Private Club Radio Show

Member vetting is not just a background check.
It is governance.
It is culture protection.
It is risk management.
In this episode of The Private Club Radio Show, Dan Klimek of Kennis Member Vetting returns to talk about what private clubs should be thinking about in 2026 when it comes to their membership vetting procedures, systems, and overall approval process. Because clubs can’t afford to rely on vibes, handshakes, referral letters, and the classic “he seems like a good guy” strategy anymore. That is how things get… spicy. And not the fun kind. 
Dan breaks down why modern member vetting should be treated as a complete process, not just a quick background check. That means reviewing membership applications, tightening up language, involving legal and board leadership when needed, and making sure every applicant goes through the same consistent process.
The conversation also digs into why spouses matter, why waitlists should not be ignored, and why some of the most useful information is not always criminal. HOA complaints, neighbor disputes, police calls, lawsuits, online reviews, and other patterns of behavior can reveal a lot about whether someone is going to be a great fit for the club community.
But this episode is not just about finding red flags. Dan also explains how good vetting can uncover the green flags — the quiet philanthropists, community leaders, generous families, and future members who may be even better than they look on paper.
For general managers, membership directors, boards, and membership committees, this episode is a timely reminder that protecting club culture starts long before someone gets approved, gets a locker, and starts leaving one-star reviews about the soup.
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What would an entertainer who's performed at 400+ private clubs actually do if he became a GM? In this episode, Denny Corby breaks down the five things he'd tackle in his first 30 days as new club leadership — no management degree, no BMI, just a raw outside perspective built from years on stage inside these clubs.
From a full top-to-bottom cleanliness overhaul to getting a real pulse on disengaged members, Denny covers what he'd prioritize, why, and how his unique background shapes every call. He also gets into staff culture in member spaces, rethinking your events calendar, and the one unconventional move that gets a new leader genuinely connected to their membership fast.
If you're a GM, department head, or aspiring club leader, this one's worth a listen — even if you disagree with everything he says.
Topics covered: new GM strategy, member engagement, club culture, private club leadership, onboarding, event programming, staff management
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Your first year as a country club GM can feel like you’re flying the plane while rebuilding the runway. I’m joined by Jordan Mezzerole, General Manager of Doylestown Country Club, for a candid year-in-review that starts with an unconventional career path and ends with the kind of real-world leadership moments you never forget.

Jordan didn’t come up through a traditional hospitality track. He moves from journalism and TV into marketing communications, then lands in private club management as a membership and marketing director. We talk about the choices that turned that “side quest” into a serious GM runway.  Finding mentors, getting involved with the board, learning club governance, and saying yes to the hard work that builds trust over time.

We also dig into the tactical stuff that helps clubs thrive. Jordan shares how an $11 million renovation becomes a leadership accelerator, why clear member communication matters during construction, and how his weekly Hard Hat Minute videos improve transparency and member engagement. From there, we get into operations, including stepping up to run pool season to sharpen food and beverage management skills.

Then it gets real: emergency calls, AED readiness, safety training, and three pipe bursts in six weeks. Jordan breaks down what surprised him most about the GM role, how coaching becomes a daily requirement, and why prioritising a few critical systems beats trying to prove everything in the first six months. If you care about private club leadership, member experience, and what the GM job actually demands, this one’s for you. Subscribe, share with a club leader, and leave a review with the biggest lesson you’re taking from Jordan’s story.

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You can love private club work and still be running on fumes. I’m sharing a straightforward reminder for golf and country club professionals: reward the effort, protect your energy, and make time to be fully present somewhere outside the club. 

We talk about what real recovery looks like for hospitality leaders and club managers, especially after holiday stretches and nonstop seasons. Sometimes that means friends and family. Sometimes it means doing something solo. The goal is the same: pick activities that bring you joy, spark creativity, and get your brain out of the constant loop of payroll, debriefs, and member issues. I also dig into why certain hobbies and endurance-style challenges work so well because they demand total focus, the kind that quiets everything else and leaves you feeling reset. 

Then I share a “treat yourself” option that blends adrenaline with professional development: 
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If you've worked in private clubs long enough, you know this moment. The RSVPs slow down, the numbers look lighter than you hoped, and suddenly the question on the table is: do we pull it or push through?
In this episode of Private Club Radio, Denny Corby shares a real situation — a club, a soft turnout, and a decision that reveals something most club leaders never talk about out loud. Because when a club keeps canceling events due to low attendance, they think they're protecting the budget. What they're actually doing is training their members not to show up.
30 people is not a failure. 30 people laughing, having dinner, leaving saying "that was amazing" — that matters. That's belonging. And belonging doesn't only get built in packed rooms.
Denny breaks down why low turnout is rarely the real problem, what canceling events is quietly teaching your membership, why the worst thing you can do for turnout is cancel because of turnout, and what it actually means to show up for the members who said yes.
If you've ever stared down a soft RSVP list and wondered what the right call is — this one's for you.
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