Our Team
David DiRenzo
General Manager
Serving since 2017
About David
David joined Invited in 2017 with an extensive Golf and Food and Beverage background. He is a proud Floridian growing up in the greater Fort Lauderdale area. He has worked at multiple Platinum and Emerald Clubs of the World (Top 100 Clubs) including Adios Golf Club, The Country Club at Mirasol and Naples Yacht Club. He led the turnaround of the Tower Club in Fort Lauderdale where his team generated Membership growth and raised member satisfaction into the top 10% company-wide. David joined the Tampa Palms' team in May 2021. David graduated with honors from FSU with a BBA in Finance, Hospitality Mgt. and Professional Golf Mgt. He received his PGA card in 2009, his PGA Certified General Manager Certification in 2010, and his Certified Club Manager Designation in 2013. David has had the privilege of working with two Master Chef Candidates and achieved his Sommelier Certification in 2014. David married his college sweetheart, Lauren, who is a CPA. They have two children, Caden and Emily.
Michelle Lazaro
Membership Director
Serving since 2017
About Michelle
It is my greatest pleasure to be your Membership Director. I am a Tampa native and joined Tampa Palms in August of 2018. I have been a part of the Invited family since September of 2017 where I was the Assistant Director of Memberships as well as a Pro Shop attendant at Hunter’s Green Country Club. I am excited to share the Tampa Palms Golf and Country Club lifestyle with the community and to help your club thrive!In my spare time you can find me playing golf on our beautiful course, at Disney with my family or playing with my fur baby Sergio!
Chloe Blakeman
Member Experience Director
Serving since 2019
813-972-1991 ext. 5018
About Chloe
Chloe grew up in Newtown, Connecticut before she came to Tampa in 2018 to finish her college career at USF. Chloe graduated magna cum laude from USF in July of 2020 with her Bachelor of Science in Marketing. Since moving to Florida in 2018, Chloe has thoroughly enjoyed the weather, people, and lifestyle of the beautiful sunshine state. Some of her hobbies include rollerblading at Flatwoods, relaxing with her cat Cordelia, and spending time outside with friends.
In August of 2019, she began working as the Pro Shop Attendant at Tampa Palms, where she loved interacting with Members, scoring tournaments, and helping the golf department in any way possible. Now, Chloe is serving as Tampa Palms' Member Experience Director, where she brings new and exciting ideas into fruition for our Members! Her goal is to make Tampa Palms engaging and rewarding for the Members that call it home. If you ever have questions about events or what is coming up at the Club, Chloe has the answers!
Mallory Stokes
Event Sales Director
Serving since 2022
813-972-1991
About Mallory
In September of 2022, Mallory joined the team as our new Event Sales Director with 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry spanning the private Club, hotel, restaurant, and hospitality sales industries. Most recently, Mallory worked as an Event Sales Manager for McKibbon Hospitality, taking part on the opening team of the new SpringHill Suites by Marriott in Lakeland where she was entrusted with selling a 126-room conference hotel with over 7,000 sq feet of event space. Prior to her role with McKibbon Hospitality, Mallory was instrumental in the reopening and rebranding of the 100-year-old Lakeland Country Club, formally known as the Lakeland Yacht Club, where she was hired on as their Director of Banquets and Private Events.
Jeffrey Verberg
Club Manager | Food & Beverage Director
Serving since 2018
About Jeffrey
Jeff Verberg was born and raised in Philadelphia Pennsylvania. He is married to Tamara and has an eighteen-year-old son that attends college in Clearwater. He has been in the Food and Beverage business his whole life and got his start, like his brothers and sisters, in his Mum Mum's restaurant outside of Philadelphia. Jeff has been managing people since he was seventeen and loves to build relationships and make people feel cared for both with his guests and fellow co-workers. He went to high school and college and did the early part of his professional hospitality career in the Orlando Florida area where he met his wife. After that, he was in Houston Texas for a number of years where he ran The Tasting Room and several other high-end restaurants and groups. The last seven-plus years he has reopened the historic Blue Bell Inn and has run the Food and Beverage at Jericho National Golf Club in New Hope Pennsylvania. Now relocated back to the Greater Tampa Bay area recently to be closer...
Tyler Nelson
Executive Chef
Serving since 2022
About Tyler
Chef Tyler grew up within a kitchen with a passion for food. Both sides of his family were in the culinary scene, Tyler had a Swedish grandmother catering for parties and an Italian grandfather who was a chef. Tyler began his venture into the culinary world in high school, working in every kitchen possible from pizza shops, Italian delis, to Mexican restaurants wanting to learn everything possible. After a stint in the pro soccer world, he decided to go culinary school where he learned from Chef Thomas Heistand and was taken under the wing of Chef David Sapp who guided him in the right direction. From there he trained under some of the best chefs in the country such as Chef Jimmy Bannos, Chef Geoff Rhyne, and Chef Keith Willis. During this time, the farm-to-table movement became Tyler’s focus and driving point. Now, Chef Tyler is excited to be a part of Tampa Palms, bringing his passion to the elevated desires of its Members.
