ANNUAL REPORT 2024
FEBRUARY15,2025
MEETING AGENDA
Saturday,February15,2025 Calltoorder:9:00AM
TABLEOFCONTENTS
2025 BOARD OF GOVERNORS CLUB
GOLF & GREENS
RACQUET CLUB
EQUESTRIAN
LETTER FROMTHE PRESIDENT
LYNNLILLIBRIDGE BoardofGovernorsPresident
This year at Seabrook Island Club, we have faced numerous changes and challenges, emerging stronger and more unified than ever. I am profoundly grateful to everyone who contributed to our growth and accomplishments our dedicated staff, passionate Members, supportive committees, and committed Board Members
Together, we have achieved remarkable success, driven by teamwork, perseverance, and a shared vision for the future. Our Seabrook team has worked tirelessly to provide Members with new spaces, exceptional experiences, and the warm, welcoming “Seabrook” hospitality that defines us Each of you has left an indelible mark on 2024, and I am filled with optimism for the continued success of our vibrant community in 2025.
At the 2024 Annual Meeting, we unveiled the Club’s Strategic Plan, a comprehensive roadmap for the future Developed through invaluable input from Members via focus groups, surveys, and with the guidance of our consulting partner GGA, the plan outlines our goals for the next five years One key recommendation was to embark on a Master Planning exercise to envision the future of our Club This collaborative effort involves all three Seabrook Island entities the Club, SIPOA, and TOSI offering a holistic approach as we chart the next steps for our community.
Our Food and Beverage and Banquet teams have infused creativity and passion into their work, delivering exceptional dining and event experiences This year, the culinary team introduced “Chef’s Table”, an intimate and elevated dining journey featuring seven meticulously crafted courses, each with a unique theme Additionally, we maximized the versatility of our Food Truck, Outdoor Kitchen, and Pizza Oven for Member events like the Women’s and Men’s Member-Guest Tournaments and spontaneous “Pop-Ups” on the Golf Veranda, bringing exciting culinary moments to life.
In golf, 2024 was a year filled with unforgettable moments From the Women’s and Men’s Member-Guest Tournaments to creative events like Superintendent’s Revenge, Fun Fridays, Ladies Nine and Wine, and MixedCouples gatherings, the golf team curated a calendar of events that celebrated camaraderie, fun, and our breathtaking courses
The Racquet Club also celebrated significant milestones, with the completion of its expansion. Members now enjoy a beautifully renovated clubhouse, enhanced landscaping, a new parking lot, and five additional pickleball courts These upgrades were showcased during the prestigious 40th Annual Alan Fleming Senior Open Clay Court Championship Tournament, which brought together 403 tennis players from 27 states and five international locations. Proceeds from the event were donated to the Seabrook Island Employee Assistance Fund, exemplifying the generosity of our community
None of these achievements would have been possible without the unwavering support of our Members and the dedication of our staff To every member of the Seabrook family Members, Employees, Board of Governors, Committee Members, Guests, and all who contribute to making Seabrook Island an extraordinary place thank you Together, we will continue to build on this year’s successes and work toward an even brighter future for our beloved Seabrook Island
Seabrook Island Club is thrilled to welcome our new General Manager, John Schultz, whose extensive expertise and inspiring leadership promise to elevate the Club to new heights John brings a wealth of experience, a forward-thinking vision, and a deep commitment to fostering a collaborative environment with our dedicated staff. Together, we are eager to embark on an exciting journey into 2025, filled with opportunities to enhance Member experiences, innovate our offerings, and further strengthen the vibrant sense of community that defines Seabrook Island We look forward to all that John and the year ahead will bring.
Thank you,
Lynn Lillibridge
LETTER FROM THE GENERAL MANAGER
JOHN SCHULTZ, CCM, CCE
General Manager/COO
As we step into 2025, I am honored to introduce myself as the new General Manager of Seabrook Island Club It is an absolute privilege to join this incredible community, and I am excited for the opportunities that lie ahead
Seabrook Island is truly a special place, defined not only by its breathtaking natural beauty but by the warmth and camaraderie of its Members, Staff, and guests From the pristine beaches and championship golf courses to our top-tier racquet facilities, equestrian center, and exceptional dining experiences, the Club offers something for everyone.
My goal is to enhance and elevate these amenities while preserving the traditions and values that make Seabrook Island so unique.
