Consciously Kind With Katie Steck
Katie Steck | Director of Travel and Event Experiences
Cliff Drysdale Management | Peter Burwash International, a division of Troon
The Cliff Drysdale Management corporate office in New Braunfels, TX
Troon Value: Consciously Kind & Relentlessly Dedicated
I connect with Troon’s core value being consciously kind and relentlessly dedicated. Being so customer facing, both of these value’s resonate with my role on a daily basis. I try to go about my job building relationships and taking care of our guests and members with them at the forefront of all decisions. When we have happy customers and guests, this cultivates positivity in all aspects of the travel division with CDT and PBI and the company as a whole.
Q: What/Who got you into tennis and what was your first experience with the game?
A: I started playing tennis when I was really little and could hardly hold a racket. I started again more seriously on my 10th birthday when I was gifted a new racket. I have played since, attending camps, clinics, and tournaments across Georgia and the Southeast my entire childhood.
Q: What has been your career progression with Troon?
A: I started with Cliff Drysdale Tennis right out of college in a training position traveling to coach at many of our clubs and resort locations across the US. This gave me the insight to see the industry from so many perspectives before being placed at the Omni Amelia Island as the Adult Camp Director. From there, I transitioned to the role that I am in now at our headquarters overseeing all of our tennis, pickleball and padel camps and signature events across both CDT and PBI brands. It has been very special to grow with the company and see the travel division flourish, and I am excited to see how it continues to evolve.
Q: What does your facility do to promote player development?
A: From a company perspective, we are committed to hiring, educating, and advancing tennis professions that are dedicated to growing the game and providing each and every customer with a great experience on court. Having great coaches that create a fun environment for players to learn and develop directly relates to growing the game and players within it.
Q: What do you do in your daily job or life to inspire other women to get involved in the game of tennis or business of tennis?
A: I owe tennis so much, as it has given me friends, college, and a career. I hope to be able to show other young girls that there are career opportunities in sports, and while my job is so unique, I hope it shows them how they can continue to pave their own path in the industry too. The tennis world needs more female coaches as they bring such a different perspective to the court.
Q: Tell us a little about the recent event at Amelia Island where you hosted the BJK qualifier, what was that like for you and your team?
I have traveled to many beautiful resorts and been a part of some very cool experiences in my role, but this was a special one for me in many ways. It was my first involvement in running a pro event and working with the ITF, and I loved every second of helping to plan it and execute the event on the ground. I grew up really close to the Omni Amelia Island Resort, and there used to be a professional WTA tournament hosted here (before it was the Omni). Growing up, I was a ball kid at this tournament. So, it was extra special to be on the other side of bringing a pro event back to this facility so many years later.
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