The Cleveland Yachting Club

Director of Administration & Marketing | Summer 2024

Growing Up on the Waterfront

From Camper to Director at The Cleveland Yachting Club

Becoming the Director of Administration and Marketing at the Cleveland Yachting Club marked a full-circle moment in my life. I grew up in the club’s Sail Camp and Junior Race Team programs, spending my summers learning, racing, and forming lifelong connections on the water. Those early experiences shaped my love for sailing and instilled in me a deep appreciation for mentorship, teamwork, and leadership. Returning to the program as a director allowed me to give back to the community that played such a meaningful role in my own development.

A group of sailors is receiving awards at a regatta. A girl is prominently featured in the center, smiling and holding a trophy. On the right side of the image, a sailboat is visible. On the left side, toddlers are wearing life jackets.

My journey with the Cleveland Yachting Club began here, as a camper learning confidence, teamwork, and independence on the water.

Young man smiling while steering a boat on the water, wearing sunglasses, a white baseball cap backward, a white t-shirt, blue shorts, and a black life jacket.

Transitioning from camper to counselor and eventually to director gave me a deep understanding of every layer of the program. Coaching and mentoring were some of the most rewarding parts of this role.

I found fulfillment in coaching, working directly with children, and mentoring counselors as they developed their own leadership skills. Beyond daily operations, I worked to enhance communication and visibility by promoting Waterfront Activities on Instagram. This helped keep parents informed about daily schedules, lunch menus, and special events while also strengthening community engagement with the program. I also developed new curricula, organized counselor assignments, managed registrations and rosters, and marketed waterfront programming to club members.

In my position, I planned and executed junior sailing programs and events such as Safety Town, Start Opti Sailing, and Sail Camp. I managed a team of 30 counselors and oversaw a 12-week Sail Camp serving more than 200 children. My focus was always on creating an environment where safety, learning, and fun coexisted, resulting in increased participation and stronger engagement from families and members.

Collection of colorful children's achievement certificates with sailing and goose themes, featuring phrases like "Best Capsize," "Silly Goose Award," "Serious Fun," "Safety Town," and "I Know My Island," decorated with illustrations of a sailboat, a goose on a scooter, sunglasses, life preserver, water bottle, and safety vest.

Every day on the waterfront balanced structure with joy.

Three children at a summer water activity event. The first child is smiling and holding a certificate and a water bottle on the grassy area. The second child, wearing goggles and a green shirt, is kneeling on the pool edge with arms raised. The third girl, holding a 'Putter Boy Award' card and a water bottle, is standing by a marina dock with boats in the background.

At the end of each summer, I shared photos with families that captured their children’s experiences and growth. Having once been a camper myself, I understand how meaningful those memories could be. The role required long days balancing administration, water safety, child care, and evening instruction, but it was a privilege to hold this position. Guiding the next generation of sailors in the same program that shaped me remains one of the most rewarding experiences.

Children preparing and decorating small sailboats outdoors near a marina, with some children on a grassy area and one girl sitting on the floor with a decorated fabric, holding a glue stick.

Group photo of children and adults outdoors, some smiling, with a woman in sportswear and a green cap smiling in the foreground on the right side, and a group of people with athletic gear and kayaks behind her on the left side.

This role was demanding, meaningful, and deeply personal. It was a privilege to guide the next generation of sailors in the same program that shaped who I am today.