Our Staff
WENDY CULLEN
Chief Executive Officer
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ASHLEY RUBALCAVA
HR Manager/Volunteer Manager
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JASON REDDICK
Program Director
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GLENN OSAKO
Outreach Coordinator (PT)
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JACOB EDWARDS
Outreach Coordinator
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SAMI PENOR
Assistant Program Manager
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ANDREA PREGONI
Program Manager
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Our Coaches
ANDREA PREGONI
Program Manager
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Born and raised in Rome, Italy, my journey in sports began by kicking a ball through the streets of Rome, eventually leading me to a professional soccer career that took me across more than four countries, and allowed me to speak fluently in English, Spanish, and Italian. Along the way, I immersed myself in diverse sports programs and cultures, gaining a deep understanding of how sports can shape individuals and communities. I’m a firm believer in the ability that the game of golf has to teach valuable life lessons. There’s nothing more rewarding than seeing personal growth both on the course and also as an individual. As a local, this is a community that means a lot to me, and I’m committed to making a lasting impact by using my experience to inspire and guide kids.
COACH SAMI
Assistant Program Manager/Lead Instructor
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I started as a First Tee participant at 6 years old in the Southern Nevada Chapter. First Tee has been a huge part of my life from participating in classes to building character through First Tee’s emphasis on core values. Some of my closest friends to this day, I met through First Tee. I played golf for Biola University and wanted to stay in the golf industry. It is an amazing opportunity to give back to the program and help kids get connected to the game of golf! My favorite core lesson is building a positive self-identity because golf requires so much confidence to be able to face a difficult hole on the course head-on. I am so glad that First Tee helps build confident game-changers who are not afraid of a challenge!
COACH SAMI
Sr. Lead Instructor
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I’ve been in the golf industry over 13 years. I was born and raised in Hawaii, but moved to Southern California after college. I’ve been working for First Tee – Orange County for 7 years now and love coaching our youth. My favorite core lesson of the First Tee is confidence because in golf & life, it’s up to you to make things happen and depending how much you believe in yourself is how far you’ll get.
COACH JACOB
Outreach Coordinator/Lead Instructor
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I have been playing golf for the past two years now and have fallen in love with it. I am currently pursing my Bachelors degree in Kinesiology with a concentration in Teacher Education at California State University Fullerton! My goal is become a teacher of Physical Education or Public Health. I absolutely love to teach people, I have coached children in the past and it is my favorite thing to do! I would say that Perseverance is going to be my favorite core value of the First Tee because it is so important to learn this attribute at a young age. Can’t wait to help you players this year!
COACH GLENN
Outreach Coordinator/Lead Instructor
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I have a passion for golf and community service, so First Tee is a great fit to help share with kids how great this game is. I also love that through the game of golf, we help build character and life skills. Golf has certainly served me well in a rewarding business career I had in the technology industry. I have a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Southern California. I have coached kids in the past and love seeing them improve in the sport, but more importantly, grow as a person. My favorite key commitment is growing through challenge. Golf is a hard sport that mirrors the challenges of life, so building grit & resiliency at a young age will be beneficial.
COACH RICHARD
Lead Instructor
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I graduated from The University of Cal State Long Beach with a Communications Degree and then got my teaching credential for Physical Education. I’ve been golfing for 12 years and have been teaching for two. I’m newer to First Tee, but absolutely love this program! My favorite core lesson is developing confidence because self-belief is so important in anything you do. My goal is to get students to have fun and love the game as much as I do!
COACH NICK
Lead Instructor
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I started golf when I was 7 years old, and I’ve been hooked ever since. I competed as both a junior & high school golfer, and I’ve recently resurrected my competing career after a 12 year hiatus. Although I’m brand new to The First Tee, I possess over 2 decades of golfing experience & passion that I’m beyond excited to share with the community. My favorite core lesson at The First Tee is “building confidence.” As a once junior golfer with very little confidence, I’m adamant that anyone & everyone can achieve their goals if they work at them hard enough
COACH CHLOE
Lead Instructor
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I grew up babysitting and I worked at an indoor kids play area. Through this I learned that there is so much to teach to kids but also learn from kids. Golf has been a big part of my life since the age of six and I will be a Senior on the Cal State Long Beach Women’s Team this coming year. Perseverance is my favorite core value of the First Tee because it is very important not only for success in golf, but for success in life. I had an amazing mentor growing up and I look forward to being that person for the younger generation of golfers.
COACH KEELY
Lead Instructor
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I’ve been playing the game of golf since the age of 11. I began competing in the SCPGA Jr Tour as a Teenager where I developed a love for the game. Recently, I competed on the Women’s Golf Team at Point Loma Nazarene University. My journey with First Tee is a new chapter awaiting its first swing. The prospect of introducing the younger generation to this sport that has profoundly shaped my character truly excites me. My favorite life skill discussed at First Tee – Orange County is developing a positive self-identity with things like confidence, as this invaluable trait not only elevates one’s game on the golf course but is also important in all facets of life.
