Today’s guest is Erik Barnes, a professional golfer on the Korn Ferry Tour. At the time of this interview in April 2022, he was ranked 13th and had four top-10 finishes in his last eight events. He gained fame during the pandemic when he took a full-time job working at a Publix grocery store near his home in Bradenton, Florida. He is originally from Marion, Indiana, and attended college at Austin Peay State University.
Click here to see Erik’s official PGA webpage.
From Publix to the PGA Tour? (Forbes Article)
In today’s episode, we discuss:
- Working at a grocery store during Covid
- The mental side of golf
- A typical week for a pro golfer
- Bhrett McCabe – Erik’s mental coach
- … and much more!!!
Mark Fauser has been a television and movie actor, director, screenwriter, and producer. He had parts in such shows as Jag, Evening Shade, Coach, SeaQuest, and Quantum Leap. He moved from Hollywood to Marion, Indiana in the early 2000’s and proceeded to help build up the Community School of the Arts as the Executive Director. He has continued to add value to the Marion community as the Director of Marketing for the City and currently serves as a Creative Development Consultant for Marion Community Schools. He has a love and passion for helping the community and has a desire to give back. His relationships with such stars as Jim Caviezel, Kelly Ripa, Billy Bob Thornton, and his mentor Burt Reynolds were key as he was able to get them to help the Community School of the Arts in various ways. In 2006 he won the Marion Grant County Chamber of Commerce Chairman’s Award. In 2007 he won the Indiana University Public Service Award and the Grant County Community Achievement Award. He was presented with the 2011 Indiana Governor’s Arts Award for his work as a writer, actor and his leadership for the Community School of the Arts. He lives with his wife and three children in Marion, Indiana and works out of a home office that is decorated from wall-to-wall with action figures.
Dan Wood is the Executive Director of the National Christian College Athletic Association. He joined the NCCAA national office staff in 2000. Dan was the recipient of the 2016 Professional Excellence Award from Southern Wesleyan University’s (SWU) School of Education. He serves on the Advisory Board of Sports Spectrum Magazine, is a member of Greenville Connect Ministry, and as a member of ALIVE Wesleyan he has provided leadership in building and capital campaigns and youth ministry. Prior to his time with the NCCAA, he was involved in Christian Higher Education, beginning in 1987 as a professor, coach, and Athletic Director at Christian universities. Dan was awarded NCCAA and NAIA Coach of the Year in Men’s Soccer and Men’s Golf; received the NCCAA Meritorious Service Award; and was inducted into SWU and Oklahoma Wesleyan University’s Athletic Hall of Fame.
Jeff Raver is a John Maxwell Certified National Sales and Leadership Coach, motivational speaker, as well as the founder and president of Begin To Win. Jeff previously held the position of Director of Training for over 20 years, as well as the position of Vice President of Sales and Marketing, at CVS Systems, a national electronics distributor. He recently spent 2 1/2 years growing an electronics retail company from a small start up to one of the fastest growing Dish retailers in the Midwest. As Vice President of American Wireless Entertainment, Jeff was responsible for hiring managers and sales people, as well as opening 6 locations in a year and a half. He has experience in every aspect of the sales business and knows the process very well. Jeff is passionate about everything he does and he is an excellent choice as a coach, trainer, or consultant for you or your company. Jeff spent most of his life in central Indiana with his wife and three daughters, but Jeff and his wife Penny recently moved to North Port, Florida, allowing Jeff the freedom to travel the nation as a coach and consultant.