Over the coming year, I look forward to working closely with our dedicated staff, the Board of Governors, and most importantly, you the Members. Your insights, feedback, and passion for this community will be instrumental in shaping our vision for the future. Together, we will continue to build upon the foundation of excellence that defines Seabrook Island Club
Whether you are a full-time resident, a part-time visitor, or enjoying your first season on the island, I encourage you to take full advantage of all the Club has to offer. I look forward to meeting many of you at upcoming events, on the golf course, at the racquet club, or simply around the clubhouse
Thank you for welcoming me into this exceptional community. Here’s to a fantastic 2025 filled with exciting new experiences, meaningful connections, and unforgettable moments at Seabrook Island Club
Thank you,
John
General Manag
SHRM-CP CCM CMP
JOHN SCHULT of HR ONG
GCSAA CLASS A
Equestrian Director
LYNDSEY ARNOLD
Membership Director
CommunicationsDirector
Director of Racquet Sports
Director of Culinary Operations
DUPLES Director of Beach Club Operations DirectorofEngineering
ANNA ZOLDESY
Head Golf Professio
BRIAN THELAN
CHARLES HAIRFIELD
LAURA FERREIRA
DANIEL DOYLE
MICHELLE
JOHN FITZPATRICK
OURSUPERSTARS
MANAGEROFTHEYEAR
STEPHANIE FINLEY
Assistant Banquet Manager
STRATAS
ANASTOPOULO
Racquet Club Assistant Professional
Originally from Northern Virginia, Stephanie earned a bachelor's degree in marketing from Old Dominion University She has a passion for creating enjoyable experiences, whether through organizing events or engaging in various crafts at home, always immersing herself in projects As a military child, she had the opportunity to travel the world and is now thrilled to have settled in Charleston and become a part of the Seabrook Island Club family
Stephanie finds far greater fulfillment in interacting with Members and guests, than in constructing complex supercomputer systems, which they once had the pleasure of doing professionally
Stratas, the Racuqet Club’s Assistant Professional, is very honored to be named Employee of the Year Stratas credits this achievement to the support and guidance of his colleagues The Director of the Racquet Club, Laura Ferreira, and Head Pro, Richey Gray, have been instrumental in helping him succeed and grow in his role Additionally, he finds inspiration in the wonderful Members of the Racquet Club, who make his work both enjoyable and fulfilling
Stratas has been part of the Racquet Club for almost two years, and he considers the experience to be deeply rewarding One of his favorite aspects of the job is meeting new Members and fostering meaningful relationships
He is always thinking of ways to enhance the Racquet Club and improve the overall experience for everyone Looking ahead to 2025, there are exciting plans in place, including social events, new pickleball programs, the addition of seven USTA teams, a Rafa Nadal Academy camp, and much more Stratas looks forward to welcoming everyone and showing them just how fun and engaging racquet sports can be!
FINANCE
TODDLYNCH Treasurer/Chair
The Club’s financial performance in 2024 was very solid. That sounds boring, doesn’t it? 2024 was anything but boring! The Club was without a General Manager for most of the year and welcomed a new Finance Director in late 2023 Major capital projects for the Racquet Sports renovation and Crooked Oaks irrigation replacement were completed. The property insurance market returned to a bit of normalcy
2020-2023 operating results were heavily influenced by the pandemic. Whether it was government relief funds or a surge in amenity revenue due to people ing to less populated areas, the Club benefited financially, and it allowed us est more than normal in capital, F&B, and other Member benefits The Club ken important steps to increase the Member experience (which comes at a and Members enjoy a host of added amenities. First, and most importantly, 2 the Club significantly increased its new Member joining fees New ber joining fees are our largest source of funds for capital investments dly, Member dues were increased by an average of 11% in 2024 and 7% in Member dues account for ~50% of the operating budget revenues Higher on rates and increased levels of F&B service were the primary drivers for the se in dues.
NICOLEWATT Director of Finance
How did we perform compared to our operating plan? Excluding real estate, our ‘excess of revenues over expenses’ (ie, net income) was $359k favorable to budget That is a 1% variance to budget revenues of $275 million In a year when we were without a General Manager, it’s pretty extraordinary to manage the Club’s financial performance that close to budget. Thank you to our staff and leaders for closely managing our resources. We expect 2025’s operating results to improve again which is important as it helps fund our debt repayments which are increasing as well
A few words about our subsidiary, Seabrook Island Real Estate (“SIRE”). SIRE hired a new broker in charge, Ben Schuyler in 2024. Ben has taken a ‘fresh look’ at operations and effectively managed the financial net income of that business to achieve $440k of net income which was 37% above budget SIRE’s biggest concern going forward is market share Home prices have doubled in the past 5 years and that brings in new competition Fortunately, we have a very qualified SIRE Board to assist Ben in tackling this challenge.
FINANCE
The Club industry is very capital intensive which means we must continue to invest in our facilities and amenities to continue to be a top tier Club. There is a direct correlation between our investment in the Club and the value of your home! We fund those investments through new Member joining fees and our reserve fund Member fees.
2024 was an interesting year in new Member joining fees. Historically, more than 80% of all real estate transactions resulted in new memberships This year that percentage dropped to 70% which drove new Membership joining fees to be $541k below budget. Existing Members purchased a number of new homes on Seabrook this year, resulting in a Membership transfer versus the typical new Membership. It is perhaps too early to determine whether this is an anomaly or new normal, regardless, this is a performance indicator to be watched closely. With this and other uncertainties, the Board determined we needed to increase our annual Member reserve fund fee in 2025 from $1 2 million to $1.4 million. If the real estate conversion percentage continues at 2024’s rate, the Club should anticipate the need for additional increases in the Member reserve fees We invested $5.3 million in 2024 and $7.4 million in 2023 in capital expenditures, more than 50% were related to the Racquet Sports renovation and the Crooked Oaks irrigation replacement.
COMMITEEMEMBERS
Todd Lynch - Chair
BobAaron-ViceChair
Nancy Berg
Jim DiLella
Art Dougherty
Rick Grafmeyer
Chris Hix
2024’s investment was ~ $750k less than we forecast due to delayed starts to key maintenance projects noted below. Capital investments are budgeted at $4.5 million in 2025 The major programs in 2025 are a new laundry facility and painting/reroofing the Island House which account for ~ 50% of total 2025 budgeted capital investments.
