Evans Scholar Alum named organization's 70th Chairman
GLENVIEW, Ill. — Steve Colnitis, of Lutherville, Maryland, has been named the 70th Chairman of the Western Golf Association (WGA), leading the WGA and Evans Scholars Foundation (ESF) as both organizations pursue an ambitious strategy for continued growth.
The WGA’s Board of Governors elected Colnitis to serve as Chairman during its December meeting. He will succeed Joe Desch of Cincinnati, Ohio, beginning his two-year term as Chairman after serving as Vice Chairman for the past two years.
“I’m honored by the opportunity to lead the WGA, an organization that changed the trajectory of my life when I was just a young caddie in the suburbs of Chicago,” Colnitis said. “Our prestigious golf championships are second to none, and I have seen the impact that the Evans Scholars Foundation has had on young men and women firsthand. I couldn’t be more excited to work with this dedicated team to reach the ambitious goals we’ve set for the future.”
Colnitis has served in key leadership roles since becoming a WGA Director in 2009. A member at Baltimore Country Club, he chaired the golf committee during the restoration of its esteemed A.W. Tillinghast-designed East course and was instrumental in establishing a youth caddie program that has now produced five Evans Scholars. In addition, he has helped lead numerous initiatives that have resulted in significant expansion of the Evans Scholars Program on the East Coast.
He has served as co-chair of the ESF Scholarship Committee and was also a co-chair of The Promise Campaign, a six-year fundraising effort that raised more than $371 million for ESF.
Colnitis’ term as Chairman begins as the WGA, which conducts six professional and amateur golf championships and oversees the acclaimed ESF, executes a long-range plan that will carry the organization through 2030. He will help advance the pursuit of goals in each of the organization’s major areas of expertise, including increasing the number of Evans Scholars in school by 50 percent and doubling the number of youth caddie opportunities nationwide.
“We’ve come so far and have changed so many lives, thanks to the generosity of our Evans Scholars Alumni and everyone who supports our Foundation, as well as our world-class championships,” Colnitis said. “Across the country, the need for the Evans Scholarship continues to grow. It’s our responsibility to turn this momentum into additional opportunities for families in need.”
As an Evans Scholar Alum, Colnitis’ familiarity with the Program will serve him and the organization well during his term, said WGA President and CEO John Kaczkowski. Colnitis caddied at Park Ridge Country Club in Illinois and earned the Evans Scholarship to Indiana University in 1972.
“Steve’s dedication to the Evans Scholars Program and to the role of youth caddies has been critical to our growth on the East Coast, where we are reaching more young people than ever before,” Kaczkowski said. “He truly embraces our mission, and he’s the perfect choice to lead our organization during this critical period.”
Following graduation in 1976, Colnitis began his career in Chicago with Noxell Corporation, whose brands included Noxzema and Cover Girl, while also pursuing an MBA at Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management. He was transferred to Baltimore in 1980 and continued climbing the corporate ladder before teaming up with fellow Evans Scholar Alum John Ply to build a fledgling company that would become Insight Beverages. At its height, the powdered food and beverage manufacturer provided flavored mixes for cappuccino and hot chocolate at every 7-Eleven in North America and many of the top convenience store chains across the country.
He and his wife Karis have three children: Steven, Kara and Christopher.
Colnitis is a member of Baltimore Country Club in Baltimore, Maryland; Conway Farms Golf Club in Lake Forest, Illinois; The Club at Mediterra in Naples, Florida; and the Colleton River Club in Bluffton, South Carolina.