CLUBS & MEMBERS: SOMETHING BIG

HOPE AND GLORY
Growing up in South Central Los Angeles, John Bryant was all business. By age 10, he ran a neighborhood candy business, schooled by a local liquor store owner who Bryant persuaded to teach him the power of buying wholesale and selling retail. As an adult, Bryant’s financial prowess led him to a successful career in investment banking, but he never forgot his roots. When the 1992 riots rocked Los Angeles, Bryant, a member of City Club on Bunker Hill, launched Operation Hope Inc. to help rebuild the community through economic education. Now a self-help organization in six states and the District of Columbia, Operation Hope aims to change the mindset of poverty. Through the organization’s umbrella of nonprofit companies, Operation Hope works to give the "underserved and wealthless" the self-esteem and tools to get back on their feet by teaching the basics of money and offering such services as budget and credit counseling, and other banking and financial assistance. Operation Hope has helped to fund more than $113 million in home and small business loans through more than 120 banking partners. The goal is to turn check-cashing customers into banking customers, renters into homeowners, small business dreamers into small business owners, and minimum wage workers into living wage workers, contends Bryant, whose good works have landed him on Time magazine’s list of America’s 50 Most Promising Leaders of the Future. Operation Hope’s Banking on the Future program, which Bryant believes will be his lasting legacy, uses trained banker-teachers to educate the nation’s youngest about the basics of checking and savings accounts, credit, and investments. "I do believe in my lifetime we will eradicate the psychology of poverty in America," Bryant says. — Helen Bond

BREAKING THROUGH
At this time last year, very few golf fans knew about Chad Campbell. That was before Sports Illustrated dubbed him "The Next Big Thing" and he lived up to his billing by finishing second at the PGA Championship and then claiming his first PGA Tour victory at the prestigious Tour Championship. Fresh off his breakthrough year, the soft-spoken 29-year-old Texan was open and engaging during an interview in a small grillroom at his club, Gleneagles Country Club in Plano, Texas.

What did getting that first victory mean in terms of your career?
It means a lot to me because it’s so hard to win against the best players in the world. Hopefully, they’ll come a little easier this year.

Would it be a disappointment if you didn’t win this season?
I wouldn’t say it would be a disappointment. Say I have a top 10 in every tournament. I definitely wouldn’t consider that a disappointing year. But winning is the reason we all do this. That’s the ultimate.

In your first trip to Augusta National last April, you missed the cut. What was your impression of the Masters?
It was awesome. Last year was totally different because the weather was bad, so it wasn’t what I had in mind for my first time. But the whole atmosphere around the Masters is pretty unbelievable. So I’m looking forward to going back and hopefully faring a little better this year.

How much importance do you place on the four major tournaments?
I’m still kind of young at all this, so I don’t know exactly. [Laughs.] You try to prepare for every tournament the same, but you plan your schedule so you’re not worn out for the majors. When you get to the Florida swing, you’re getting geared up for the Masters. Then after the Masters, it seems like the majors are back to back to back.

Your self-styled swing has been compared to Ben Hogan’s. What do you think of that?
I think it’s an honor to be compared to him, but I didn’t grow up studying him. I think the main similarity is the flatter swing plane. I have his book, Five Lessons: The Modern Fundamentals of Golf, but some of the things he thought about and did, they’re way beyond me.

Do you enjoy all the attention you’ve received lately?
It’s good. It means you’re playing well. If nobody wants to interview you, you’re not playing very good golf.

If you weren’t playing golf, what would you be doing for a living?
I have no idea what I’d be doing. So I guess I’d better keep practicing.
— Steve Wilson
Photography by Lisa Means

