As vice president of communications, David Schaefer leads Golf Channel’s communications team to capitalize on the network’s record growth since becoming a part of the NBC Sports Group in 2011. In this role, Schaefer leads all communications strategy, including corporate communications, programming and talent publicity, and internal communications. These strategies are applied to promoting all aspects of NBC Sports Group’s golf business, including Golf Channel, Golf Channel on NBC, Golf Channel Digital, Golf Live Extra and the network’s portfolio of lifestyle businesses, including GolfNow, Golf Advisor and Golf Channel Academy. Schaefer reports to Mike McCarley, president of Golf Channel, and has fulfilled this role since August 2012.
For 13 years, Schaefer was previously with Discovery Communications and worked in a variety of communications capacities across Discovery’s portfolio. Beginning with Discovery Channel in 1999, Schaefer promoted a wide range of programming, highlighted by Shark Week, Monster Garage and American Chopper. In 2004, he was promoted to Manager of Talent Relations, overseeing projects for Discovery Channel’s expanding roster of one-of-a-kind hosts, including Animal Planet’s famed “Crocodile Hunter” Steve Irwin. After managing publicity initiatives for TLC, Schaefer was tapped to join the Emerging Networks group, which was responsible for relaunching Discovery Times Channel as Investigation Discovery and developing continued growth for networks like Military Channel, HD Theater and Destination America. In 2011, Schaefer was promoted to senior director of communications.
A graduate of Pennsylvania State University, Schaefer possesses passions for a wide variety of sports, travel and home improvement projects. He lives in Winter Garden, FL, west of Orlando, with his wife, Linda and their daughter Elsa.