DREAM GIRL
Rick Silanskas’ youngest daughter is, quite literally, the girl of his dreams. On Dec. 23, 2002, Silanskas experienced a vivid dream about a child in trouble. He awoke with such a certainty about her existence that he began searching for her, even going so far as to employ a sketch artist to aid him in his search. "No one had ever gone to the Russian orphanages with a drawing of a child they’d seen in a dream, but I knew I would find her," says Silanskas, a member of the Citrus Club in Orlando, Florida. "When I held her in my arms in that dream, it was as real as when I held each of my children right at their births." He later discovered that, at the very moment his dream occurred, the mother of the child he held was relinquishing her custody to a Russian orphanage. Silanskas and his wife, Stephanie, had four children in various stages of adolescence — and no plans to add to the brood. But the girl in the dream changed all that, and once they found her photo on a Russian orphanage’s Web site, they set out to give the dream a happy ending. Their initial visit to the orphanage left workers in tears; the bond between the couple and the child Rick had met only in his sleep was immediate. On Easter Saturday last year, the paperwork was complete and they again traveled to Russia to bring home their daughter, Nadia. Moved by their experiences, they created the Project Anna Foundation, which provides assistance to abandoned Russian children, as well as to families wishing to adopt a Russian child. "This has changed the essence of the rest of my life," says Silanskas, a successful musician who is writing a symphony inspired by the experience. "Until the day I die, I am committed to helping those children." — Paula Felps

CLIMB EVERY MOUNTAIN
Will Cross isn’t about to let a little thing like a life-altering disease slow him down. In fact, he’s only used it to his advantage. Cross, 36, a member of Rivers Club in Pittsburgh, was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in 1976. Rather than letting it sideline him, he learned to manage diabetes, and with his parents’ support was able to play sports and lead an active, healthy childhood. Carrying those lessons into adulthood, he now is on a two-year quest to climb the highest mountain peaks on each continent and already has trekked across the North and South Poles. The Novolog Peaks and Poles Challenge, which raises awareness and funds to find a cure for diabetes, saw him tackling Mount Everest in spring 2004. All that remains are mountains in Australia and Russia. "It’s a challenge for anyone, but particularly for someone with diabetes," Cross says. "No one with diabetes has ever done this before. But it’s what I love to do." When he isn’t trekking or climbing, he is sharing his experiences as a motivational speaker. "Everyone has objects in front of them. Metaphorically, we’ve all got mountains to climb. I just want to show people that if you set your mind to it, it can be done." — Paula Felps

CLEAR MINDS
Bob Smith’s job is to get people to think more clearly. As president and founder of Clear Direction Inc., a Dallas-based management consulting firm, Smith zeros in on an executive’s strengths and weaknesses to help them work smarter. "People have thinking biases that affect how they make decisions and reach conclusions," says Smith, a member of the Tower Club in Dallas who has a Ph.D. in human development and conflict management. "When we know the patterns of our biases, then we are able to make appropriate and useful adjustments. When our thinking is accurate, we have better outcomes in our business and personal lives." To help folks clear their brain clutter, Smith uses a patented Internet-based system that analyzes how a person thinks, makes decisions, and evaluates themselves and others. In his upcoming book, Discover Your Blind Spots: How to Stop Repeating Everyday Business Mistakes, Smith shares his thinking-based training and development approach designed to increase effective and productive communications between employees and their bosses. He offers these tips to help you be a better boss: 1. Instead of the traditional, staged interview scenario, put potential employees in situations that offer distractions and interruptions for a more realistic picture of their personality. 2. Get to know your people. "One size fits all" can be deadly to the bottom line. 3. Are team members showing up late for meetings? Even if you have to hand out cold cash, make the first few minutes of your next meeting too good to pass up. — Helen Bond
Photography by Lisa Means.