WELCOME TO MUDVILLE
Imagine someone handing you the keys to a fully loaded, four-wheel drive sport utility vehicle and urging you to put it through its paces. See how fast it goes from 0 to 60 and how it handles curves on a test track. Run it up rocky hills, over tree-strewn trails, and through knee-deep mud. Sound like a fantasy? It’s both that and an annual reality for automotive journalists at Mudfest, a two-day event each fall in which members of the Northwest Automotive Press Association (NWAPA) evaluate the world’s best SUVs. "It’s great fun, but it’s all business when you’re in the vehicles," says NWAPA president Lary Coppola, a member of the Columbia Tower Club in Seattle. "We have some of the most capable vehicles on the planet, but some drivers couldn’t get them up a hill." For the 10th running of Mudfest in 2003, Coppola and 20 other writers test-drove 20 SUVs ranging in value from under $30,000 to more than $45,000. The Volvo XC90 repeated as the overall winner, but the main beneficiaries were journalism scholarships at the University of Washington and University of Oregon, which the association funds from money raised at Mudfest. — Steve Wilson

SEARCH AND EMPLOY
In Robert Beaudine’s business, it pays to be a great judge of character. As president and CEO of the Dallas executive search firm Eastman & Beaudine, the member of Gleneagles Country Club has placed some of the hottest sports executives on college and professional athletic rosters. Beaudine followed in the footsteps of his father, a pioneer in executive recruitment who launched the firm that bears his name in 1967. In the past 20 years, the younger Beaudine has led the firm’s evolution as a leader in executive placement in entertainment, media, and sports. It’s an exciting way to do business, Beaudine admits. At the end of the search for many industries, he says, "you get a tour of the plant. At the end of the search to place the head of marketing for the NBA, we get All-Star Weekend." Recognized as the pre-eminent search firm in collegiate sports recruiting, Eastman & Beaudine boasts a list of noteworthy placements that cover all facets of sports: Baylor University’s new athletic director Ian McCaw and head basketball coach Scott Drew, amid a national scandal; John Hart, general manager of the Texas Rangers; and Arlen Kantarian, chief executive of professional tennis for the United States Tennis Association. He credits his firm’s success to its ability to offer a confidential and speedy search process that finds folks who have the "passion, drive, and energy" to get the job done. "The key in life is passion," Beaudine says. "You have to love what you do." — Helen Bond
Photography by Lisa Means

PERSONALITY TO SPARE
The little people made Lynda Hawley the woman she is today. Six years ago, Hawley put her dormant art degree to work for a holiday fund-raiser on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, where she is a member of both Golden Bear Golf Club and the Country Club of Hilton Head. Crafting a Santa that was part sculpture and part pillow, she inadvertently launched a business. "People went crazy over it, so I made more. Then I came up with the little people," she says. "It just happened." The line of "little people," called Personality People, is part of the growing Hawley Collection, which can be found in Hallmark stores, gift shops, and finer department stores. Hawley hand-paints and designs each 9-inch square pillow, which have hand-sculpted faces and come with their own name and personal history. All of the little women represent some sort of activity, from aerobics and golf to shopping and gardening to scholarly pursuits. "I get a lot of inspiration from the people around me," she says. "Half of my pillows are named after ladies I know." — Paula Felps
Photography by Jeff Dodge

A SEMINOLE HOMECOMING
Last October, less than a year after T.K. Wetherell returned to his alma mater, Florida State University, he made headlines. But this time it wasn’t his installation as FSU’s 13th president that made news. No, this member of University Center Club in Tallahassee, had just made the largest personal donation to an American public university by a sitting president. Through his estate, he and his wife, Virginia, will leave to FSU their 1,000-acre, $7.5 million farm, Oak Hill Plantation, located in neighboring Jefferson County. Wetherell credits his Seminole education with putting him on the path to a fulfilling career — which includes 12 years as a state legislator (two as house speaker) and a stint as president of Tallahassee Community College, where he doubled the enrollment and square footage of the main campus. Wetherell received a master’s degree and Ph.D. from FSU, and served as the president of Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida. "It’s a dream job to come home to Florida State," Wetherell says. And what of his generous gift to the university? "I hope students who benefit from it will become successful and give back to FSU." — Meg A. Bozzone
Photography by Ray Stanyard

