Page 16 - GBC ENG Winter 2025

Jay Karen, CEO of
NGCOA US joins
Jeff for the annual
Can-Am Challenge
at Camelot Golf
Club in Ottawa,
where Jeff claimed
Canada’s victory
that year, 2006.
Jeff introduces
conference chair
Jim Thompson
with “Think
Outside the
Barrel” theme,
2007 Niagara
Falls Conference.
The good news was that the
situation flushed out any
inefficiencies and fat that may have
been creeping into our success and
motivated us to further improve
our services and marketing tactics.
As they say, “What doesn’t kill you
makes you stronger” and the
NGCOA Canada emerged stronger
than ever.
GBC: What kept you motivated
during those more difficult times?
JC: The golf course owners and
operators needed us more than ever
during those hard times. That’s great
motivation for the NGCOA Canada
to deliver on our mandate. One
positive lesson learned was that the
NGCOA Canada is a very scalable
and agile business model. We can
expand quickly, which I already
knew. But we can also contract quite
easily, if needed. Similarly, that
experience prompted another one of
my often-used slogans, “Always
have a Plan B”. You never know for
sure when you’re going to need it,
but being ready just in case can be
the difference between success and
failure.
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Golf Business Canada
GBC: What has been your guiding
philosophy as CEO?
JC: We are all in the people
business. The clients are people,
the staff are people, the boards are
people, the suppliers are people,
the government are people, the
media are people, the competition
are people. So, to whatever extent
you can control, ensure good
relationships. And among the
many other virtues of effective
CEO leadership, I feel that being
highly strategic may be the most
critical skill.
GBC: What have you learned about
leadership over 34 years?
JC: Customer-centric focus must be
baked into the corporate culture for
consistent success. Lead by
example – or from behind, when
needed. Effective HR management
is essential and empathy is critical,
even when it may not come
naturally for leaders who are often
self-driven to succeed their own
way. Pick your battles wisely and
avoid the complacency that often
comes with success. As I like to say,
“When you’re winning, behave
like you’re not.”
GBC: And on the lighter side—
what are some of the funniest or
craziest things that happened
along the way?
JC: It’s hard to top walking on
stage during our Niagara Falls
conference wearing only a barrel
and suspenders! Although our BC
chapter advisory board did talk me
into wearing a well used Olympic
training luge suit on stage at the
Whistler conference, never again!
And then there was the rented
horse in the Banff Springs Hotel
Ballroom, which arrived without
the required diaper…you can guess
what happened next! There are so
many more ridiculous moments
along the way. Never a dull
moment, and all good fun.