SPORTS TALK
Sporting goods mogul Edward Stack makes his particular success story sound easy. You hire smart people. You craft an airtight business plan and stick to it. You place a premium on customer service. In reality, that’s only part of the story. "I guess I’m an overnight success 25 years in the making," jokes Stack, CEO of Dick’s Sporting Goods and a member of Treesdale Golf & Country Club near Pittsburgh. After working for many years in his father’s two-store business, Stack assumed leadership of the full-service sporting goods company in the mid-1980s. Under his guidance, measured growth gave way to aggressive expansion beginning in the early 1990s, and by the end of 2003, the number of Dick’s superstores totaled 163 in 27 states, most of which are located in the eastern United States. Upward of 25 new stores are planned for this year, and they will feature a Dick’s trademark: full-service golf pro shops staffed by PGA professionals and stocked with the latest premium equipment from the likes of Callaway, TaylorMade-adidas, and Nike. Asked to pick the hottest trend in golf equipment the rest of this year and next, Stack doesn’t hesitate, saying "composite, large-headed drivers." Easy question for an "overnight" success. — Steve Wilson
Photography by Michael Ray.

WHAT’S THAT BUZZ?
You may not recognize her name, but you’re sure to recognize Madeline Zuckerman’s many high-profile clients: Tiffany, Jaguar, Giorgio Armani, Mikimoto, Hilton Hotels, and Deutsche Bank Private Wealth Management, to name a few. And that would mean Zuckerman is doing her job. Her agency, M. Zuckerman Public Relations and Marketing, is celebrating 25 years as one of Orange County’s most successful. "Our niche is that we match our clients to charitable causes," explains Zuckerman, a member of Center Club in Costa Mesa and Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, both in California. "We are known for our special events. We create the media buzz, and the client supports the charity," she says. "It’s a win-win situation." Early in her career, Zuckerman worked alongside Letitia Baldrige, former chief of staff for former first lady Jackie Kennedy. Zuckerman and Baldrige ultimately formed their own marketing and public relations firm in New York. When Zuckerman relocated to California, she built her own agency, capitalizing on her dual-Coast experience. "P.R. is not just press lists and press releases — it’s relationships," she says. "Develop those and the results are tenfold. I never want to let a client down. We will achieve results when we make a commitment." — Mary Sue Lawrence
Photography by Raymond Wong of Quad Photo.

GROWING THE GAME OF GOLF
"Equipment does make a difference and can make a golfer a better player. But nothing beats the value of practice," Kathy Whitworth said at the recent Women’s Golf Demo Day at Trophy Club Country Club near Dallas. Whitworth, an LPGA Hall of Famer who had 88 wins on the LPGA Tour (an all-time record for both men’s and women’s U.S. Tours), was on hand to share golf tips during the event. Despite the unseasonably chilly spring day, more than 200 golfers of all levels gathered for the Demo Day, which was sponsored by Golf for Women magazine and was one of just three similar events that took place across the country. Rosey Bartlett, a former LPGA Tour player and director of instruction at Trophy Club, worked with Golf for Women to coordinate the event. Attendees tested the latest golf equipment; got a look at the hottest spring fashions, shoes, and accessories; and received instruction tips from LPGA teaching professionals. To help warm the crowd, Trophy Club provided ample amounts of hot chocolate for attendees as they tried out equipment from top manufacturers that included Callaway Golf, Nancy Lopez Golf, TaylorMade, Ping, Lady Fairway, and Ecco.

Whitworth, who is a member at Trophy Club, held hourly clinics for the attendees during which she shared her own golf tips, as well as a few passed on to her by her former teaching instructor Harvey Penick. "I have been doing clinics for many, many years, and I have a lot of fun," Whitworth said. "Plus, it is always great to see so many women out here and interested in the game of golf." Bartlett and Amy Fox, LPGA’s 1999 National Teacher of the Year, provided individual tips for those testing equipment. Bartlett said the members loved having the event at the club and already are talking about having another. "Everyone seemed to have had a great time," Bartlett said. — Patty Jerde
Photography by Elliott Snedden of LM Photography.