NO SLOWING DOWN
Rea Waldon, a member of the Bankers Club in Cincinnati, has a lot of heart. In the face of chronic health challenges (not "problems," she says), Waldon, 47, has cultivated unwavering courage and determination. The successful banker turned college educator and community leader has relentlessly viewed the glass as half full, if not overflowing, since she was a girl in St. Louis suffering from heart disease. At age 19, Waldon underwent open-heart surgery. "I decided then I wouldn’t let circumstances dictate what I could or couldn’t do," she says. While working full-time in jobs including commercial lending in Cincinnati, Waldon earned an undergraduate degree from the Union Institute & University, a nontraditional college in Cincinnati where students participate in individualized programs designed not to interfere with professional and personal commitments. After receiving graduate degrees in banking and management information systems, she realized her true interest was in urban revitalization, and joined Downtown Cincinnati Inc., an organization dedicated to nourishing small downtown businesses. At the same time, she began her doctorate in urban economics at UI&U, where she subsequently became a full-time faculty member, and, last fall, finished her Ph.D. Despite having had a second open-heart surgery in 1999, Waldon says she "won’t slow down unless I have to." — Meg A. Bozzone
Photography by Jim Callaway

ALL IN THE FAMILIA
What do Antonio Banderas, Jennifer Lopez, and Hector Elizondo all have in common? Each has received an Imagen Award, which honors positive and accurate portrayals of Latinos and promotes the advancement of Latinos in the entertainment industry. At the helm of the Imagen Awards (imagen means "image" in Spanish) stands Helen Hernandez, a member of City Club on Bunker Hill in Los Angeles. She established the Imagen Foundation in 1985 at the behest of television pioneer Norman Lear, her boss at the time, who had become aware of the near absence of positive images of Latinos in the entertainment industry. "And knowing you get more with honey than you do with vinegar," Hernandez says, "he encouraged me to start an awards ceremony." With Lear backing the project, Hernandez took the wheel, steering the program from a simple luncheon to its current Hollywood dazzle, complete with megawatt celebrities, red carpet, and paparazzi. Now in its 19th year, the Imagen Awards honor performers as well as those behind the cameras in 23 categories each spring. In addition, the Imagen Foundation presents workshops and job fairs across the United States to encourage Latinos to look at the entertainment industry as a career. The goal is to get quality films and programs produced that depict the true Latino culture and to put an end to stereotypical portrayals. "We have a very beautiful, colorful, passionate culture," Hernandez says, "and by bringing this to the screen — whether it’s TV or film — we’re sharing who we really are." — Louis Marroquin

THE POWER OF 8
The Buckhead Club in Atlanta has discovered the ultimate icebreaker. The Buckhead 8 program brings together club members in groups of eight for a super-networking session over breakfast or dinner. Looking for an avenue to meet people within the club, Bill Nordmark teamed with fellow member Bob Littell to incorporate principles from Littell’s book, Power NetWeaving: 10 Secrets to Successful Relationship Marketing, in which the goal is to put other people’s resource needs first. "We think that we know how to network," Littell says. "But very few people carry the process to a point where an introduction ends up growing into a meaningful relationship." The program works, he says, because it starts with a trusted resource network — the members. After a Buckhead 8 session, each person is encouraged to quickly schedule one-on-one follow-up breakfast meetings. Written notes recording the exchanges are handed out to reinforce the business and interests of each participant. With plenty of meeting and greeting going on, the program has boosted camaraderie within the club. More than 100 people attended the club’s first "alumni reception," where more new connections were made. Says Nordmark, "It has offered everybody in the club the ability to meet other members and forge whatever kind of relationship — business, social, friendship — that they want." — Helen Bond
Photography by Emmett Martin

PEARLS OF WISDOM
With stores in such cities as Paris, London, New York, Costa Mesa, and Las Vegas, world-renowned jeweler Mikimoto continues to expand globally. The Japanese company recently opened stores in Seoul, Kuala Lumpur, and Monte Carlo, as well as expanded and redesigned its Beverly Hills location. "The Beverly Hills store is part of our long-term global strategy to establish more retail shops in important markets in the world," explains William Thomas, vice president of retail and a member of Center Club in Costa Mesa and Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage (both clubs in California). "We’re rolling out much larger stores in much larger cities, including about 10 major markets in the United States over the next several years." As the originator of the cultured pearl, however, the company is at nature’s mercy. "The biggest question mark hanging over our expansion is always Mother Nature," Thomas says. "The pearl harvest has been limited over the last five years." Yet the family-run business, which is celebrating its 110th year, continues to look at the big picture. "It’s rare that a global company still has family ownership and a strong family tradition," Thomas says. "It’s really great to be a part of that." — Mary Sue Lawrence
Photography by Thomas Alleman

