When it comes to the CGA staff, North Dakota giveth and North Dakota taketh away.
In the first decade of the new millennium, it giveth, with two North Dakotans, Dustin Jensen and Briena Goldsmith, moving to Colorado and becoming key, long-term members of the CGA staff.
But in the last four years, it’s taketh away, with both Jensen (2011) and Goldsmith (early this fall) moving back to North Dakota.
And at the beginning of 2015, it’s back in the “giveth” mode as Jensen will return to the CGA to become managing director of operations. Coincidentally, the person who he’s succeeding in that role is Goldsmith, who returned to North Dakota in October after an eight-year run at the CGA.
Jensen will be departing his job with his alma mater, the University of Jamestown, where he essentially has had four jobs: executive director of the booster club, director of alumni relations, and coaching both the men’s and women’s golf teams.
Jensen, 34, will be officially rejoining the CGA on Jan. 5, though he’ll coach the Jamestown golf teams during the spring portion of their schedules so as to not leave the programs in a lurch in mid-season.
“We’re thrilled to have Dustin ‘come home’ to the CGA,” said Ed Mate, executive director of the CGA during all of Jensen’s previous stint with the association (2001-11) and still now. “Frankly, he’s the perfect fit. He’s intimately familiar with the CGA and he’s spent the last four years adding tremendous skills to his tool kit.
“We did a thorough search (in filling Goldsmith’s position), and Dustin competed for the job like anyone else. He has a lot of experience, and he’s learned a lot in North Dakota.”
That will be reflected in his responsibilities in his new role as managing director of operations. He’ll oversee three key operations of the CGA: rules and competitions, junior competitions, and course rating and handicapping.
In other changes in titles and responsibilities, Erin Gangloff will become the CGA’s director of programs, handling programs and outreach efforts; and Ryan Smith will be director of development and communications.
Jensen’s previous stint with the CGA ended with a seven-year run as a popular director of youth programs.
“The CGA has been so important to me,” said Jensen, whose only years spent living outside of North Dakota have come during his time with the CGA. “This is the best move for (wife) Mary and I. Leaving home is the hard part, but I’m coming back to family. I thought I’d end up being either an athletic director or doing this type of stuff, and this is more where my heart is. This is the best fit, and it was the right time.”
Jensen first joined the CGA as an intern in 2001. The next year, Mate hired him full-time. During his seven years as director of youth programs, Jensen significantly increased the CGA’s junior outreach programs and fundraising efforts — especially with the opening of the CGA/CWGA-owned CommonGround Golf Course — as well as the number of junior tournaments. He also played the key role in the CGA hosting the 2011 Junior America’s Cup (left) at Hiwan Golf Club after the tournament was moved from Mexico due to safety concerns. The Colorado team posted its best finish ever in the JAC that year, placing third.
“It’s nice to be tied in with junior golf again, and I’ve worked with men’s championships before,” Jensen said. “The staff is such a good group; it’s like family. You miss it. It’s such a great place to be.”
