by Fred Seely
Editor
Susan Rampelberg retired from a California job to take it easy in Florida. That lasted less than a year and now she’s doing what amounts to more than a fulltime job — she’s the president of the Florida Women’s State Golf Association.
And a remarkable fact: it only took four years from the time she moved into her new home at the Plantation Country Club in Ponte Vedra Beach.
“I met a lot of people when I got here and they recommended me,” said the 52-year-old. “Things seemed to work out.”
Rampelberg brought a background of finance, sales and marketing, all traits which were needed by the FWSGA, which has struggled in recent years without a paid staff member. She was in the right place at the right time, bringing the ability to move an on-the-move organization ahead.
The local directors were moving on: one needed to spend more time on her job and the other had health issues. They recommended Rampelberg as a board member. She quickly moved up the ladder and today is the first FWSGA president from this area in over a decade.
“I spent a lot of time helping with things like a business plan and financial planning,” said Rampelberg. “It was nuts and bolts stuff, boring stuff for the average person but something I’d done in the business world.”
The results have been stunning. What once was an almost closed sorority has become a viable organization with a peppy executive director, a close working relationship with the male-oriented Florida State GA and an outreach to the media and public.
“I’m actually spending a little less time now that I’m president,” said Rampelberg, “but I still have to go all around the state on association business and tournaments.
“I’ve been able to spend a little time on my golf game, too.”
Rampelberg worked for various companies as she followed husband Vic in his job as an executive with Avery Dennison, the giant office supply company. She even worked as a college professor in Southern California.
When Vic decided to retire, they determined to find “a city that wasn’t too big, like Chicago and Los Angeles, but still had a lot going on.”
They got on I-10 in Los Angeles and headed east.
“We finally ran out of real estate,” she said with a laugh. “We discovered Ponte Vedra. It fits us perfectly.”
She plays to a five handicap with the ample help of Mayport Windy Harbor pro Jon Fine’s frequent lessons. (Vic is about a 16.) She’s active in the Jacksonville Women’s GA when she’s in town and participates at the Plantation when possible.
“I really want to see how good I can be,” she said. “I went to the USGA Senior last year and it was a good experience.” It almost was a successful one, too, as she only missed making the match play segment by three shots.