Our Team
Frank LaVacca
General Manager
Serving since 2017
978-312-3090
About Frank
Frank began working at Ipswich in June of 2017 as the PGA General Manager. Frank has worked with the Invited family since 2007 most recently at Hartefeld National in Pennsylvania. He graduated from Cortland State in New York with a fine arts degree and became a PGA Member in 2010. He is excited about making Ipswich his new home and building relationships with Members, Guests, and Staff. He resides in Newbury, MA with wife Lyndsay, daughters Lana & Lucy, and faithful pal, Stryder.
Melissa O'Neil
Member Experience Director
Serving since 2014
978-356-4822
About Melissa
Melissa started working at Ipswich Country Club in 2014. She began as a hostess in the RTJ and then received her first promotion to a server in 2015. You could also see her cruising the golf course in the Beverage Cart! Melissa’s devotion to the Club and Membership led to her next promotion to Member Relations Coordinator and her most recent role as Member Experience Director.
Kristin Cicerone
Office Manager
Serving since 2021
About Kristin
Kristin joined the team in November of 2021 as the Office Manager. She enjoys the challenges and rewards that come with the daily operations of an office. Kristin and her husband Jim reside in the Danvers with their son and daughter.
David LoGrasso
Membership Director
Serving since 2020
About David
David has been in the golf industry since 2000 in Golf Operations at Myopia Hunt Club and Salem Country Club. He also has extensive sales experience during his tenure at Dav El Transportation as well as at Tristar Worldwide since 2004. He joined Ipswich Country Club in September 2020 and recently was named the Membership Director in 2022. He resides on the North Shore of Boston with his wife and two sons.
Deb Flohr
Private Events Director
Serving since 2022
Tim Eyring
Service Director
Serving since 2016
978-312-3081
About Tim
Born & raised in Buffalo, NY, Tim attended Ithaca College to study music education concentrating on voice and piano. It was there that he also discovered his love for food and hospitality. Since then, he has worked for several hotel groups in the Buffalo area before making the transition to private clubs in 2013. In his spare time, he spends time with his wife and cat at their home in North Andover, playing piano, cooking new foods, and trying new wine whenever he gets the chance.
Joseph Occhipinti
Executive Chef
Serving since 2022
About Joseph
Please join me in welcoming back Chef Joseph as the Executive Chef of Ipswich Country Club.
Joseph returns to our team after an extensive culinary experience background broadening his experience as an Executive Chef at highly regarded restaurants, hotels, and catering operations, including his twelve-year tenure here at Ipswich Country Club, Wentworth by the Sea Country Club, Renaissance Country Club, Hilton, Marriott, and was the task force executive chef at the Abaco Club in the Bahamas, 5 Diamond luxury resort at the Boca Raton Beach Club and Miami Hilton. While at Ipswich Country Club Joseph has earn his Certification as Executive Chef with ClubCorp in 2004 and was awarded Chef of the Year in 2005. Joseph has had some extraordinary opportunities during his career to cooking for many well-known public dignitaries, global leaders, and celebrities such as President and Mrs. Clinton, Donald Trump, Nelson Mandela, King Charles, Mikhail Gorbachev, President Robinson of Ireland, Michael Dukakis, John Kerry, Julia Child, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Aerosmith, and the New England Patriots just to name a few.
Joseph is excited to return to the club that feels like home, here his passion continues in delivering an outstanding experience to each of our members.
Joseph resides in nearby Bradford with his wife Michele, dogs, Snowball, Madaket, and Pinocchio (Penuche’), and two rabbits Peter and Cottontail. In his spare time, Joseph enjoys playing golf and vacationing with his family.
Daniel Dwyer
Director of Golf
Serving since 2011
978-312-3084
About Daniel
Daniel's career in the golf business started as a local caddie. Over the past 20 years, he has refined his abilities at many of the area’s finest Clubs including Winchester, Kernwood, Bellevue and Bass Rocks Country Clubs. He also has previous Head Professional experience having served as such at both Bass Rocks Country Club and Mt. Hood Golf Course. His professional playing accomplishments include being the first recipient of the New England Assistants Association’s Ben Boyd Player of the Year Award.
David Lazarakis
1st Assistant Golf Professional
Serving since 2019
About David
Dave began working at Ipswich at the start of the 2019 season as an Assistant Professional. Dave has worked at clubs in Scottsdale and Las Vegas, as also Myopia Hunt Club and Salem CC. He graduated from New Mexico State University with a degree in Professional Golf Management in 1996.
Nathan Myers
Director of Player Development.
Serving since 2016
About Nathan
Nathan started in 2016 and has just completed his 7th season at Ipswich.
He has been in the golf industry for over ten years and has always been passionate about teaching and developing talent. He is a class A PGA member, PGA Coach certified, and a Trackman level 2 certified Professional. Nathan is constantly learning more about this great game and enjoys passing my knowledge along to my students in a manner that helps them learn and improve in every aspect of Golf.
Mike Mercier
Director of Racquet Sports
Serving since 2022
About Mike
Michael comes to the Ipswich Country Club as the new Director of Racquets Sports in April of 2022 after retiring from Harvard University.
During his 20-year tenure there he grew program participation from single digits to over 3000 active players with weekly clinic attendance over 20 plus per session.
Michael also increased participation in all areas of tennis, pickleball, and spec tennis in a collegiate atmosphere.
Now he is looking forward to the opportunity to rejuvenate the racquet program here by sharing his wealth of expertise with the members of the club.
Some of his latest accolades are:
2021 Recognized America's "Top 50 “ Tennis Coach with Topspin & Tennis Magazine
2019 USPTA New England " Ed Series President Award”
2018, 2003 “USPTA New England Tennis Professional of the Year”
Matt Behl
Golf Course Superintendent
Serving since 2019
About Matt
During my career, I have had the pleasure of hosting many Massachusetts Golf Association championships and a United States Golf Association event. I have also had the privilege of working on an LPGA tour stop. Most importantly, as Superintendent, I am passionately committed to improving course conditions and instilling that same sense of pride and commitment in my team. I am a graduate of the University of Massachusetts with a Bachelor's degree in Plant and Soil Science along with a concentration in turf grass management and business option. I live in Georgetown, Massachusetts with my wife and twins, Mason and Marisa. When I'm not at work, I enjoy spending time with family, coaching and participating in all outdoor activities.
Guillermo Alvarez
Facility Maintenance Director
Serving since 2010
About Guillermo
Guillermo started at Ipswich in April 2010. He is the go-to guy for the Clubs' building needs. You will see G and his team around the Club always keeping up with the day-to-day life at Ipswich. G lives in Lowell with his wife Alma and they have two children together.