THE DIRECTORS CLUB
World Class Speakers
The most distinguished leaders from the hospitality industry and beyond join us for expertly moderated discussions, offering invaluable insights into the strategies that drive success. Learn directly from those at the forefront of excellence, equipping yourself with the knowledge and tools to elevate your career, advance with confidence, and achieve more.
Targeted Workshops
Elevate your expertise as we dive deep into real-world challenges, opportunities, and solutions guided by our presenters' focused insights. These dynamic monthly discussions foster collaboration, ignite innovation, and empower you with the strategies needed to overcome obstacles and achieve greater success together.
A Network Like No Other
The Director’s Club is an exclusive community of industry leaders, dedicated to educating, inspiring, and shaping the future of success in the Racquets and Hospitality Industry. This exclusive network ignites powerful connections, fosters groundbreaking insights, and sets the stage for the next level of excellence!
Discussion Schedule
8/18/2025 / @7:00PM EST. - "Investing in Excellence"
Featuring: John Wilkening
At Directors Club Meeting #40—“Investing in Excellence: Rethinking Compensation in Clubs”—we’ll dive into how clubs must evolve compensation and culture to thrive. Traditional pay isn’t enough: today’s top talent seeks growth, purpose, and authentic investment.
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John Wilkening (GM, North Hills Club), brings a people - first perspective, emphasizing that investing in people—coaching, mentoring, development, and recognition—delivers greater ROI than facility upgrades alone. He’ll share candid examples illustrating how strategic spending on culture and racquets programming sparks staff engagement, member loyalty, and overall revenue growth.
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Expect practical insights: innovative compensation models like equity-style incentives and higher percentages, budgeting for cultural ROI alongside capital projects, and leveraging racquets to fuel member experience and retention.
This isn’t just theory—it’s a call to action: clubs that prioritize people will define the future. Join us for a thought-provoking, actionable conversation on how investing in your team drives total club success.
09/15/2025 / @7:00PM EST. - "From Warships to Wellness"
Featuring: Katherine O'Donnell Lynch!
Join us for Meeting 41 of The Directors Club featuring Katherine Lynch, Founder & CEO of Vamos Racquets. A Harvard graduate and former U.S. Navy Surface Warfare Officer, Katherine has led a dynamic career across global military service, wellness tech, and now racquet sports entrepreneurship. Her latest venture, Vamos, is launching New Jersey’s premier padel and wellness facility this summer.
In this discussion, Katherine will share how her diverse experiences—from navigating warships to building startups—have shaped her leadership journey. Discover how marrying passion with purpose can drive innovation, inclusivity, and impact across the hospitality and wellness industries.
10/20/2025 / @7:00PM EST. - "Serving Leadership"
Featuring: Lisa Raymond
Join us for Meeting 42, “Serving Leadership: Lessons from a Champion – An Evening with Lisa Raymond,” on Monday, August 18 at 7pm EST. Former WTA top-10 singles and #1 doubles player, Lisa Raymond, brings a compelling story of leadership, resilience, and excellence drawn from a two-decade tennis career.
From NCAA champion to 11-time Grand Slam winner and Olympic medalist, Lisa’s journey highlights the power of preparation, adaptability, and collaboration. She’ll share how lessons from elite sports—like strategic planning, feedback, and continuous improvement—translate into high-impact leadership. Having partnered with legends like Martina Navratilova and Samantha Stosur, Lisa mastered teamwork and trust under pressure. Now a mentor and coach, she helps others unlock their potential.
This inspiring session includes storytelling, Q&A, and networking—ideal for leaders, educators, coaches, and anyone pursuing growth. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to learn from a true champion and elevate your leadership game.