reMember
Five years ago, when Woodrow "Woody" Pettus appeared in "Clubs & Members" ("Dining Room Fixture," September/October 1998), he had recovered from a heart attack the previous year and was slowing down, even using the term "semiretirement." But these days, Pettus is still maître d’ at The Homestead in Hot Springs, Virginia, where he has worked for 48 years and won’t even mention the "R" word. "I’ve put retirement out of my head," he says. "I love being here too much." As if to accentuate the point, Pettus was recently named Maître d’ of the Year by GolfStyles Magazine. Not surprisingly, the much-loved Pettus received calls from all over the country to congratulate him on the award. Families gathering for special occasions, fathers and daughters taking their first spin around the dance floor, golfers celebrating a great round, business leaders strategizing about the future — they all love the special attention they receive from Woody. One guest from Kentucky won’t come to The Homestead without first lining up a golf game with Pettus. Pettus says he thinks that’s what makes The Homestead so special. "A hotel is just a building," he says. "It’s the people who make the hotel." People like Woody. — Melody Crow
Photography by Werner Gattinger

BRACE YOURSELF
If there’s one thing Dr. Ronald Roncone values, it’s punctuality. "One of my pet peeves is not being on time," says Roncone, a leading orthodontist and a member of the University Club Atop Symphony Towers in San Diego. "If you waste people’s time, you can’t get it back." With that in mind, Roncone recently launched JSOP (Just Short of Perfect), a metrics-based management system that shows orthodontists how to make the most of their time, benefiting both patients and office staff. Six years in the making, JSOP covers everything from using the most efficient kinds of orthodontic appliances to managing tight appointment schedules. The system is the apex of Roncone’s three-decade career, during which he has lectured in 56 countries, conducted in-house courses for orthodontists, and developed and marketed several innovative aesthetic appliances. In the midst of promoting the JSOP system, Roncone still finds time to tend to his own practice, where he has fitted more than 12,000 patients with clear braces. "The whole idea is to make my patients as happy as possible," he says. "You can’t have a good practice unless the patients are happy." — Janet Mefferd
Photography by Tim Mantoani

THANK GOODNESS IT’S FRIDAY
As a traveling sales rep, Julie Hagenmaier could never find a company that would take care of her life’s everyday tasks while she was scooting around the country. So she created My Girl Friday, a national network of errand runners who work in the home environment, to meet the needs of other travelers who might have similar circumstances. "We arrange for carpets to be cleaned, meet the movers or cable guy, check on pets, get oil changed, pack suitcases, even make sure the fridge is full when you arrive at your vacation condo," says Hagenmaier, a member of the Bankers Club in Cincinnati. Now she targets traveling executives and outruns the competition with a staff of 40 who are creative at finding solutions. "We make it easy to use our service — you just tell us what you need and we take care of it," says Hagenmaier, who boasts a 92 percent client retention rate. She also has formed strategic relationships with travel-related companies including travellady.com, airportparkinglots.com, and select travel agencies and airlines. In addition, the company recently partnered with OpenMotion LS by RACO Wireless to provide concierge and personal errand services to mobile customers. With service in more than 50 markets and a goal of 100 by next year, My Girl Friday is more like My Girl Everyday, Everywhere. — Mary Sue Lawrence
Photography by Jim Callaway

LIFE IN THE BALANCE
Look up "time management" in the dictionary and you might find the example of Dr. Melinda Birdsall, a member of Ipswich Country Club near Boston. She juggles many roles: an obstetrician-gynecologist on Boston Magazine’s "Top Doctors" list; a sought-after speaker on menopausal health and hormonal therapy; wife to husband Chris, a urologist; mother of two; and golfer. In medicine, she strives to "be there for my patients, be a good diagnostician, be a shoulder to cry on, and just a good people person." She enjoys community and club involvement (including a stint as Ipswich’s Board of Governors chair) and "doing as much as I can."

