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.
My journey with the Cleveland Yachting Club began here, as a camper learning confidence, teamwork, and independence on the water.
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.
Every day on the waterfront balanced structure with joy.
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.
