Featured Speakers

V. R. “Pete” Halter
Chairman, The Halter Companies

V. R. Halter & Associates, Inc. advises clients on the strategic planning of residential developments with a special emphasis on overall positioning, products, and sales and marketing of master-planned club communities and resorts. Going far beyond standard top-line thinking, the firm works to create strategic integration of operational, quality, and design management that leverages your development's full value at every level. Led by V.R. Halter, who has been active in residential development since 1974, V. R. Halter & Associates assists a diverse portfolio of residential development clients throughout the United States, the Caribbean, Mexico and Europe. With key projects that include golf clubs, resorts and master-planned communities, the firm continues to offer innovative concepts and design that set new standards for excellence while at the same time ensuring that core facilities for success are in place. The firm has represented clients such as The Ritz-Carlton, Jack Nicklaus Development Corporation, Disney Development Company, John Wieland Homes & Neighborhoods, Crescent Resources, Shea Homes, Terrabrook and many others. For a complete list of services and clients, see our Scope of Services and Clients & Projects.

Tom Flavin
President/CEO, Coachella Valley Economic Partnership (CVEP)

Thomas Flavin was appointed President/CEO of the Coachella Valley Economic Partnership (CVEP) in November, 2010. He has an extensive background in economic development leading organizations in Los Angeles, Denver and Seattle. Flavin also served as Mayor of Burbank, California receiving the American Planning Association (APA) award for “distinguished leadership” in 1993 for its economic revitalization following the departure of Lockheed Corporation. He also spent ten years as an executive in the broadband communications industry.

James B. Singerling, CMM
C.E.O., Club Managers Association of America

James B. Singerling is the Chief Executive Officer of the Club Managers Association of America. Prior to this appointment, he was a corporate official in the golf course design and management companies of Robert Trent Jones, Sr. He also served as Vice President and General Manager of the Coral Ridge Country Club in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. During his 21 year tenure as CMAA’s chief executive, Singerling has helped lead the Association to the forefront of the club industry. The CMAA Business Management Institute (BMI) has grown from offering three programs annually to 33 on seven university campuses. More than 1,400 club management professionals now participate in the BMI programs each year. CMAA’s public Web site – cmaa.org – consistently averages more than 2 million hits per month. Singerling currently serves as the President of The Club Foundation, which to date, has issued more than $3.5 million in scholarships and grants.

Rick Coyne         
C.E.O., Club Mark Corporation and Professional Club Marketing Association

Rick Coyne, C.E.O., Club Mark Corporation has forty plus years experience in developing marketing, operational and positioning strategies to over 650 private clubs.  For the past twenty-five years, he has been a repeat provider of over 500 workshops and seminars throughout the world including Canada, Spain, England, France, Prague, Mainland China, South America and South Africa. In 2001, Rick was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award, for his philanthropic contributions to our industry from BoardRoom magazine.  In 2002, Rick was a co-recipient of the Gary Player Black Knight Educator of the Year Award and he was presented the award for a second time in 2008.

Greg Berkemer
Executive Vice President, California Desert Association of REALTORS®

Greg Berkemer is originally from Long Beach California and received his Bachelors Degree in Business and Marketing from The University of Southern California. Following college Greg served as Claims and Underwriting Manager in San Francisco and Los Angeles for National American Insurance Company until 1980. Greg obtained his Brokers License in 1980, worked in residential and commercial sales, and served as President of the Long Beach Board of REALTORS® in 1986. He became the Government Affairs Director for the Long Beach Board in 1988 and EVP in 1989 until end of 1995. He also served as President of the Long Beach Housing Corporation for the City of Long Beach. Greg became EVP of the California Desert Association of REALTORS in 1996 and is in his 14th year with the association.  The California Desert Assoc. now has a membership of over 3,600 REALTORS and allied industry professionals.

Bob Borsch
Retired Sr. Partner, Price Waterhouse Coopers

Bob spent 30 years in management consulting with some of the largest and most respected companies in the world.  In retirement, Bob has rekindled his interest in business by becoming the President of the Master Association Board at Desert Mountain, where he recently oversaw one of the most successful transitions from developer to member owned in history.

Michael Shepherd
President/Chief Executive Officer, The Shepherd Group, Inc.

Michael leads the Public Relations practice at The Shepherd Group, a Southern California-based communications firm he founded in 1992. The firm maintains offices in Palm Desert and Newport Beach. As a 30-year advertising, PR and branding veteran, Michael works with Boards and management on all aspects of messaging, from research and audience segmentation to creative content development and, ultimately, measurement. His understanding of public policy issues related to housing stem from his work with organizations such as the Building Industry Association – Desert Chapter, Coachella Valley Economic Partnership, and the Orange County Business Council. In addition to serving on the Board for the Coachella Valley Regional Housing Trust, Michael chairs the Legislative Committee for the Coachella Valley Economic Partnership. He is a Founding Director of Desert Commercial Bank and past Board member for the Palm Desert Chamber of Commerce and Boy Scouts of America – Sunrise Council.