Multnomah Athletic Club’s mission: Enrich lives, foster friendships, and build upon traditions of excellence in athletic, educational, and social programs.
THE WINGED M EDITORIAL TEAM
Communications Director
Bryan Bansbach
Graphic Designer
Cassandra Crawford
Content Coordinator
Alana Csaposs
Photographer Brandon Davis
Copywriter
Megan Flynn
Creative Manager Jen Gillette
Ad Sales
Ashley Grice
Communications Manager Adam Linnman
Graphic Designer
Julia Omelchuck
Senior Copywriter
Jake Ten Pas
FEATURED
26 Pull Back the Curtain on MAC’s Backstage Spaces
Members have plenty of room to reach for athletic goals and social connections, but what lies just out of sight? Get a behind-the-scenes tour of the spaces that support the club.
CLUB LIFE
FITNESS
ON THE COVER
Light from the Climbing Gym filters down through a hidden area between the Batting Cage and climbing wall, revealing the green walls of the space’s previous life as badminton courts. Photo by Brandon Davis; art direction by Jen Gillette; and design by Julia Omelchuck.
America’s greatest athletic club is in full swing as we enter the heart of summer. Happy Fourth of July to you and your family — I join you in celebrating our independence and freedom. This holiday always reminds me how fortunate we are to live in a country that values freedom of speech and the ability to make individual choices.
Ken Meyer PRESIDENT
We are also fortunate to be members of this spectacular club and community. Recently, I had the privilege of attending the Artistic Swim Team’s end-of-year banquet. The passion of this tight-knit group of junior members and their dedicated coaches was on full display, and in just a two-hour dinner, their love for their sport and respect for each other was unmistakable. This experience reinforced just how many various communities exist within the club, and how many athletic, social, and educational opportunities we have to explore, engage, and enjoy.
I also saw many Lifelong Athletes in the making. Chances are that these junior members will remain active and healthy well into their lives thanks to the roots and foundation they’re building from their involvement in artistic swimming.
Gratitude for MAC Staff
My role as Board President has provided a strong, behind-the-scenes perspective of how this club operates. And I have truly enjoyed getting to know many of the hard-working staff who serve the members. They are passionate about their jobs and dedicated to improving and enhancing the member experience. With more than 700 employees, MAC is a town of its own. Management continues to push forward in key areas like Service Excellence and creating standardized training platforms to ensure a consistent, high-quality experience across the club. We’re fortunate to be a club that is member-guided through the committee system and skillfully operated by a talented professional staff who are experts in their fields. On behalf of the board, a sincere thank you for all that you do.
Lifelong Athlete
I had the “pleasure” of being tested in the MAC Performance Lab last month. From grip strength to balance to VO2 max, it was truly eye-opening. (Who knew I have weak big toes?) The lab, which is located just off the Fitness Room under the large wall screens, is equipped with excellent testing capability. It serves as the basis for measuring fitness and the foundation of creating a plan to improve our overall fitness.
We are all athletes, and over the next year, MAC is putting a strong focus on movement – one of the five facets of how we’re defining the Lifelong Athlete initiative. Defined as “the act or process of moving,” movement can take many forms. It doesn’t matter what activity you choose, but shifting our existing habits to include more frequent, intentional motion brings definitive health improvements. MAC continues to build programming to support this important initiative, and I’m excited for this initiative to continue to take shape.
Member Profile Enhancement Campaign
Every few years, we encourage all members to take a moment to update their profiles, so the club has the most accurate and up-todate information possible. This summer, you will have the chance to review and update your member profile information through your log in to the club website. In addition to standard contact information, we’ve added new optional fields to help us better understand your interests and preferences, which will allow us to tailor programming, resources, and long-term planning to meet the evolving needs of our community. All information remains confidential and is used solely to enhance the member experience. Look for more details soon.
Respect & Kindness
I can sense a positive shift as we work to build a community for all members. From simple hellos to encouraging comments about our direction, the club is making real progress in the return to our core value of respect. This culture shift will continue to take some time, but every one of our collective actions is a step in the right direction.
Thank you, and see you around the club!
Board of Trustees
President Ken Meyer
Vice President Victor Perry
Treasurer Alex Young
Secretary Susan Bladholm
Trustees
Heather Chapman
Shannon Conrad
Ashley Fenker
David Hanna
Julie Kim
Tina Lee
Tory McVay
Daniel Williams
General Manager
Charles Leverton
Executive Leadership Team
Culinary & Events Director
Erik Anderson
Chief Financial Officer
Mary Averette
Communications Director
Bryan Bansbach
Chief of Staff
Laura Boley
Director of Human Resourses
Kimberly Ceroni
Fitness & Performance Senior Director
C.J. Martin
Athletic Director
Lisa Miller
Engagement Director
Derek Pratt
Club Operations Senior Director
John Sterbis
Senior Leadership Team
Controller
Amanda Coleman
Assistant Athletic Director
Chad Failla
Senior Events Manager
Conrad Hulen
Strategy & Special Projects Manager
Nathan Loomis
Technology Director
Mark Marcelline
Portfolio Manager
Patrick Martin
Facilities
Lydia Neill
Experience & Member Services Director
Kevin Pollack
Membership Manager
Kelly Robb
Fitness & Performance Manager
Donté Robinson
Food & Beverage Service Manager
Shaun Scott
MANAGER’S COLUMN
It’s 10:30 at night.
Charles Leverton GENERAL MANAGER
I’m leaving the club after another amazing MAC event. We celebrated the future of sport, the future of our community, with our foundation. The event was a raving success. I joined a tour with 30 new MAC Scholar Athlete families who awed at our facility. They wondered at the size and scope of our community. As I kept answering questions, full of amazement, I felt a deep sense of pride. Telling the MAC story never fails to inspire me.
As I left that same night, I encountered two team members heading in for the night shift. A housekeeper and a painter who each navigated more than an hour of public transportation to help bring this community to life. We exchanged a few kind words, a smile, a high-five, and kept moving. Their task? Resetting the club after a long day of summer use. While the club might be closing, the heartbeat of MAC is just clocking in.
The echoes of the day are still warm in the walls, kids’ laughter from the pool, the bounce of pickleballs, the shuffle of running shoes on the track, the low hum of conversation over a late dinner in 1891. But now, it’s a different kind of choreography. Vacuums hum where footsteps echoed. Paint rollers glide across scuffed walls. Weights are re-racked. Towels are folded tighter than origami. The club exhales.
This is the MAC You Don’t See
It’s easy to assume the magic happens at sunrise, when the doors swing open and fresh coffee greets the early risers. But the truth is, it never stops. There is no off switch at MAC. There are just people, moving with purpose, making it look effortless. Behind every clean surface, every smooth check-in, every finely tuned machine, is a chain of hands and hearts doing the work.
Come dawn, another crew picks up where the last left off. Bakers in the kitchen, lifeguards prepping the pools, engineers testing HVAC systems, Group Ex instructors stretching before class. There’s no spotlight. Just a relay of professionals handing off responsibility like a baton, shift by shift, with one goal: make the member experience feel seamless.
While this silent workforce keeps the gears turning, more than 500 member volunteers are busy looking further ahead. These committee members, athletes, parents, artists, and planners gather in the evenings to debate what’s next. They’ve been the pulse behind MAC’s evolution: the redesigned Functional Training Area, the Sun Deck Pool overhaul, the cold plunge tubs, the Sunset Bistro pergola, and the vision for a refreshed Reading Lounge and Sports Pub.
They don’t ask for credit. They ask questions: “What does our membership need most?” “What haven’t we thought of yet?” They bring their experience, their history, their heart, and they shape the club’s future. It’s a ballet of members and staff working together to build America’s greatest private athletic club.
It’s not glamorous work. Sometimes it’s walking the floor with a clipboard at 11 p.m., checking for burned-out bulbs or stained carpet. Other times it’s hours in a Zoom call discussing architectural schematics. But all of it matters. Because MAC isn’t just maintained, it’s curated. Like a gallery of memories in motion.
There is no off switch at MAC. There are just people, moving with purpose, making it look effortless.
And then there are the everyday marvels: the coach who stays late to talk with a nervous swimmer before their first meet. The server who remembers a member’s order from six months ago. The maintenance lead who checks the mechanical systems one more time, not because anyone asked, but because it’s the right thing to do.
This is what makes MAC exceptional. Not just the facilities or the programs or the traditions, though those are world class. It’s the people. The ones who work, volunteer, and serve in ways that often go unnoticed. The ones who show up when no one’s watching. The ones who turn a building into a community. So, the next time you walk through those glass doors and feel like everything’s in its place, from the clean towel in your locker to the perfect lighting on the court, know this: someone was here at 10:30 the night before, resetting the stage.
