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Professional Experience

More than 35 years of proven leadership in luxury club management, operations, and hospitality excellence — currently as General Manager and Chief Operating Officer of The Penn Club of New York.

Professional Experience

Proven track record in club management with focus on member experience excellence and strategic operations.

General Manager / Chief Operating Officer

The Penn Club of New York
New York City Metropolitan Area
Aug 2022 - Present
Full-time

Key Achievements:

Grew membership past 7,200 at roughly 8% annually, and lifted member retention from 92.1% in 2024 to 93.4% in 2026
Directed roughly $12 million of capital reinvestment with zero debt across guest rooms, elevators, meeting rooms, dining, and fitness
Completed a $6 million refresh of all 39 guest rooms and a $1.5 million restoration of all three member and service elevators
Renovated every meeting and event room within two years, including the Business Center, Spruce Room, and 4th-floor conference rooms
Increased member-satisfaction metrics by 10% in 2025 through service delivery, facilities, programming, and dining
Led the Club to the 2025-26 Distinguished Club designation with ELITE status, extending 17+ years as a Platinum Club of America
Raised $1M+ since fall 2022 through the Thirty West Forty-Fourth Street Foundation for landmark facade preservation
Recruited a Waldorf Astoria-trained executive chef and built a $2.5M+ F&B operation with 300+ private events annually
Directs an 80-person organization across rooms, engineering, membership, finance, food and beverage, catering, and member services
Serves as principal operating partner to the Club President, officers, Board of Directors, and standing committees

General Manager/COO

North Hills Country Club
Manhasset, New York
May 2020 - Jan 2022
Full-time

Key Achievements:

Managed prestigious golf course and luxury country club with 550 members on 150 acres
Oversaw numerous capital projects including clubhouse renovations and golf course improvements
Led restaurant and kitchen renovations, new outdoor patio development
Managed Hurricane Isaias damage repairs and restoration projects
Created successful partnerships with board and individual members through team player mentality
Provided strategic planning for food & beverage, capital projects, and financial planning
Managed comprehensive facilities including golf course, restaurants, ballroom, fitness center, pool, tennis courts

General Manager

La Gorce Country Club
Miami Beach, Florida
Mar 2018 - Apr 2020
Full-time

Key Achievements:

Managed Miami Beach golf course and country club with 570 members on 130 acres
Oversaw operations of 18-hole Jack Nicklaus championship golf course
Managed 3 restaurants, ballroom and banquet operations
Supervised full-service fitness center, swimming pool, and cabana cafe operations
Coordinated 6 Har-Tru tennis courts, tennis pro shop, and croquet lawn facilities
Maintained high service standards across diverse recreational and dining amenities

Club Manager

The Yale Club of New York City
New York, NY
2000 - 2018
Full-time

Key Achievements:

Increased food and beverage sales from $3 million to $15 million annually
Helped establish the Yale Club as a Platinum Club
Managed 11,000 member private club with 11 dining rooms and 4 kitchens
Oversaw food and beverage budget management of over $14 million
Hosted prestigious events including Heisman Trophy Awards and dinners with Presidents Clinton and Bush
Led major capital improvement projects including ballroom renovations and kitchen modernization
Implemented member experience enhancement programs resulting in increased satisfaction scores

Senior Catering Sales Manager

Waldorf Astoria
New York, NY
1995 - 2000
Full-time

Key Achievements:

Consistently maintained sales of over $8 million annually
Created events for celebrities and politicians including Bill Clinton, Madeleine Albright, and Frank Sinatra
Managed events for major corporations: Price Waterhouse, NASCAR, Cantor Fitzgerald, Goldman Sachs
Developed relationships with high-profile clients and organizations

Catering Sales Manager

Marriott Marquis
New York, NY
1992 - 1995
Full-time

Key Achievements:

Averaged sales over $7 million annually
Awarded Sales Manager of the Year
Excelled in program management and banquet planning
Managed front of house operations for prestigious NYC hotel

Event Manager

Richard Lavin Organization
New York, NY
1990 - 1992
Full-time

Key Achievements:

Produced culinary extravaganzas at prestigious venues
Managed events at New York Public Library, Lincoln Center, and The Guggenheim Museum
Specialized in hosting and managing high-end cultural events
Recognized for exceptional event production skills

Strategic Insight: Renovating a Landmark Without Closing It

The hardest part of a $12 million capital program in a landmark clubhouse is not the construction — it is keeping the Club fully in service while the work happens, and paying for it without borrowing. At The Penn Club, all 39 guest rooms, all three elevators, every meeting and event room, and the Tarnopol Room were renewed on phased schedules sequenced around member use, event bookings, and a 72% guest-room occupancy rate, with scopes of work, design reviews, vendor coordination, and approval controls reported clearly to the Board throughout. Membership grew roughly 8% a year, retention reached 93.4%, and satisfaction rose 10% during the same period — evidence that disciplined project sequencing protects the member experience rather than interrupting it.