An update on our equity Membership and term loan balances. The Club continues to be current in repaying refundable equity Memberships and assessments when an equity Member resigns Our total future obligation decreased from $5.3 million at the beginning of 2024 to $4.8 million at the end of the year The funds to pay our equity Memberships is sourced from new Member joining fees. Our loan balance also continues to decrease. Our obligation to Bank of America decreased from $12 4 million to $11 2 million, respectively These repayments are typically sourced through the Club’s operations but historically the Club has utilized any excess cash above cash reserves levels to repay the debt. Our loan is scheduled to be paid in full in 2031.
So, what keeps me up at night? Honesty, not much. The Club is in a solid financial position with adequate cash reserves, solid insurance coverage and strong financial oversight I would like to thank the Finance Committee Members for their service and counsel. The Club would have been unable to achieve the results it accomplished in 2024 without their contributions.
Drew Kemmeling
Bob Leggett
Jeff Potts
David Shields
Skip Shepard
GOLF & GREENS
JOHNCARPENTER
Vice
President/Chair
Thanks to the tireless professional efforts of Head Golf Professional, Brian Thelan, and Director of Agronomy, Sean Hardwick, and their respective teams, Seabrook Island Club Members were once again treated to a top-notch golfing experience in 2024. It was a year of less chaos; No major golf related capital projects were launched and after 4 straight years of rising demand we experienced a slight drop in golf rounds played
Chaos is relative. Use of both courses remained strong at 63,375 rounds, a 3.9% drop compared to 2023 Our usual slate of hurricanes created challenges in hosting the men’s Member-guest event and placed quite a burden on Sean’s grounds crew who dealt with turf damage from salt water intrusion. During first quarter of 2024, the Crooked Oaks renovation project launched in 2023 was completed ahead of schedule and below budget
Quite a few changes were made to amenity use policies and rates heading into 2024. Many of them were not necessarily popular, but all of them had their desired effect. More stringent driving range use policies, for example, were put in place to allow the grass time to heal and grow, and it worked Rates for rental guests were increased, and outside events were limited in 2024 to ensure Members had priority access to their amenity These policies helped Members and their guests account for 93% of the rounds played in 2024, the highest level ever.
SILGA ISLAND CUP CHAMPIONS
MGA ISLAND CUP CHAMPIONS
GOLF & GREENS
BRIANTHELAN
Head Golf Professional
SEANHARDWICK
On the agronomy front, we ended the year on budget Projects included 700 linear feet of cart path removal and repair on Crooked Oaks, expansion and sodding of three forward tees on Ocean Winds, construction of new back tee on #1 Crooked Oaks to facilitate new temporary teaching tee, and finally recovery and repair work to mitigate salt water intrusion after Hurricane Helene.
Golf operations ended up close to budget despite a significant drop in business during August due to hurricanes and other storms The renewed Member interest in lessons and clinics driven by the three new teaching pros and their creative programs resulted in 31% higher lesson revenue for 2024.Brian and his team successfully hosted traditional events such as the men’s and women’s Memberguests, fun Fridays, and numerous other Member tournaments
GOLF & GREENS COMMITTEE MEMBERS
John Carpenter - Chair
Todd Lynch - Vice Chair Director of Agronomy
Cinda Althoff
Tim Ely
Fred Osher
Steve Pasquale
HANDICAP COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Flo Gilson
Bob Rosenburger
Katherine Sankovich
Tracy Thorne
Bill Turley
Bob Fisk - Chair
Tori Langen
David Merrill
Fred Osher
Bill Seyfert
Katherine Sankovich
RACQUET CLUB
PATTILEIBACH
Secretary/Chair
LAURAFERREIRA
Director of Racquet Sports
There was much to celebrate at the Racquet Club this year First and foremost, the final stages of the capital renovation project were completed adding the much-anticipated new pickleball courts. Other notable milestones included the introduction of expanded pickleball programs, the 40th anniversary of the Alan Fleming Tournament, the first Member-Member Club Tournament, the announcement of the 2025 Nadal Academy and the continued success of the Third Serve program
THE RACQUET SPORTS CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT
How time flies! Planning for the renovation began in 2021 Almost two years later, we celebrated groundbreaking for Phase 1A on November 17, 2022. Like every project, this one too had its twists and turns which required adjustments to the original scope of the project with elements needing to be deferred The new pickleball courts were the top priority for the renovation, however, given permitting and project logistics, they were constructed in the latter stages.
We often reminded ourselves of the phrase “good things come to those who wait.” Membership feedback reflected that was indeed the case with this capital project Certainly, a highlight of the year, and the project, was the September grand opening party and ribbon cutting ceremony for the five new pickleball courts as well as the re-design of the parking lot with a dedicated LSV area.
