Golf retail professionals across career stages selected for Certified Retail Manager Program Scholarships advancing leadership, expertise across the industry
ANAHEIM, Calif — RepSpark, the leading B2B ecommerce platform connecting specialty brands and retailers across the golf, sport, outdoor and lifestyle apparel industries, announced the five recipients of its scholarships to the Association of Golf Merchandisers (AGM) Certified Retail Manager program (CRM).
These awards aim to recognize and honor golf retail professionals who are committed to growing their expertise and moving the industry forward.
The five scholarship recipients are Alexis Passa of TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm, Julie Jackson of Eagle Creek Golf & Country Club, Emma Bermudez of Baton Rouge Country Club, Carter Maiden of The Club at Strawberry Creek and Monica Castro of Bear Lakes Country Club.
Announced last month as part of RepSpark’s expanded partnership with AGM, the scholarships provide recipients access to the AGM Certified Retail Manager program, designed to strengthen the business skills behind successful golf retail operations.
The program covers merchandising, marketing, inventory management, financial performance, leadership and customer experience, giving participants practical tools they can apply within their own facilities while earning the AGM CRM designation.
“Every one of these recipients represents what makes golf retail such a special industry,” said Meghann Butcher, Founder and CEO of RepSpark. “They step up when there’s a challenge, stay curious about what they can learn next and look for ways to make their teams and businesses better. We saw our own values reflected in each of their stories, whether they have been in the industry for two years or more than 20.
“We’re proud to invest in their continued development and can’t wait to see how they put what they learn into action.”
RepSpark reviewed applicants through the lens of the four core values that guide its own team: Bias for Action, We Deliver, Hungry to Grow and Better Together. The five recipients stood out for putting those values into practice, from taking ownership of retail challenges and stepping into unfamiliar roles to actively seeking new skills and investing in the growth of others.
Together, the recipients represent a cross-section of golf retail, spanning professionals early in their careers to a 21-year industry veteran and roles ranging from merchandising and retail leadership to golf operations.
The scholarship program reflects RepSpark’s broader commitment to investing in the people behind an industry it serves every day. The majority of Association of Golf Merchandisers buyers use RepSpark, underscoring RepSpark’s deep connection to the evolving needs of golf retail operations and the professionals leading them.
The company is also a Platinum Level AGM Vendor Partner and powers more than $4 billion in annual B2B wholesale transactions across its broader specialty retail network.
“The strength of golf retail depends on professionals who continue sharpening both their business skills and their understanding of the customer,” said Jennifer Morton, Chief Executive Officer at the Association of Golf Merchandisers. “This year’s scholarship recipients bring different backgrounds, experiences and perspectives to the program, but share a commitment to growing as retail professionals.
“We’re proud to welcome Alexis, Julie, Emma, Carter and Monica to the CRM program and grateful to RepSpark for investing in the people who are helping move golf retail forward.”
Additional information about each scholarship recipient is included below. To learn more about RepSpark, visit repspark.com.