Skills & Expertise

Comprehensive skill set developed through years of hands-on experience in club management and operations leadership.

Leadership & Management

  • Team Leadership & Development
  • Strategic Planning & Execution
  • Performance Management
  • Change Management
  • Cross-functional Collaboration

Operations & Process

  • Operations Management
  • Process Improvement
  • Quality Assurance
  • Inventory Management
  • Vendor Relations

Financial & Analytics

  • Budget Management
  • Financial Analysis
  • Cost Optimization
  • Performance Metrics
  • Risk Assessment

Member Relations

  • Customer Service Excellence
  • Relationship Management
  • Conflict Resolution
  • Event Planning & Coordination
  • Member Engagement

Compliance & Safety

  • Regulatory Compliance
  • Health & Safety Standards
  • Risk Management
  • Policy Development
  • Training & Certification

Technology & Innovation

  • Club Management Systems
  • Digital Transformation
  • Process Automation
  • Data Analysis
  • Technology Integration

Tools & Technologies

Proficient with industry-leading tools and platforms

Club Management Software
Microsoft Office Suite
Financial Management Tools
Event Planning Software
Communication Platforms
Project Management Tools

Key Achievements

Measurable results as General Manager / Chief Operating Officer of The Penn Club of New York since 2022, built on more than three decades of club and hospitality leadership.

35+
Years of Experience
7,200+
Penn Club Members
~$12M
Capital Reinvested
80
Team Members Led
39
Guest Rooms Refreshed
250+
Programs Per Year

Major Accomplishments

~$12M Reinvested, Zero Debt

Directed roughly $12 million of capital reinvestment across all 39 guest rooms ($6M), all three elevators ($1.5M), every meeting and event room ($2M), and the Tarnopol Room ($1M) — funded entirely without borrowing.

A landmark clubhouse modernized debt-free

Membership Past 7,200

Grew The Penn Club to more than 7,200 members, compounding at roughly 8% annually, while lifting retention from 92.1% in 2024 to 93.4% in 2026.

Growth and retention rising together

Distinguished Club, ELITE Status

The Penn Club earned the 2025-26 Distinguished Club designation with ELITE status, extending 17+ consecutive years as a Platinum Club of America and every Platinum Club of the World cycle since 2018-19.

Top tier of a global club rating program

Member Satisfaction Up 10%

Lifted member-satisfaction metrics by 10% in 2025 through service delivery, facilities, programming, dining, and technology — while running construction through an occupied clubhouse.

Measured improvement across the member journey

Yale Club Platinum Status

Helped establish the Yale Club of New York City as a Platinum Club through exceptional member experience and operational excellence over an 18-year tenure.

Elevated club prestige and member satisfaction

5× Food & Beverage Growth

Increased Yale Club food and beverage sales from $3 million to $15 million annually through strategic planning and execution.

Fivefold increase in annual F&B sales

Professional Development

Continuous investment in professional growth and industry expertise through premier certifications and specialized training programs.

Certified Club Manager (CCM)

Club Management Association of America

Premier certification for club management professionals

CMAA Mastermind Programs

London 2024 & 2025, Dublin 2026

Executive-development programs for senior club leaders

Hospitality Leadership

Cornell University

Certificates in hospitality management, strategy, marketing, and managerial accounting

Culinary Excellence

La Varenne Cooking School, Paris

Trained under top chefs in classical French cuisine

From the moment our guests arrived, the hospitality, professionalism, and attention to detail were evident. The Club looked absolutely beautiful, showcasing all the elegance and warmth that makes the Penn Club such a special institution.

Brian J. Turschmann

General Manager, The Cosmopolitan Club; Immediate Past President, CMAA New York City — on the 2026 City Club Summit hosted at The Penn Club

See My Work in Action

Explore capital projects, member events, and facility improvements I've led.