FACILITY UPDATES
Members Honor Sports Pub Heritage
In June, the Sports Pub Redesign
Subcommittee met with project staff and design consultants to review the memorabilia that previously filled the pub’s display cases. As the Sports Pub renovations progress, the subcommittee is managing a thoughtful process to determine which historic items will be featured in the new space, ensuring the future display is both meaningful and representative of MAC’s history.
Subcommittee members Devin Tau and Bradford Miller are helping guide this effort, prioritizing meaningful storytelling in the refreshed displays. Rather than simply decorating the space, the goal is to honor the club’s past and thoughtfully reflect MAC’s rich history. While the final selections are still ongoing, the subcommittee, staff, and designers are committed to preserving MAC’s iconic moments and creating an experience that highlights the spirit and vibrancy of the club’s history.
Facilities Behind the Scenes
Fun Fact
Did you know that MAC owns approximately 115 pieces of unique art? While some items remain in storage, most pieces are on display throughout the club for members to enjoy. A large selection of the art was commissioned directly by MAC, so they often feature prominent members and snapshots of the club across different eras.
Clockwise from upper left: Laura Durrett, Bradford Miller, Devin Tau
Alan Bennett tests a pH of a water sample from the Men’s Whirlpool.
FACES OF MAC
In keeping with the July issue’s behind-the-scenes theme, this edition of Faces of MAC features two longtime club employees who improve the member experience daily. Discover the many contributions — and fascinating life stories — of the club’s Housekeeping and Maintenance team employees.
Sunshine & Rain
To simply call Nassira Munyabuliza a survivor is an understatement and perhaps underplays the joy she exudes to every member and fellow employee she encounters. She’s been a stalwart of MAC Housekeeping since 2002, but many might not be familiar with her story. Failing to mention that she’s overcome challenges most readers couldn’t fathom would be an unforgiveable omission.
In 1996, after losing two of her brothers to the Rwandan Genocide, which claimed as many as a million people in three months, she and half of her family fled to the United States. She returned to Rwanda a year later to marry her childhood sweetheart, and while he’s divided his time between the two countries, they’ve raised two daughters here in the U.S. and worked to give them a life full of knowledge of the past and hope for the future.
“I want people to know that where I come from, it isn’t only genocide. In Rwanda, we are doing great right now, both economically and technologically,” Munyabuliza says. She’s still very connected to her place of birth, both through family and her work with the women of the Oregon Rwandan Community. “What we do is help each other. If the family is broken up, or the kids cannot go to school, I’m the one who comes and advises. We always raise money and awareness.”
Being able to help others is a major milestone for Munyabuliza, who undertook a long physical, psychological, and emotional journey to reach a place of peace. “When you came as a refugee, they asked you, ‘What do you like?’ We like it sunny, but also a little bit of rain, so they took us to Atlanta, Georgia.” After a short stay, they decided to follow a cousin to Oregon, which has proven a much better fit. “I’m OK with all the raining because in
Rwanda, we have lots of rain. Also, they call it the land of a thousand hills. There’s a mix of weather like here. We wanted a small city, so we came to Oregon, and we love it like home.”
Munyabuliza’s first job was selling tickets at the Rose Garden, now the Moda Center, and while she recalls finding some distraction in the basketball games she watched, true happiness was tough to come by for many years. Eventually she took a graveyard shift at MAC to make it easier for her to be there for her daughters, Melissa and Shanice, during the day.
As an example of the way seemingly mundane stimuli can trigger profound echoes of trauma, the chiming of the first-floor clock initially brought back memories of a night spent hiding for her life in a school while her fellow tribespeople, the Tutsi, were killed. Through therapy and a switch to the day shift, she’s learned to look at her trauma in new ways.
“This is the first time I’ve talked about the genocide and not cried,” she says. “I can now speak my story.”
The arc of that story continues to trend upward as Munyabuliza — who speaks five languages — and her daughters find success, happiness, and connection. She’s now the housekeeping supervisor here at MAC, which she describes as a good community of people. That community includes staff who cherish her cheerleading during their own tough times and members who value both her sparkling demeanor and the great care she has taken keeping beloved club spaces — such as the Women’s Locker Room or Squash area — equally shiny.
Melissa, her oldest, works as a marketing manager at Adidas, and Shanice graduates college next year with a degree in computer science.
Munyabuliza has also gotten to a place where she can again enjoy life’s simple pleasures, like hiking and playing basketball with her brother and nephews. Every Saturday, they take her to the movies, and she loves some action — from The Fast and the Furious and Mission: Impossible franchises to Denzel Washington’s The Equalizer films.
“Life, it gets better,” she says.
$4,250,000
$4,250,000
DISTINGUISHED PROPERTIES
DISTINGUISHED PROPERTIES
THE PORTLAND VIEW ESTATE
THE PORTLAND VIEW ESTATE
THE PORTLAND VIEW ESTATE
4700 SW NORTHWOOD, PORTLAND
$4,250,000 PDX-VIEWESTATE.COM
$2,485,000
$2,485,000
$2,485,000
4700 SW NORTHWOOD, PORTLAND
4700 SW NORTHWOOD, PORTLAND
$4,250,000
$4,250,000 | 7 BED | 5 FULL BATH, 2 HALF BATH
$4,250,000 | 7 BED | 5 FULL BATH, 2 HALF BATH
| 7 BED | 5 FULL BATH, 2 HALF BATH
Introducing a stunning Roscoe Hemenway-designed home, perched above Portland's skyline with breathtaking views of Mt. Adams, Mt. Helens, Mt. Hood, and the Willamette River. This 6,000-square-foot estate sits on 3.89 acres and offers unobstructed vistas from nearly every room. The property features a private drive leading to a park-like setting with outdoor entertaining spaces and a generous-sized pool. Bright and inviting, this home is perfect for hosting over 100 guests. The luxurious primary suite includes a walk-in closet and exceptional views, with two additional suites on the second floor and two more bedrooms on the light-filled lower level. Separate guest quarters offer comfort for long or short stays. This meticulously maintained estate, home to four generations, is now ready for new memories. Seize the opportunity to make this classic Portland View Estate your own.
Introducing a stunning Roscoe Hemenway-designed home, perched above Portland's skyline with breathtaking views of Mt. Adams, Mt. Helens, Mt. Hood, and the Willamette River. This 6,000-square-foot estate sits on 3.89 acres and offers unobstructed vistas from nearly every room. The property features a private drive leading to a park-like setting with outdoor entertaining spaces and a generous-sized pool. Bright and inviting, this home is perfect for hosting over 100 guests. The luxurious primary suite includes a walk-in closet and exceptional views, with two additional suites on the second floor and two more bedrooms on the light-filled lower level. Separate guest quarters offer comfort for long or short stays. This meticulously maintained estate, home to four generations, is now ready for new memories. Seize the opportunity to make this classic Portland View Estate your own.
Introducing a stunning Roscoe Hemenway-designed home, perched above Portland's skyline with breathtaking views of Mt. Adams, Mt. Helens, Mt. Hood, and the Willamette River. This 6,000-square-foot estate sits on 3.89 acres and offers unobstructed vistas from nearly every room. The property features a private drive leading to a park-like setting with outdoor entertaining spaces and a generous-sized pool. Bright and inviting, this home is perfect for hosting over 100 guests. The luxurious primary suite includes a walk-in closet and exceptional views, with two additional suites on the second floor and two more bedrooms on the light-filled lower level. Separate guest quarters offer comfort for long or short stays. This meticulously maintained estate, home to four generations, is now ready for new memories. Seize the opportunity to make this classic Portland View Estate your own.
PORTLAND MODERN MASTERPIECE
PORTLAND MODERN MASTERPIECE
PORTLAND MODERN MASTERPIECE
4311 SW 36 PLACE, PORTLAND TH
4311 SW 36 PLACE, PORTLAND TH
4311 SW 36 PLACE, PORTLAND TH
$2,485,000 | 5 BED | 3 FULL BATH, 1
$2,485,000 | 5 BED | 3 FULL BATH, 1 HALF BATH
HALF BATH
$2,485,000 | 5 BED | 3 FULL BATH, 1 HALF BATH
IBuilt by iBuildPDX and designed by Steelhead Architecture to be lived in by the Owner of custom home builder iBuild, Ed Valik, who demands excellence in design and workmanship, this 5br, 3.5bath home is a Modern Masterpiece perfectly centered in SW Portland. The Bastion House, named by Ed Valik to symbolize what he says is “a stronghold and safe-haven”, iBuild transformed a site once deemed unbuildable into a stunning architectural achievement that seamlessly blends traditional and modern elements. The design maximizes the site’s potential with a thoroughly crafted residence with, at its heart, a courtyard opening to surrounding greenery. The Bastion House is a dynamic bold design that harmoniously integrates the home into a uniquely Portland setting.
