Keith W. Underwood, CCM, CCE

Keith’s club career started in 1980 after graduating from Cornell’s School of Hotel Administration. Over the last 29 years he has managed several of America’s finest and most exclusive clubs. He got his start at The Jupiter Island Club in Jupiter, Florida and The Club at Point O’ Woods in New York. Keith went on to Ridgewood Country Club in Paramus, New Jersey, the 6th oldest club in America, where he managed the 1990 US Senior Open. Additionally, he has served as General Manager/COO of The Phoenix Country Club in Phoenix Arizona for 15 years. Keith also served as General Manager/COO of the Estancia Club in Scottsdale, Arizona and Briarwood Country Club in Sun City West, Arizona. Keith has served as President of the Cornell Hotel Society (10,000 member alumni association worldwide for the Cornell Hotel School) and as President of both the Eastern New York Chapter and the Greater Southwest Chapter of the Club Managers Association of America.

Keith has served on several Boards supporting the industry. These have included the following: Board of Directors, Golf Industry Association of Arizona; Northern Arizona University Hotel School Executive Board; Director of Turfgrass Research and Communication, Inc.: Regional Director, National Club Association.

Keith’s areas of strength are: providing financial analysis, operational analysis, team building, and staff development. These areas of expertise plus 29 years of experience have given Keith the hands on knowledge to effectively work with the Owners, Boards and Committees of clubs to help reposition the club while providing a proper bottom line.

Deke Kastner

Deke was raised in Chatham, MA and had the distinct advantage of growing up in an entrepreneurial environment. His family restaurant, The Christopher Ryder House, boasted over 1200 seats and was nationally recognized as one of the top restaurants by the National Restaurant Association. A graduate of Deerfield Academy and the Cornell School of Hotel Administration, Deke has focused his twenty-seven year career within the hospitality, food & beverage and club industries. His extensive career has included managerial positions with Le Mondrian Hotel in Los Angeles, Harvey Hotels, the Sheraton Grand Hotel and served as Vice President of Operations for Milepost Industries, overseeing multi-unit profit centers throughout the United States and Canada.

For the past twelve years, Deke has served as General Manager & Chief Operating Officer of both the University Club of San Francisco and Catta Verdera Country Club, northern California’s only 4 ½ star semi-private country club as rated by Golf Digest. In addition, he has served on a variety of non-profit and association boards including the California Hotel & Lodging Association.

Deke’s areas of expertise include financial analysis, member relations, team building, operational analysis, marketing, food & beverage operations and, simply stated, growing businesses.