail Management in Golf Operations

Kevin Hurd is the General Manager of the Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Club and was previously the General Manager of the Brookefield and Beaverdale Golf Clubs in Cambridge, Ontario. Mr. Hurd has extensive experience in all areas of golf operations management but is especially renowned for his marketing expertise and creativity. Between 1998 and 2004, Mr. Hurd served as the Corporate Marketing Director for Golf North Properties Inc. where he was responsible for co-ordinating the marketing initiatives of all 10 golf courses owned and operated by the company. In addition to his general manager duties, Mr. Hurd co-ordinated the food and beverage program for Golf North Properties Inc.  Mr. Hurd is a graduate of the University of Guelph, McMaster University and the Golf Management Institute of Canada.

David Kaufman, LL.B., C.P.G.A
Business Law for Golf Managers

David Kaufman is the Executive Director of Menkes Developments Ltd. and the former Executive Director of one of Canada’s most exclusive private golf courses, the Magna Golf Club in Markham Ontario. In addition, Mr. Kaufman is the instruction editor of Ontario Golf News, a founding board member of the Golf Management Institute of Canada, the founder of the King's Health Centre Executive Golf Academy, the 1999 Ontario P.G.A. Teacher of the Year, and a non-practicing lawyer. A Class "A" C.P.G.A. Certified Teaching Professional, Mr. Kaufman has taught more than 10,000 golf lessons to over 2,000 students in Canada and the U.S. He has also conducted more than 200 group clinics and corporate outings, and has appeared on numerous golf telecasts as an instructor and analyst.

Keith Keindel is the Executive Director of the Canadian Golf Industry Association (CGIA). Prior to this leadership role, Keith served as the Senior Vice President, International for Callaway Golf. A graduate of the prestegious General Electric School in Tennessee, Mr. Keindel is an industry veteran with over 20 years of experience in the retail business, including positions such as President of Converse Canada and Spalding Canada.

Mr. Keindel has demonstrated a strategic vision for the businesses he has managed and is contributing to the business of golf by serving as a member of the board of directors of the Golf Management Institute of Canada. He is an avid golfer and is passionate about educating individuals with an interest in the golf industry.

Glenn Mills has spent most of his professional career in retail running “big-box” operations. Most recently, Glenn spent 10 1/2 years with Golf Town, where he built and ran the flagship store in Mississauga. His contribution to Golf Town’s success was expanded in his subsequent roles as Regional Manager, Director of Human Resources and Director of Facilities Management & Procurement. During his tenure with Golf Town, Glenn was instrumental in growing the company from 1 to 47 stores, from 12 to 1600 employees and generating $350,000,000 in annual sales. He is a General Manager with a progressive career combined with executive level education in Human Resources (HR), Legal Issues and Organizational Behaviour. He possesses superb purchasing and general management experience covering all areas of retail store operations.

Joseph F. Murphy
Golf Club Governance

Joe Murphy is the CEO and General Manager of St. George's Golf and Country Club in Toronto, Ontario. Prior to returning to St. George's, Mr. Murphy served as the General Manger and Chief Operating Officer at Scarboro Golf & Country Club for seven years.  Mr. Murphy has been involved in the golf industry for over 20 years, commencing his career at the Hamilton Golf and Country Club in Ancaster, Ontario. Before joining St. George's in 1994, Mr. Murphy was the General Manager of the Islington Golf & Country Club. Mr. Murphy is a member of the Canadian Society of Club Managers and was the President of the Ontario Branch of the Canadian Society of Club Managers in 1996. In 2004, Mr. Murphy was named “Club Manager of the Year” by the Canadian Society of Club Managers and Score Magazine.

Glenn Phillips
Food & Beverage Management

Glenn Phillips is the Regional Director of Hospitality for ClubLink Corporation, a position he has held since 1999. As Regional Director, Mr. Phillips is responsible for all of the hospitality requirements for 6 ClubLink properties - Glen Abbey, Heron Point, Blue Springs, Glencairn, Board of Trade, Eagle Ridge, and Lake Joseph. Prior to joining ClubLink, Mr. Phillips worked for the Royal Canadian Golf Association (RCGA) where he served as the Clubhouse Manager at the Glen Abbey Golf Club for 9 years. Mr. Phillips' industry expertise is extensive having coordinated the hospitality requirements for 11 Canadian Opens.

Terry Ruffell, B.A., C.A.
Golf Club Governance

Terry Ruffell is a Chartered Accountant who has spent over 30 years in the not-for-profit sector. He has worked both “sides of the table” in not-for-profit governance as an executive employed by the Canadian Professional Sales Association and as a volunteer at community colleges in Ontario.  Mr. Ruffell served as a director and president of St. George’s Golf and Country Club and most recently he was executive director of the Canadian Professional Sales Association Foundation. Mr. Ruffell is a graduate of York University.

John Taylor, C.G.S.A.
Golf Course Design & Construction / Turf Management

John Taylor is a graduate of the first class of the Golf Course Technician program at Seneca College. After graduation, Mr. Taylor accepted the superintendent position at the Twenty Valley Golf and Country Club in Vineland, Ontario where he served for 18 years. In 2000, Mr. Taylor moved to Welland, Ontario to assume the superintendent position at the newly constructed, Graham Cooke-designed, Hunters Pointe Golf Course. In addition to serving as the course superintendent, Mr. Taylor was involved in all phases of the design and construction of the golf course. Mr. Taylor has been active in various golf associations and served as the President of the Ontario Golf Course Superintendents Association in 1995. He currently serves as the President of the Western Ontario Golf Superintendents Association.