Creating these courts in a small footprint surrounded by beautiful tress, coupled with a need for additional parking while preserving as many of the trees as possible, was no small feat It required expertise, creativity and patience from the Seabrook team as well as our trade partners Monteith and Three Oaks. We are grateful for their commitment and contribution to our beautiful complex. Shortly after the above-mentioned two openings, we received the certificate of occupancy for the new maintenance budling which houses two bathrooms adjacent to courts 11-14
The last finishing touches were the addition of heaters on the porch for cold day/evening gatherings as well as a Pour Wall
RACQUET CLUB
GROWTH IN PICKLEBALL PLAY, PROGRAMMING AND EQUIPMENT ALAN
RAFA NADAL ACADEMY CAMP
With a total of seven pickleball courts, two of which are lit for night play, the team was able to introduce four new pickleball clinics as well as offer more private lessons New programs were introduced including Play by Level sessions designed to encourage Members to meet and play with Members of the same level. We purchased a dedicated pickleball machine for Member usage and new court drying equipment to enable play promptly after rain.
Seabrook is one of nine US locations which will offer this acclaimed coaching program From June 9 – June 13, 2025, youth aged 9 to 18 will receive hands on training by Nadal coaching pros In addition, adult clinics and lessons will be offered in late afternoon and evenings. Please contact the pro shop for more information
THIRD SERVE FOUNDATION
A goal set by the Fleming Committee several years ago was to not only deliver a premier tennis tournament but also grow participation and target younger players. Each subsequent year, participation has bloomed from 292 players in 2022 to 338 in 2023 to 400 in 2024 which also marked the 40th anniversary of the tournament Players traveled from 27 states, including Washington, DC and joined five international competitors to compete in the singles, doubles and mixed doubles divisions in age brackets ranging from 30 to 80 Competing over five days, 40 of these talented athletes were Club Members.
Among the notable competitors was Richy, Seabrook’s Head Racquet Professional, demonstrating his amazing skill. Richy reached the finals in the singles 30 division despite having hip surgery earlier in the year! An inspiration on and off the courts. Congratulations, Richy.
The Seabrook Island Racquet Club, along with a dedicated group of volunteer club Members, completed their second year of partnering with the Third Serve Tennis Foundation (TSF) to teach tennis to Haut Gap Middle School students Third Serve’s mission is to introduce tennis to underserved children in the Charleston area while fostering an environment that facilitates growth on and off the court. The Haut Gap / Seabrook program, which began in the fall of 2023, is an all-volunteer effort and the first hub of the TSF which started on Kiawah in 2021
Interested in volunteering or donating, please contact rgoheen3@gmail.com.
RACQUET CLUB
GROWTH IN PICKLEBALL PLAY, PROGRAMMING AND EQUIPMENT
None of these accomplishments would be possible without our facilities and pro shop team Thank you to Robert, Katie and Mikka for your commitment to keeping our tennis and pickleball courts in prime condition. Congratulations, Stratas (Assistant Racquet Professional) for earning the well-deserved distinction of employee of the year! Owen and Kerrianne, for your warm welcomes and organizational skills Laura, the Director of Racquet Sports, the Racquet Sports Committee for your dedication and, most importantly to our Members who make our Club so successful and fun!
RACQUET CLUB COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Patti Leibach -Chair
Todd Lynch - Vice Chair
Tommy Bunch
Jackie Cocchiolla
Rich Goheen
Bill Good
Mary Beth Faulkner
Elizabeth King
Penny Lee
Pam Nelson
Rick Regensburg
Ellen Smith
EQUESTRIAN CENTER
BARBARAVINCENTSEN Chair
CHARLESHAIRFIELD
Equestrian Director
UPDATE AND RESTORE THE FACILITY TO STANDARDS COMPARABLE WITH OTHER SIC AMENITIES
A goal for the Equestrian Center was to update and restore the facility to standards comparable with other SIC amenities Significant improvements have been made to the pasture drainage by opening and cleaning the drainage troughs between pastures. A plan has been developed to periodically clean these troughs, ensuring that adequate drainage is maintained and eliminating the need for heavy repairs and clearing in the future. In 2024, fencing was replaced and repaired in areas where it was needed. Additionally, deteriorating paving between the barns was removed to further enhance the facility's condition
INCREASE PROMOTION OF AMENITY/COMMUNICATION PLAN
Another goal for the year was to increase the promotion of the amenity and improve the communication plan. Weekly updates about the Equestrian Center have been featured in SIC e-blasts, highlighting the latest activities and developments An Instagram account was launched to feature Sapphire the Mustang, the newest Member of the Equestrian Center. The account chronicles Sapphire’s transformation from a wild mustang from the mountains of Nevada, adopted from the Department of Land Management, to a tamed Member of the SIC Equestrian herd, showcasing the incredible progress she has made.
Throughout the year, four dressage clinics were hosted, and new educational equestrian programs and camps for kids were created A retail section was also established in the Equestrian Office, offering SIC Equestrian tees, mugs, and collectible items.
Additionally, a new program for trail rides through the Camp St. Christopher property was introduced, and is available through the end of March This program came in response to the loss of beach access due to the beach re-nourishment project We are excited to continue our partnership with Camp St Christopher. New events were also introduced, open to all residents and guests not just Club Members- featuring music, food trucks, and beverages. Some fun events were the Halloween party with horses in costumes, Fall Fest with pony rides and open barn visits with the herd, a Spring Event, a Dressage Exhibition, and Happy Hour at the Equestrian Center All events are weather permitting, and we are continuously exploring new and exciting events to add to our calendar.
