The Union League of Philadelphia takes great pride in taking calculated risks and blazing the trail in the club industry. Never one to rest on its laurels, the club embraces change and always looks to the future with one goal in mind: to add the
Editor’s note: This article is based on the program, “The Board-CEO Partnership,” presented at the National Club Conference in April. In today’s environment, effective oversight and direction are as important for private clubs as they are for businesses in the corporate world. Often, there are
How Do You Say “No” in the Boardroom? As servant leaders in the hospitality industry, general managers are programmed to please both members and their guests. The DNA of the best hospitality executives contains this trait. Jeff McFadden, COO/GM of The Union League of Philadelphia,
Q: How much of the board’s work should be shared with the membership? A: In an era of transparency, the question of how much of the board’s work should be shared with the membership becomes increasingly important. The board must carefully weigh the quest for transparency, the need for confidentiality and
Women’s traditional role in society has been evolving for decades, and according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, almost 40 percent of working wives now earn more than their husbands. Women began graduating from college in greater numbers than men in 1985 and a recent article in USA
What is Disruptive Innovation? Historically, “disrupters” are visionaries who grasp how an existing idea, product or service can be improved upon, produced for less or made more accessible to millions. Take Apple for example. The development of the iPhone has given consumers a way to
Authoring this column provided an opportunity to stop and reflect on my point of view of the club industry of yesterday, today and tomorrow. I took this chance to consider and share how my perspective fits relative to the broad club industry in America. While
“The worst of times are giving way to the best of times,” espoused Henry DeLozier of Global Golf Advisors. At this year’s National Club Conference, which took place on April 30th in New York City, the outlook for the future of private clubs was decidedly
Being the president of a private club can be very rewarding or very frustrating, or more likely both. In some cases it can also be thankless. Most people who step forward to take up the president’s gavel don’t do so for a pat on the
A recent survey asked private club general managers what club attribute is of greatest importance to members. The top answer: “Well managed.” While it may seem like a simple response, the challenge lies in determining what it actually means. Coming to a consensus on the