Wendy Williams’ life is driven by the details.
But even after years of working up the ranks to become the 2026 John Deere Classic golf tournament chair, the veteran banker was floored by the enormity of all the details, the planning and the volunteer force required to deliver a world-class PGA Tour event in the Quad Cities’ backyard.
“You think you kind of know all the things everybody’s doing from being on the board nine years and coming here 20 years doing hospitality. But you really have no idea … this is amazing,” she said.
Each year, an organization on the level of a city emerges during tournament week at TPC at Deere Run in Silvis.
“The thing that kind of surprises you the most is this tournament is really ran by 2,400 everyday citizens like you and I,” she said Thursday, July 2, as the first day of tournament play was well underway. “These individuals have done this for multiple years, and they’re doing some really very complex jobs. These people are professionals at what they do. They know exactly what they’re doing. They’re very knowledgeable, and they’re fantastic.”
Riding around the course, Ms. Williams took time to stop to greet several volunteers, answer random questions and even share a high-five with a former board chair. She spoke excitedly about the people who retire, maybe move away but still return year after year to volunteer. She is equally in awe of the work of the small eight-person JDC professional staff and the tournament’s title sponsor, John Deere.
“This event is just such a great event. It contributes $75 million to the Quad Cities economy, so that’s jobs and hotels and restaurants and gas, and you know what it does for the community. It’s so amazing.”
True purpose – philanthropy
The philanthropy piece – achieved through JDC’s Birdies for Charity – distributed a record $16.9 million to charities last year. Since the tournament’s inception in 1971, it has returned more than $205 million to nonprofits across the region.
“The numbers are impressive, but I just like to think of what’s behind the numbers,” Ms. Williams told the QCBJ. “You hear the numbers and it’s super impressive, but what I love to do is just think of how many meals (for the needy) that is and how it is serving people in need in our community. It’s helping the Girl Scouts, helping girls develop skills. (It’s helping ensure) healthcare, education and opportunities for kids that wouldn’t happen (without Birdies for Charity).
“That $200 million has done so much for our community and we get an awesome, world-class golf event here,” she said, calling it an honor to be part of the JDC economic engine.
The JDC and Birdies for Charity do not release preliminary fundraising figures or attendance numbers, but Ms. Williams confidently predicted sellout crowds for Saturday and Sunday when the Concerts on the Course return with Carrie Underwood and Old Dominion.
Asked about this year’s Birdies campaign, Tournament Director Andrew Lehman smiled and told the QCBJ “I think we will have a very happy community.”
The JDC traditionally announces its fundraising total in October when it distributes checks to the nearly 500 participating charities.
Banker, chair, soccer mom
Ms. Williams, who has called the QC home since 1990, grew up in Fort Madison, Iowa, and is a proud University of Iowa graduate. After earning her degree in finance with an emphasis in accounting, she has worked her whole career in banking including previous roles with J.P. Morgan Chase in downtown Moline and with Wells Fargo.
Today, she is filling a new QC role for Bank of America – serving in a new middle market banker position. “That means I work with companies that are between $50 million and $2 billion in revenues,” the senior VP and senior relationship manager said. She assists business clients with loans, treasury management, foreign exchange and international banking.
Her career also has afforded her the opportunity to serve her community. Among her volunteer efforts have been teaching financial literacy for Junior Achievement of the Heartland, being a board member for Renew Moline, and answering the call many times for United Way’s committees.
She and her husband Trevor Williams live in Bettendorf with their 15-year-old son Liam, an incoming sophomore at Pleasant Valley High School.
Besides teaching JA in his earlier school years, she kiddingly says she tells people that she has three jobs: first Bank of America, the JDC, and her ‘third job’ as manager of the Bettendorf Soccer Association, the club her son participates in. “You wouldn’t think a soccer club takes that much work, but it does.”
Detail-oriented, strategic
Again, it is all in the details – one of her superpowers.
Mr. Lehman, who is in his fifth year as tournament director, admires Ms. Williams’ attention to detail. “Obviously, each chairperson brings a unique perspective, their own fingerprint on their leadership style.”
“Wendy is very detail-oriented. Wendy leads by example, she’s not afraid to roll up her sleeves and put in hard work,” he said. “She’s a great leader, has the respect of our 2,400 volunteers.”
“She really wanted to focus on board strategy, that’s where that detail-oriented personality of hers is a great asset to have that.”
What she did was help “break it down a little more to a micro-level, and not the macro. We weren’t looking at things from a 30,000-foot view, try to get into some specific topics. It’s a big board, 35 board members.”
Ms. Williams also said that her tenure did not bring major changes. “I’m a process improvement kind of person. I tried to focus in and have strategic board meetings that really utilize all the knowledge of the community leaders on our board.”
But all around the course, she also proudly pointed to new additions, course activations, and tournament tweaks.
She applauded the JDC professional staff, such as assistant tournament director Marshal Lamb, the idea person behind a new stadium-like setup surrounding TPC’s first tee. And Anika Martin, advocate for community engagement, whose mark is on the Executive Women’s Day – bringing in Hawkeyes women’s basketball coach Lisa Bluder (in 2025) and this year, Olympian hurdler Sarah Wells for the pre-tournament leadership event.
As far as her own role, Ms. Williams said “I’ve just tried to sharpen the saw by enhancing communications, focusing on strategic initiatives, fine-turning the things that just could make the experience better for the volunteers, for the staff, the players, the fans and for our title sponsor.”
Passing the baton
Ms. Williams credits her long involvement with the JDC to first experiencing it while entertaining bank clients, and secondly, to former JDC Chair Pat Shouse who recruited her to the board. Ms. Shouse retired as Trinity Health Foundation president and was a co-owner of McGuire’s Irish Pub.
“I still use some of Pat’s notes (when she was chair),” said Ms. Williams, who will serve next year – her 11th on the board – as past chair and then be done. “That first couple years on the board you’re like ‘I’m gonna be on this board forever…’ And now it’s just snuck up on me, it’s almost over. It feels short.”
She will hand the reins for 2027 to Tate Featherstone, area vice president for Arthur J. Gallagher Risk Management.
“He is a great golfer, so I’m excited for him,” said Ms. Williams, who admits she’s a “horrible golfer.” In fact, a shoulder injury has kept her off the course, but she still loves “a good scramble.”
Her advice to her successor would be “Don’t forget to enjoy it. Don’t get so busy that you don’t take a minute to really recognize (the opportunity).”
She has been hearing the same advice in the calls, texts and emails from her predecessor chairs. “I’ve had such nice notes, some telling me to ‘try to slow down and enjoy it,’” she said, adding “I’m trying to, but it’s hard … there’s so much to do.”
After her official board duties end, she vows to stay involved. One thing that will not come to an end – her respect for those everyday citizen volunteers and the JDC team. “I’m in awe of the lengths they go, the commitment and the depth of what they do.”