Her secret to balancing life’s demands? "I have to be very disciplined and structured in how I do things. It is truly a balance, but I think it works well. I think that the key is being organized," she says. That means an itemized weekly schedule with every member of the family’s appointments, even family time — and, of course, golf tee times.

Since getting her first set of golf clubs, purchased for her honeymoon in 1987, Birdsall has taken to the sport with a passion. The game, she notes, is a real equalizer. "It truly is a sport that you can play at any age," she says. She and Chris found out about playing competitively with a cross section of people in the fall when they were part of the foursome that represented Ipswich in the net division of the PGA’s Buick Scramble held in Orlando, Florida. The group missed the cut by a few strokes but had a lot of fun.

What’s next for the doc? A continued balancing act. And, of course, more golf.

"There’s no substitute for family," she says. "I’m very, very thankful for my life and for the friends that I have and for my family."

Her advice for multitasking women: "Know what you can do and how to do it."
— Patricia Baldwin
Photography by Jay Reed

CHARITIES
The annual Golfers Against Cancer golf tournament at the five courses of the Clubs of Kingwood near Houston raised a record $1.6 million for cancer research. The tournament has broken records each year since its origin in 1997. An all-volunteer organization, GAC contributes all of its proceeds to cancer research, part of which are met by matching funds enabling research projects to be launched or accelerated. The group originally was started to support two friends of the Clubs of Kingwood who were battling cancer. "Dave Roberts was a member of our Saturday morning group and Mike Longpre was a pro at Deerwood," says Bobby Jones, chairman of GAC. "We lost Dave to cancer in 1998 and Mike Longpre passed away just a couple of months back. Their loss strengthens our resolve to help fund more cancer research and find a cure for this dreaded disease." … The second annual Big Bad Ball at the Capital City Club in Raleigh, North Carolina, raised $85,000 to benefit Hospice of Wake County, a total care program for individuals with limited life expectancies and their families. In the true spirit of giving, one member gave $2,000 of the prize from his winning raffle ticket back to the Hospice.

GOLF
Gary Sowinski, director of golf at Morgan Run Resort & Club near San Diego, will compete for a $2 million purse at the Senior PGA Championship, May 24-30 at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky. Sowinski finished 25th at the 2003 Callaway Golf PGA Senior Club Pro Championship to qualify. … Willie McCrae, a caddie at Pinehurst in the Village of Pinehurst, North Carolina, for more than 60 years, has been inducted into the Professional Caddies Foundation Hall of Fame. McCrae has carried the bag of Donald Ross, 1951 Ryder Cup European player Fred Daley, and the winning bag for Gary Cowan, 1970 North & South champion.

SPECIAL GUESTS
Former President George Bush visited Pinehurst in the Village of Pinehurst, North Carolina, last fall for a meeting of trustees for The First Tee, an organization offering programs and facilities to young people who might not otherwise have the opportunity to learn to play golf. The former president is an honorary chair of the organization’s trustees. Partnered with Russ Limbaugh, he won second place in a best ball golf game with a net score of 64. He and wife Barbara also were recent guests for the Secret Service Golf Tournament at the Clubs of Kingwood at Kingwood near Houston. … Joseph Lieberman, during his recent campaign for President of the United States, held a campaign fund-raiser at the Governors Club in West Palm Beach, Florida. Singer/actor Jon Bon Jovi was seen working out at the Capital Club in Richmond, Virginia. He was in town filming the movie, Living the Lie.

KUDOS
Jesse Perry, a member of the WestLake Club in Houston, and his team the "Rusty Pistols" beat 59 other teams to win the National Senior Olympics Basketball Championships in the 65-69 age group. … Marilyn Ross Peckich, a member of Diamond Run Golf Club near Pittsburgh and former college basketball standout, has been inducted into the Western Carolina University’s Hall of Fame. Peckich has been the intramurals director at the University of Pittsburgh for the past 30 years.