GUITAR MAN
As president of Fender Musical Instruments Corp., Bill Mendello’s challenge is putting the company’s legendary guitars and amplifiers into new hands. Mendello, a member of Gainey Ranch Golf Club in Scottsdale, Arizona, was part of a small group of investors who bought Fender in 1985, at a time when the company was struggling against overseas competition and flagging product quality. With a number of key acquisitions and the construction of several manufacturing plants, Mendello and his team have helped the company behind the iconic Telecaster and Stratocaster reach projected 2004 revenues of $335 million and a U.S. market share of more than 40 percent. Today, Fender sells 2,000 different guitars, ranging in price from $99 to $4,000, and outfits many of the world’s greatest guitarists, some of whom pay $50,000 or more for the custom instrument of their dreams. "So much of rock ’n’ roll has been played on a Fender, which is why it perpetuates," says Mendello, whose aim is to introduce Fender guitars to the estimated 90 percent of the American population that has never entered a music store. One method he’s devised is to package a lower-end Fender guitar with accessories, along with a free music lesson, to Costco shoppers this Christmas. "We’re beginning to try and break out in our own little industry," he says. — Janet Mefferd

CHINESE TREASURES
A leader in Los Angeles’ Asian American business community, C.K. Tseng is civic minded while remaining true to his roots. Born and raised in China, Tseng worked hard with his wife, Teresa, to instill in their three sons the importance of their Chinese heritage. "We encouraged them to use the language, eat the food, study the history," says Tseng, a member of Porter Valley Country Club in Northridge, California. His guidance pricelessly benefited the community recently, when son Roland donated a $38 million collection of Chinese antiquities to California State University Northridge. "The entire community can now enjoy it," Tseng says about the largest gift ever in the history of the CSU system. "Many people don’t have the opportunity to see China, but now they will be able to learn about it. It’s a great thing for everybody." The collection will be housed in the Tseng Family Wing, not far from the family’s travel agency business, which Tseng and Teresa opened 42 years ago. A recognized expert on tourism promotion in the Pacific, Tseng sits on numerous boards of local organizations, is an honorary mayor of Northridge, and rarely misses his daily 5 a.m. regimen at the club’s gym. "I’m 85. I keep myself fit," he says. — Mary Sue Lawrence
Photography by Thomas Alleman.

REASON TO SMILE
What do Southfork Ranch and golf have in common? To orthodontist John Wise, the improbable pairing of the home of the TV show Dallas and the Rite to Smile Golf Classic means more money for the tournament’s two charities: Texas Dentists for Healthy Smiles and Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children. The inaugural gala at Southfork will be held three days before the fourth annual tournament on July 12 at Dallas Stars Country Club at Stonebridge Ranch, where Wise is a member. "We almost doubled the money last year we were able to give away, and with the gala event, it’s conceivable it could double again," says Wise, tournament chairman and a member of the board of directors of TDHS, which provides dental care primarily to underprivileged children. Using a "shamble" format pairing North Texas PGA pros with amateur teams, the tournament was limited to 120 players last year, but to Wise, there’s no limit to what the event can become. "The neat thing about Stonebridge is there’s a second course. So potentially, we could fill up morning and afternoon on two courses," Wise says. "That’s kind of over the top, but it’s just a matter of keeping the interest going, keeping our base of support, and keeping it a quality tournament." — Steve Wilson
Photography by Lisa Means.

reMember
Five years ago when cycling superstar Lance Armstrong first appeared in Private Clubs ["Clubs & Members," November/December 1999], he had already reached hero status. He had just won his first Tour de France race, becoming just the second American to win the event. Even more dramatically he had battled cancer, and not only won but prospered. At the time, Armstrong, a member of Barton Creek Resort & Spa in Austin, Texas, was regularly quoted as saying that having the disease was the best thing that ever happened to him because it made him focus, and made him appreciate life more. By 2004, he had even more to appreciate. He had experienced the births of his three children, earned a bronze medal at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia, and gone on to claim victory in a record-tying five consecutive Tour de France races. He has seen his star rise to iconic status, where his every move — including his personal life — captures the attention of his fans and the public. In July, all eyes will once again be on Armstrong as he attempts to rewrite the record books by being the first cyclist to win the Tour de France six years in a row. And he continues to support cancer patients through the difficult phases of diagnosis and treatment through his successful Lance Armstrong Foundation. In October, Armstrong will partner with the Bristol-Myers Squibb Tour of Hope, a weeklong cycling trek from Los Angeles to Washington, D.C., that will promote the importance of cancer research. In addition, the annual Ride for the Roses Weekend, a series of fund-raising events supporting the Peloton Project, the Foundation’s major outreach and awareness effort, will be held Oct. 15-17 in Austin. No longer is Armstrong just a hero. He is now a bona fide superhero. — Louis Marroquin
Photography by Ed Lallo.

