Management Team

John G. Fornaro is President & CEO of The Association of Private Clubs and Directors and the Publisher & Owner of Boardroom magazine LLC, which publishes BoardRoom magazine, a bi-monthly publication founded 30 years ago and aimed at educating and informing boards of directors in the private club industry. He is also CEO of Distinguished Clubs, LLC, CEO of Distinguished Golf Destinations and CEO & President of Boardroom Institute LLC, where the latter provides online training and orientation programs for private club boards of directors with the objective to help clubs operate efficiently by optimizing the relationship between the volunteers and the paid executives through collaborative governance. John is also co-founder of Professional Club Marketing Association, an organization aimed at furthering the interests of private club membership marketing directors. John has visited over 1,000 private clubs during his 30 years in the private club industry, and a speaker, writer, and consultant for the private club industry. John lives in Laguna Beach, California.

Born in Orange County, CA, Keith Jarrett was always drawn to the private club industry. In 1990, Jarrett graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo with a Bachelors degree in Business, and in 1993, Jarrett joined his first country club at the age of 25. That is when and where he first met John Fornaro. Their passion for the private club industry and love for business resulted in their co-founding of Professional Club Marketing Association (PCMA), BoardRoom magazine, PrivateGolfCourses.com, eClubBuy, and several other successful businesses related to the private club industry. Jarrett then founded the AmberWatch Foundation in 2004, a 501c3 national charity dedicated to protecting kids from sexual predators. Jarrett has seen the growth of many programs throughout AmberWatch Foundation including the “Be Safe!” education program, the AmberWatch Alert system and AmberWatch TV. With 20 years of experience in the private club industry, Jarrett has visited over 250 clubs across the US and has worked on or consulted on over 750 clubs. When he is not actively working with , Jarrett enjoys spending quality time with his family and friends.

Steve brings 30 years of experience designing and building software applications to his role as Chief Technology Officer. He is the lead developer of ClubIQ and has been building applications for Distinguished Clubs for over 10 years. He has a BA degree from UC Santa Cruz and currently lives in Santa Barbara, CA.

Bill Thomas brings more than 25 years of senior management experience to the Association of Private Club Directors and BoardRoom Institute. His corporate experience includes responsibility for revenues in excess of $100 million annually for a NYSE listed company. His entrepreneurial experience includes founding several successful companies including BioScientific, Inc., the leading supplier of organic products for agriculture and golf course care. Mr. Thomas continues to serve on various boards and is responsible for member education at the APCD. He holds a B.S. degree from Arizona State University and completed his graduate studies at UCLA.

Jeff Clause is a seasoned golf industry leader with over 30 years of experience in South Africa, holding PGA Class A Professional (USA) and Master Professional (PGA of South Africa) credentials. Known for combining operational excellence with world-class guest experiences, he has held senior roles including CEO and Director of Golf at St Francis Links, and founding Director of Golf at Fancourt — host of the 2003 Presidents Cup. His leadership has earned multiple accolades, including St Francis Links being named South Africa’s Best Golf Course at the World Golf Awards and four PGA Professional of the Year titles.

Jeff has served on the PGA of South Africa Board, hosted major tournaments including the SA PGA Championship five times, and contributed extensively to golf estate governance and community initiatives. His professional network spans South Africa, Europe, the UAE, Australia, and the USA. He and his wife Liezl, also a long-time golf industry professional, are based in St Francis Bay.

Bill Langley is a nationally recognized leader in private club and community management, bringing over four decades of experience to premier residential and recreational environments. His career spans more than $500 million in capital investments across clubs and communities throughout the southern United States.

Most recently as COO and General Manager of The Club at Quail Ridge, Bill led a $70 million transformation covering a new clubhouse, racquet and wellness facilities, redesigned championship golf courses, and governance oversight for nearly 1,000 residences. Previous highlights include Vice President of Clubs at The Woodlands in Texas, original Managing Director of the Five-Star, Five-Diamond Lodge at Sea Island Golf Club, and COO of the award-winning Colleton River Club near Hilton Head.

A CMAA Fellow, Bill has served on the National CMAA Board, four state boards, and over twenty national committees, while actively mentoring the next generation of industry leaders. He and his wife Susan are based in Bluffton, SC.

Greg Sullivan, CCM, is a respected leader in the private club industry with more than 35 years of executive leadership experience at premier golf and country clubs. Throughout his career, he has been recognized for his ability to elevate club operations, guide organizations through transformative growth, and deliver exceptional member experiences.

Greg recently concluded a distinguished tenure as General Manager of Rolling Hills Country Club in Rolling Hills Estates, California, where he served for more than three decades. During that time, he played a central role in the club’s evolution into one of the premier private clubs in California, highlighted by a landmark $70-million redevelopment that included a new championship golf course, clubhouse, and expanded family amenities.

Known for his collaborative leadership style and deep commitment to service excellence, Greg has built a reputation for developing high-performing teams, fostering strong governance, and creating vibrant club communities centered on hospitality, professionalism, and continuous improvement.

A Certified Club Manager (CCM) and graduate of Oklahoma State University’s School of Hospitality Management, Greg has devoted his career to advancing standards of excellence within the private club industry.

