Executive Director

Kym R. Hougham is a 1976 graduate of the University of Illinois with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Business Management and Marketing. Hougham attended college on a golf scholarship and was captain of the team his junior and senior year. After college, he joined the family insurance business and remained there for 19 years. In 1996, he became the Tournament Director of the PGA TOUR’s John Deere Classic in Moline, Illinois. In May 2002, he was hired as the Executive Director to oversee the operations and management of the PGA TOUR’s Wachovia Championship in Charlotte, North Carolina. The tournament has donated over $9.4 million to charity since its inception.

He is the current President of the PGA TOUR Tournament Advisory Council (TAC) which is a Board of Directors that represents all 48 official events on the PGA TOUR. He is also Chairman of the FedEx Cup task force, an ex-officio member of the PGA TOUR Policy Board, a member of the 2007 President’s Cup Committee, the World Golf Hall of Fame Advisory Council and the Hall of Fame Selection Committee. In addition he serves on various board positions in Charlotte.

Kym and his wife Jackie relocated to the Charlotte area in 2002, and they have one son, Kyle.

 

Director of Marketing and Sponsor Relations

Jan Ivey is the Director of Marketing and Partner Relations for the Quail Hollow Championship. Jan, a Charlotte native and Winthrop University graduate, began her career in corporate marketing over 18 years ago. She gained early experience in the Charlotte community through her involvement with organizations such as Charlotte’s original NBA team, the Hornets, where she also had the opportunity to have First Union Bank as a client, and the WNBA’s Charlotte Sting.

Her involvement in community endeavors outside her daily job is worthy, as Jan works year round on Charlotte’s own PGA TOUR event, the Quail Hollow Championship. Jan’s extracurricular interests include being a board member of the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority (CRVA) Educational Foundation where she is the current board President.  She also sits on the Dowd YMCA Board of Managers and is the Chair of the Brand Engagement Committee.  Ivey also participates on the Johnson C. Smith University Board of Visitors.  Most recently, she joined Women Executives, Charlotte, an organization of diverse, accomplished women who support and nurture each other's personal

Working for Champions for Education, and being a part of the Quail Hollow Championship since its inaugural event in 2003, has kept Jan’s life moving at a fast pace. Her days at work with the tournament can be divided up as part marketing and advertising, sales, corporate sponsor relations, corporate sponsor fulfillment and ticket operations. This makes Jan 100 percent dedicated to the work she does for this non-profit organization and one of the most successful annual sporting events in the Charlotte region.

She is married to Marty Ivey who is also a Charlotte native and small business owner. They reside in the South Park community.

 

Tournament Coordinator

Gwen Crow is responsible for player/caddie relations, accommodations, transportation, Pro-Ams, childcare, and other player-related functions. During the past 12 years, Gwen has worked and traveled extensively for many events including the Senior PGA TOUR at the TPC at Piper Glen here in Charlotte, the UBS Warburg Cup (Kiawah Island, South Carolina and Sea Island, Georgia) and The Masters in Augusta, Georgia, where she managed corporate programs. She also coordinated the Rush S. Dickson Invitational at Quail Hollow Club during its four-year reign that raised over $1 million for prostate cancer research. Gwen came to the Championship in December 2002 from IMG where she was also a Tournament Coordinator.

Gwen’s interest in golf is not only professional, but personal as well. She is an avid golfer and works with several charities in her spare time to help organize their fund-raising golf tournaments. She has one daughter and resides at Lake Bowen with her husband Dan.

 

Volunteer Coordinator

Paula Burnett joined the Championship staff in 2002 and is responsible for coordinating the 2,600 volunteers who help stage the event each year. She works closely with 120 volunteer committee chairpersons and hole captains to ensure that needs are met for patrons, players, officials, tournament guests and PGA TOUR support staff. Prior to joining the Championship staff, Paula served nine years on the Board of Directors for the John Deere Classic and has served for more than 20 years as a volunteer, which she continues to do each summer. In addition to the time she spends supporting PGA TOUR events, she is an active volunteer in the community and church.

Paula is a graduate of the University of Illinois with a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education. Paula, her husband Curt and their three daughters, Calli, Kate and Kirbie reside in Weddington, North Carolina.

 

Tournament Operations

Tony Schuster joined the tournament staff in 2002, to oversee the transformation of Quail Hollow Club from a peaceful private club, into a major outdoor sporting event venue—and then back again. Tournament Operations main objective is the design and supervision of everything from parking and vehicle traffic flow, to corporate and general public spectator amenities. Tony has 15 years of “major” tournament production experience. Other tournaments include The INTERNATIONAL and AT&T National presented by Tiger Woods.

Tony is a native of Colorado and graduated from the University of Northern Colorado with a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing / Economics and an associate's degree in Turf-grass Management from Penn State University. Tony is a former golf course superintendent, and is married (Caroline) with two children, Andrew and Taylor.

 

Tournament Project Manager

Christine Coman Lockett joined the Championship staff in the summer of 2002 and played an instrumental role in the tournament’s early organization. As Tournament Project Manager, her responsibilities include database/website development and implementation, assisting with volunteer coordination, tournament office accounting, hospitality contract execution, Quail Hollow Club ticket liaison, assist in Media Operations, manage Youth Clinic and Honorary Observer Program and overall office management.

A Charlotte native, Christine studied business at Tulane University before moving back to the Charlotte area. Recently married, Christine enjoys spending quality time with friends and family. She also serves as Co-Chair for the  Second String Santas, is on the Steering Committee for the Young Sports Professional Network and a member of the  MS Society Movers and Shakers.

 

Tournament Assistant

James Stevens joined the staff in the spring of 2007 after serving as an intern for the  Championship. His primary duties as Tournament Assistant are to help manage the tournament office, and to assist with volunteer needs, ticket sales and inquiries, accounting, and all mailing communications.

James is an avid Boston Red Sox fan, having grown up in the New England area. He attended Western New England College in Springfield where he majored in Marketing and Psychology. Prior to coming to the Championship, James completed an internship in the Marketing Department of Top Flite Golf, Corp. in Chicopee, Massachusetts.