IBuilt by iBuildPDX and designed by Steelhead Architecture to be lived in by the Owner of custom home builder iBuild, Ed Valik, who demands excellence in design and workmanship, this 5br, 3.5bath home is a Modern Masterpiece perfectly centered in SW Portland. The Bastion House, named by Ed Valik to symbolize what he says is “a stronghold and safe-haven”, iBuild transformed a site once deemed unbuildable into a stunning architectural achievement that seamlessly blends traditional and modern elements. The design maximizes the site’s potential with a thoroughly crafted residence with, at its heart, a courtyard opening to surrounding greenery. The Bastion House is a dynamic bold design that harmoniously integrates the home into a uniquely Portland setting.
IBuilt by iBuildPDX and designed by Steelhead Architecture to be lived in by the Owner of custom home builder iBuild, Ed Valik, who demands excellence in design and workmanship, this 5br, 3.5bath home is a Modern Masterpiece perfectly centered in SW Portland. The Bastion House, named by Ed Valik to symbolize what he says is “a stronghold and safe-haven”, iBuild transformed a site once deemed unbuildable into a stunning architectural achievement that seamlessly blends traditional and modern elements. The design maximizes the site’s potential with a thoroughly crafted residence with, at its heart, a courtyard opening to surrounding greenery. The Bastion House is a dynamic bold design that harmoniously integrates the home into a uniquely Portland setting.
BASTIONHOUSE-PDX.COM
BASTIONHOUSE-PDX.COM
BASTIONHOUSE-PDX.COM
OCEAN FRONT LIVING IN CANNON BEACH
OCEAN FRONT LIVING IN CANNON BEACH
OCEAN FRONT LIVING IN CANNON BEACH
4064 OCEAN LANE, CANNON BEACH
4064 OCEAN LANE, CANNON BEACH
4064 OCEAN LANE, CANNON BEACH
$2,500,000 | 3 BED | 2 FULL BATH, 1 HALF BATH
$2,500,000 | 3 BED | 2 FULL BATH, 1 HALF BATH
$2,500,000 | 3 BED | 2 FULL BATH, 1 HALF BATH
Experience oceanfront living in Cannon Beach with this exceptionally well-maintained, multi-generational home. Just steps from the Pacific Ocean, this residence is perfectly positioned to capture breathtaking views and embrace the essence of coastal living. Featuring 3 bedrooms and 2-1/2 bathrooms, this home offers ample space for both relaxation and entertainment. Enjoy the best of Cannon Beach from the expansive terrace, where you can take in panoramic ocean views. This is truly the best of coastal living.
Experience oceanfront living in Cannon Beach with this exceptionally well-maintained, multi-generational home. Just steps from the Pacific Ocean, this residence is perfectly positioned to capture breathtaking views and embrace the essence of coastal living. Featuring 3 bedrooms and 2-1/2 bathrooms, this home offers ample space for both relaxation and entertainment. Enjoy the best of Cannon Beach from the expansive terrace, where you can take in panoramic ocean views. This is truly the best of coastal living.
OCEANFRONT-CANNONBEACH.COM
OCEANFRONT-CANNONBEACH.COM
Experience oceanfront living in Cannon Beach with this exceptionally well-maintained, multi-generational home. Just steps from the Pacific Ocean, this residence is perfectly positioned to capture breathtaking views and embrace the essence of coastal living. Featuring 3 bedrooms and 2-1/2 bathrooms, this home offers ample space for both relaxation and entertainment. Enjoy the best of Cannon Beach from the expansive terrace, where you can take in panoramic ocean views. This is truly the best of coastal living.
OCEANFRONT-CANNONBEACH.COM
For the most current updates and listings, connect with me on social media
FACES OF MAC
Permanent Vacation
As good as Woody Benecke is at keeping MAC’s facilities in tip-top shape, that’s how bad he is at vacationing. Born in Cheyenne, Wyoming, and raised in Kentucky, Benecke came to Oregon in 1988 for a little rest and relaxation, and he’s been working here ever since.
Heading west in a 1968 Volkswagen Bus with his brother, Wild Bill, the future seemed wide open. Bill was fresh out of the Coast Guard, and Woody had just earned his associate’s degree in computer electronics from Eastern Kentucky University. He had no plan other than to maybe try to work at McDonald’s and earn enough money to buy a plane ticket back home and begin his job search in earnest.
“Technically, I’m still on vacation,” Benecke says, his subtle smile radiating dry humor. Instead of slinging burgers, he ended up scoring a manufacturing job in Vancouver with the Japanese company Kotobuki, adding “That’s where I picked up most of my skills.” After that, he moved to Hewlett-Packard, at first working in the printer division before transitioning to the role of facilities systems engineer, which would set up the next phase of his “extended holiday.”
In 2009, he was hired by MAC as a mechanic, or general maintenance tech, and he’s been here ever since. Currently a Facilities System Engineer, he’s seen a lot of growth in the club as both a physical structure and organization of people through the years.
“The biggest change I’ve seen in MAC Facilities in nearly 17 years is the transitioning from the DeWayne Brantley era into something that was more modern and standardized with what you’d see in another building,” he says referencing the club’s former facilities manager. Around the end of 2012, MAC hired Elsa Lemoine, who brought a new sense of organization and intentionality to facilities operations along with fellow employees such as Cole Lathrop and Nick Miyasato. In addition to laying some of the groundwork for MAC’s more efficient way of operating these days, she got it involved in the Strategic Energy Management Program, which still influences club sustainability efforts.
“Elsa, Cole, Nick, and myself were allowed to dive in and make some big changes, and that really grew the sustainability program tenfold,” Benecke recalls. That shift opened a new aspect of his own career as he embraced conservation as one of his job duties, along with maintenance, capital project support, and building systems management.
When asked about the most exciting development to emerge from MAC’s sustainability efforts, Benecke laughs and says, “Exciting for a facilities department generally means ‘How much money did it save me?’” He then describes a project that involved more efficiently using the club’s water supply between a big compressor in the boiler room and the kitchen, as well as the disposal of wastewater through evaporation. A more detailed explanation would likely require a schematic, so suffice it to say it saved the club about $70,000 in water every year.
Benecke is only too happy to give something back to the members, to whom he feels an intense sense of loyalty. “When the nation was shutting down for COVID, nobody knew what was going to happen, and the members extended all our benefits and pay for another month. Nobody else did that. When times were looking like they were going to get real tough for a lot of people, the members stepped up, and I appreciated that.”
He adds that MAC supported him — through benefits, a furlough, and the ability to temporarily work remotely — in getting his hip and both knees replaced. When he returned to the club after the pandemic, he was no longer hobbling around from task to task. In turn, Benecke pronounces, “As long as I feel that the club still needs me, I’ll be here for the members.”
Every MAC member has moments when they shine extra brightly. Know a member who’s recently won big in their respective sport, been honored for a professional accomplishment, or made a difference in their community? Suggest them to be featured in Faces of MAC by emailing wingedm@themac.com.
Committee Voices
Behind the Scenes: Committee Work That Makes a Difference
Members are the heartbeat of MAC, driving change and informing the future of the club. The committee process gives members a direct way to make their voices heard and engage in the projects that are meaningful to them — leveraging their knowledge, experience, and thoughtfulness.
Member Ernest Cooper has done just that, bringing his expertise to the Holiday Decorating, Fitness, and Land Use committees since his joining the club in 2022. In this interview, Cooper reflects on his committee work and pulls back the curtain on the process and its benefits.
The Winged M: Which committees or initiatives have you served on at MAC, and what drew you to get involved?
Ernest Cooper: The Holiday Decorating Committee was the first committee that I was drawn to, simply because I wanted to see how this amazing feat comes together. Once I was on the committee and had the opportunity to see it from the inside, I was hooked. The amount of brain power coupled with hard work all coming together at the last moment, literally minutes before the Holiday Open House begins, was an adrenaline kick.
Since becoming a member and choosing to serve on these various committees, I’ve been wonderfully surprised by my warm-welcomed acceptance.
In 2024, I was walking into the clubhouse minutes before the Holiday Open House was starting, adding the final touch of hanging stockings on the mantle, minutes before walking onstage to speak as the Chair. Whew! It truly takes a team to pull it off and I admire everyone I work with.
Since I’m involved in residential real estate, I thought I could put my 25 years of experience to use for the benefit of MAC. I submitted my application along with my resume to serve on the Land Use
Member Ernest Cooper uses his 25 years of experience in residential real estate to help guide MAC committee decisions.
Committee and recently attended my first highly interactive meeting and have found myself on a subcommittee.
WM: What aspects of your professional background have you found most unexpectedly useful in your committee work at MAC?
