RICHMOND, Va. (June 23, 2023) – First Tee – Greater Richmond has announced several additions to its full-time staff, adding Lee Coppock, Ana Ferreyra Heit, Grace Huffman, and Lauren Velardi to its staff as part of a continued organizational evolution. Additionally, the organization has hired nine summer interns to assist with First Tee Summer Camps and Programs.
“Our additions will all be instrumental in helping us forward our vision of strengthening the character of our community,” First Tee – Greater Richmond CEO Brent Schneider said. “Lee, Ana, Grace, and Lauren add to our dynamic team and I look forward to working with each of them.”
Coppock, who joined the organization in February, is serving as the organization’s Senior Director of Agronomy, overseeing the grounds at all three First Tee – Greater Richmond facilities. The Virginia Tech alumnus comes to First Tee – Greater Richmond from Salisbury Country Club, where he spent the last three years as its superintendent.
Ferreyra Heit and Huffman will both be Player Development Professionals, with Ferrerya Heit based at Belmont and Huffman at The Elson Redmond Memorial Driving Range. In their positions, they will work in both golf operations and youth programming roles.
Ferreyra Heit recently graduated from Delaware State University, where she starred on the women’s golf team. The Mar del Plata, Argentina-native collected All-Northeast Conference Women’s Golf First Team accolades in 2023 after a third-place finish at the NEC Championship. The year prior, Ferreyra Heit was selected to the All-Southland Conference Second Team and earned Women’s Golf Coaches Association (WGCA) All-American Scholar Team accolades.
A First Tee – Roanoke Valley alumna, Huffman completed her collegiate career at Longwood University, where she captained the women’s golf team. Huffman was the only Longwood player to compete in all 26 rounds in 2022-23, helping the Lancers to a fifth-place finish at the Big South Championship. At Rockbridge County High School, Huffman was the first female in Rockbridge County school history to play in the VHSL Girls State Championship and first to sign a national letter of intent to play for a Division I women’s golf team.
Velardi joins First Tee – Greater Richmond as its Chief of Staff from WNRN-FM, where she held several roles, most recently as the public radio station’s Director of Philanthropy. As Chief of Staff, Velardi will provide executive support with responsibilities related to day-to-day business operations including board communication, human resource administration, development management and event preparation.
Ward started as the Senior Assistant Golf Professional at Belmont in April after a year serving as an instructor and manager at The Edge Golf Academy in Richmond. The James Madison University alumnus previously spent over four years at Stonewall Golf Club as its Assistant Golf Professional before working as the assistant pro at Bear Trap Dunes in Ocean View, Del., before returning to Virginia.
Additionally, nine summer interns have joined the First Tee – Greater Richmond team. Summer interns will help run the day-to-day operations at summer camps and programs while also gaining insights into the organization’s golf course operations and external relations. The summer intern roster includes:
- Will Abdi; Senior, Roanoke College
- Matt Ellis; Senior, Bridgewater College
- Trey Grzelecki; Junior; Longwood University
- Annabelle Jennings; Senior, Longwood University
- Nick Moore; Senior, Longwood University
- Katelyn O’Donnell; Senior, Radford University
- Randall Puente; Junior, James Madison University
- Malcolm Goble Garatt; Senior, Virginia Tech
- Tatum Walsh; Junior, James Madison University
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