Hills/Forrest hires Odom to Spearhead Business Development in Southeast


January 11, 2006. Arthur Hills/Steve Forrest and Associates, the world's second largest golf course design firm, continues to expand its reach with the hire of John Odom as Director of Business Development, Southeast. In his new role, Odom will manage development of the company's new course and renovation activities in the Southeastern United States.

Odom can be reached in his Oldsmar, Fla. office at 727-458-4011, jodom@arthurhills.com

Odom comes to Hills/Forrest from the competitive health-care sector where, as project manager for Dunedin, Fla.-based Jacobson Consulting, he worked with physician groups in developing Ambulatory Surgery Centers (ASCs). Prior to that, he was manager of business development at the Jacksonville-based Stellar Group, which provided business planning and design-build services to physicians developing their own stand-alone ASCs and medical office buildings.

Odom graduated from the University of Cincinnati with a degree in land planning. His comprehensive understanding of the land development process coupled with a life-long passion for the game of golf make him perfect fit with the Hills/Forrest team.

"John knows the Southeast region backwards and forwards. We're confident he'll increase the amount of design work we do in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi and the Carolinas," said Quentin Lutz, vice president of global business development for Toledo, Ohio-based Arthur Hills/Steve Forrest and Associates. "We are fortunate to be well established in several of these markets already, but because our work there has been so well received, we still see great potential for growth."

Indeed, Hills/Forrest has authored more than 40 original course designs in Florida alone, plus another 14 in Georgia and the low country of South Carolina. Worldwide, the firm is responsible for more than 200 original designs and 130 renovation projects.

With 12 course architects on staff and more than 45 projects in development on three continents, Arthur Hills/Steve Forrest and Associates trails only Nicklaus Design in terms of size and scope. Hills/Forrest also boasts five full members of the American Society of Golf Course Architects, more than any course design firm in the world.

Odom's hire follows hard on two more personnel moves that reflect the firm's exceptional growth. Last year, Hills/Forrest named former Ping executive Gary Hart Director of Business Development for the Western and Pacific Regions. In October, Hills/Forrest established an office in Brussels and named Olivier Daelemens Director of European and Middle East Operations.

"It's an honor to be working with Hills/Forrest," Odom says. "The work they've already done here in the Southeast is spectacular - it's about the best business development tool you can imagine. Clubs that feature Hills/Forrest course designs typically boast full memberships and long waiting lists. Golfers absolutely love our designs, which ultimately adds value to real estate. That's the proven formula we're fortunate to offer our prospective clients and partners."

For more information on Arthur Hills/Steve Forrest and Associates, visit www.arthurhills.com or call 419-841-8553.