Attendees golfed, networked and talked trash at Pechanga鈥檚 Journey Golf Course in Temecula, CA over the course of three action packed days.
In late April, waste and recycling industry professionals gathered in Temecula, CA at the Journey Golf Course at Pechanga Resort & Casino to attend the Garbageman鈥檚 Invitational. Over the course of three days, more than 300 attendees enjoyed networking, parties and golf at a fabulous location. Says Kerry Holmes, CONFAB鈥檚 Vice President of Sales, 鈥淚t may have been our best one yet. It has become a more robust program than what I had imagined in the beginning. It is great because the whole event flows very well鈥攆rom the opening night party to the final day of the golf tournament.鈥�
One of the highlights this year was that not only did the Garbageman鈥檚 Invitational raise $18,000 (a huge jump from years鈥� past) for the Educational Research and Education Foundation (EREF), but EREF also brought a scholar recipient to the event to talk about her experiences and the benefits of EREF鈥檚 scholarship programs. Kristy Pickurel, EREF鈥檚 Vice President of Development and Communications, introduced Arlene Janousek who attends Simon Frasier University in Vancouver, Canada. 鈥淢eeting Arlene really hit home with the participants. It was definitely a highlight of the event when she talked about how much the scholarship meant to her being able to continue her studies and she thanked everyone for their support,鈥� says Holmes. 鈥淚 thought that it was such a great moment.聽 If I represented a hauling company and listened to this young lady speak who is looking to come into our industry, I would definitely want to take a look at her resume. I thought that it was fantastic. People could connect more to this program and meet and talk with her throughout the whole event.鈥�
Starting this year, all money raised from the event will fund the Garbageman鈥檚 Invitational Master鈥檚 Scholarship for EREF.聽 Says Pickurel, 鈥淭hat was the reason that we brought one of the scholars to the event鈥攖o put a face with the program and to show the attendees how much of an impact their donations have. More than 50 students have been EREF scholars, many of whom are now in key academic and professional positions across the U.S. This summer we are going to be awarding the first recipient of the Garbageman鈥檚 Invitational scholarship and we hope that he or she will be able to attend next year鈥檚 event.鈥�
Ray Burke, Vice President of Business Development for Clean Energy, says, 鈥淭he Garbageman鈥檚 Invitational brings a better awareness of what one of our goals is: raising money for the EREF because they do such good things for the industry. I am proud that they named a scholarship after the event. Our goal is to continue to keep raising more money for them.鈥�
Outside, between the great activity and fun happening on the golf course, sponsors also set up their own unique tables that featured everything from a company serving pizza to tending bar, playing blackjack to shooting golf balls out of a cannon, giving out prizes and other mini-events. 鈥淎ll of the sponsors did a great job at their holes, we had so many great things going on. The prizes were phenomenal,聽 so were the gifts that people won. We even raffled off a 40″ TV, and Rush Truck Center hosted another $100,000 hole in one,鈥� says Holmes.
鈥淭his year鈥檚 tournament was our best,鈥� says Burke. 鈥淲e鈥檝e been trending towards having the sponsors work their holes and giving away really nice gifts to draw in customers. They realize that they get more out of that than just playing in the tournament. We try to center the golf tournament as much as we can to customers and let the sponsors be there to support them. I think that is one of the reasons that customers enjoy it so much is because it鈥檚 a no-pressure environment.鈥�
A huge success, Holmes and Mike Schwalbach, one of the organizers of the event and EREF Auction Chair, believes that the Garbageman鈥檚 Invitational gets better and better annually. Next year, when the event is held from June 20 鈥� 22, 2017, Pechanga is hoping to have finished their $500 million renovation project, adding a new tower, pools and an amphitheater. Says Schwalbach, 鈥淚t was a very successful event with great quality people attending from all over North America. Everyone had a great time.鈥� | WA
For more information, contact Kerry Holmes at (323) 640-4078 or visit www.garbagemansinvitational.com.
Special thanks to ContainerPros for sponsoring the putting contest and its prizes, which included iPads and Apple Watches.
A Flight
1st Place 鈥� John Morris, Larry Metter, 聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 聽Joe Cassin, Bill Minnis
2nd Place 鈥� Mark Slane, John Snyder, 聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 聽Michael Gross
3rd Place 鈥� Greg Kelley, Peter Grace, 聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 聽Mario Puccinelli
B Flight
1st Place 鈥� Matt Knabe, Frank Weigel, 聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 聽Mike Cecere, David Ronnenberg
2nd Place 鈥� Mark Holmstedt, Bill 聽聽聽聽 聽Ferree, Dan Jameson, Rich Christina
3rd Place 鈥� Walter Roberts, Johnny 聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 聽Plasse, Steve Bruce
C Flight
1st Place 鈥� Jeff Cosman, Frank Orlett, 聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 聽Gabe Kalpakoff, Alex Braicovich
2nd Place 鈥� Isiah Gomer, Ray Gamez
3rd Place 鈥� Bob Davis, Andrew Arata, 聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 聽Rick Wade, Daniel Ramos
Longest Drive
Walter Roberts
Closest to the Pin
Hole #3 – JB
Hole #8 – Bill Kalpakoff
Hole #15 – Doug Button
Hole #17 – Bill Ferree