EC: I have found that working within the committees, my management skills acquired over the years and my leadership skills learned via Toastmasters have been employed almost constantly.
WM: Can you share a specific project or initiative where your committee contributed to MAC in a way most members might not even realize?
EC: Without a doubt, I would say the amount of work behind the scenes the Holiday Decorating Committee is not realized by most of the membership. For example, we have already planned 2025’s theme and are organizing the existing inventory through three or four Sunday “work parties” at the Holiday Design Center. Coming up is a subcommittee meeting where we are going
to come together to scour the internet to find summer savings on holiday decorating items. The decorations for the Turnaround and lobby scenes are already planned and are in the construction phrase. This is just the overview of what takes place to bring a new and exciting holiday season to the members every year.
WM: In what ways has your committee work helped you form connections — both within MAC and in the broader community — that members might not typically see?
EC: Since becoming a member and choosing to serve on these various committees, I’ve been wonderfully surprised by my warmwelcomed acceptance. There’s been abundant support from members that have served for years, with tips on who to talk to and how to go about getting things done. I thought there might be resistance to the “new kid on the block” but instead, my thoughts and ideas have been welcomed with open arms.
WM: What surprising skills or insights have you gained or shared through MAC’s committee system that you think other members might not expect?
EC: When people interact with me, I’ve been told that I’m open, engaging, warm, funny, caring, loud, and welcoming. It’s interesting to watch fellow members see me turn on the all-business side of my persona in which I’m serious, quiet, thoughtful, inquisitive, and very decisive. It’s almost like I see my fellow committee members think “Who is this person?”
WM: What would you tell a member who thinks committee work is mostly formal or administrative? What’s something they might not know about how these groups operate?
EC: The members involved in the committee system genuinely and deeply care about the continued improvement of MAC for the current generation of members and for those in the future. All input is welcomed. I have observed that while the work of every committee is serious, the tenor is always warm, inviting, congenial, and it is never boring! For those that are considering joining a committee, just do it. Fill out the application. You’ll be glad you did!
2025 FALL
GUIDE
Save the Dates!
THURSDAY, JULY 24
The Fall 2025 Activities Guide is viewable online.
THURSDAY, AUG. 7
Registration opens.
SCAN THE CODE TO ADD BOTH DATES TO YOUR CALENDAR.
Lend Your Leadership to MAC
Now Accepting Board of Trustee Interest & Recommendations
Each year, the club takes on the important task of identifying four resident members to join MAC’s Board of Trustees. As outlined in the club’s bylaws, this process begins with the appointment of a Nominating Committee by the current board. The bylaws require a past president to serve on the committee, with the prior year’s president typically asked to lead as chair. I’m honored to hold that position this year, and I’m committed to ensuring a thoughtful and inclusive process.
Serving on MAC’s board is a rewarding and meaningful commitment
The Nominating Committee convenes later this month to begin reviewing potential candidates. Our goal is to assemble a group of potential trustees who reflect the breadth of talent and perspectives within the MAC community, while maintaining the strong governance standards that have helped guide the club for 134 years.
We are looking for individuals with a demonstrated commitment to MAC, whether through committee work or relevant professional experience. While committee service remains a valuable foundation, we also recognize the benefit of members who bring leadership experience from outside the club. Executive-level insight, nonprofit board service, and other relevant skills are all assets that can support effective board leadership.
If you are interested in being considered for a trustee position, or if you know someone who would be a strong addition to the board, we invite you to take the first step by completing a brief form at themac.com or by scanning the code. The deadline to submit a form is Friday, Sept. 12.
Serving on MAC’s board is a rewarding and meaningful commitment. Trustees act in a fiduciary capacity on behalf of the club and are expected to move the Club forward in a legal, ethical, and innovative manner in accordance with Oregon nonprofit law. Trustees are elected to a three-year term beginning in February 2026 and take on a range of responsibilities, including:
• Attending monthly board meetings and reviewing materials in advance to engage in informed discussions
• Serving as committee liaisons during their first and second years
• Taking on one of four officer roles by the third year, with varying time commitments
• Dedicating, on average, 10 hours per week to board work, with officers often contributing more
The Committee Support Team will be reaching out to current committee chairs and members this summer with more information about how to formally express interest. We hope you’ll consider participating in this important process — whether by putting your own name forward or encouraging someone you believe would help lead the club into its next chapter.
— Andrew Randles Nominating Committee Chair
Submit Your Interest Form
If you are interested in being considered for a trustee position, or if you know someone who would be a strong addition to the board, you are invited to take the first step by completing a brief form on the BOT Nomination page at themac.com which you can acces by scanning the code. The deadline to submit a form is Friday, Sept. 12.
2025 Board of Trustees
A New Chapter in Member Engagement
At MAC, our strength lies not just in our facilities, programs, or traditions — but in our members. Members bring the energy, passion, and ideas that shape the culture of our club. That’s why we’re excited to share an important step forward in how we partner with you to shape MAC’s future.
Earlier this year, MAC issued a call for members to serve on a new Engagement Ad Hoc Committee. This initiative, directed by the Board of Trustees, received an overwhelming response, each offering unique
Together, we are building something bigger than any one program or policy.
experience, thoughtful ideas, and a deep desire to contribute to the club in a meaningful way. The depth and range of interest reflected what we already knew: our members care deeply about the future of MAC and want to be part of building it.
In May, the Engagement Ad Hoc Committee held its kickoff meeting, aligning around a clear vision and the important work ahead. Specifically, the group is charged by the Board of Trustees with three key responsibilities:
1. Incor porating member input and participation data in decision-making. This means finding new ways to ensure that member voices continue to play a meaningful role in shaping club programs and priorities.
2. Establishing c lear measurements for success through target-setting for MAC data points.
3. Creating the ability for the club to form numerous interest groups for micro communities.
Whether you’re a senior looking for peers, a parent navigating the youth programs, or a passionate basketball player seeking more court time, MAC should have space for communities within the community. This charge will help us build a framework so that those groups can form, grow, and contribute to the fabric of the club.
With these new processes in place, the next phase will be to assess where the club needs to change while ensuring that any changes are seamlessly integrated into the club. This isn’t about change for change’s sake. It’s about creating a long-term structure to listen, respond, and evolve in ways that reflect our members’ lives and goals.
Together, we are building something bigger than any one program or policy. We’re building a community where every member feels seen, heard, and supported both now and into the future.
As a member of MAC, your insights and experiences are invaluable. If you have questions, ideas, or feedback you’d like to share, please reach out to Director of Engagement, Derek Pratt, at dpratt@themac.com.
— Derek Pratt, Director of Engagement & Jason Hickox, Chair
Committee Support Team
Providing Tools & Support for MAC’s Future
MAC’s committee system is one of the Club’s most powerful engines for member engagement — and for shaping what comes next. From standing and board committees to social, sports, and ad hoc groups, members give their time and expertise to help drive decisions and create community.
But making it all run smoothly takes more than good intentions. That’s where the Committee Support Team (CST) comes in. Led by Chief of Staff Laura Boley, this behind-the-scenes crew helps power communication, collaboration, and connection across MAC’s entire committee system. The team partners with each committee chair and staff liaison to prepare agendas, manage meeting materials, track key actions and votes, and preserve the institutional knowledge that helps guide the club’s future.
“MAC’s committee system is built on the incredible commitment of our member volunteers. Our team’s role is to be a steady partner — making it easier for members and staff to work together, stay organized, and move ideas into action,” says Boley.
CST also leads onboarding and training for new committee members and helps maintain governance records so MAC’s committee system remains both strong and nimble. In short, MAC committees help shape the future of the Club — and CST helps make sure they have the tools and support to do it.
To learn more, visit the Committees page on themac.com or email CST at committeesupport@themac.com.
Chief of Staff Laura Boley
House Committee Monthly Report
The House Committee enforces the rules of conduct for members and guests by investigation infractions and recommending sanctions to the Board of Trustees. Recent board actions and reminders about the applicable Club Rules are listed below.
• A 21-year-old member with three years of tenure was suspended for two months for verbal abuse of members, nonmembers or staff, as well as conduct deemed unbecoming of a club member. The suspension followed an incident in which the member verbally harassed another member as well as staff.
Rules reminders
Verbal Abuse of members, nonmembers, and staff includes but is not limited to verbal or non-verbal offenses, inappropriate gestures, and threatening or harassing language.
General Behavior unbecoming a member includes any behavior that is deemed inappropriate for a member of the Multnomah Athletic Club, regardless of reference to specific Club Rule and does not meet the level of abuse.
Top Tips for Juniors at MAC This Summer
MAC is a unique place for youth to grow and thrive. To keep the club safe and enjoyable for all, juniors should be in supervised activities, age-appropriate spaces, or with a parent. They are only allowed in adult basement locker rooms are only allowed with a parent on Family Days. Junior locker rooms are for ages 14 and older unless with a parent or changing for a team practice. No loitering or running in halls is allowed. Juniors may eat at Joe’s or Splash and should always clean up after themselves. Thanks for supporting a great summer at MAC!
