Michael G. Leemhuis

Presentation Title:

The ABC's of Leadership - "All you need to know about Leadership, but were afraid to ask!"

Presentation Abstract:

Over the last 10 years the topic of Leadership or lack thereof has been front and center in most countries around the world. If you Google the word "leadership" you will get 441 million hits in less than 10 seconds! Whether it is our elected political leaders, the leaders of some of the largest corporations in the world or the captain of your local rugby team, the art of leadership has never been more studied, more commented on, more controversial or more written about. No matter where you travel in the world today or who you speak to, Leadership seems to be a hot and sometimes controversial topic. Are you born a leader or is leadership a learned trait? Let's debunk the myths and learn the truths together.

Speaker Biography:

Michael was born and educated in South Africa. He attended Pretoria Boys High School and studied at Wits University in Johannesburg where he graduated in 1976 with a teaching degree, specializing in Physical Education and History. After teaching at King Edward VII high school for 3 years, Michael's desire for education took him to the United States in 1979 where he attended the famed UCLA, CA. It was this experience at UCLA that drove him to complete his graduate degree at East Carolina University in 1991 where he was awarded Master's Degree in Education, specializing in Sport Administration and Management. In 1981 Mike returned to South Africa to pursue a career in the hospitality industry, where the joined the Rennies Hotel Group, who owned and operated hotels, resorts and casinos.

Since leaving the Rennies group in 1984, Mike has managed and operated;

• The Gary Player Country Club and Lost City Golf Course at the Sun City resort in South Africa
• The 80,000 seat multi-function Ellis Park Sports Stadium
• A Sports Management company, Sports International
• Numerous PGA TOUR events, The Nedbank Million Dollar Golf Challenge Tournament at Sun City and the 2011 US Open at Congressional CC

In 1997 Michael made a permanent move back to the United States to work for the PGA TOUR and assumed the position of General Manager/Director of Golf at the TPC at Avenel in Washington, DC. In 1999 he was enticed to move to the prestigious Congressional Country Club in Washington, DC as the GM/CEO. Congressional Country Club has been the host venue for the 1964 US Open, the 1995 US Senior Open, the 1997 US Open and the 2011 US Open.

Michael is a Certified Club Manager (CCM), a certified Club Executive (CCE), a certified PGA of America and South Africa Golf Professional, a certified Tennis professional, an avid triathlete (two time Hawaii Ironman finisher), a marathon runner (40 marathons completed), fisherman, photographer and a proud member AND PAST President of the Club Managers Association of America for the past 19 years. He is a native of South Africa, a citizen of the United States and Ireland, married to his wife of 29 years Dale and proud father of two sons, Matthew (24) and Joshua (20). They reside in Potomac, Maryland, USA.