EQUESTRIAN CENTER
SIPOA/TOSI COLLABORATION
The collaboration between SIPOA and TOSI has been strengthened through Master Planning with the firm KDC, which involves all three governing entities. Focus group discussions have centered around how the Equestrian Center can be utilized to bring positive exposure to Seabrook Island, highlighting its uniqueness and exquisite beauty. This initiative is aimed at benefiting The Town, The POA, and The Club, fostering a stronger sense of community and enhancing the island's overall appeal.
CONTINUE TO MONITOR EXPENSES AND WORK TO CONTROL INSURANCE COSTS
A continued focus will be placed on monitoring expenses and striving to control insurance costs. This ongoing goal remains a priority as we work diligently to ensure financial efficiency, identifying opportunities to reduce expenditures while maintaining the necessary coverage to protect our assets and operations. By staying proactive in these efforts, we aim to secure long-term fiscal health and the sustainability of our horses and the Equestrian Center.
AUDUBON DESIGNATION
We are committed to doing our part in preserving and maintaining the "green" areas that contribute to Seabrook Island’s esteemed Audubon Designation This dedication to environmental stewardship ensures that we continue to support the island's rich biodiversity and natural beauty that we believe, the Equestrian Center enhances
Our Beachside Barn
EQUESTRIAN COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Barbara Vincentsen - Chair
SAPPHIRE, THE MUSTANG
THE AMAZING TEAM
Donna Brown - Co-chair
MEMBERSHIP
CHRISTINEIACONIS Chair
LYNDSEYARNOLD Membership Director
“Knowledge Brings Understanding” this was the goal the Membership Committee strived for in 2024.
The past few years Seabrook Island Club has seen much change: an influx of new Members, a shifting Membership demographic, new Joining Levels, changes in Amenities, changes in Club Rules and Regulations. As we all know change, even though positive, can bring confusion and misconceptions We began the year knowing we needed to bring clarity to our Membership.
The Club entered into a Strategic Plan in 2023 Membership was one of the one of the five pillars highlighted The Research Report stated: “attention needs to be given to enhancing Member experiences across amenities, improving rental guest experience, and effectively communicating value propositions to diverse Membership categories ” The Membership Department and this year’s Membership Committee structured our goals around this idea. We focused on three areas:
On-Boarding of New Members and those who have been Members for 1 year
Developing a better Communication Process for Non-Resident Members & Rental Guests
Ensuring current Members have a good understanding of their Membership Level
Some big goals to conquer - where do we begin? We began by putting together a Membership Committee made up of all Joining Levels: renters, non-renters, residents, non-residents, amenity users and non-amenity users, new Members and seasoned Members A very large, very diverse group – 15 Members strong! The committee formed sub-committees: Communications, Financial, Member Satisfaction, On-Boarding, and Renters. The sub-committees kept our goals in mind as they laid out a framework for the year ahead.
On-Boarding went through an overhaul beginning in 2023 and carrying through into 2024 Cheryl Hilzley is the Manager of First Impressions. She deals daily with those new property owners helping them to understand all Seabrook Island Club has to offer them
MEMBERSHIP
She has conducted 107 New Member Orientations (4 of which were done via Zoom,) gave 44 Club/Island tours to New and Prospective Members, presented over 100 gift bags filled with great Seabrook Island swag, and fielded hundreds of calls requesting information on the Club and Island Leah Carroll, Membership Coordinator, created a “micro-site” to be used as an informational tool for new members.
This site has proven to be beyond valuable Leah is also instrumental in the New Member Orientation Power Point On-Boarding didn’t end after the initial orientation though. Membership took it a few steps further. We felt it was important to continue reaching out to new Members through their first year An Ambassador from Equestrian, Golf, House or Racquet reached out to them within the first month This was followed by a Membership Committee volunteer reaching out at the 6-month mark. As their one-year mark on the island approached a Board Member reached out via email, which was then followed up with a complimentary beverage coupon on their 1-year Anniversary Member feedback has been very positive:
“Thank you so very much We felt so welcomed with the sign at the front door and through the personalized presentation and our gifts amazing!”
“You did a fantastic job and I feel comfortable with all that I learned ”
“Thanks so much for being instrumental in making our first impression of homeownership on Seabrook so positive!”
In regards to Better Communication for NonResident Members and Renters, the Club now has a dedicated Communications team made up of Samantha Hirsh and Anna Zoldesy. Anna met with the Membership Committee monthly and headed up our sub-committee We targeted some of our email messages to specific groups as opposed to all Club Members: rental homeowners, non-resident members, amenity specific users
The goal was to target the appropriate message to the appropriate Member This became especially important when working with the rental homeowner, rental property manager and rental guest Donna Paterson’s position as the Club’s Guest Experience Manager began in January 2024. She began communicating with property managers two weeks prior to guest’s arrivals This allowed her time to initiate contact with guests and for them to have a Club point of contact to ask questions about amenities in advance of their arrival. This clear line of communication has been more welcoming, organized and streamlined for the guest. It has worked to eliminate the bottlenecks and lastminute rushing for the Amenity Office, producing an enhanced experience for all involved: the guest, the rental member, the Club’s amenity departments.
