TOURNAMENT STAFF

• Kym Hougham - Executive Director
  • Kym is a 1976 graduate of the University of Illinois with a BBA in Business Management and Marketing.  He was a 4 year letter winner on the golf team and was team captain his junior and senior year.
  • After graduation, he joined the family insurance business and remained there for 19 years in various capacities in the insurance field where he received numerous awards for management and sales.
  • In 1996 he was hired as the Tournament Director of the PGA TOUR’s John Deere Classic in Moline, IL and began his career in golf tournament administration.
  •  In May of 2002, he was appointed as the Executive Director of the PGA TOUR’s Wells Fargo Championship in Charlotte, NC, to oversee the operations and management of the new event.  The tournament has donated over $12.5 million dollars to charities and organizations since its inception in 2003.
  •  The tournament has won worldwide acclaim as one of the best events in all of professional golf and has become the blue print for other professional tournaments.
  • He is the immediate Past 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 past Chairman of the FedEx Cup task force, an ex-officio member of the PGA TOUR Policy Board, a member of the 2009 President’s Cup Committee, the World Golf Hall of Fame Advisory Council and the World Golf Hall of Fame Selection Committee.  
  • In addition he holds various Board positions in Charlotte.
  • Kym has a son Kyle who is an attorney in Greenville, SC.
• Jan Ivey - Director of Marketing and Partner Relations
  • Jan Ivey is the Director of Marketing and Partner Relations for the Wells Fargo Championship. As a native of Charlotte and a graduate of Winthrop University, Jan began her career in corporate marketing more than 20 years ago and has worked with many well-known organizations including the Charlotte Hornets and WNBA Charlotte Sting.
  • Jan’s been a part of Champions for Education since the Championship began in 2003, working in many different areas, including advertising, corporate sponsor relations and fulfillment, sales, ticket operations and more. She has also been a part of the team that’s earned the PGA TOUR’s top award, “Best in Class”, for the second year in a row.
  • Jan’s leadership stretches far beyond her average workday, however, to include roles as president of the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority (CRVA) Educational Foundation as well as chair of the Brand Engagement Committee and member of the Board of Managers for the Dowd YMCA. Her involvement in organizations like the Johnson C. Smith University Board of Visitors and Women Executives in Charlotte is a testament to her investment in the community.
  • Jan is married to Marty Ivey who is also a Charlotte native and small business owner. They reside in the SouthPark community.
    
• Gwen Crow - Tournament Coordinator
  • Gwen Crow is the Tournament Coordinator for the Wells Fargo Championship and is responsible for all player and caddie related functions which include accommodations, childcare, courtesy cars, transportation, Pro-Ams, First Tee Caddie Program, Player Services, Sunday Sunrise Service, Youth Exhibition and other player-related activities. In 2009, Gwen coordinated the inaugural Walk the Course Against Domestic Violence in conjunction with the Avon Foundation and the PGA TOUR Wives Association.   A huge success with over 900 participants raising $100,000 to bring awareness and benefit local women’s shelters in the Charlotte community.  This annual event continues during tournament week each year to benefit this very worthy cause.  
  • Gwen began her career in professional golf in 1990 with International Management Group (IMG) managing the Senior PGA TOUR event at the TPC at Piper Glen here in Charlotte.  From 1990 until 2002 when she came to the Championship, she traveled extensively for IMG managing other events in addition to the one here in Charlotte.  They include The Office/Depot Father/Son Challenge (Vero Beach, FL), 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 hosted by Arnold Palmer at Quail Hollow Club during its four-year reign that raised over $1 million for prostate cancer research. 
  • Gwen’s interest in golf is not only professional, but personal as well. She is an avid golfer and dedicates personal time working with local charities helping to organize their fund raising golf events.  She has one daughter and resides at Lake Bowen in Inman, SC with her husband Dan.
• Paula Burnett - Volunteer Coordinator
  • Paula Burnett joined the Championship staff in 2002 and is responsible for coordinating the 2400 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 30 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 Charlotte, North Carolina.
    
• Tony Schuster - Operations Director
  • 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, AT&T National presented by Tiger Woods, The Greenbrier Classic and McGladrey Classic. As well as Operations Advisor to Golf 9 | 12. 
  • 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.
• Christine Coman Lockett - 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 are wide in range and include database/website development and daily operation, assisting with volunteer coordination, manages credential process, assisting in Media Operations, special tournament charity projects such as Avon Walk the Course Against Domestic Violence, production of Email communications and Enewsletter to patrons and media, Honorary Observer Program and overall office management. Christine has also played a vital role in implementing and now managing the tournament’s Social Media Communications.
  • A Charlotte native, Christine studied business at Tulane University before moving back to the Charlotte area.  Christine enjoys spending quality time with friends and family. She also served as past Co-Chair for the Second String Santas and Steering Committee for the Young Sports Professional Network. Currently, she is on the Fight Night for Kids Auction Committee and a member of the MS Society Movers and Shakers. She is married to Clay Lockett and resides in Charlotte with their dog Winston. 
• James Stevens - 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.