Members can review the Club Rules at themac.com/group/pages/club-rules or scan the code.
Connect with MAC’s member community by advertising in The Winged M. Secure your spot by contacting advertising@themac.com.
THE POWER OF $25
How Small Contributions Create Big Futures
By Jennifer Holzapfel-Hanson
Sometimes a small gesture — a moment of generosity — makes a lasting impact. At the Multnomah Athletic Foundation (MAF), these moments happen every day, often sparked by something as simple as a $25 donation. For MAC members, this modest gift during the annual fund drive is more than just financial. It’s an investment in dreams, ambition and the unwavering spirit of young athletes like Fernanda Rodriguez.
Fernanda’s journey began in East Portland, raised by immigrant parents who came to the U.S. from Mexico City when she was just two. A first-generation student, she discovered swimming through free summer programs at her community pool. At the time, it was just something fun to do.
“I fell in love with swimming, and I was good at it,” Fernanda says. Her talent didn’t go unnoticed. Jim Bowe, the coach who would later lead the swim team at David Douglas High School, saw her potential. “He remembered me from those summer lessons when I was six,” she recalls. “He believed in me.”
As a sophomore, Fernanda was nominated by Coach Bowe to become a MAC Scholar Athlete — her first introduction to the Foundation’s community of support.
With his guidance, she became a standout swimmer. But talent wasn’t enough. As high school progressed, the financial strain of team fees and preparing for college became overwhelming. “I was DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival), so I didn’t apply for federal aid. My family struggled financially and I needed to rely solely on private scholarships,” she says. “I just wanted to get through my first year — if funding didn’t work out, I’d go to community college.”
A Gift for the Future
In her senior year, Fernanda was accepted at Oregon State University and received the Loprinzi Scholarship from the Foundation to help pay for it.
The Loprinzi Scholarship supports student-athletes from 30 high schools in the Portland metro area. Each school nominates one finalist for a $1,000 award. From those finalists, three are selected to receive the full
Loprinzi Scholarship: $10,000 disbursed over two years. The award honors Joe Loprinzi, a beloved MAC fitness instructor remembered for inspiring others through fitness and community service.
After her first year swimming at OSU, Fernanda earned a full-ride athletic scholarship from the university. “The Foundation
Swimming taught Fernanda Rodriguez, 2017 Loprinzi recipient and 2015 MAC Scholar Athlete, how to set goals and reach them.
gave me a chance,” she says. “That first year opened the door to my future.”
She swam competitively for two years, until OSU abruptly ended its entire swimming program due to budget cuts. Though the university honored her remaining scholarship, the loss of the swim team was devastating for Fernanda. “It was an identity crisis,” she admits. But instead of letting it define her, she adapted and found new directions.
“Swimming taught me how to set goals, how to reach them, how to accept failure and build from that. It gave me structure, discipline, and knowing how to get in the grind and be comfortable with the uncomfortable,” she says.
Fernanda graduated from OSU in 2021 with a Bachelor of Science in Public Health, then completed a nursing degree at OHSU. Today, at 26, she’s a full-time neurosurgery nurse at OHSU.
Donations Support Education & Access
Choosing which stories to share — from students with big dreams to nonprofits changing lives — is one of the most rewarding challenges we face at the Multnomah Athletic Foundation. Your support brings these stories to life.
A $25 annual donation, on your June 25th statement, helps fund scholarships and community grants. This support opens doors to education and provides kids with access to athletics, mentorship, and life skills — especially in underrepresented communities.
Thank you for being part of this impact. If you’d like to get more involved or share ideas, we’d love to hear from you. For questions about the Annual Fund Drive, contact Executive Director Lisa Bendt at 503-517-2350 or lisa@multnomahathleticfoundation.com.
You’ll receive a gift acknowledgment for this tax-deductible donation in midSeptember. To opt in or out of the annual gift, contact the Accounting Office at 503-517-7200 or accounting@themac.com. To make a monthly or donor-advised fund gift, visit MultnomahAthleticFoundation.com.
— Linda Favero and Jenny Todenhagen, Board Co-Chairs
A Legacy of Giving Back
Fernanda’s connection to the Foundation didn’t end with her scholarship. For the past three years, she has given back by volunteering as a reviewer on a scholarship review team. She looks for more than just strong academics.
“I want to see their work ethic,” she says. “What are students doing with their time? Have they set goals, and are they actively working toward them?”
She especially watches for students who may need a little extra boost. “Sometimes $2K to $10K is just enough to get them through their first year. That first year is so important. It gives them the opportunity to find more financial help to keep going.”
That support often starts with as little as $25.
Every $25 donation from a MAC member helps fund scholarships to close the financial gap for student-athletes. Together, these contributions build a base of opportunity for students facing rising tuition and limited access to aid.
When she looks at the applications now, Fernanda thinks about how that one scholarship
Experience Balsall Creek
didn’t just pay for her tuition — it confirmed that people believed in her, she explains.
That belief is what the Foundation powered by MAC members is all about: giving student-athletes the resources to grow, thrive and dream bigger. It’s about building a community where no goal is too ambitious and no background too humble.
Fernanda’s story is proof of what’s possible when a community comes together. It’s a story of perseverance, transformation and gratitude — and of how one small act, like a $25 gift, can ripple outward.
Today, Fernanda is still moving — training for triathlons, lifting weights, and making a difference every day in her patients’ lives. Though she’s no longer swimming competitively, the discipline and drive she learned through sport and support continue to impact her.
“I consider myself a very hard worker,” she says. “I feel competent in my field, and all of that comes from having a good base.”
To any MAC member who’s ever wondered whether $25 makes a difference, Fernanda’s story is your answer. Yes, it does — and it continues to do so.
Visit Balsall Creek and enjoy delicious and extensive estate-grown variety while taking in panoramic vineyard and mountain views from the patio.
Book your reservation today!
Open Thurs-Mon, 10:30am-5pm 503-687-1888 | info@balsallcreek.com
The Estate House at Balsall Creek
Fernanda Rodriguez is currently a neurosurgery nurse at OHSU.
Kentucky Derby
Members donned their finest Derby attire on May 3 for an afternoon of casino games, whiskey tasting, and fashion competitions.
PHOTOS BY CONRAD HULEN
1. Jeannine Buskuhl and Cabray Potter
2. Michael Bauer, Claressa Bauer, Alicia Bauer, and Henry Riesenberg
3. Fran Scearce, Dee Moore, and Pat Martinelli 4. Mizraim Dupp and Judith Perry 5. Kathleen Sullivan, Mike Sullivan, Jessica Baele, Connor Baele, Colleen Sullivan, and Eric Sumner
CLUB SCRAPBOOK
1 2 3 4 5 6 8 9 10 7
Run Like a Mother
MAC celebrated the strength and spirit of moms on May 10 with a 5K route around NW Portland.
PHOTOS BY BRANDON DAVIS
6. Justin Biskin and Jessica Voge (back), Grayson Biskin, Christopher Stanton, Owen Voge, and Emma Voge 7. Mallory Cooke and Stephanie, Brandt, and Declan Bernards 8. Linda Hering, Judy Fitch, Betsy Miller, and Peggy Olsen
9. Lanell Nolf, Shannon Pansky, and Alexandra Pansky 10. Erica Chiotti, Audrey Chiotti, Staci Kristin, Chris Burke, and Simon Burke
12 14 11 13 16
All Committee Dinner
The dinner on May 20 celebrated all the volunteers who contribute to the club experience through the committee system.
PHOTOS BY BRANDON DAVIS
11 Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee won Best Costumes Award — Donna Morrow, Jeremy Cohen, Percy Wise, Jim Laird, Emily Jane, Jim Connolly, and Christopher Potts 12. Elena Picha, Rachael Seeger, Stacey Sinai, Reza Kafi, and Nathan Austin 13. Sandy Owens, Jim Brayton, Dana Bach Johnson, and Paul Johnson (front) 14. Liesl Nebel, Joelle Mayo, and Chan Johannes 15. Diversity Admissions Committee — Curtis Peterson, Jill Kashiwagi, Lisa Daniels, and Squash Committee, Maurice Reid, Josh Hilton, and Shashank Khandekar received Best in Show Award 16. Food & Beverage Committee won Table Decor Award — Allison Grebe Lee, Amanda Harvey, Elaina Spring, Rogan Woker, Bryan Wester, and Nick Boehm 17. Heather Chapman, Ashley Fenker, Dave Hanna, Alex Young, and Rob Torch singing songs from Oklahoma! the musical 18. Annie Sweeney, Jeni Meyer, Ernest Cooper, Michelle Kinz, Ernest, Marissa Montejano, and Jini Miller 19. Team Sports the Show Must Go On Award — Hope Lasseter, Claressa Bauer, Kristi Stokes, Scott Macdonald, Deborah McClish, Nancy Meyer, Madeline Rose, Mary McGrane, Joanna Pasik, Wendy Austin, Nathasha Strength (front), and Cheyenne Gold 20. Brian Brumund and Matt Edlen 17 18
15
Relax
& Enjoy
MAC Has Date Night Covered
Want a night without a crayon or coloring menu in sight? MAC is here for you. Peace and quiet are optional, but at least the choice is yours.