VISION & VALUE
Into his first year as president of Shaw University, Clarence Newsome says his primary duty is to "project a vision for the university that the private and public sectors can buy into to support our mission and our work." But leading the small, private university in Raleigh, North Carolina — the oldest historically black university in the South (founded in 1865) — clearly is much more than a job to Newsome. "I love putting before people the story of Shaw, its possibilities, and the vital importance of an institution like Shaw to our nation," says Newsome, a member of Raleigh’s Capital City Club. His excitement extends to the university’s burgeoning biotechnology program, its respected teacher education program, and its off-campus instruction through a state-of-the-art audiovisual system. Still, Newsome’s favorite stories involve students, such as a senior who last year excelled in a special summer computer science program at Duke University, Newsome’s alma mater in Durham, North Carolina. "To me, that’s saying that I am trying to demonstrate value, because of what [Duke] invested in me. I’m bringing to my alma mater students of quality who now can go out and make a sterling contribution to society." — Steve Wilson
Photography by Thomas Toohey Brown.

BEGINNING FRESH
Dr. Brian Reagan is a plastic surgeon who knows his profession is about more than just the cosmetic nip and tuck. Since 2000, he has volunteered his skills to operate on disadvantaged children with acquired and congenital deformities through Fresh Start Surgical Gifts, a nonprofit organization that draws hundreds of cases from around the world to its center in San Diego each year. Established in 1991, Fresh Start’s mission is to perform surgery, train surgeons, and sponsor research to help children with physical deformities. Reagan, a member of Morgan Run Resort & Club in Rancho Santa Fe, California, performs surgeries every eight weeks for Fresh Start, while maintaining his own private practice in La Jolla, California. His cases have included burn victims and children with cleft lips or palates. "We get a lot of kids who feel very self-conscious," says Reagan, who serves on Fresh Start’s board of directors. "We’ll do scar revision, something very simple, and totally change the way a child feels about himself." Reagan is one of about 30 doctors among the many volunteers at Fresh Start, which has performed more than $8 million worth of surgical procedures since its inception. "It’s the best of human nature," he says. "It’s a lot of people coming together to try to do good." — Janet Mefferd
Photography by Tim Mantoani.

LOOKING OUT FOR THE LITTLE GUYS
Pamela Farber and Lawrence Leigh, members of City Club on Bunker Hill in Los Angeles, are out to help small business owners. Through their company, the Small Business Organization, the duo promises to help small businesses increase sales and reduce costs. A sister company to an organization that Leigh founded in England in 1988, the Small Business Organization provides its members with a range of free or deeply discounted services. These services include a free check-recovery program, free credit checks and reports, free high-speed Internet access, low-cost medical services, and a dispute-resolution program for members’ customers. "We’ve taken the guesswork and legwork out of finding the best suppliers," Leigh explains. "No one does what we do here in the United States, so there was a real opportunity." Leigh and Farber launched the Small Business Organization last year and expect to have 35,000 members by the end of the year. "We allow the business owner to concentrate on what he or she does best — run their business — and we take care of the rest," Farber says. — Mary Sue Lawrence
Photography by Thomas Alleman.

