PLEASE EXCUSE THE LIBERTY I TOOK WITH THE TITLE, but given our cover feature, I found it to be the perfect way to begin this column and issue of Club Director. As you will read, Emmy award-winner Jim Nantz is involved in many activities from sports commentating to the Nantz National Alzheimer Center and, more recently, to his highly regarded wine, The Calling. Even with all of these ventures, it is great to hear Jim talk about how private clubs are important to him and his family. It was also great to see Jim’s thoughts on the traits of private club general managers that make them successful, and subsequently, the club, too.
This issue of Club Director focuses on the club workforce. Now that millennials are the largest part of the American labor pool, we ask clubs for their secrets to working with this younger generation of employees. We also take a look at a great employee recognition event, hear from a club employee in our “First Person” column, and introduce a new, occasional column called “Innovating,” which shares a bright idea to consider at your club—in this case, externships.
Along the lines of bright ideas, we have hit a home run with our upcoming National Club Conference in New York May 22–24. Like you do at your club, we listened to our members’ requests and suggestions and have created a National Club Conference that provides executive leadership, the best in governance, trends and government relations education along with unique networking and exciting social activities.
Highlights of this renowned forum include:
- George Bodenheimer, Past President and Executive Chairman, ESPN
- Rees Jones, Golf Course Architect
- Bob Litwin, Wall Street Performance Coach and World Tennis Champion
- Bill McGurn, Wall Street Journal Editorial Board Member and Former Chief Speechwriter for President George W. Bush
- Mike Stachura, Senior Editor of Equipment, Golf Digest
- Eric Trump, Executive Vice President of Development and Acquisitions, The Trump Organization
- Expert-Led Education Sessions on Cybersecurity, Water, FLSA and Governance
- Reception and Dinner at the Friars Club
- Golf Classic at Manhattan Woods Golf Club
- Reception at The University Club of New York
- Tour of the 9/11 Memorial & Museum
Visit nationalclubconference.org for the full schedule and to register. This promises to be our largest attended Conference, so be sure to register (including any of your board) before events sell out. I look forward to seeing you in New York at the National Club Conference, which we are working enthusiastically to make it “a tradition unlike any other” (please excuse that one too).
Henry Wallmeyer
President & CEO