MEMBERSHIP
Membership’s third goal this year focused on the different Joining Levels offered to current and new Club Members In 2023 we introduced four new joining levels: Golf, Racquet, Neighborhood and Homesite It was announced at the end of 2024 the old levels of Full, Social, Community and Unimproved Lot would be grandfathered or as Disney says: “Locked in the Vault.” The introduction of the new levels pushed Membership to educate our Seabrook Island Club Members, throughout the year, on what level is the best fit for them. The Membership Department, headed by Director Lyndsey Arnold, held a total of six Informational Meetings for the members, two of which had Zoom components. The meetings covered, Joining Levels, Dues Levels, Emeritus Options, Inheriting Memberships, Cost vs. Use, Rental Amenity Privileges, and answered multitudes of questions
Throughout the year, the Membership Team also welcomed Members, for one- on-one meetings, to discuss their joined level and what the future held for them Lyndsey and her team will continue to welcome your questions and navigate the best level for you We realize “knowledge does bring understanding,” and we have dedicated the bulk of the year to this and will continue to in 2025!
TUCK AND CINDY
MEMBERSHIP
A large initiative taken on by Membership and supported by the Board and Club Management is Member photos in the Club’s internal system (this does not mean in the Club’s Member Directory.) The initiative has benefits to the Member and to the Club, all of which have been communicated dozens of times dating back to 2023. If you do not have your picture in the system, there are multiple ways in which to do so You may download your photo directly via the Club website under Member Central, the Club’s Membership Office and Island House office, any Club amenity (pro shops, and hostess stands) can take your photo and download it for you. Money lost by misidentification of Members is money out of each of our pockets. Make 2025 your Year of Picture, if you haven’t already!
Let me close this communication by thanking my co-chair Ellie Ward, my Membership Committee Members, the Membership Department, my fellow Board Members, Department Heads, Club Management, and Club employees. We have accomplished so much over the last three years It has been said, “It takes a village,” but in our case, “It takes an island!”
MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Christine Iaconis - Chair
Ellie Ward - Vice Chair Kelly
CATHERINE HENSLEY & FAMILY
LUCINDA AND DARREN HURST & FAMILY
HOUSE
GEORGECONBEER Chair
DANIELDOYLE Director of Culinary Operations
The House Committee oversees the Club’s Food and Beverage (F&B) operations and facilities for the Club’s Board and Membership, providing support to management while keeping the Membership informed of offerings and facilities
We begin this report by honoring the memory of Committee Member Julia Thogmartin, who passed away in July Julia served on a key operational review sub-committee She is deeply missed, and our hearts go out to her husband and their family.
The F&B department's performance to budget in 2024 was 3% below budget and showed marked improvement from the approximately $500,000 negative variances experienced in each of the previous two years. This turn around is a testament to the hard work and diligence of our staff and the Committee
The Committee established new goals in its 2024 Charter in February including:
Assess actions necessary to make the Club our resident Members’ first choice of venue when eating outside their homes.
Analyze the balance between the net cost of delivering F&B offerings and Member satisfaction
A sub-committee was formed in April to review and assess all aspects of the “Seabrook F&B Model” to provide information and understanding to the Committee about F&B operations and the reasons for the prior years’ performance to budget After working with F&B staff for several months, the sub-committee issued their report to the Committee in September, and it was subsequently presented to the Club Board in October. In summary, the report showed that, despite improvements in food quality, high costs and underutilization of our restaurants caused variances to budget to persist The report contained several recommendations which will be outlined below
The turnaround in 2024 results mentioned above is largely attributable to Chef Daniel Doyle's cost control measures after assuming full F&B operations responsibility following the departure of the GM/COO and Assistant GM in the early part of the year. The Committee also created two other subcommittees. One assessed our F&B offering to golfers via the beverage carts. The other reviewed our laundry service Both resulted in Board approval for two capital projects in 2025, one for new quiet electric beverage carts with higher food capacity and the other for a new laundry facility
HOUSE
FOOD & BEVERAGE ASSESSMENT
Over the past five years, the Club invested substantially in F&B venue improvements and expansion These developments include significant renovations and redecoration to Bohicket Lounge, Palmetto Room, and Pelicans Nest, along with the creation of new venues such as the Osprey Cafe and Captain Sams Bar Additional investments included a food truck, pizza oven, and outdoor kitchen facilities F&B also grew the number of employees and increased their compensation. These investments and increased staffing levels were aimed at improving Member utilization and satisfaction
Sub-committee review revealed that resident Member utilization remains below one visit per month per resident Member. It was also virtually impossible to assess the cost structure of each restaurant as many costs were aggregated in the Island House restaurants. Additionally, they found that there is significant available capacity across venues during most timeframes While food quality improved after Chef Daniel’s arrival, increased staffing costs and insufficient utilization by Members and rental guests led to the budget shortfalls in 2022 and 2023
Based on sub-committee recommendations aimed at improving Member utilization, beginning in November 2024 the Palmetto Room implemented expanded hours, updated menus, and revised pricing structures. These changes had a positive impact in November and December and will provide good information for changes to come in all venues. The Committee also recommended enhancing the Club’s cost accounting systems to improve the ability to identify costs by venue, which will be integrated with the upcoming enterprise software implementation in 2025.
