Succeeding as a Woman in a Male-Dominated Golf Industry

Nov. 26, 2012 - PRLog -- In today’s cut-throat world of sports business 28-year-old Kate Whitney is a refreshing face as the president of SwingRite, LLC. How has a young woman like Kate stormed onto the scene with such success in a growing industry?

According to the US Census Bureau, in 2007, when Kate Whitney became president of SwingRite, LLC, women-owned companies made up 7.8 million or 28.7% of all US firms. Of this number only 36.1% of women-owned companies were active in the wholesale and retail trade sector. So where did Kate’s journey to eventually become the president of a successful golf company in a generally male-dominated profession begin?

Ever since high school Whitney has been passionate about sports. In fact, she was a three-sport varsity athlete in hockey, tennis, and captain of the Pingree High School boys’ golf team in South Hamilton, MA. After completing high school, Whitney switched her focus from sports to academics. When she graduated from the University of New Hampshire in 2006 (BA Communications), she achieved Magna Cum Laude status as a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society. Although her competitive golf career took a backseat to her academics and now her career, Whitney still golfs recreationally and is even a USGTF (United States Golf Teachers Federation) golf teaching pro. Her dedication combined with her love of golf led her to joining the SwingRite team in 2007.

As a female president in a male-dominated industry, Kate Whitney has had to work extra hard but has never looked back since accepting the position. SwingRite has grown by substantially with Whitney as president.  “We are not only expanding in the U.S. but overseas as well. We fill orders in the Netherlands, Brazil, Australia, all over. In China and Japan they don’t have the type of training aids we have here in the US so we are capitalizing on that market which is very exciting.”

With Whitney now at the controls some improvements to the original SwingRite have been made, which offer different grip choices and more customization. It is clear Whitney is serious about her company and its product when she puts her personal seal of approval on every SwingRite by testing each one. It is this type of commitment that has gotten her where she is today and this dedication to customers will help keep her ahead in the game.

SwingRite was purchased in 1996 by Whitney Development and has been expanding since. Now offering not only the SwingRite golf trainers, but grips, gloves, and the MLB player endorsed, SwingRite Home Run Hitter, a baseball/softball swing trainer.

www.swingrite.com