Buffalo Groupe, LLC and its Buffalo Agency—a fully integrated marketing firm representing golf, sport and lifestyle brands globally—has appointed three new senior vice presidents to its executive team: Teresa Olsen, Lauren Nodzak and Emily Clark.
Each will lead specific areas of the business – Olsen as head of strategy for Buffalo Groupe, Nodzak as head of client strategy and service, and Clark as head of people and culture.
“Teresa, Lauren and Emily are vital additions to Buffalo, as they bring distinct, yet equally impressive, experiences to our firm,” says Buffalo Groupe CEO, Kyle Ragsdale. “They will play crucial leadership roles in our shared, new venture to create the world’s first marketing platform connecting brands to the ‘golfing life.’”
Today’s announcement is the latest in a series of key personnel moves made by Buffalo since it spun offfrom golf course management company Billy Casper Golf earlier this year. They include:
- Naming long-time golf and retail-industry executive John Watson executive chairman
- Tapping Ragsdale, Vox Media’s former top revenue and marketing officer, as CEO
- Launching Buffalo Studios, led by new chief creative officer, Derek Koenig
“Momentum is building as we execute the initial steps in our plan to create a new and even-more influential Buffalo,” adds Ragsdale. “Getting the right people in the right places on our team is critical to establishing the foundation we need as we enter our next phase of smart, aggressive growth.”
- Olsen is an innovative visionary who has worked in multiple industries during her 30-year career. Most recently, she was with Hallmark Cards where she directed strategy for the company’s branded specialty retail network (2,000-plus locations). The development of an expanded distribution strategy and omnichannel retailing initiatives to drive new consumer engagement were other significant accomplishments. Before her time with Hallmark, Olsen was a principal in eCreativeSearch, a venture-backed digital start-up in Chicago that served as a global archival resource of video ads for advertisers, agencies and production companies. Her experience also includes brand strategy and marketing work on behalf of Fortune 100 companies like Procter & Gamble, Coors Brewing Co., Mead Johnson, Burger King and Nestlé.
- Nodzak joins Buffalo after five years with Pernod Ricard USA, the premium spirits and wine company. While there, she spearheaded strategic public relations and influencer marketing for the U.S. spirits portfolio. Prior to Pernod, Nodzak led public relations at Mars Chocolate North America. Her stellar execution of groundbreaking integrated marketing campaigns at Mars led to her being named to PR Week’s 40 Under 40 list. She will be based in the New York City area.
- Clark was previously the vice president of sales and marketing for Buffalo’s former parent company and largest current shareholder, Billy Casper Golf. During her nine-year tenure, she managed a team of nearly 30 people and drove top- and bottom-line growth for a portfolio of 150 courses across 29 states using both traditional and cutting-edge marketing practices. Major achievements under her watch include establishing the World’s Largest Golf Outing, which to date has raised more than $3.5 million for military families. A former All-America swimmer at the University of Virginia, Clark will combine proven people skills with technology and analytics to shape recruiting, retention, employee-appreciation programming and other talent-related initiatives.
