About Us

Mark joined First Tee – Connecticut as Program Director in March 2011 and began serving as the Executive Director in August 2017. He is a native of Waterbury, CT and a graduate of Central Connecticut State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in History. He is a member of the PGA of America within the Connecticut Section where he serves on the Board of Directors. Within The First Tee, Mark is a Recognized First Tee Coach and and a member of the Chapter Advisory Council (CAC). Mark lives in Bristol with his wife, Kimberly and two daughters, Julia (a PLAYer Level participant with First Tee – Connecticut) and Kallie.  He serves as a member of the Board of Directors and as the Chair of the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Subcommittee for the Main Street Community Foundation.

Christy Miller joined First Tee – Connecticut as Manager of Development and Events in May 2015 and was named the Director of Development in March 2017.  Prior to joining The First Tee, Christy worked for 13 years at Gold, Orluk & Partners where she honed her skills in cause marketing, client engagement and event management, overseeing large scale events, conferences and camps that raised over $7 million dollars for various charities.

Christy participated in the 2015 Leadership of Greater Hartford Quest program with the focus of producing a project that helps combat food insecurity in Hartford. Christy received her Bachelor’s Degree in Public Relations / Communications from Utica College of Syracuse University and her Master’s Degree in Sports Management from the University of Connecticut. Christy enjoys volunteering with the Girl Scouts, at her church and getting involved at her daughter’s school.  In her spare time, Christy enjoys spending time with family and friends, running and traveling. She resides in West Hartford with her daughter, Shelby and their rescue dogs, Holly and Big Papi.

Ilona Emmerth joined First Tee – Connecticut in November 2017 as Director of Strategic Partnerships. Just prior, she was at the Yale Alumni Association for nearly 10 years. As Senior Director there, she led the Major Cities initiative, reinvigorating regional alumni associations through strategic planning, innovative programming and individual leadership development. She also launched the Volunteer Engagement and Outreach program to foster alumni activities focused on community impact. Previously, Ilona lived in Cleveland, Ohio, where her professional experiences ranged from supply chain consultant to co-owner of a small distribution business and founder of a nonprofit organization.

Ilona lives in New Haven with her husband Mike and daughter Natalie, who looks forward to First Tee – Connecticut’s Girls Only Summer Camp. As an alumna of Yale and its varsity women’s golf team, Ilona continues her engagement as a volunteer for her alma mater.

Mark joined First Tee – Connecticut as Program Director in November 2017.  He has been involved with the chapter for the past 5 years, volunteering as an Assistant Coach and serving as Director of Instruction for Summer Camp in 2016 and 2017. Mark is a Level 2 First Tee Coach.

Mark is a native of West Hartford, CT, a graduate of Villanova University, with a BA in Economics and holds an MBA in Marketing and Finance from the University of Connecticut.  Mark’s past professional experience includes over 18 years at Hartford Life Insurance in product development and marketing.  Mark is a lector at his church, St. Ann in Avon and serves as Golf Chair and sits on the Development Committee for McLean Care in Simsbury.  In addition to teaching golf, Mark enjoys playing at Hop Meadow Country Club and competing in CSGA amateur events.  He resides in Simsbury with his wife, Jen, and their dachshund, George.

Marie joined the staff of First Tee – Connecticut in October 2015 after a thirty-three year career teaching middle school science and math and coaching soccer and track and field at the Kingswood Oxford School in West Hartford. She is excited to continue her involvement with young people while branching out into new opportunities. Marie enjoys traveling with family and friends, golfing, gardening and watching sports, and is a literacy volunteer in Hartford.

Timothy F. Swensen joined First Tee – Connecticut in March of 2018 after previously working with First Tee – Metropolitan New York in 2017.  Timothy graduated from Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire with a degree in Environmental Studies.  Timothy seeks to empower and educate Connecticut youth through the lens of golf.  A father of one, Timothy enjoys spending time outdoors with his daughter: hiking, fishing, trail work, and (of course) golf.

Taylor may be among the newest staff members at the chapter, assuming the role of Assistant Program Director in February 2019, but she’s far from a new face.  Coach Taylor has been involved with First Tee longer than anyone on the staff!  She started with The First Tee of Hartford in 2004 as a ten-year-old taking classes at Goodwin.  “My first shot was amazing and that’s when I realized that golf is something I wanted to keep playing.”

Even though she is responsible for coaching participants at all levels and the chapter’s LPGA USGA Girls Golf Program she said that coaching was sort of a spontaneous thing that she quickly fell in love with once she decided to try it. “Not only to be that female face, so other girls can see that it’s not only a male sport but also to see that look when kids make that amazing shot, the same look I had when I fell in love with the sport.”

Taylor lives in East Hartford and is taking classes at Manchester Community College working toward a degree in Graphic Design & Media Arts.  Her journey has come full circle – from participant to coach to staff member.