The future generation in John’s own life includes the four children that he and his wife, Kelly, have raised and grown into amazing young adults: Jen (age 25), twins Megan and Cat (age 24) and Danny (age 22). Married for 27 years, John and Kelly look forward to new adventures, and enjoying the great outdoors of our beautiful Inland Northwest. “Spokane is really an attractive place with a great lifestyle. This city, built on a river by industrious people, partially destroyed by a fire, and re-built stronger by those same people, has a great legacy and one that’s very reminiscent of another favorite city of mine, Chicago. The Spokane Club has played an important role in Spokane’s history and heritage. My role as General Manager gives me the opportunity to honor the past, produce in the present and prepare for the future.” Part of that future also involves securing the present. For John, that means meeting the needs of a diverse Club membership demographic, staying relevant while keeping traditions alive, retaining our current members, and continuing to grow our membership. A huge factor in achieving these goals is the preparedness and responsiveness of Spokane Club staff. “I believe 100% in nurturing good and talented people to find something inside them that will ignite curiosity about what is possible. My belief is that a GM is only as good as the people around him or her. By allowing staff to have an understanding of the challenges, they will feel more invested in the successes. My ability to include, not exclude, will be an asset to the challenges we face. And I challenge everyone—employees and members—to find their passion and bring that to the Club each day.” It’s the very same challenge that John presents to himself on a daily basis.
His work motto, “The Obstacle is the Way” is inspired by the book of the same name by Ryan Holiday. A voracious reader, this particular book’s message resonates with John’s commitment to turning adversity to advantage. He often finds inspiration and strength for the challenge in his love of the outdoors and creative hobbies. “Growing up in Denver, I have always appreciated what ‘the outdoors’ really is. I love to find adventure and truly believe that the road less traveled is usually more interesting. Hiking, kayaking, and paddle
boarding are great fun for me. I’m also really interested in photography, reading great books, and watching Dancing With The Stars. I’m a huge sports fan—the Denver Broncos and Chicago Cubs are in my heart—and I enjoy pretty much anything life has to offer.” Please join us in welcoming the Club’s new General Manager, John O’Connor! To send John a welcoming message, please email joconnor@spokaneclub.org. Look for news on the upcoming meet and greet gatherings with John O’Connor in your Club emails.
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