INTRODUCING THE cloverbank team
2022 has been a keystone year for Cloverbank Country Club. With the support and backing of the club’s ownership and the introduction of KemperSports earlier this year, the focus has been improving the member experience in all aspects of the club. Throughout 2022, the club has been building its management team in recruiting and retaining key staff members that hold a “servants heart’ and dedicated to provide best in service to both members and their guests. We are proud to present our team below who are steadfast to accommodating each of our members needs and take this club, steeped in proud history, to its next chapter.
Kevin Dudleston, PGA
General Manager
Kevin Dudleston, PGA joined the club as part of the partnership with ownership and KemperSports in May 2022. Since childhood, Kevin has had a passion for Golf and changed his career to become a PGA Professional and received his Class A PGA in August 2017. Prior to joining Cloverbank, Kevin has worked as a Teaching Professional, Membership Director and Assistant General Manager at the Village Club of Sands Point in Long Island, NY, as well as at the prestigious private GlenArbor Golf Club in Bedford Hills, NY. Kevin is very excited to have joined us and looks forward to promoting and managing the club and its operations. His passion for golf, building a solid club operation, creating and implementing marketing strategies that break down traditional barriers and reach new audiences will drive the future for Cloverbank Country Club.
Colleen Baker
Director Of First Impressions
Colleen Baker joined the team in June 2022, and has been the true face of Cloverbank Country Club for this year. Her effervescent smile, and willingness to greet and make all members and guests feel truly at home at the club makes her a special part of our team and deserving of her job title. Colleen has been in the Country Club industry throughout all of her career, establishing herself truly at Orchard Park Country Club prior to joining Cloverbank Country Club. Colleen will be here to welcome you, introduce you to our club, and help accommodate any of your needs with regard to membership, event coordination, or any other matters either over the phone or in-person.
Kyle Randall, PGA Associate
Head Golf Professional
Kyle Randall is the first Head Golf Professional at Cloverbank Country Club and a local from Western New York. He started his golf apprenticeship 10+ years ago down in South Florida and has brought his golf knowledge back to Western New York as an Assistant at Brierwood Country Club. Kyle will continue to use his talents to build Cloverbank Country Club in the golf community here in Buffalo, NY.
Kyle is known in the industry as being a Pro’s Pro. No job is too big or too small. His dedication to both the Golf operations at the club, serving members needs and his dedication in learning new teaching skills both for adults and children is second to none. His passion to building the instructional program at the club will help promote the game of golf and bring enjoyment to those who participate.
Tom Styn, DPT
Assistant Golf Professional
Tom is a new addition to the Cloverbank Golf Professional Staff, joining the team in April of 2022. He previously worked as a physical therapist in the WNY area after receiving his DPT (Doctorate in Physical Therapy) from Daemen University.
Prior to that, he received his undergraduate degree from St. Bonaventure University where he was the captain of their Division I baseball team. Tom loves the game of golf and is extremely excited to learn and grow as a golf professional with the Cloverbank team.
Tom’s true love to the game and all of those that play is an amazing asset to the club. We are excited to see him broaden his skillset, continue to be part of the team, as he embarks on his PGA Apprenticeship in the Fall of 2022.
Trent Hussey
Course & Grounds Superintendent
The end of the 2022 golf season will mark the 25th year Trent has worked in the golf course industry. Starting off his career while completing his degree at Erie Community College, he quickly moved up the ranks on the course and grounds crew becoming Assistant Superintendent from 2000 – 2015. He spent the 2015 season as Superintendent at The Fox Valley Club before returning to Brierwood CC as Superintendent of Course and Grounds in 2016. Now in his 7th season back at that club, Trent and his team are providing top quality playing surfaces and consistently making improvements around the course and clubhouse. His emphasis on building relationships with his co-workers and members of the club makes him a special part of the return to glory at Cloverbank Country Club.
Brandon Morris
Course & Grounds Superintendent – First Assistant
Brandon has been in the Golf Turf business for over 10 years, and has learned his trade by working at many clubs in the local Buffalo area. Brandon was lucky enough to complete his internship at the prestigious Los Angeles Country Club working on the Championship Course. Brandon graduated from Rutgers University, renowned for its Golf Turf Management program, and has been working at Cloverbank Country Club for the last two years after a period of working at a high-end course in New Canaan, CT. Brandon’s dedication to delivering the best-in-product within the budget given makes him a great asset to the club.
Philip Merrilees
Food & Beverage Manager
Philip Merrilees joined the club in late July 2022 as our Food and Beverage Manager. Philip is a level one Sommelier, passed BarSmarts advanced by Pernod Ricard, and is a level one Cicerone. He has also helped to open 5 restaurants in the Western New York area and has helped to manage several others. Philip is excited to be part of the service team at Cloverbank, and is looking forward to making the member experience here a memorable one.
Utilizing his unique experience and skill set, Philip’s main goals for the next coming months is to train the Front of House Staff for both banquets and Restaurant service that will provide a significant quality of service to our members.
Emily Scanlon
Bar Manager
Emily has been at the club since late 2021 as a bartender and immediately built a rapport with our members. Her ability to remember names, faces, and their favorite drinks has been a tremendous asset to the club. To that end, Emily was promoted to Bar Manager in early June 2022. With her personal knowledge of our membership, and her own creative talents to bartending and drink making, then we are excited to promote her concoctions and cocktails to our membership. A natural leader, Emily helps our young front of house team to provide best in service as well as providing mentorship and supportive guidance to all staff.
Alison Rivera
Executive Sous Chef
Alison has been part of Cloverbank Country Club since its inception in April 2021. You will always find Alison speaking and chatting to all members in the restaurant, and if you are lucky, you will get to try one of her ad-hoc specials that she will personally make. Her cooking style will always remind you of home and her special ingredient of ‘personal love and attention’ will always leave you wanting for more. Alison is excited to provide our membership with a special menu, that we know all of our members will enjoy.
Grace Sagun
Property Accountant
Our ‘saving’ Grace joined the club in late July 2022. As a very experienced Accountant working with companies such as Northrop Grumman, she is ready to tackle all Billing issues with membership, as well as providing HR advice to the Cloverbank Staff and handling all Accounting Receivables and Payables for the Club. We are incredibly excited to have Grace join us as we look to update the clubs accounting software and membership portal to newer and more user friendlier software for both membership and staff. Grace is always ready to answer any billing issues as we traverse these ‘muddy waters’ to the bright future.
Greg Stifter, CPO
Director Of Building Maintenance & Pool Operations
Greg has the enormous task of being head of Building Maintenance as well as being our Certified Pool Operator. Since joining the club in 2018, Greg has helped to overcome many challenges to keep the club operating at many levels. Through his last 5 years of service, Greg has learned a full exhaustive knowledge of all of the buildings. Greg can be often found working with the team handling multimedia, assisting in preparation for events, and helping members with any of their needs. We are very proud that Greg also passed his CPO license in July 2022, adding certification value to his already in-depth knowledge of Pool operations and its safety.
Kimberly Stifter
Director Of Housekeeping
Kimberly has been with Cloverbank Country Club since June 2021 and manages 3 Housekeeping Staff that covers all aspects including the Clubhouse, Snack Shack, and the Pool Pavillion. Kimberly and her team take pride in ensuring the whole campus is always clean and inviting to members and guests alike.