HOUSE
2025 PLANS
The Club Board has approved plans to reconstruct the laundry facility to improve its operational capability and safety. The also approved acquiring two electric beverage carts in 2025 to reduce noise and improve capacity to provide limited food. Long-term plans for golf related F&B include transitioning from traditional beverage cart service to a combined Halfway House and remote ordering system, leveraging automated facilities, new golf cart technology and enterprise software capabilities
Most importantly, the Committee has a much better understanding of how the Seabrook F&B Model works and potentially how to attract Members to our restaurants In 2025, the Committee will work with Club staff and our new GM/COO to improve all aspects of the operation to reach its goal of having the Club’s restaurants be our Members first choice when they eat out of their home.
Membership Committee Members
George Conbeer -Chair
Barbara Vincentsen - Vice Chair
John Abbatissta, Bonnie Bohme, Suzanne Boyle
Randy Buck
George DiLella
Andrew Grimalda
Joe Foti
Lynne Richards
Ron Sweeney
Julia Thogmartin (In Memoriam)
SOCIAL
GEORGECONBEER Chair
MICHELLEDUPLESSIS Director of Catering
The role of the Social Committee is simple – work with Club staff to plan and promote fun events that foster a sense of community among our Members.
But, carrying out the role is not easy. Our Club is a busy place. 2024 was an EVENTFUL year for the committee. The Club held 96 events culminating with a New Year’s Eve party that, for the first time in memory, used almost every square inch of the Island House and Pelicans Nest
This compares with about 60 events in 2022 and 80 in 2023.
Congratulations to the Committee and Michelle for another good year of helping make our members happy.
SOCIAL COMMITTEE MEMBERS
George Conbeer - Chair
Barbara Vincentsen - Vice Chair
Susan Coomer
Debbie Corkish
Kirsten Guest
Stephanie James
LeeAnn Kemmeling
Barbara Montagu-Pollock
2024 EVENT HIGHLIGHTS
NOMINATING
The Seabrook Island Nominating Committee is charged with the identification of the best candidates for the Board of Governors from Club Members who apply to serve. As directed by Club Bylaws, the Board President appoints a Club Member as Chair of the Nominating Committee. The 2024 Nominating Committee was chaired by Dean Goodwin Members of the Nominating Committee are then recruited from the Club Membership. Interested members names are then sent to the Nominating Committee Chair who interviews them all and then selects those that will serve on the Committee. Each new Member of the Nominating Committee agrees to serve for a single two-year term Once in place, the Committee operates independently from the Board of Governors
Chair
The 2024 Nominating Committee screened, vetted and spoke with references from all ten Club Members who submitted letters of interest for the four available seats on the 2025 Board of Governors Candidates were interviewed by the Committee between October 23 and October 30 The Committee used all information gathered from the process to match the candidate’s skills, interests and expertise to the needs of the Board of Governors
Special thanks go to Randy Powell and Mary Beth Faulkner who completed the second year of their two-year commitment.
NOMINATING COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Dean Goodwin - Chair
Mary Beth Faulkner
Lynne Richards
Randy Powell
Lindy Small
Tim Ely
Nancy Buck
2024BOARDNOMINEES
CHRISTINEIACONIS
Three - Year Term
Christine and her husband Greg moved to Seabrook Island, from the Dayton Ohio area, as permanent residents in October of 2016 They fell in love with Seabrook during a visit, earlier in 2016, and never looked back. They have a daughter in Chicago and a son and grandson in Kettering, Ohio
Their first island home was on Old Oak Walk However, their forever home on Seabrook Island Road was purchased in 2020.
Christine grew up in Michigan and graduated from Michigan State University in 1984. She and Greg met in Minneapolis, married, and relocated additional times to Syracuse NY, Toronto, and Springboro OH. Christine was employed by the Greater Cincinnati Catholic Archdioceses and worked in the local elementary and high school While in Springboro, she was very active in their neighborhood’s HOA; serving as social chair, treasurer and secretary over an eighteen-year period Other volunteer positions were found in their children’s Parent Teacher Association and the never-ending “soccer mom!”
Upon moving to Seabrook, Christine jumped into island life head first, as volunteering has always been in her blood. She served on Seabrook Island Club’s Social and House Committee One of her passions has been SILGA, where she was privileged to serve on its Board in a variety of positions over six years Christine also enjoyed being involved with SINHG and was their board secretary for two years
Having served three years on the Seabrook Island Club Board has been an eye-opening and great learning experience As Membership Chair for three years, Christine has been instrumental in the evolution of Club Membership Levels. Through benchmarking, SIC now offers Members Joining Levels that align with their preferred level of activity which provides a greater value. She has supported the Membership Department’s restructuring of the SIC On-Boarding experience for new members Three years on the Club’s Code of Conduct Committee has given employees and Members a portal to be heard and validated Christine has also had opportunities during her first Board term to serve on the Golf & Greens Committee, Long-Range Planning, Master Planning, By-law Review and the new GM Search Committee
When not golfing, she is working for Coastal Getaways Rental Management Company two days a week This opportunity has given her a first-hand perspective on Seabrook’s rental population and how it is evolving. She believes the knowledge gained from her work at Coastal Getaways is instrumental to her Club board position, as Seabrook’s demographics continue growing and changing.
