STAFF DIRECTORY

Jim Hanks was born and raised in Chicago’s South Suburbs.  During a 2010 vacation to Tampa FL, Jim realized that he had found a new home.  After moving to Tampa later that year, Jim became a member at Rocky Point Golf Course.  As a member, Jim fell in love with Rocky Point and the services that it provides to the city of Tampa Bay.  In 2013, Jim became the Operations Manager at Rocky Point.

Jim’s background is in hospitality and special events.  He became a Chef in 2006 receiving his training from Robert Morris University in Orland Park IL.    His experience has included fine dining restaurants and hotels, but the majority of his background has been in catering and special events.  Jim has a unique and creative outlook on how a party or special event should run.  His emphasis is on making an event interactive, different, and memorable with the ultimate goal of the guests feel “at home”.  

Jim has now turned his attention into not just growing the game of golf, but also growing upon the services that a golf course can provide the community.  He started his golf training by obtaining the Titleist Performance Institute Certification in 2013. 

Ben Cockerham was born and raised in Akron, Ohio. Ben’s family relocated to Tampa, FL in 2015 while he stayed in Akron to finish his Associates degree in Business Management at Stark State College. In Spring of 2021, Ben finally had enough of the cold and snow (not ideal golf weather) and decided to join his family here in Tampa. Ben has worked in the golf industry since first becoming a caddy at Portage Country Club in Akron when he was 14 years old. He has worked at different country clubs and golf courses as well as being a coach for the First Tee of Tampa Bay. In 2022, Ben became the Golf Operations Manager at Rocky Point.

Ben’s passion and love for the game of golf started at 8 years old when he was a participant in the First Tee of Akron’s golf program. Ben competed in Junior golf tournaments, was a 4-year varsity member on his high school golf team, competed in the 2013 Nature Valley First Tee Open at Pebble Beach, and continues to work and improve on his game today as a Level One PGA Associate.

Jim Garrison is with Rocky Point Golf Course, where he serves as the Director of Golf. He has held this position since March, 2014. He is responsible for the general administration, management, coordination and supervision of the day-to-day activities. Rocky Point Golf Course plays 40,000 rounds of golf and generates over $1 million in revenue annually; with a staff of 40 employees and volunteers.

Jim previously served as the Head Golf Professional at Temple Terrace Country Club from 1999 to 2014, where he was responsible for all aspects of the golf operation, including organizing and running over 30 member and charity tournaments annually.

In 1999, Jim was elected into the Professional Golfers Association, where he served as the West Central Chapter President (2008-2009) and North Florida Section PGA Board of Directors. Jim earned the coveted North Florida Player of the Year honors in 2005 which gained him an exemption into the 2005 PGA Tour Chrysler Championship and the 2005 PGA Tour Funai Classic.

Jim is a graduate of Brevard Community College and studied Engineering at the University of South Florida. Jim resides in Riverview with his wife Melinda, and has two wonderful children. His hobbies are fishing, hunting and playing golf; they all love to travel.

ERIC D. HART, CVE

Eric is the President/CEO of the Tampa Sports Authority (TSA). He is a member of the Westshore Alliance, the Visit Tampa Bay Advisory Board and the Tampa Bay Sports Commission board.

The TSA manages Raymond James Stadium, home of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the University of South Florida Bulls, the Hillsborough County Tournament Sportsplex and three City of Tampa municipal golf courses- Rocky Point, Babe Zaharias and Rogers Park. The TSA also serves as the landlord for Amalie Arena, home of the Tampa Bay Lightning and Steinbrenner Field, spring home for the New York Yankees.

Eric previously served as the President and CEO of the Lansing Entertainment and Public Facilities Authority. Prior to Lansing, Eric served as the Director of Event Services for the Minneapolis Convention Center and as Associate Director for the UIC Pavilion in Chicago. He began his career at the Iowa State Center in Ames, Iowa where he served as the Guest Services Manager and was later promoted to Event Coordinator.

Eric is actively involved in IAVM (International Association of Venue Managers), having served as Chair of the Venue Management School (VMS) and Dean of the VMS Graduate Institute, held annually at Saddlebrook Resort in Tampa. Eric earned the prestigious Certified Venue Executive (CVE) designation from IAVM in 2013. He was elected as the Second (2nd) Vice Chair of IAVM’s Board of Directors in 2019, the First (1st) Vice Chair in 2020 and served as the IAVM Board Chair in 2022 and currently finishing his term on the Board as past Chair.

Eric received a Bachelor’s of Science in Finance and a Master of Science in Business Education and Administration from Illinois State University.

He is happily married and the proud parent of two daughters. Eric loves to hunt, golf, fish, wood work in his shop and spend time with his family.