Megan Shepard '13, a Rice graduate who majored in Sport Management, has been named the new tournament manager at the Tournament Players Club (TPC) San Antonio, which is operated by the PGA Tour. In her new position, she helps facilitate the Valero Texas Open, the AT&T Championship of the Champions Tour, and many more other tournaments for the resort.
Previously, Shepard held an internship with the Valero Texas Open that showed her the high quality that the PGA Tour expects of its TPC facilities and tournaments. Much effort and attention to detail go into each Valero Texas Open; the tournament has its own full time staff year round.
“The Greg Norman Production Company runs the tournament operations for the Valero Texas Open,” Shepard explained, “I act as a direct liaison to the TPC resort for the event.”
As a Rice student, Shepard also held internships in event management with Pearl Events and Rice Athletics. Learning how to run events to the high standards that Rice and Pearl Events hold prepared her for her current position with TPC San Antonio.
“My internships with Rice and Pearl Events taught me the work ethic and responsibility necessary to run a high quality event,” Shepard said, “Interning with the Valero Texas Open taught me this on a PGA Tour level.”
Every day at TPC San Antonio brings new challenges for Shepard because when she isn’t managing a big event like the Valero Texas Open, she is managing corporate outings, junior golf tournaments, and other smaller events. With each event, her and her team have to meet the needs of a new group of people to give them a great experience.
“Working in the hospitality industry is difficult, but people really enjoy a PGA Tour experience,” Shepard said, “I like the challenge, but I love to see the outcome.”
Joe Beck III, a senior from Austin, is majoring in Sport Management.