News

Philadelphia PGA Names Courtney Curcio PGA REACH Philadelphia Director

Lower Gwynedd Township, Pa. (August 27, 2021) — The Philadelphia PGA Section is pleased to announce that Courtney Curcio has been named the next Director of PGA REACH Philadelphia, the Section’s 501(c)(3) charitable arm, effective September 1, 2021. Leila Mackie, the foundation’s first director, has accepted a position with the PGA of America.

Curcio has worked for the Philadelphia Section since 2017, when she joined as a communications intern prior to graduating Neumann University with a Bachelor’s degree in Sports Entertainment and Management. Her hard work identified her as a valuable member of the Section staff and was hired full-time as a coordinator for the foundation in 2019, where she worked closely with Mackie daily on foundation programming and operations. She will continue the work Mackie and she started, ensuring a seamless transition to continue PGA REACH Philadelphia’s mission to positively impact lives through the game of golf.

“While we are sad to see Leila leave, we are happy for her and her next chapter, and expect to continue working with her in her new role with the PGA of America; we wish her nothing but the best,” said Section Executive Director Geoff Surrette, PGA. “We are equally excited for Courtney to continue PGA REACH Philadelphia’s important work, and are very confident in her abilities to lead the foundation into the future.”

“I am delighted to step into this role and have the opportunity to continue to help grow the foundation’s programming and fundraising efforts for our membership, while also building on our mission in the Philadelphia PGA Section,” said Curcio. “Working so closely with Leila since the launch of our foundation three years ago has prepared me to continue to grow our programs and build our brand.”

To send a congratulatory note to Courtney, click here.

Mackie began her career with the Section in 2012 as a PGA Golf Management intern from Clemson University. The following season, she was hired full-time as Player Development Coordinator, and was eventually promoted to Player Development Director, in which she organized and administered various programs with the goal of growing the game. She was elected to PGA Membership in 2013. In 2018, she was tapped to launch PGA REACH Philadelphia, becoming the foundation’s first director. Since its inception, the foundation has raised nearly $150,000 specifically for its YouthMilitary, and Diversity pillars, which include programs such as PGA Jr. League, PGA HOPE Philadelphia, and the Philadelphia PGA Junior Tour Diversity Scholarships and mentor program. Mackie’s new role will be in the PGA of America’s employment department, where she will act as a Career Services Recruitment Specialist, boosting employment opportunities across the Philadelphia, New Jersey, and Metropolitan PGA Sections. She and her husband, Kevin, will remain living in the Philadelphia area. To send Leila well wishes, click here.

Allison Zwarka, a Philadelphia PGA Junior Tour tournament coordinator, has also accepted another position, effective August 27. She is headed back to her alma mater, Michigan State University, to work as its athletic department’s Assistant Director of Sales and Marketing. Zwarka worked as a tournament intern in 2019 and joined the Section staff full-time in 2020.

“Allison was a great addition to our team,” continued Surrette. “We will miss her, but know she will do a great job working as a Spartan.”

PGA REACH Philadelphia is currently accepting applications for foundation coordinator and tournament coordinator positions.

About the Philadelphia PGA Section
The Philadelphia PGA Section, covering eastern Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey and Delaware, is one of 41 geographical managing entities of the PGA of America. This Section manages nearly 900 PGA Members and Associates who are employed at over 590 golf facilities in our region.

About PGA REACH Philadelphia 
PGA REACH Philadelphia is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2018 as the charitable arm of the Philadelphia PGA Section, one of the 41 Sections within the PGA of America. PGA REACH Philadelphia is committed to serving our communities and growing the game of golf through our three pillars: Youth, Military, and Diversity.

For more information on PGA REACH Philadelphia and its mission to positively impact lives through golf, visit PGAREACHPhiladelphia.com. To donate to PGA REACH Philadelphia, please click here.

Contact: Matt Frey, PGA, Communications Director, Philadelphia PGA Section, mfrey@pgahq.com