REPSPARK INVESTS IN GOLF RETAIL TALENT, AWARDS SCHOLARSHIPS TO FIVE ASSOCIATION OF GOLF MERCHANDISERS MEMBERS

Golf Retail Professionals Across Career Stages Selected for Certified Retail Manager Program Scholarships Advancing Leadership, Expertise Across the Industry

ANAHEIM, Calif., Sept. 15, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- RepSpark, the leading B2B ecommerce platform connecting specialty brands and retailers across the golf, sport, outdoor and lifestyle apparel industries, announced the five recipients of its scholarships to the Association of Golf Merchandisers (AGM) Certified Retail Manager program (CRM). These awards aim to recognize and honor golf retail professionals who are committed to growing their expertise and moving the industry forward.

The five scholarship recipients are Alexis Passa of TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm, Julie Jackson of Eagle Creek Golf & Country Club, Emma Bermudez of Baton Rouge Country Club, Carter Maiden of The Club at Strawberry Creek and Monica Castro of Bear Lakes Country Club.

Announced last month as part of RepSpark’s expanded partnership with AGM, the scholarships provide recipients access to the AGM Certified Retail Manager program, designed to strengthen the business skills behind successful golf retail operations. The program covers merchandising, marketing, inventory management, financial performance, leadership and customer experience, giving participants practical tools they can apply within their own facilities while earning the AGM CRM designation.

“Every one of these recipients represents what makes golf retail such a special industry,” said Meghann Butcher, Founder and CEO of RepSpark. “They step up when there’s a challenge, stay curious about what they can learn next and look for ways to make their teams and businesses better. We saw our own values reflected in each of their stories, whether they have been in the industry for two years or more than 20. We’re proud to invest in their continued development and can’t wait to see how they put what they learn into action.”

RepSpark reviewed applicants through the lens of the four core values that guide its own team: Bias for Action, We Deliver, Hungry to Grow and Better Together. The five recipients stood out for putting those values into practice, from taking ownership of retail challenges and stepping into unfamiliar roles to actively seeking new skills and investing in the growth of others. Together, the recipients represent a cross-section of golf retail, spanning professionals early in their careers to a 21-year industry veteran and roles ranging from merchandising and retail leadership to golf operations.

The scholarship program reflects RepSpark’s broader commitment to investing in the people behind an industry it serves every day. The majority of Association of Golf Merchandisers buyers use RepSpark, underscoring RepSpark’s deep connection to the evolving needs of golf retail operations and the professionals leading them. The company is also a Platinum Level AGM Vendor Partner and powers more than $4 billion in annual B2B wholesale transactions across its broader specialty retail network.

“The strength of golf retail depends on professionals who continue sharpening both their business skills and their understanding of the customer,” said Jennifer Morton, Chief Executive Officer at the Association of Golf Merchandisers. “This year’s scholarship recipients bring different backgrounds, experiences and perspectives to the program, but share a commitment to growing as retail professionals. We’re proud to welcome Alexis, Julie, Emma, Carter and Monica to the CRM program and grateful to RepSpark for investing in the people who are helping move golf retail forward.”

Additional information about each scholarship recipient is included below. To learn more about RepSpark, visit repspark.com.

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About RepSpark
RepSpark is a leading B2B wholesale ecommerce platform helping brands and retailers across sport, outdoor, golf and lifestyle apparel grow stronger wholesale relationships through digital ordering, product customization, event microsites, digital catalogs and integrated wholesale operations. RepSpark serves 250 brands and 100,000 retailers worldwide, powering more than $4 billion in annual B2B transactions. RepSpark is a five-time Inc. 5000 company. Learn more at repspark.com.

About the Association of Golf Merchandisers
Founded in 1989, the Association of Golf Merchandisers (AGM) is a 501(c)(3) professional organization with more than 1,000 buyers and 200 vendor partners committed to advancing the golf merchandising industry. AGM is dedicated to elevating retail standards, strengthening industry relationships, and delivering continuous education across key metrics, visual merchandising, promotions and buying strategies, fostering profitable collaboration between golf retail buyers and vendors. Learn more at agmgolf.org. 

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ABOUT THE 2026 SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS

Alexis Passa, Merchandise Coordinator, TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm
Passa stood out for We Deliver and Hungry to Grow, taking ownership of inventory challenges while seeking the financial and planning skills to make more strategic buying decisions.

“I am looking forward to deepening my understanding of the business side of golf retail and gaining the tools to make more confident, strategic decisions. I hope to take what I learn through the CRM program and apply it directly to my career as I continue growing in the golf industry,” said Passa.

Julie Jackson, Director of Golf Retail, Eagle Creek Golf & Country Club
Jackson’s story reflects Bias for Action. After a career in finance, she stepped into golf retail three years ago when her club needed someone to lead merchandising and ultimately found an entirely new career.

“When I started out in this industry three years ago, I felt like a total imposter. As an investment advisor, I knew absolutely nothing about golf retail. At the time, our little one had just started school, and I was preparing to go back to work in finance when my husband, who is the director of golf, lost his golf merchandiser of 17 years quite suddenly to breast cancer, so he asked if I would be willing to step into that role, at least until he could find someone else,” said Jackson. “Three years later, I’m still here, having found this industry to be both challenging and incredibly fulfilling. And while I have had to learn a great deal ‘on the fly’ and on my own, I am both excited and grateful to be given the opportunity to invest in my own future by learning from the industry’s best, deepening what I have already learned about retail strategy and inventory planning, along with learning new tools that I will no doubt be able to put to work in our golf shop and thereby take things to the next level.”

Emma Bermudez, Merchandiser, Baton Rouge Country Club
Bermudez embodies Hungry to Grow, building on her early retail experience and actively seeking opportunities to better understand the buying and business sides of golf merchandising.

“I’m really excited for the opportunity to be part of the CRM Program and to learn more about the different aspects of managing a successful golf retail operation. I’m looking forward to gaining new ideas and perspectives that I can put into practice in my own role, while also getting a better understanding of the industry as a whole. I’m very grateful to RepSpark for supporting me and making this opportunity possible,” said Bermudez.

Carter Maiden, Assistant Golf Professional, The Club at Strawberry Creek
Maiden reflects Bias for Action and Better Together, taking on merchandising and retail responsibilities at a club without a full-time merchandiser or dedicated buyer while focusing on elevating the member experience.

“I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to be welcomed into the AGM family through the Certified Retail Manager program! I’m excited to expand my knowledge of golf retail and merchandising at a higher level and apply what I learn directly to our operation at The Club at Strawberry Creek. Taking on a role within our merchandising operation without a full-time merchandiser or buyer has already been an incredibly valuable experience, and I look forward to continuing to elevate the retail experience for our membership. A special thank you to RepSpark and the Association of Golf Merchandisers for this opportunity, as well as my coworkers, friends, family, girlfriend and most importantly, our membership for their continued support and for allowing me to do what I love every day!” said Maiden.

Monica Castro, Golf Shop Merchandiser, Bear Lakes Country Club
With 21 years in golf retail, Castro reflects Better Together and Hungry to Grow, pursuing continued education that she hopes to use to mentor others in the industry.

“I’m incredibly grateful to RepSpark for making this opportunity possible. After 21 years in golf retail and merchandising, I’m excited to continue learning and growing through the AGM CRM Program. I truly believe we never stop learning and look forward to gaining new knowledge and perspectives that will make me a better professional, allowing me to share what I learn and mentor others in the industry,” said Castro.

Contact Info

Kaci Pollack
kaci@seesparkgo.com
+1 678-895-4488