First Tee - Coastal Carolinas Announces New Executive Director and Board Members

SHALLOTTE, N.C. — The First Tee – Coastal Carolinas (FTCC) announced the appointment of Edward LaPierre as its new Executive Director. Mr. LaPierre will be responsible for leading programming, fundraising and other activities of the organization, which delivers life and leadership skills through the game of golf to young people throughout the Coastal Carolinas region. “We couldn’t be more excited to have Ed come on as our new Executive Director,” said Terry Boldt, Chairman of the FTCC Board of Directors. “Ed brings a wealth of experience in the golfing world, including a distinguished career as an executive with PGA TOUR Superstore. But more important, he brings a real passion for the First Tee and its mission to help develop our young people.” Mr. LaPierre, who resides in North Myrtle Beach, held a variety of positions with PGA TOUR Superstore from 2005 to 2020, most recently as Regional Marketing Manager for the Myrtle Beach market. As a PGA professional, he also served as golf professional at several golf clubs in New Hampshire, as well as Director of Golf for Paradise Golf Cruise Ships. Since January 2020, he has served on the FTCC’s Board of Directors. He has been serving as interim Executive Director of FTCC since the resignation of former Executive Director Rich Abraham in 2020. “Our organization, like a lot of nonprofits, has been tested by the pandemic over the past year,” said Mr. LaPierre. “But we’ve never lost sight of why we are here — to teach core values and life skills to young people through the game of golf. I’m honored to take on this new role and fortunate to have a fantastic team to help FTCC grow and thrive.” FTCC has continued to provide after-school programming for young people over the past year under strict Covid precautions. It provides classes, clinics, and league play, as well as focused programming for girls, summer camps at its Cinghiale Creek headquarters in Shallotte, and a college scholarship program. FTCC reaches approximately 33,000 kids a year throughout its six-county service region that includes Horry, Georgetown, Brunswick, Carteret, Craven and Pamlico counties. Boldt also announced the addition of three new board members to the organization. They are Charlie Deigert of New Bern, Bernie Derlath of Leland and Carol Petrea of Ocean Isle Beach. For Ms. Petrea, this is a return engagement. She and her husband Rusty are the founders of First Tee of Brunswick County through the Carol S. Petrea Youth Golf Foundation. In 2019, First Tee of Brunswick County merged with First Tee chapters in Myrtle Beach and Eastern North Carolina to form First Tee – Coastal Carolinas. “We’re delighted to have three new board members of this caliber,” said Mr. Boldt. “Like Ed, they all bring great passion for the mission of First Tee — in Carol’s case, a passion that goes back to the founding of the chapter in 2005. With new executive leadership and an expanded board, we look forward to an exciting future for FTCC and the kids we serve.”