|
|
February 15, 2002/Adar 3 5762, Vol. 54, No. 22
Woman promotes golf as a business tool
BETH OLSON
Staff Writer
Debbie Waitkus teaches businesswomen and businessmen to share the green. The golf green, that is.
Waitkus' new business, Golf for Cause, teaches people -particularly women - to use golf as a business tool, while also promoting relationships between the corporate world and charitable organizations.
While working as a loan officer at Mortgages Ltd., Waitkus played golf with business associates. Within four years, she became president of the company, and she attributes that success, in part, to golf.
"It was pretty clear that (golf) was a real important business relationship development tool," she recalls. "I saw so many deals come across my desk that I wouldn't have otherwise seen. People remembered me and remembered the company, especially because I was a rare bird - I was typically one of the only women out there."
She does point out that it wasn't necessarily her golf skill that made her stand out.
"If I was a guy ... with my skill set, they may have dissed me, but because I was a woman and I participated at a strategic level and a relationship development level, that was different. They remembered me."
Waitkus realized that women could really benefit from the networking opportunity golf presents. She felt perhaps women's misperceptions about golf were standing in the way, and she decided to teach women how to use golf as a tool.
"I am demystifying golf for women," explains Waitkus.
She says it's not necessarily important to play golf well -it's more important to know how to cultivate business relationships while playing.
Waitkus also assists men in learning how to play golf with women - many men are not aware of the etiquette of playing with women.
Waitkus offers a half-day educational outing at a local golf course called "Meet the Course," where the basics are presented - terminology, etiquette, rules, reading a scorecard, as well as mixing business with golf.
Among her other offerings are Golf for Cause Networking events, for which the proceeds benefit a local charity. The first networking event, held last month, benefited the Southwest Autism Research Center.
The second networking event, to be Feb. 21 at Camelback Golf Club, will benefit Phoenix Children's Hospital. The event will include instruction, contests, happy hour and prizes.
Other events include tournaments, seminars and classes.
Waitkus, who first played golf with a friend 11 years ago, has a bachelor's degree in operations management from the University of Arizona and a master's degree in international management from Thunderbird-The American Graduate School of International Management. She also owns an audio-visual rental supply company, Video West, along with her husband, Jack.
The Waitkus' live in Phoenix with their two children, Amy, 11, and Ben, 6. The family belongs to Temple Chai.
Waitkus is active in the philanthropic community - she is currently organizing golf tournaments for Temple Chai, Valley of the Sun Jewish Community Center and Phoenix Children's Hospital. In April, she will be installed as president of Kivel Campus of Care's Auxiliary. She's also involved at her children's school, Tesseract, and coaches several of the school's sports teams.
To contact Waitkus, call 602-840-0607, or e-mail dwaitkus@golfforcause.com.
Details
What: Golf for Cause Networking
When: 4:30-7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 21
Where: Camelback Golf Club, 7847 N. Mockingbird Lane, Scottsdale
Cost: $25 in advance, $30 at the door
Call: 602-840-0607
|
|
