Partners & Directors

Born and raised in Omaha, Nebraska, Shane Gardner brings over 40 years of golf experience to Orion. Participation in competitive collegiate golf enhanced a love for the game, while interest grew towards the business side of facility management. Once a degree was completed at the University of Nebraska-Omaha in Marketing Management and Personnel Management, Shane began to work towards completion of his Professional Golfer’s Association of America (PGA) credentials.

Early in his career while working for a growing national management company, Shane helped fuel their growth from eleven golf properties to over sixty. His presence in the Southeast and Midwest broadened experience that he would lean on later when forming Orion Golf in January of 2000. During the span of his career, he has worked with over forty different golf facilities. Facility owners have included municipalities, private owners, banks, colleges and member owned private clubs.

Shane has continued to be personally involved in several charities and civic organizations including Big Brothers-Big Sisters, Take Defense and as a Commissioner in Blue Valley Recreation. As a PGA Member for over 35 years, he has been recognized several times; most recently with the PGA Golf Professional of the Year for the Midwest Section.

Matt Roberts recognized early on in life that the golf business was a passion he would carry with him for the rest of his career. After a standout career as a collegiate golfer, Matt began working at a university owned golf course where he started to build an extensive knowledge of government owned golf facilities. In 1995 Matt moved to Kansas City and began work to open a Municipal course. While under his leadership, he gathered several accolades including “Best Public Access Course in the State of Kansas” by Golf Digest.

As Orion Management Solutions was formed in 2000, Matt’s forte for operations management were recognized. Strengths such as development of business plans, budgets and marketing programs are all talents Matt provides with a high level of expertise.

A graduate of the University of Central Missouri and a native of Missouri, Matt Roberts is a 25-year member of the Professional Golfer’s Association of America (PGA) and also involved with other associations such as the USGA, First Tee program, and the Executive Women’s Golf Association.

Orion’s Director of Agronomy, Tony Bertels, contributes a wealth of experience and knowledge to the daily operations of Orion. Tony holds a Class AA membership in the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) with over 33 years in good standing. Throughout his career he has worked growing in golf facilities, played host to National Collegiate Golf Championships and PGA Senior Tour events.

Having been involved with a myriad of operating budgets from small to large, he is adept at utilizing the resources available and optimizing their results. Tony is skilled at golf course construction, renovations, and special projects. He has held Commercial Pesticide Applicators licenses in both Kansas and Missouri and is well versed in implementing chemical and fertilization programs for cool, as well as warm-season turf managed in the Transition Zone.

Tony is an honors graduate of the Rutgers University School of Professional Golf Turf Management, New Brunswick, NJ. In 2004 he was awarded the Rutgers Alumni Award for Professional Excellence for his work in the golf profession. In 2006, he was named the C.H. Mendenhall Award recipient, an honor bestowed to individuals who have successfully dedicated years of service to the profession and mentoring future Superintendents.

Mary Murphy of Back9 Marketing joined our team in January of 2019. She is responsible for the planning, development, and implementation of all of Orion's marketing strategies, communication, and public relations activities, both external and internal. This includes website development, email marketing, newsletters, and the creation of promotional materials (posters, flyers, offer cards, advertisements, etc.)

She received her Bachelor's Degree in Communications at the University of Missouri-Columbia before moving to the Kansas City area in 2013. With 10 years of marketing experience and a passion for golf -- Back9 is the perfect fit for Orion. She is an asset to our team daily, as she promotes all of our golf courses, events, and promotions to drive revenue and ultimately contribute in growing the game of golf.

Kevin Bollinger, the Director of Food and Beverage for Orion, brings an acute understanding relating to all areas of a food and beverage operation. With 12 years of experience leading hospitality staff, Kevin excels at providing excellent customer service for concessions and special events.

Kevin has previously held many positions where he gained valuable knowledge involving personnel management, food preparation, inventory control, menu design and pricing, state health and liquor regulations and overall facility management. Having graduated from Kansas State University with a degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management, Kevin’s passion for exceeding expectations is what drives him in leading teams with a focus towards attention to detail and maintaining exceptional guest experiences.

Mr. Bollinger possesses previous experience working as a Hotel Manager in Training for InterMountain Management in Monroe, Louisiana, overseeing all daily food and beverage operations as well as events at Adams Pointe Golf Club, and currently acts as the General Manager at Minor Park Golf Course.