Management Team
|
John Bartilomo CEC, CCE, General Manager
Hello and welcome to a lifestyle unparallel in the West Valley. My team and I are pleased to be a large part of your choice in selecting Copper Canyon Golf Club located in the wonderful community of Sun City Festival by Del Webb.
I come to you with more than 25 years of culinary arts and hospitality managerial experience to my opportunity, as General Manager of the exciting Copper Canyon Golf Club located in Buckeye, Arizona. With over nine years affiliation with Pulte/Del Webb, I understand how to deliver the lifestyle desired. Also, during the past seven years I have diversified my knowledge under the tutelage of Troon Golf. This experience has enabled me with a unique General Manager and Food and Beverage marriage for the past seven years.
I am graduate of the prestigious New England Culinary Institute in Montpelier, Vermont. I began honing my craft with jobs in fine restaurants throughout the United States including New York's La Cremaillere, Nantucket Islands Opera House, as well as culinary positions in Boca Raton, Florida, New Orleans and San Trope, France. After returning to the U.S., I served as Executive Chef of Phoenix's well-known 8700 restaurant as well as Executive Chef at Desert Mountain Properties in Scottsdale. I am a member of the American Chef's Federation achieving certifications of executive Chef and Culinary Educator. Also, I am an active member of the Club Managers Association of America. As an owner operator of a downtown Phoenix restaurant for three years, bottom line minded is my mantra. In addition, I spent five years as a Lead Chef instructor and Excecutive Chef of The Scottsdale Culinary Institute's L' Ecole restaurant.
As many careers begin, my love for cooking began when I was child growing up in Trumbull, Connecticut since food was always a major part of my family life. Starting in my childhood I was always exposed to cooking, so becoming a Chef just came naturally to me. My love for Country Club living was established early. My parents, Pat and Bart were both members of Hill and Dale Country Club during my adolescence. As a young man of 14, I worked in all facets of the Food and Beverage department of this prestigious Connecticut Club.
Without the support of my best friend and wife Sandy of 15 years my career could not be possible. We both are fortunate to be blessed with three children, our son John and daughters Marissa and Savannah twelve, ten and eight years old respectively. The understanding of the hospitality industry that Sandy has, after over 15 years herself, is a great benefit to my team and family.
Scott L. McCall, Director of Agronomy and Golf Maintenance
Scott has his Grandfather to thank for his career path. It started at age nine, one summer day he spotted a red and black plaid golf bag, his Grandfather's mix and match set of golf clubs, hanging from the wall of his garage. Soon after, he spent his summer days at the local golf course. It was during these days that he became familiar with golf maintenance. His first job other than working the farm fields of central Iowa, was mowing greens at Briggs Woods Golf Course. He continued to work at the golf course while studying Agronomy at Iowa State University.
His first career opportunity took him to Crested Butte Country Club in Colorado. He worked as Assistant Superintendent, where he spent the next seven years golfing, fishing, riding mountain bikes in summer and snow skiing in winter! Hist first Head Superintendent, position brought him to Tempe, Arizona. After three years at Rio Salado, he moved to Union Hills Country Club in Sun City. After six years there, he was ready for a new challenge, and went to work for Pulte/Del Webb maintaining multiple golf courses at Sun City Grand. The latest venture brought him to Copper Canyon Golf Club, which has awarded him the opportunity to work for Troon Golf.
Scott has been a member of Golf Course Superintendents Association of American for sixteen years. He is a very active member of Cactus and Pine, Arizona's Superintendents Association. He has in past years and continues today, to help various entities with research of turf pests and the development of new products and ideas for controlling them. His family, wife Kathie of 15 years and three children, Maddisen 9, Abbigayle7 and Clayton 4, keep him very busy at home.
Al Larose, Head Golf Professional
Started his PGA career in 1991 at the club he learned to play at in Vermont. Joined Troon Golf in 1997 and has been at top rated facilities such as The Ridge at Castle Pines North, Castle Rock, Colorado, The Westin LaPaloma Resort and Spa, Tucson, Arizona, and Whitetail Club, McCall Idaho. In his 11 years with Troon Golf he has held various positions from Assistant Golf Professional to General Manager, all giving him a unique perspective on the industry. His ultimate goal is to provide an unparalleled golf experience. Al lives with his fiancé Renee in Anthem and enjoys spending time with his 9 year old daughter Gabriella.
Anthony Rajda, Executive Chef
I grew up in West Rutland, Vermont where I enjoyed watching my father create homemade meals from scratch and knew from an early age that I wanted to follow in his footsteps.
I entered the prestigious New England Culinary Institute in Montpelier, Vermont as one of their youngest students, at age seventeen. I excelled in my studies and hit the ground running as I interned at The Four Seasons Resort in West Palm Beach, FL and The Boulders Resort in Carefree, AZ.
I have continued to educate myself in the culinary industry throughout the past 12 years. While the bulk of my work experience has been in the metropolitan Phoenix area, I have also had opportunities working across the United States, including the Rim Club in Payson, AZ, Mountaintop Golf Club in Cashiers, North Carolina and most recently, Rock Creek Cattle Company in Deer Lodge, Montana.
My versatile experience ranges from line cooking to banquet preparations to Executive Chef. Although I specialize primarily in Southwestern cuisine, I am multi-talented and can adopt to various types of fare.
Before coming to Copper Canyon Golf Club, I was the Executive Chef at Sunfare in Phoenix. I worked diligently to establish their catering division including writing up the menus, creating the food and working the events.
On the personal side, my wife, Sarah, and I bought our first Pulte home last year and enjoy raising our two lively boxers, Roxy and Mo.
|