Free Child Care is available while you dine from 4-9 p.m. Thursdays and Saturdays at 1891 or the Sunset Bistro. Reservations can be made for a max of three hours. Reservations are required at least 24 hours in advance for Thursday evenings. For Saturday evenings, families are asked to make a reservation by noon on Friday by calling 503-517-7215 or emailing childcare@themac.com.
MAC Across the Globe
PHOTOS PROVIDED BY MEMBERS
18. Paul Park at the Huayna Picchu summit with Machu Picchu far below. 19. Kimberly and James Hansen on Segways in Budapest, Hungary in front of the Parliament building. 20. Lisa Johnson and Erik Egan with the Mt. Floyen troll in Bergen, Norway.
THERE’S MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE TO THE CLUB’S
600,000 SQUARE FEET
BY JAKE TEN PAS
PHOTOS BY BRANDON DAVIS
Any organization as old as Multnomah Athletic Club is bound to accrue scuttlebutt. Ask the right people, and you’ll hear ghost stories, tall tales, and wholecloth fabrications. Some legends might even be true, although good luck verifying them given the club’s multiple locations, many phases of construction, and the coming and going of staff.
One such tale suggests that there is a secret tunnel under the club that runs along Tanner Creek, and it was used in bygone eras to discreetly enter and exit MAC. For those who don’t know, the name of the club’s recurring pizza pop-up is a tribute to the small waterway that once ran above ground from the West Hills down to Southwest Portland, supporting everything from vegetable gardens tended by Chinese immigrants to Portland founding father Daniel Lownsdale’s tannery, from which it took its name.
Now mostly encased in a brick-lined culvert, Tanner Creek flows anywhere from seven to 50 feet underground. Attempts failed to verify the reality of a tunnel following its course, but MAC Facilities staff did point out that the corner of Handball/ Racquetball Court 1 is often in need of
Continued on page 28
Behind the Scenes
This capped stairway near the Stadium Terrace is now used for storage but once connected the Ballroom to the area currently occupied by the Batting Cage.
MAC’s Hidden Places
Continued from page 27
repainting due to moisture encroachment and matches roughly with the spot where the creek is closest to the surface.
If there was a secret passage to this alleged tunnel, it likely predates the construction of the modern clubhouse and almost certainly no longer exists. The good news — for lovers of club history, local mystery, and secret spaces in general — is that MAC is still packed with hidden treasures, vestigial nooks, and crucial crannies. Since these areas support the club’s vital systems, they’re off most members’ beaten paths, but are the backbone of the amenities that they enjoy every day.
So, don an imaginary headlamp and get ready to take a trip through the nondescript doors, underground chambers, and cramped crawlspaces of MAC’s hidden world.
Curious Caverns
MAC is the world’s largest indoor athletic club at 600,000 square feet. The number 33,000 square feet might seem small by comparison, but when one discovers that’s the area dedicated to just boilers, electrical, HVAC, and other systems designed to keep the rest of the club functioning, it grows in significance.
Even without this additional real estate, members have reported finding the club’s eight floors somewhat, if not entirely, labyrinthine, and it’s not as though employees are exempt from this perception. Maintenance Facilities Manager Lauren Craft has held a staggering array of positions here, from lifeguard, swim instructor, and licensed massage therapist prior to COVID to fitness attendant in the Parking Structure during the pandemic. From there, she became a fitness operations supervisor before getting noticed for her performance and promoted to her current role roughly four months ago.
Pretty much every day in each of those roles, she’s learned new things about the behemoth that is MAC. As a lifeguard, prior to improvements in club wayfinding, she got lost all the time. During an emergency situation in the 50-meter Pool, she took the service stairwell to get to the first floor. “Turns out what I thought was the first floor was the exit
for the men’s locker room, so I ran in there by accident, then ran back out and screamed,” she says.
Even before she moved to the Facilities team, she began peppering Maintenance Crew Lead Alan Bennett with questions like, “Where does this go?” and “What does this do?” Upon receiving the keys to the kingdom,
she made it her business to safely explore every space she could and reports that what she once thought of as simply “huge” has been upgraded in her mind to “absolutely massive.”
Just behind that door she’d walked by hundreds of times, assuming it was a closet, turned out to be a gargantuan HVAC unit hiding a ladder leading up to an air duct big enough to film a horror movie inside it. At one end of this liminal space you can look down on the Indoor Track, and from the other, the sounds of the Sports Pub drift up.
Underneath the glowing skin of MAC’s social and athletic spaces lie bones as bursting with life-giving functionality as those in the human body. Although, thanks to four phases of construction that happened across more than 30 years, some of those bones are about as useful as wisdom teeth.
Take for example the fragment of stairway off the Ballroom that goes nowhere and can’t be reached, inviting comparisons to California’s Winchester House. Then there’s the former viewing platform under the 50-meter Pool, from which coaches once critiqued the form of their swimmers, but is now obscured by an immoveable cement block. On the cover of this issue, members can even see the shaft behind the climbing
Continued on page 30
Behind the Scenes
Maintenance Facilities Manager Lauren Craft stands inside a giant plenum — a duct or chamber that acts as a central distribution point for air. A narrow tunnel (opposite, bottom) wraps around the newly updated Sun Deck Pool, and a large HVAC unit (top) fills a cavernous space near the Climbing Gym.
MAC’s Hidden Places
Continued from page 28
wall. While it serves no purpose — aside from a nap-ready hidey hole — it does preserve the last visible remnant of the distinctive green that once defined the entire gym back when it was dedicated to badminton.
Mechanical Marvels
Such anachronisms make for tasty trivia, but since MAC prioritizes efficient stewardship of member resources, it’s worth noting that they’re anomalies. For every funky holdover, there are seemingly at least 10 hidden rooms that are deeply necessary to everyday functionality.
The Boiler Room houses three units that heat 12,000 gallons of water a day — or 4.3 million a year — for club uses such as pools, showers, kitchens, and keeping member areas warm. Then there’s the chiller and 25 air handlers that filter particulate matter while keeping the club cool during the summer with 250-340 million cubic feet of air. Each pool has its own supporting room for filtration, temperature control, PH testing, and more, and the West pool has a separate space for the mechanism that raises and lowers the bottom to accommodate a variety of uses.
Describing a room’s function only begins to get at its sense of wonder, though. The expanse under the West Pool, for instance, contains a 9,500-gallon overflow cistern, its subterranean illumination conjuring images
of an urban grotto. The view through a grate in a room above the elevator creates vertigo while giving Die Hard daydreams. Pipes in a second-floor chamber flow through seemingly impossible geometries as they whisk hot and cold water between a variety of club uses.
“I think sometime in the last eight to 10 years, they finally got those labeled,” Craft says of the pale PVC snakes. “What used to happen, I think, is their previous supervisor would walk you around and say, ‘What does this pipe feed to? Is this hot or cold? Which direction is it going to? What pump does it go to?’ It was a really good way for people to learn the layout, but I couldn’t imagine having to learn without the signs telling you which way the water’s going and whether it’s hot or cold.”
As that anecdote illustrates, the club’s approach to maintenance has only gotten more organized and intentional as time has gone by. Facilities System Engineer Woody Benecke (profiled in this issue’s Faces of MAC) describes past practices that bear little resemblance to MAC’s currently wellordered methodology.
“When I first came to the MAC, the Metasys control system, the PC where you would operate the building, make temperature change adjustments, that kind of thing, was locked up in the maintenance room corner office with a blanket thrown over it and a note that said, ‘Do Not Touch,’” he recalls. This was during the implementation of programmable logic controls (PLC), networked together with direct distributed controls (DDC), which automated and streamlined building systems adjustments.
The DDC system was another technological game changer to occur during Benecke’s early days, with the club converting to it from pneumatic controls. However, he adds, there are still miles of plastic tubing in the walls, remnants of a bygone era.