RETURN TO GLORY
As a native Detroiter, George Jackson has always had a passion for his hometown. For years, he has looked across the river to Windsor, Ontario, and its lush greenbelt of riverfront parks, envisioning similar glory for Detroit. "As a historically industrial waterfront, our beautiful river has been underutilized," says Jackson, a member of Detroit’s Renaissance Club. "I’ve always had a goal of opening up the riverfront and giving it back to the public." As president and CEO of the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation, Jackson is getting his chance. The nonprofit organization’s Riverfront Project, which gears up this summer, includes plans for Michigan’s first urban park conservancy, a residential/retail area, and a three-mile river walk. Downtown Detroit is slated for new streetscapes, facade improvements, residential loft neighborhoods, and enhanced retail. "The downtown Detroit of my youth was vivid and lively, and I want to bring it back to life," Jackson says. Hosting the 2006 Super Bowl, as well as the Ryder Cup, baseball’s All-Star Game, NCAA Wrestling Championships, and the Final Four during the next few years, provides plenty of incentive. "We’re on a roll. We have a lot of things to spruce up for," Jackson says. "To see this city transform itself gives me a great deal of personal pride." — Mary Sue Lawrence
Photography by Santa Fabio.

CALIFORNIA DREAMS
It took K. Marie Lim two years to gather the courage to submit her application to Leadership California. Turns out, Lim had nothing to worry about. With more than 20 years experience in the banking, finance, and real estate industries, she was just the kind of leader the Golden State had in mind for its prestigious 2004 Annual Issues Program. The program brings together 50 women leaders from across California to develop and expose them to critical public and private sector issues that impact California’s diverse economy and society. During the yearlong appointment, the senior-level women connect and network as they learn more about politics, government, and education, and the topics of health care, technologies, business, the economy, and housing. Lim, a real estate agent with A.M. Realty in Pacific Palisades and a member of City Club on Bunker Hill in Los Angeles, is passionate about her native state and its quest to become more self-sustaining and less reliant on government. "We have to get involved in what the issues are and bring them back into the community and see, as civic leaders, what we can do to make a difference," Lim says. — Helen Bond
Photography by Thomas Alleman.

MARINE FOR LIFE
Mark Llano received a nice thank-you note recently: a photograph of 80 soldiers standing in front of an Apache helicopter expressing gratitude to Llano for quickly supplying the goods they needed to help fight the war on terrorism in Iraq. The highly decorated Marine, who served in Desert Storm and as a Navy Seal instructor, is president and CEO of Source One Distributors, a supplier of such military safety gear as camouflage face paints, infrared light sticks, hydration systems, and training guns. With a background in investment banking and a keen knowledge of a soldier’s needs, Llano, a member of the Governors Club in West Palm Beach, Florida, seized the opportunity to enter the world of government contracting. He launched Source One in 2003, and within six months posted $1.9 million in revenue. Llano predicts sales of $25 million in five years as his company continually expands its customer base to include large corporations and law enforcement agencies. Yet Llano, a native Floridian whose family migrated from Cuba, will never stray far from his career roots. "Deep down inside I have a passion for the military and serving the country," Llano says. "It is inside you. Once a Marine, always a Marine. It never goes away." — Helen Bond
Photography by Michael Price.

CULTURAL AWARENESS
When Nasser Beydoun took over as executive director of the American Arab Chamber of Commerce in 1999, he inherited 60 members, a one-room office, and no staff or computer systems. Under his leadership, the chamber has grown to 1,100 members to become the nation’s largest Arab American business organization. With more Arab Americans living in Michigan than in any other U.S. state, Detroit is a natural site for the chamber. Beydoun, a member of the Fairlane Club in Dearborn, Michigan, aims to expand the cultural awareness between non-Arabs and Arabs, who place above the national average in higher education and per capita income, according to the Arab American Institute. He points to businessmen such as Dr. Ray Irani (chairman of the board, president, and CEO of Occidental Petroleum), Jacques Nasser (former president and CEO of Ford Motor Co.), and Joe and Gavin Maloof (owners of the National Basketball Association’s Sacramento Kings) as examples of how the Arab American community has long been "an intricate part of America’s growth and fiber." Beydoun’s work to rebuild the relationship between the Arab world and the United States is expanding nationally and internationally. He was a key leader in the execution of the first U.S.-Arab Economic Forum in 2003 and plans to have chamber chapters in eight major cities in the next five years. "My role has been to build an institution for generations to come," Beydoun says. — Helen Bond