COACH REX
Lead Instructor
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I grew up in Orange County and earned a degree from USC. I enjoy the game of golf and the life lessons it offers. As a father of four children, I have coached many youth sports over the years and have seen the benefits of exercise and competition. After a successful career in the investment industry, I am proud and excited to work with The First Tee of OC and give back to the community. The First Tee program offers youth an opportunity to learn the game of golf and the life skills it teaches. My favorite First Tee core values are confidence, perseverance, and respect. I believe that developing these characteristics can help prepare kids to be successful in life.
COACH NINA
Lead Instructor
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I have a lot of experience as a golf coach including 7 years at a Junior Golf Academy at Rancho San Joaquin and Newport Beach Golf Course. I am new to First Tee, but I love my role of educating young people with golf and life skills. My favorite core values are respect and responsibility because I think it is so important to have strong self-management skills on and off of the golf course.
COACH MATT
Lead Instructor
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I have a fiery passion for the game of golf. I started playing Golf during my freshman year of high school and haven’t stopped since. Along with being a First Tee Coach, I am also a head coach for the Golf Team at my alumni high school. I love teaching the game of golf to our youth and being able to also teach life lessons through the game. I really like the First Tee’s Key Commitment of Growing Through Challenges as that is always something I am looking to do as a person and teacher. One goal of mine is to help as many young people as I can by making them smile and enjoy playing the game of golf- I know First Tee is a perfect opportunity to do that.
picture & bio coming soon
COACH DEBI
Lead Instructor
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PICTURE & BIO COMING SOON
COACH SOPHIA
Lead Instructor
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I have been with the First Tee program for the last 3 years. I was a volunteer before recently coming on as a Lead Instructor. I have been playing golf for 8 years and have been in local SCPGA Junior tournaments for 6 years. I play for Whittier College Women’s Golf team, but will soon be transferring to Arizona Christian University in the Fall. I really enjoy teaching the kids the core values because not only do they apply to golf, but they apply to life. My favorite core value is respect because it is so much easier to get things done when there is mutual respect between people.
COACH KYLEE
Lead Instructor
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I’ve been playing golf since I was 11 and fell in love with the game from the start. I played all four years on the Los Alamitos High School team and went on to compete briefly at Eastern Washington University. Along the way, I participated in SCPGA and FCG tournaments, gaining valuable experience both on and off the course. I now play for fun and have been part of First Tee since August. I’m excited to share my love for the game and help younger players build confidence and character through golf.
COACH CADEN
Lead Instructor
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My passion for golf started at a very young age, and I have been playing golf ever since I was 3 years old. My passion and drive for the game eventually led me to become the captain of my high school golf team over the last 2 years, during which we won back to back league championships. In the fall I am looking forward to continuing my education at the University of California, Irvine. My favorite key commitment is growing through challenges because in both life and golf you never know what kind of issues you are going to face, but you must learn to persevere in order to be successful. I am very passionate about and look forward to educating the next generation about golf, and passing the game down to them.
COACH MATTHEW
Lead Instructor
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I have been teaching high school for five years and is deeply passionate about the game of golf. At First Tee – Orange County, I am dedicated to using golf as a tool to inspire and educate young people, helping them develop not only their athletic skills but also essential life skills.
COACH TED
Lead Instructor
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COACH KRYSTEN
Lead Instructor
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I have been a golf coach for a little over 2 years now. I have worked at other First Tee chapters around Southern California, such as First Tee Coachella Valley. I am pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and a minor in International Relations at California State University Fullerton. Golf has always surrounded my life through family members, and I learn more about the game each time I coach. I enjoy coaching children of all ages, as I value the opportunity to be their mentors and role models! First Tee is a program beyond the game of golf, as many lifelong skills are taken from it.
COACH KRYSTLE
Lead Instructor
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I started coaching with the First Tee Coachella Valley Chapter as a summer coach and was very impressed with how much of a small impact I was able to make with the players. Ever since then I was a lead coach with FTCV for about 3 years, but I have now transferred and started working with the OC Chapter! Although I never was involved too much with the sport, golf has always been around my childhood and I continue to learn about the game! I have seen what the program has done and continues to do for our players not only with excelling with their game but building up their character. Being able to build their character with the given life skills is something I’m super happy to be a part of as small lending hand.
COACH FRANK
Lead Instructor
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COACH KRISITAN
Lead Instructor
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I have been playing golf for the past fourteen years and have fallen in love with it more and more. I was a First Tee participant for 8 years and a junior coach for 7 years. I played golf all four years in high school and now I’m looking forward to teaching all the new and veteran players more of what I know about this great game. My favorite First Tee Key Commitment is collaborating with others because in life, you need to work well with others if you’re going to get anywhere.
COACH COURTNEY
Lead Instructor
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I started golfing with my grandpa when I was 10 years old. Soon after that I took my first First Tee class and loved it. After taking classes for a few years, I was asked to be a volunteer junior coach which I continued to do for the past couple of years. I played 4 years of golf in high school winning back to back league championships. In addition to golf, I also played 4 years of basketball in high school. In the Fall I am excited to begin the next chapter of my life as a student at Cal State San Marcos University. My favorite key commitments are growing through challenges and building a positive self-identity. Golf is a sport that I am very passionate about and I look forward to bringing that passion to the next generation of golfers.