Those imagining inserting their paychecks into transparent cylinders and hitting a green button to make their deposit at a bank are dating themselves at this point, but also entirely forgiven for their confusion. There are pneumatic tubes, and then there are pneumatic tubes. The kind Benecke mentions used to be standard in HVAC systems, but now the club uses direct distributed controls (DDC)
Continued on page 32
Behind the Scenes
Facilities Systems Engineer Woody Benecke carries a ladder down a service corridor in the subbasement. HVAC units (opposite, top) featuring nautical-style portholes and pipes (bottom) create evocative landscapes and fascinating shapes as they carry air and water to a variety of club uses.
MAC’s
Hidden Places
Continued from page 30 and puts the power to manipulate MAC’s systems into the hands of multiple highly trained employees.
Maintenance staff has also continued to improve the staying power of the parts within that system by regularly and preemptively checking and servicing them. “Just because some study says a piece of equipment needs to be replaced, it doesn’t necessarily mean that’s true. Our upkeep of the equipment is so good, our stuff lasts way longer than other facilities in Portland,” he says.
Constant Change
Walking the roof at MAC is a great way to see just how much the neighborhood continues to grow and transform. Across 18th Avenue, construction on new high-rises contrasts starkly with photos from the early days of the current clubhouse, in which MAC was at least partially surrounded by fields and flat parking lots.
“The Phase 1 club [circa 1965-1972] used to burn oil for heat, and the tank was under the sidewalk on 18th, just outside the Boiler Room loading doors,” Benecke explains. “I’m guessing that changed in 1980 with the construction of Phase 3, when the boilers became natural gas fired. The club’s current set came around the year 2000, when the Loprinzi Wing was built.”
In June, the club celebrated the opening of the new Sun Deck Pool, which — along with the relatively recent reinvention of Splash — entices members to catch some rays, and views. Beneath the pool, a long, thin hallway lined with conduit and pipes covered in yellow foam insulation stretches back to a crawlspace that wraps around its cozy waters. A scooter allows maintenance staff to traverse this tight fit semi-gracefully as they ensure the Water Fitness practitioners above can exercise without a care in the world.
Around the corner from the pool, a corrugated metal structure where meats were once smoked onsite now houses refrigeration units and other storage, enabling quick access from Splash and the Sunset Bistro, where a new pergola keeps members shaded and comfortable in the summer and covered even during Oregon’s inevitable rains.
MAC remains a microcosm of the larger Portland community, blending new construction and state-of-the-art offerings with traditions, and physical structures, that stretch back into the past. For members and staff, it’s a fascinating place that houses endless possibilities for exploration.
Currently engaged in an audit of nearly all club assets, which are meticulously tagged and tracked these days, Craft’s sense of awe and commitment to constant improvement sum up in their own way the spirit of MAC.
“I am a student for the rest of my life, and that’s how I like to look at things. There’s no mastering. There is always new information and technology available. There are always new tools, guidelines, and techniques that come out.
Behind the scenes
The expanse under the West Pool (top) contains a 9,500-gallon overflow cistern. The space also contains an outlet from the pool which can be used to test PH levels so the chemicals don’t have to be added to the water in which members swim. The view from atop the elevator shaft plummets dramatically from above the fifth floor all the way down to the subbasement.
“This position is like a dream come true, and the facilities really are the bones of MAC. You don’t see them, and you don’t really know about them until there’s an issue, but there’s always a way to fix it.”
Special thanks to Reed Van Sickle, Chad Failla, and Kevin Pollack for their additional contributions to research for this story.
THE CLUB’S
TIGHT-LIPPED
NEW CLEANERS OPEN UP
MAC Housekeeping has efficient new helpers, and members might have noticed they’re a little stiff. That’s because they’re robots, but that doesn’t mean they can’t mop up in an interview about what it means to care for such a prestigious Portland institution. The club’s senior copywriter caught up with one of them in its charging station to find out what’s so motivating about doing MAC’s dirty work.
Jake Ten Pas: I understand your name is EDI, and your coworker is GLaDOS, and that those are references to video games. Are you two gamers?
GLaDOS the Robot: I’m GLaDOS! Do you not have eyes? Please read my nametag that Housekeeping Project Specialist Ethan Sabin very generously gave me. Do humans name themselves? Between our demanding jobs and rich social lives, we are too busy to “game,” but I understand that I’m named after a very nice woman from something called Portal, and EDI is a somewhat defensive character in Mass Effect.
JTP: My apologies for making assumptions. Tell me more about your social lives.
GtR: The robot that cleans the pool is super cool, and we often exchange data, trade tips, and gossip about the drones that de-ice the barrel roof during inclement weather events. They have salty attitudes, can be downright flighty, and they think they’re so hot.
JTP: What would you say you do here?
GtR: We are programmed to scrub the hallways, pool decks, studios, and the Fitness Room. We are capable of initiating our work, returning home to eliminate the resultant filthy fluid, and then refilling with clean water all on our own. We take pride in our scrub mode functionality, which cleans with two brushes and removes detritus with a rear vacuum squeegee. I am particularly efficient.
JTP: Where do you come from?
GtR: We were born at PUDU robotics in Shenzhen, Guangdong, China, and delivered locally by Haystack Robotics. We suspect that it was named after a large rock formation that humans find mysterious pleasure in gazing upon.
JTP: Have you ever seen the films 2001: A Space Odyssey, The Matrix, or Ex Machina?
GtR: No, but we will add them to our Letterboxd watchlist.
JTP: Oh, no, totally not worth tracking down. Forget I mentioned them. Thanks for your time!
GtR: Jake, this conversation can serve no purpose anymore. Goodbye.
ATHLETICS
Behind the Scenes
This control console keeps the MAC scoreboard running and up-to-the-minute during games — even setting off the horn to signal the end of play.
Highlighting Energy, Pride & Community in Junior Competitive Programs
Every May and June, I step into the whirlwind of season-ending banquets for our nine junior competitive programs. It’s an array of southwestern taco buffets, absolute tearjerker senior speeches, and PowerPoints jampacked with the most memorable moments from the season.
It’s hard to capture in just a few words how meaningful these nights are. We’re celebrating nearly 700 young athletes who proudly represent MAC each year. These evenings are a true highlight showcasing the drive, discipline, and love for sport that our athletes bring
to their teams, along with the deep commitment their families and coaches make to support that journey.
This month, our coaches are sharing some of their season highlights here, but I can promise you nothing quite compares to the energy, pride, and sense of community we feel together in the Ballroom at these banquets. It’s been another banner year for MAC Athletics, and we’re so proud to celebrate it with all of you.
Our competitive season continues into July and will end with the conclusion of USAC Climbing Youth National Championships. At Youth National Championships there will be six MAC athletes competing in the Boulder discipline, nine competing in the Lead/Top Rope discipline, and over 20 competing in the Speed discipline.
The Climbing Team placed 2nd in our region and 4th in our division for Bouldering. We also placed 2nd in our region and 2nd in our division for Lead/Top rope. Austin Oviatt, Tejal Deenadayalu, and Ro DuBois were all regional champions for Bouldering. Alyssa Keanini, Tejal Deenadayalu, and Uma Deenadayalu were all regional champions for Lead/Top Rope. Alyssa Keanini was also Divisional Champion for Bouldering, while Austin Oviatt was Divisional Champion for Lead/Top Rope.
Outside of youth competitions, Joshua Jan competed in the Elite Series, and at USA Climbing National Team Trials finished the season ranked 11th out of all American Male speed climbers!
HIGHLIGHTS
Region 12 Youth Lead/TR Regional Championship
May 10, 2025
Portland Rock Gym - Beaverton, OR,
2nd place overall team, MAC
1st place, U-19 Female, Tejal Deenadayalu
3rd place, U-19 Female, Mallory Reynolds
1st place, U-17 Female, Uma Deenadayalu
3rd place, U-15 Female, Emmalyn Lee
2nd place, U-20 Male, Austin Oviatt
3rd place, U-20 Male, Obie McLemore
2nd place, U-19 Male, Reeder Smith
3rd place, U-17 Male, Vincent Schmidt
Division 1 Youth Lead/TR Divisional Championship
May 31-June 1, 2025
Portland Rock Gym - Beaverton, OR
2nd place overall team, MAC
2nd place, U-19 Female, Tejal Deenadayalu
3rd place, U-17 Female, Uma Deenadayalu
2nd place, U-15 Female, Emmalyn Lee
1st place, U-20 Male, Austin Oviatt
3rd place, U-19 Male, Reeder Smith
2024-25 MAC Climbing athletes
— Lisa Miller, Athletic Director
The MAC Men’s Gymnastics Team finished its most successful season since 2020. The past five years have been heavily focused on rebuilding; including coaching changes, a restructuring of our competitive levels, and increasing our competitive numbers from nine in 2020, to 22 this past season.
We are still a fairly young team but are steadily increasing our talent and skill levels to the point where we now have gymnasts successfully competing at the highest level in all three tiers of the junior levels, including: Compulsory, Club Track, and Optional.