Kevin Kenny, PGA
Golf Professional of the Year
Serving since 2004
813-972-1444
About Kevin
Kevin Kenny is a native-born Floridian, in Pensacola and was raised in Tallahassee. He attended the University of South Florida and graduated with honors in 1989 with a double major in Finance and Marketing. KK has been a PGA Member for 22 years now. In 2014, he was voted North Florida PGA / West Conference Chapter Teacher of the year and currently teaches PGA Tour Member, George McNeill. He has also previously been the North Florida PGA Player of the Year.Kevin’s goal is to make the golf experience the best it can possibly be at Tampa Palms for every level of golfer through the professional implementation of teaching programs and varied tournament activities.
Patrick Daciek
Head Tennis Professional
Serving since 2021
About Patrick
Patrick Daciek, maintained an ATP Ranking and played on tour for ten years. Following his playing career, he had the opportunity to coach players in all four Grand Slams. Patrick, originally from Maryland, grew up through the USTA system, he was the #1 junior in the Mid-Atlantic and in the top 20 juniors nationally. Patrick played collegiate tennis at Virginia Tech, where he became the #1 singles and #1 doubles player. He currently has over a 12 UTR and a USTA rating of 7.0. Since leaving the tour, Patrick has developed a reputation as one of the premier coaches developing many junior players into college and ultimately into the professional level. He coached and traveled with two top 10 WTA players - Caroline Garcia and Gaby Dabrowski. While working with Patrick, Caroline Garcia reached a career high of #4 in WTA singles and #1 in WTA doubles. Gaby Dabrowski reached a career high of #7 in WTA doubles, including being a finalist in Wimbledon and making 2 Year End Finals (WTA Finals).
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Liz Bates
Office Manager
Serving since 2023
About Liz
Liz grew up near the Fox River in the small town of Geneva, Illinois. She and her husband, Tom, were high school sweethearts and have been married for 32 years. They have three amazing boys whom all attended the University of Florida. Her home cheers on the Gators, but her loyalty is with the Iowa Hawkeyes! Aside from sports, Liz loves a great cup of black, dark roast coffee and warm chats with friends and family. Liz graduated from the University of Iowa with a bachelor’s degree specializing in Therapeutic Recreation. As a specialist, Liz worked at a physical rehabilitation center in Melbourne, Florida, primarily with stroke and brain injury patients. She transitioned to the food and beverage industry and joined us at Tampa Palms back in 2003 and has worn multiple hats since, including server, beverage cart, banquet, and service captain. She joined the accounting team as an assistant in 2015 and has now assumed the role of Office Manager. Liz has a wonderful relationship with many Members due to her years of service at the Club and looks forward to all that the future holds!
Kim Howey
Fitness Director
Serving since 2021
813-632-1676
About Kim
Kimberly Howey joined the Invited family in 2013. She started at Tampa Palms Golf and Country Club as an afterschool supervisor and pro shop attendant. Then, recently served as the Office Manager at Centre Club in downtown Tampa. Kimberly has received her director's license and school-age credentials while working with our Florida state-licensed afterschool program at Tampa Palms. She has received Invited's national award in 2015 for Team Work as well as the 2017 and 2018 Super Star awards presented at Tampa Palms Golf and Country Club. Kimberly and her husband, Mark, have homeschooled their five children for twenty-two consecutive years. Her favorite past-time is traveling with her family and enjoying the Florida backroads on her scooter.
Kat Schwendeman, LPGA
First Assistant Golf Professional
Serving since 2022
813-972-1444
About Kat
Kat is an LPGA Class A Teaching Professional and comes to Tampa Palms from Coto de Caza Golf & Racquet Club in Orange County, CA. Before joining the Invited Clubs family in 2020, she was the Head Golf Professional at The Loma Club in San Diego for over 7 years.
Kat’s role at Coto de Caza was not only to teach golf to their Members, but more importantly, to engage with them. She really enjoyed the social features the Club offers and meeting and mingling with the Members after golf. One of Kat’s passions is growing golf among the ladies. Helping ladies feel comfortable playing golf is one of her goals as a teacher. She has also helped men of all skill levels lower their handicaps and become better players. Kat has also become extremely involved in junior golf, from LPGA Girls Golf, PGA Jr League, as well as Crush It; she teaches young golfers this great sport and gets them excited to play throughout life.
Besides teaching golf, she enjoys spending time with her family, fishing, boating and visiting the beach with her husband, Brandon, and three dogs, which are sproodles; Par, Birdee & Caddie.
Chris Brode, PGA
First Assistant Golf Professional
Serving since 2022
813-972-1444
About Chris
Chris has been in the golf industry for over 25 years. Most of his experience has been spent on the east coast, primarily in the Carolinas. He is joining us from Braelinn Golf Club in Peachtree City, Georgia, another Invited Clubs facility, where he served as Head Golf Professional. He moved to the area with his wife, Catherine, whom he has been married to for 15 years.
One of Chris’ fondest experiences in the golf industry was when he worked for the Education Corporation of America at the Golf Academy of America in Myrtle Beach, SC. He spent six years there as a Faculty Member, teaching and educating students from all walks of life. He enjoyed meeting new people every semester and passing on the knowledge gained through his career in the golf industry. He earned multiple certifications while employed at the Golf Academy and hopes to use that training to better serve you as Members and avid golfers. Chris appreciates and enjoys teaching all aspects of the swing and considers himself very knowledgeable in the areas of club-fitting and club repair. Chris looks forward to meeting everyone and working with Kevin Kenny to provide you with the best golf experience possible.
Bob Bolton
Tournament Director
Serving since 2022