Holiday season at the club means packed banquet sheets, nonstop member events, and inboxes that will not quit, so let us turn that boring out of office reply into a tiny hospitality win. In this episode, I walk you through a simple way to turn your autoresponder from a dead end into a warm, useful touchpoint that actually drives engagement. You will hear a real world example from my buddy and fellow club pro, Sean Bleyl, whose OOO emails use playful subject lines, personal details, and smart links to feel human and helpful.

We talk through easy plug and play ideas for every role at the club. Chefs can drop a seasonal recipe or tease the New Years Eve menu, golf pros can link a winter warm up or holiday scramble registration, and events teams can push a wine dinner or family night with direct RSVP links. Underneath it all is a simple idea, hospitality lives in the little moments. Update that one tiny setting in your inbox and you will set better expectations, get more smiles, and quietly nudge members toward the next best thing at your club.

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Curtis Garner is running a 27 million dollar renovation at Shoal Creek,
 working out of a cottage office while the clubhouse comes down around him,
 and still finding ways to keep members happy and staff engaged.

In this episode, Curtis, Assistant GM and Director of Operations at Shoal Creek in Birmingham, walks through his path from mechanical engineering student, to hotel bar manager, to cross country move to Idaho, to coming home to Alabama in a senior leadership role.

We talk about what it is really like to lead a full property renovation while staying visible and calm, why clubs are a better long game than hotels if you want a life outside work, and how smaller teams can actually accelerate your growth if you are willing to wear a lot of hats.

Curtis also shares his work rebuilding the Alabama CMAA chapter and launching student chapters at schools like North Alabama and Auburn, plus his take on why private clubs are a perfect fit for curious, high energy, slightly shiny object brains.

If you are in the middle of a project, questioning your next career move, or trying to rebuild community in your chapter, this one will hit home.

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What if the most impactful thing your club could do this season… didn’t cost a dime?

In this episode of The Private Club Radio Show, host Denny Corby shares two powerful — and surprisingly simple — ways club leaders can make meaningful connections with members during the holidays.

It’s not about big budgets or fancy activations. It’s about human moments. Gratitude. Intentional outreach. And yes — asking your staff to take the photo.

Inside, you’ll hear:

• Why Thanksgiving is the perfect time to re-engage quiet or “missing” members
• A small hospitality habit that creates big emotional ROI
• “Miss You Week” — a low-effort, high-impact campaign you can run right now
• How dessert and check-in calls could turn into your club’s most-loved traditions
• Why member memories matter more than your club newsletter ever will

Whether you're a GM, department head, or hospitality pro, this episode is a warm reminder that the smallest gestures often go the furthest — especially when paired with purpose.

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Ever wondered what it’s like to run a private club inside one of the most iconic hospitality brands in the world?

In this episode of The Private Club Radio Show, we go behind the scenes with Kevin O’Brien, General Manager of Hershey Country Club, to explore what it takes to lead a club that sits at the intersection of tradition, luxury, and the sweetest brand in America.

With over 13 years at Hershey Entertainment & Resorts, Kevin brings a rare perspective on:

• Leading a private club within a corporate hospitality structure
• Building a culture of internal growth and leadership development
• Balancing guest experience across resort and member expectations
• Managing multiple outlets, teams, and operations under one vision
• What makes the Hershey model unique — and what other clubs can learn from it

From food and beverage to full club operations, Kevin’s journey is a masterclass in consistency, adaptability, and sweet leadership. 

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She started as a server. Now she’s the General Manager.

In this episode, we sit down with Jennifer Felegy, CCM, General Manager of Lehigh Country Club, to explore what it really takes to build a club career from the ground up.

Over her 25+ years in private clubs, Jen has done it all — membership, HR, events, operations, even teaching hospitality students. Her story is one of grit, loyalty, and long-game leadership.

We talk about:

• What it’s like to rise through the ranks at the same club
• How to lead a team that’s watched you grow up
• Building culture, retaining staff, and adapting to change post-COVID
• What young professionals and future GMs really need to hear
• And the leadership lessons you won’t find in a textbook

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This episode is a beginner friendly kit for anyone speaking in front of people, clubs, teams, boards, or conferences. You will learn a simple structure that uses fifteens and tens, how to build clean chunks, one idea, one story, one tool, how to use WIIFM so people lean in, and how to finish on time. We cover pre show nerves, mix and mingle to make friends, the smile on purpose trick, confidence monitors for secret notes, slide do’s, crowd control, and the silent vibrate alarm so you can pivot without staring at your watch. Short, sweet, on time, and packed with practical moves you can use this week.

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So you want those letters after your name—CCM, CCE, 
maybe even MCM—but you’re not sure where to start, how long it takes, 
or if it’s even worth it? 

This episode answers all your certification questions.

This week on The Private Club Radio Show, we sit down with 
Brian Watkins, Director of Certification & Education at the 
Club Management Association of America (CMAA). 

If you’ve ever registered for a BMI, counted your CECs, or prepped for the CCM exam, you’ve already felt Brian’s impact.

In this episode, Brian gives us a behind-the-scenes look at:

*What it really takes to earn your Certified Club Manager (CCM)
*How to track and use your Continuing Education Credits (CECs)
*The step-by-step journey to Honor Society, Certified Chief Executive (CCE), and the elite Master Club Manager (MCM) designation
*What role BMI programs play in the process—and how to get the most out of them
*Why CMAA’s certification path is evolving to support the next generation of club professionals
*Common pitfalls, myths, and game-changing tips for every manager on the path to professional growth

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We break down why a short, friendly, and current voicemail can shape first impressions and speed up callbacks, especially in the club world where every touchpoint matters. Practical tips help you record a clear greeting, set expectations, and add just enough personality.

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From bussing tables at Circus Pizza to leading top private clubs, 
Bridget Eckert, CCM has lived every side of hospitality. 

In this episode, she and Denny Corby dive into what it takes to build a career you’re proud of — one rooted in curiosity, connection, and purpose. They talk messy résumés that actually make sense, teaching the next generation of club pros, and why pride still matters in this business. 

Funny, real, and full of takeaways for anyone who loves hospitality.

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Ever watch the room drift during a seven-minute bio read? 
We’ve all been there, so we/me (host Denny Corby)  built a reliable way to introduce speakers that actually lifts the energy, respects the audience, and makes your guest feel like a headliner.
 
In this fast, focused walkthrough, we share the exact 
60-second structure we use onstage: 
gather attention with a clean opening line, deliver a sharp hook, 
explain why this person matters to this audience right now, 
hit two or three punchy highlights (save the best for last), 
then pause and say the name, clear and strong.

We dig into the vibe check that shapes tone and pacing, 
from playful member nights to heartfelt legacy awards to post-dinner experts who need polish without stand-up flair. 

You’ll hear practical note-taking methods, short phrases, generous spacing, top-right placement, so you can glance down and pop back up without losing your place. 
We talk rehearsal the right way,  practice out loud, in the actual room if possible, mic in hand, so the mechanics are muscle memory and your presence feels calm and ready.

Then we get real about the don’ts.  
no LinkedIn bios, no podium walls, and never skip the microphone in a chatty room. Plus, a few pre-stage rituals to steady your energy. 
smile before you step up, shake out the nerves, and embrace that brief quiet while the audience settles. 
If you’re tempted to use AI for phrasing, we show how to treat it as a brainstorming partner without losing your voice. By the end, you’ll have a simple, repeatable intro formula that respects time, builds anticipation, and sets your speaker, and your event, up to win.

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