IN THE KITCHEN
Ask celebrity chef Julian Serrano, a member of Canyon Gate Country Club in Las Vegas, what set him on the path to becoming one of the country’s best chefs, and you get an unexpected answer. "In the beginning, I didn’t care so much for the cooking," says Serrano, best known as the executive chef at Picasso’s Restaurant in the Bellagio in Las Vegas. "I did it for the travel. I wanted a skill I could use anywhere." After graduating from culinary school, Serrano left Madrid at age 19 to explore the United States. His first job was with Carnival Cruise Lines, then it was on to Nashville, Tennessee, and then San Francisco, where he spent 23 years and was named "Best Chef in California" by the prestigious James Beard Foundation. He won another James Beard Award in 2000 after joining Picasso’s. "It’s a demanding job, but I get all my energy back from happy customers," says Serrano, who, despite being Spanish, has an affinity for French cuisine. — Mary Sue Lawrence

MAGIC MOMENTS

SPECIAL GUESTS
First lady Laura Bush recently visited the University Center Club in Tallahassee, Florida, when she was in town for a fund-raiser for a local U.S. Senate candidate. A fund-raising lunch was held at the club, as well as a pre-lunch reception. … Computer technology pioneers Stephen Wozniak and Marcian "Ted" Hoff were recent guests at the Silicon Valley Capital Club in San Jose, California.

FOOD
Ken McNamee, executive chef at Columbia Tower Club in Seattle, has been recognized as Western Region Chef of the Year by the American Culinary Federation. The ACF Chef of the Year Award recognizes an outstanding culinarian who works and cooks in a full-service dining facility, and demonstrates the highest standard of culinary skill, advances American cuisine, and gives back to the profession through the development of students and apprentices. … Jason Kroonemeyer, executive chef of The Greens Country Club in Oklahoma City, took top honors as the grand champion at the Oswalt Restaurant Supply 2004 Culinary Cook-off. Chef Jason’s final dish, which earned him the gold medal, was ancho-chili and garlic seared buffalo and pork tenderloins with a shrimp, wild mushrooms, and andouillie sausage strudel and a starfruit, sun-dried tomato, and white asparagus relish over roasted potatoes. "It was a lot of fun," Chef Jason said. "I learned a lot and I’m looking forward to competing more often to better myself."

SPORTS
The Downtown Club at Met in Houston attracted the top 16 female squash players and about 100 amateurs when it served as the host for the 2004 Texas Open Women’s Professional Squash Tournament. The tournament was presented by the Houston Squash Racquets Association and the Dallas Squash Racquets Association tour, which includes tournaments in England, Malaysia, Qatar, Egypt, the Canary Islands, Australia, and Kuwait. … The University Center Club in Tallahassee, Florida, was the site of the Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation’s Biletnikoff Award, which honors the nation’s outstanding college football receiver. This year’s recipient was Larry Fitzgerald from the University of Pittsburgh. NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Bart Starr was the keynote speaker.

BUSINESS
Scott F. Cooper, a member of the Pyramid Club in Philadelphia, has been recognized as one of Philadelphia’s "40 Under 40" movers and shakers by the Philadelphia Business Journal. Each year, the Journal recognizes 40 rising stars in the Philadelphia business community, based on professional accomplishments and commitment to the community. "Philadelphia has such a vibrant business community that I am honored to have been selected among its top emerging business professionals," Cooper says. "I look forward to participating in the continued growth and revitalization of our city and the region."

CHARITIES
The 13th annual Washington Wines Festival at the Columbia Tower Club in Seattle raised $300,000 to benefit the Yakima Valley Farm Workers, which provides medical and dental care for agricultural workers, and the Washington Wine Education Consortium, which provides scholarships for the study of wine and winemaking. Attendees had the opportunity to taste 32 of Washington’s finest wines and participate in a live auction.