BEVERLY, Mass. – Former Endicott women's basketball standout Shannon Gilbert '21 (Easton, Conn.) recently sat down with www.ecgulls.com to discuss her PGA WORKS Fellowship experience.
Gilbert graduated with a Bachelor of Science in sport management and a minor in business administration. Gilbert also was a four-year member of the women's basketball program, a three-time Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Academic All-Conference honoree, and an integral member of the 2019-20 CCC Champion squad.
Meanwhile, the PGA WORKS Fellowship, established in 2017, provides the opportunity for a one-year, paid immersion in a PGA Section's Foundation operations. PGA Sections oversee the 41 regions of the PGA of America across the United States and help create the network of communication and community for PGA Professionals and amateur golfers nationwide.
The PGA WORKS Fellowship is one of the most valuable entry-level opportunities for individuals from diverse and underrepresented backgrounds to gain experience in all facets of the golf industry. The Fellowship gives recent college and university graduates a first-hand look at everything that a career in the golf industry can provide.
1) Where did your love of golf come from?
I started playing golf as a way to spend more time with my family. My parents and grandparents play golf which made me interested in learning the game. They showed me that golf is a sport you can play for the majority of your life. My grandfather is 96 and he just stopped playing. After learning from my father, I started playing in high school and enjoyed the competition as well. Now I get to play socially with friends and family.
2) Describe the path that got you from graduation to the PGA Fellowship.
I first started with a few temporary, entry-level jobs. I worked as a remote intern with the Boston Sports Partners as a social media intern then proceeded to travel around the country working with Octagon as an account trainee. Once both of those positions ended it was time to figure out what was next. I was applying to different sports organizations, trying to get my foot in the door. I have always enjoyed playing golf as well as watching the PGA Tour. When I saw the opportunity for the PGA WORKS Fellow through my job search I thought it would be an excellent opportunity to work with a sport I love while gaining more real-world experience. The interview process for the PGA WORKS Fellow was comforting as the conversations centered around my connection to golf more so than my past experiences. I felt like I could see myself in the role because of the conversations I had with my future supervisors.
3) What has your experience been like at the PGA?
I have loved working with the Metropolitan section of the PGA (Met PGA). Since the moment I started working there everyone was so welcoming and made me feel like I belonged. I have enjoyed creating connections with each of my coworkers.
As far as what I have learned, there are a lot of different areas I have worked in which helped me learn skills I know I will use in future jobs. One overarching skill I learned was how to prioritize. I worked under three different supervisors for three different sections of the Met PGA which meant I needed to prioritize tasks for each section in order to prevent myself from getting overwhelmed.
During my time with the Met PGA, I learned how to prepare for events as well as scheduling and formatting of events. Preparing for an event is important and I learned what needs to be gathered before the event. I was in charge of printing the paperwork which consisted of sign-in sheets, tee times, scorecards, scoreboards, rules sheets, information packets, etc. I also had to gather any equipment we might have needed. These responsibilities gave me insight into what was needed for events. I also learned scheduling and formatting. I work closely with our foundation director and the PGA HOPE program which is for veterans. We have had to manage and schedule the military golf league we created. Figuring out different formats and what works for each club for scheduling was a large aspect of my responsibilities. I enjoyed the planning and creative aspect of formatting the league for next year.
4) How did Endicott prepare you for a position like the PGA WORKS Fellow?
One way that my experience at Endicott prepared me for this position was how much my time management improved at Endicott. Through playing basketball, while also always having a full course load, given my major, minor, and concentration, I needed to make sure I was managing my time in order to get my schoolwork done while attending all workouts, practices, and games. Given that this position consisted of working on so many different sections of the Met PGA my experience at Endicott managing multiple different responsibilities helped me considerably.
Another way that Endicott prepared me for this position was through the internship program. First, I was required to provide the PGA with reference letters. I was able to reach out to my past internships to request a reference letter from them. Secondly, by completing three internships during my time at Endicott I was able to gain different experiences. Through my first two internships, I was able to work in person with coworkers and onsite at events. This gave me the experience I needed to feel comfortable in new positions as well as gain experience in what needed to be completed for onsite events. After these experiences, I felt very comfortable in a new environment with the PGA and was able to ease right into working onsite at tournaments and events. In the offseason, our office works remotely some days. My semester-long internship senior year was remote and that gave me the experience to work remotely and still be motivated to complete my responsibilities. Having that opportunity gave me the experience I needed for this position as well as future positions.
5) What's next for you?
I am about to accept an offer from RX Global for a marketing associate position. This will start in February. I am looking forward to this new opportunity and will always be grateful for my time with the Metropolitan section of the PGA.
About Endicott College
Endicott College offers doctorate, master's, bachelor's, and associate degree programs at its campus on the scenic coast of Beverly, Mass., with additional sites online and at U.S. and international locations. Endicott remains true to its founding principle of integrating professional and liberal arts education with internship opportunities across disciplines. For more, visit endicott.edu.
For the latest on Endicott Athletics, follow the Gulls on social media on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.
(Photo Credit - Metropolitan PGA Section / Shannon Gilbert '21)