Both Christine and Greg feel so fortunate to have found this truly special community they call home! This is a pivotal and exciting time to be involved on the island and to continue to serve our wonderful Club 32
2024BOARDNOMINEES
JERIFINKE
Three - Year Term
After many years on the island and as an active Member of the Club, Jeri is excited to be considered for a seat on the Club’s Board of Governors. She and her husband Fred purchased a lot in 2006, built their home, and have been fulltime residents since 2010. Before relocating to Seabrook Island, Jeri was a life sciences major originally from Nebraska, and she later moved to Washington, DC, where she spent 30 years working on Capitol Hill. Her Hill service included roles such as Chief of Staff to a House Member, with a focus on federal appropriations, constituent services, and parliamentary procedure
She began her volunteer work on Seabrook Island by co-chairing the SIPOA Newcomers Committee, tutoring math, and serving on SIPOA’s environmental committee. She then spent six years on the Seabrook Island Town Council
Some highlights of her work on the Council, as well as her contributions to the community, although not directly related to Club operations, include:
1. Taking the lead on the Town’s opposition to seismic testing and offshore drilling for oil and natural gas
2. Initiating and drafting the Town’s ordinance banning the use of single-use plastic bags and other plastics
3 Developing the Town’s Community Development Promotion Grants to help fund local organizations.
4. Establishing the first provisions ever in the Town Code to regulate short-term rentals
Her work as chair of the Council’s Environmental and Wildlife Committee, along with the research done on various issues related to the beach, has given her a solid background to help the Club navigate the jurisdictional and regulatory challenges it faces in addressing flooding and erosion at the Beach Club
Her knowledge and appreciation of the Club stem from serving on several Club committees, most recently on the Long-Range Planning Committee, which developed the current Strategic Plan, and on the working group that revised and updated the Club’s bylaws last year Additionally, she helped draft the Board Policy Manual and compile historic and current documents related to the Club’s operations
As work on a potential island-wide Master Plan progresses, Jeri’s experience with the three entities cooperating on its development will be beneficial to the Board of Governors There are legitimate concerns from Seabrookers about preserving the island as the community grows and evolves, and the seven years she served on the Green Space Conservancy Board, including two terms as its president, gives her the perspective to address those concerns
2024BOARDNOMINEES
ARTDOUGHERTY
Three - Year Term
Art has been a Seabrook Island property owner since 2005. His now wife, Jeannie Daly, purchased a Spinnaker on the 18th green of Crooked Oaks in 2004 Art first visited Seabrook for the July 4th weekend with Jeannie, and that marked the beginning of his love affair with the island. In late 2019, they purchased their current home and became full-time residents in 2021
Over the past two years, Art has served on the Finance Committee alongside Todd Lynch, gaining a solid understanding of the financial challenges the club currently faces and will face in the future. He believes that this experience, combined with his professional background, positions him well to bring sound decision-making to the Board of Governors, particularly in areas related to finance and insurance matters.
Art is an accountant by training and education, though he spent the majority of his 42-year career as a senior executive in the property and casualty reinsurance brokerage business. In that capacity, he was responsible for the production and management of both small and large insurance companies
Additionally, he currently serves as Chairman of the Board for ECM Insurance Group of Everett, PA (effective January 2024) ECM is a company with approximately $300 million in premiums, operating in 48 states and specializing in farm owners and commercial insurance products He has been a member of the ECM board since 2015 and has served on the audit and executive committees during his tenure
Art graduated from St. John’s University in 1978 with a B.S. degree in Accounting.
2024BOARDNOMINEES
TOMJOHNSON
Three - Year Term
Tom Johnson expresses interest in serving on the Board of Governors to contribute to two critical ongoing projects for the Club: implementing a new Club Management Suite and the coordinated master planning project
Having served on the Club's long-range planning committee for the past two years, the candidate collaborated with the General Manager, Department Heads, and the Board of Governors to evaluate and select a new Club Management Suite. Additionally, as a member of the Master Plan Steering Committee, the candidate has worked closely with SIPOA, the Town, and the third-party consultant KDC/Wood Partners
Their volunteer experience with the Club includes serving on the Racquet Sports Committee from 2021 to 2022 and assisting the outside consultant (GGA) with the Club’s Strategic Plan in 2022-2023
Currently, the candidate serves as a Director on the SIPOA Board, concluding their three-year term in January 2025 During this tenure, they have led the Long-Range Planning, Safety and Security, Environmental Committees, and the 2024 Nominating Committee
The candidate retired in July 2020 from PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC) after eleven years as a Consulting Partner In this role, they delivered client engagements for various industries, including big-box retailers, beverage/snack brands, national restaurant systems, food distributors, and agribusinesses Their responsibilities also involved providing supply chain improvement and technology integration solutions, managing senior client relationships, overseeing client contracts, ensuring the quality of deliverables, and guiding PwC engagement teams. Furthermore, they served as Senior Consulting Partner for the PwC Minneapolis office, collaborating with the Audit and Tax practices to achieve market objectives.
Before their tenure at PwC, the candidate worked at KPMG LLP, starting in the Chicago office and progressing to Partner before transferring to the Minneapolis office Their technology career began at Georgia Institute of Technology in the Administrative Computing Department. They hold a degree in computer science from the School of Liberal Arts at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Tom and his spouse, Katie, are full-time residents of Seabrook Island They purchased their home in 2017 and relocated from Minneapolis/St Paul, Minnesota, in 2020.
