NextLinks announced that Dan Mechem has been named as chief executive officer. The San Diego, CA-based startup is aiming to build 15-to-20 indoor golf stadiums over the next five years.
Mechem is a veteran media/entertainment and financial executive from the Los Angeles area who began his career as press secretary for John McCain in Washington D.C. He went on to become a White House Correspondent and Emmy-winning Fox reporter for seven years. Mechem then went to work at Nielsen Online where he rose to become VP and GM of its entertainment and media division with purview over Nielsen’s relationships with movie studios, TV networks and video game companies.
Mechem then served as senior vice president with Unit 9, the ad agency. He founded a boutique wealth advisory, The Money Protector, focused on wealth protection and tax mitigation.
“I’m confident that Dan is the right leader to take the NextLinks vision and technology to the next level,” said Dave Shultz, NextLinks founder and chairman of the board. “Dan’s extensive business and media/entertainment background combined with his financial expertise will be invaluable in helping NextLinks establish itself as the next generation in stadium golf concepts.”
“I’m very excited to be joining the NextLinks team,” said Mechem. “I believe NextLinks will not only revolutionize indoor golf with its mind-blowing technology, but it will also help grow the game of golf by engaging and entertaining people of all ages. This is the next generation of the golfing experience and I look forward to leading the charge in the worldwide growth of the company.”
The NextLinks team includes several luminaries from the golf world including founder Dave Shultz, seed investor Ed Colson, Brandel Chamblee, sports analyst with The Golf Channel, golf course designer Agustin Piza, and former CIO of the Dallas Cowboys, Pete Walsh.
Photo courtesy NextLinks