As Director of Standards & Ratings with Distinguished Clubs, Greg works with leading private clubs across North America and internationally to evaluate club operations, service standards, and overall member experience, helping clubs measure performance against the highest benchmarks in the industry.

Greg and his wife, Sofi, enjoy travelling internationally and spending summers in Sweden with family and friends.

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Gordon is an experienced GM having worked at some of the country’s most prestigious private clubs for the past twenty five years. He has also served as Senior Vice President responsible for Professional Development for eight years at the Club Managers Association of America (CMAA) with oversight of the Club Management Institute (CMI) and certification programs. He has created and directed professional development and Business Management Institute programs, written education grants, and developed and implemented educational programs. Gordon organized the World Conference on Club Management planning and executing concurrent educational programs to hiring high-profile speakers, planning activities and the associations exposition. He was also responsible for the certification programs and served as Board and Committee Member of The Club Foundation, CMAA’s charitable arm.

Gordon earned the Certified Club Manager (CCM) designation and is a member of the CMAA Honor Society and he was elected to the CMAA National Board in 1996. He is also a Certified Hospitality Educator (CHE). Gordon is an accomplished author, having authored and co-authored many club resources, available through CMAA and is a contributor to Boardroom Magazine focusing primarily on club governance.

In his spare time Gordon likes to travel, spend time with family. He also enjoys a golf or pickleball match! Gordon Is the high school golf coach.

With over three decades of exceptional leadership in the private club industry, Gregory P. Wolf brings a wealth of expertise to his role as Director of Standards and Ratings for Distinguished Clubs, the world’s foremost authority on private club recognition. Known for his dynamic vision and commitment to excellence, Greg’s career includes a remarkable tenure as General Manager and COO of Scioto Country Club, a Distinguished Clubs with Iconic status, where he guided the club to a nationally celebrated status.

Throughout his career, Greg has orchestrated prestigious golf tournaments and implemented significant enhancements across multiple clubs. Under his stewardship, Scioto Country Club earned the distinction of hosting the 2016 U.S. Senior Open and secured the 2026 U.S. Senior Open and 2036 U.S. Amateur, affirming Scioto’s status among outstanding clubs in the United States. His team’s seamless organization and attention to detail ensured an unforgettable experience for both players and spectators.

Greg’s contributions extend far beyond event execution. During his time at Scioto, he led a transformative $35 million investment in club facilities, including the acclaimed restoration of the Donald Ross-designed golf course, a cutting-edge 13,500-square-foot fitness and paddle tennis complex, and a multi-phase clubhouse renovation that earned national accolades. These projects positioned Scioto as Central Ohio’s top private club and secured it a place among the top 100 private clubs globally.

Greg’s accomplishments have been recognized industry-wide, highlighted by his 2022 award as Kopplin, Kuebler & Wallace’s Executive Leader of the Year. Prior to Scioto, Greg held leadership positions at Muirfield Village Golf Club and Wedgewood Golf & Country Club, where he spearheaded large-scale expansions and fostered the transition of Wedgewood from a developer-owned to a member-owned club.

An Ohio native, Greg holds a Bachelor’s degree in Education and a Master’s in Professional Sports Management from The Ohio State University. With a background as a high school teacher and coach, Greg’s passion for sports and service are lifelong. He enjoys playing golf and spending time with his family, including his wife, Kay, to whom he’s been married for over 40 years, and their two adult children, Erin and Derek. Greg’s commitment to advancing the private club experience makes him an invaluable asset to Distinguished Clubs, setting new standards of excellence for clients worldwide.

Heather Arias de Cordoba is a recognized and accomplished designer and artist, with more than 17 years of club industry experience in marketing, branding, art direction and design. She has won many awards for both print and animation work, including a share of an Emmy for the cartoon “Where on Earth is Carmen San Diego?” Ms. Arias de Cordoba has taught classes on communications and lifestyle marketing in the private club industry. She is educated in Fine Arts from the University of Calgary and public relations from Mount Royal College in Calgary.

Krystal Seidel is a dedicated professional with a passion for operations and a keen aptitude for numbers. Currently pursuing a degree in Marketing at Western Governors University, Krystal is deepening her expertise in financial management as well as communications and public relations to drive operational excellence.

Since 2022, Krystal has served as the Accounting Manager and in December 2024 she accepted the position of Public Relations/Operations Manager for Distinguished Clubs and Boardroom Magazine. In this role, she oversees critical operational processes and accounting functions, ensuring efficiency and financial precision across the organization. Her commitment to excellence and detail-oriented approach have been instrumental in maintaining the high standards that Distinguished Clubs is known for.

Residing in South Orange County, Krystal thrives in a dynamic community that inspires both personal and professional growth. Outside of work, she enjoys exploring the scenic landscapes of Southern California, spending quality time with family and friends, and embracing activities that promote well-being.

With an unwavering focus on continuous learning and development, Krystal is committed to advancing her career in accounting and operations. Her ambition to make meaningful contributions to the organizations she serves underscores her dedication to excellence and growth in the field.