The Ford Field & River Club

Please join us in congratulating Pete Vitiello on his recent promotion to Director of Golf! Since joining The Ford earlier this year, Pete has quickly become an integral and highly respected member of our team. "Pete's golf IQ, passion, and commitment to our membership have had a profound impact in his relatively short tenure at Ford," says Jeff Dekruif, our General Manager and Chief Operating Officer. "His leadership in the Golf Shop, instruction programs, member events, and course operations has raised our standard of excellence since he joined the team." A Savannah native, Pete previously served at The Landings Golf & Athletic Club for over 10 years. He is highly involved in the Georgia Section of the PGA of America, serving in volunteer leadership roles as our 2024 Chapter President. He is the South Georgia PGA's reigning PGA Professional of the Year and PGA Player of the Year, and he also qualified to compete in the 2024 PGA Professional Championship. We are confident Pete will continue to succeed in his new role, and we are excited to see all he will accomplish! Congratulations, Pete!

We are thrilled to welcome Waylan Green as our new Director of Security & Safety! Waylan is a combat veteran with expertise in physical security, disaster preparedness, crisis management, and emergency response. He has held roles in corporate security for companies like SAS Institute, Cisco, Strata Solar, and Cree Inc., and served as a physical security manager and anti-terrorism officer at the Joint Force Headquarters in Raleigh, NC, and Afghanistan. Additionally, he was a State Security Officer for the North Carolina National Guard and a Regional Emergency Response Coordinator for the NC Office of Emergency Medical Services. Waylan is also an Adult First Aid/CPR AED and HAZMAT Responder Level III Instructor. We are excited to welcome him to our team and are confident he will be an incredible asset to The Ford. Welcome, Waylan!

We're honored to announce that The Ford Field & River Club has earned a coveted place among the Top 150 Platinum Country Clubs of America for 2025-26. Recognized for three consecutive election cycles with 5-Star Platinum Club status, this latest distinction reflects our ongoing dedication to delivering an unparalleled coastal living experience, deeply rooted in Lowcountry heritage and exceptional member service. We invite you to visit our 2025-26 Platinum Club landing page submission by clicking the link below to learn more about our offerings, universal recognition and the rich history of our club. https://lnkd.in/dptTEStP

Earlier this month, we welcomed Rick (Ricky) Stafford as our new Director of Agronomy & Grounds! Originally from Knoxville, Tennessee, Ricky has lived in the Lowcountry for 20 years. He joins us from Oldfield Club & Community in Okatie, South Carolina, where he was responsible for their private 18-hole golf course, 860-acre property owners association and common grounds, lakes, ponds, saltwater waterways, and their Audobon certification and community environmental initiatives. "Ricky is not just a great agronomist, but also a great person," says Jeff Dekruif, our General Manager & Chief Operating Officer. "He is well-regarded in the Lowcountry for fostering positive work cultures, team care and development, and being an excellent teacher and coach." We are so glad to have him as part of The Ford Field & River Club team, and can't wait to see all that he will achieve in this position!

Meet Tim Mansur, our new Assistant Director of Food & Beverage! Tim brings over seven years of experience in the private club industry, having held positions at various clubs throughout the Lowcountry, including Oldfield Club and Berkeley Hall. As a Level 1 Sommelier, he is eager to educate our staff on wine knowledge and help develop an enhanced wine program here at The Ford. We are confident that he will accomplish incredible things in this role and we are thrilled to have him onboard. Welcome, Tim!

Join us in congratulating Ed Barnett on his recent promotion to Director of Facilities and Building Maintenance! In this position, Ed will be responsible for the development, coordination, planning, evaluation, and direction of our Club and POA's facilities and capital projects. Ed has been a part of the Ford team since 2021, most recently serving as our Facilities Maintenance Superintendent. His commitment, hard work, and positive attitude have been invaluable, and we are confident he will continue to succeed in this new position!

Congratulations to Jake Yarborough on his recent promotion to Head Golf Course Superintendent! Jake has been a valued member of our team since 2020, most recently serving as our Assistant Superintendent. Although his contributions have already made a significant impact here at The Ford, we are eager to see everything he will continue to achieve in his new role. Congratulations, Jake!

Please join us in congratulating Kelsey Morozin on her recent promotion to Events Supervisor! In this new role, Kelsey will oversee our event operations and contribute to maintaining and elevating our standards at The Ford. Since joining our team in May, Kelsey has demonstrated a relentless work ethic and a positive, proactive attitude. We are excited to see all that she will accomplish in her new position! "I'm thrilled to take on this role and work closely with the members and staff," says Kelsey. "I look forward to bringing fresh creativity to every event, ensuring that each one is unique and engaging for the members at The Ford." Congratulations, Kelsey!

We are excited to share that our General Manager and Chief Operating Officer, Jeff Dekruif, has been featured as a "Mover and Shaker" by the prestigious BoardRoom magazine! Click here to read the full article on Jeff: https://bit.ly/4d0Thy8

We are excited to announce that Victoria Urbina Diaz has recently been promoted to Food & Beverage Captain. Victoria has been part of the Ford Field & River Club team for two years, and we are all looking forward to seeing her blossom in this new role! "My favorite part about working at The Ford is the members and my coworkers. My coworkers share the same excitement I do when serving a guest and they help get me through the day. As for the members, I couldn't be happier with the membership we have. I believe serving in a private club allows you to form personal connections with people, which brings me so much joy and helps me to create experiences for everybody," Victoria says. "I'm extremely grateful for the opportunities I've had at the Ford thus far, and I can't wait to see what the future holds!" Join us in congratulating Victoria! We know she will do great things in this new position.