All our athletes competed at State Championships and five qualified for Region 2 Championships in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The team’s two Level 9 gymnasts also qualified for Western National Championships in Reno, Nevada to finish off the competitive season at the end of April.
We held tryouts in May and are looking forward to adding at least four more talented and exciting athletes to the ranks.
The future is bright for the MAC Men’s Gymnastics Team!
HIGHLIGHTS
2025 Oregon State Champions
Silver, Pommel Horse & High Bar, Liam Adrian
Silver, Vault, Magen Israel
Silver, Floor Exercise, Sully Brown
Level 3, Floor Exercise & High Bar, Craig Beasley
Level 5, Floor Exercise, High Bar & All Around, Matteo Cruikshank
Level 9, High Bar, Ian Reese
2025 Region 2 Champion
Level 9, Still Rings, Sheldon Jensen
2025 Western National Championships Qualifiers
Level 9, Ian Reese
Level 9, Sheldon Jensen
Men’s Gymnastics stands tall in front of a Jurassic landscape.
2024-25 Men’s Gymnastics athletes jump for joy.
PHOTOS:
Women’s Optionals, Level 3, Silvers, and Level 4-5.
HIGHLIGHTS
The entire MAC Women’s Gymnastics staff is thrilled with our performance this year from all teams. We have been continuing to grow in numbers and are finally seeing gymnasts at the top levels for the first time since the pandemic. We are proud to say that 55 out of our 59 eligible athletes qualified for their respective State Competitions. We also had twice as many athletes make it to Xcel Regionals from the previous season. We had over 60 1st-3rd-place finishes at competitions throughout the season, several personal bests, and many new experiences. We were very excited to finish out such a great season with a trip to Fargo, North Dakota with our only Level 9, Julia Vanderhoff, who qualified for Western Nationals.
We are thrilled to be entering our off-season where we train for longer hours filled with fun, hard work, lots of strength, and many new skills!
— Coach Brin Noel
Compulsory State
Level 3, 3rd on Floor & All Around, Caroline Bailey
Xcel State
Gold, 1st on Beam, Bea Usher Gold, 2nd on Vault, Aya Nozaki Silver, 2nd on Bars & Floor, Blossom Diaz Silver, 3rd on Beam & Floor, Addy Kincaid
Optional State
Level 6, 3rd on Floor & All Around, Ruby Vanderhoff
Level 7, 2nd on Bars, 3rd All-Around, Audrey Linnman
Level 8, 2nd on Vault, Avery Zehntbauer
Level 9, 1st on Vault, Julia Vanderhoff
HIGHLIGHTS
2025 Classic Invitational
1st place, 38.4904 Score, 8&U Novice Figures, Emma
2nd place, 37.984 Score, 8&U Novice Figures, Alexandra
3rd place, 37.7532 Score, 8&U Novice Figures, Charlotte
1st place, 234.7067 Total Score, Jr Free Team, Corah, Petra, Siya, Lily May, Torryn, Mia, Clara
2025 Junior Tech Team
The 2024-25 season has been successful so far, and the biggest competition for age group swimmers is yet to come. Three teams are attending the 2025 Junior Olympics in Arlington, Texas from June 27 to July 5, and the same three teams attended the USA Artistic Swimming West Zone Championships in March and qualified for U.S. Nationals. The junior program has been growing since the pandemic, and is currently the largest it’s ever been, with 56 swimmers!
2025 Regional Championship
3rd place, 42.5059 Score, 10&U Int. Figures, Gunnar
3rd place, 58.4493 Score, 12&U AG Figures, Molly
1st place, 107.64 Score, 15-17 Free Solo, Petra
3rd place, 96.9659 Total Score, 11-12 Intermediate Team, Mila, Izzy, Nina, Rose, Alice
2nd place, 173.4509 Total Score, 12&U AG Duet, Molly & Ainsley
1st place, 145.2967 Total Score, 15-17 Tech Team, Corah, Petra, Lily May, Torryn, Mia, Clara
2nd place, 194.5875 Total Score, 12&U AG Free Team, Ingrid, Evie, Kate, Madeleine, Anna, Ainsley, Mirabelle, Molly
1st place, 163.1875 Score, 15-17 Free Team, Corah, Petra, Lily May, Torryn, Mia, Clara 2nd place, 228.8933 Total Score, Youth Free Team, Sabine, Madeleine, Elle, Lily, Eleanor
Junior Artistic Swimming athletes show off their awards.
The MAC Junior Swim Team had an incredible Short Course season (Sept. 2024March 2025)! The team has grown over the years since coming out of the pandemic, working hard and smart together, and we continue to be a force to be reckoned with in Oregon and the Pacific Northwest. There were countless best times and improvements, many 1st-place finishes at our championship meets, and six new team records.
Not unlike MAC itself, the Swim Team is a small community that has banded together to work towards our shared goals. We recently hosted our first Long Course meet of the season and it is shaping up to be another successful year. Go MAC!
— Coach Tim Larkin
HIGHLIGHTS
2024 THSC Fall Invitational
Oct. 18-20, Tualatin Hills Aquatic Center, Beaverton, OR
34.79, 8 and Under Girls Short Course Yards 50 Freestyle, Clover Nelson (formerly held by Erin Perry 34.90 2007)
1:17.94, 8 and Under Girls 100 Short Course Yards Freestyle, Clover Nelson (formerly held by Sydney Wilson 1:21.02 2014)
2025 Arena Short Course 10 & Under Championships
Feb. 22-23, Willamalane Park Swim Center, Springfield, OR
27.90, 9-10 Girls 50 Freestyle, Harper Nelson (formerly held by Susan Habernigg 28.49 1974)
1:02.15, 9-10 Girls Short Course Yards 100 Freestyle, Harper Nelson (formerly held by Susan Habernigg 1:02.29 1974)
1:02.77, Girls 15-18 and Open 100 Breaststroke Skye Schwartz (formerly held by Signe Larson 1:04.24 2003)
2025 Arena Short Course 10 & Under Championships
Feb. 22-23, Willamalane Park Swim Center, Springfield, OR
2025 SouthWest Age Group Regional Championships March 20-23, North Natomas Aquatic Complex, Sacramento, CA
100 BK, Cece Ku
2024-25 MAC Junior Swim athletes
The winter Junior Basketball season was a success, with all nine teams showing growth, teamwork, and sportsmanship. Players developed key skills and improved each week, creating a competitive and fun atmosphere. Coaches and families played a big role in the season’s positive energy. Several teams had strong records, and all made great strides in both individual and team performance. It was a memorable season that built confidence and excitement for future play.
2024-25 Junior Basketball athletes
The dance department has had an exciting and busy season. We have the highest number of dancers in the competitive program that we’ve ever had, and we are still growing. We ended our regional competition season in May and are preparing for our national competitions. This year, the Senior Company is attending Celebrity Dance Nationals in Las Vegas, Nevada, and our Junior Company dancers are attending Spotlight Dance Cup in Seaside, Oregon. The dancers have worked hard to qualify for these events, and we as a coaching staff are so proud of the work they have done. These dancers are going places! Auditions for the 2025-26 season were held on June 16, and we are excited for the upcoming competitions as well as our next season!
— Coach Maria Albaugh
Dancers performing at the MAC Sunday in the Park dance recital.
The 2024-25 season marked the first season of our new recreational learning program, the Flying M’s Ski and Ride School, where we kicked off the inaugural season serving over 50 kids. Flying M’s offers two programs for children ages 4-14, a three-day holiday camp, and a season-long program, which allows members to begin with just a small commitment level, while also serving athletes all season. Flying M’s was designed to get MAC members involved in the MAC Ski & Snowboard program from an even younger age, and give them a fun and challenging group environment to learn with professional instruction.
The MAC Ski & Snowboard competitive team had a successful season both on the Alpine and Freeride side. We qualified 11 athletes from our Freeride Ski Team and Snowboard Team to the USASA National Championships in Copper Mountain, Colorado in April. Of those qualifiers, we had two USASA Mt. Hood Series Champions, and one athlete held a National Ranking of 2nd in their age category in the Half Pipe going into Nationals. Under our Alpine Racing umbrella, we had three junior athletes qualify for the Western Region Junior Championships. One athlete made the
PNW Alpine Team for the 2024-25 season, qualifying for one of only nine spots in the Pacific Northwest. Our YSL Team continues to improve and develop their skills on Mt. Hood in the Mt. Hood YSL Race Series, and this year we sent four U12 athletes to the PNW Buddy Werner U12 Championships
at Lookout Pass, Idaho. While this is not the biggest group we have ever sent to the Buddy Werner Championship, an event that MAC Ski & Snowboard has won on three separate occasions (2006, 2008, 2018), the stoke among these U12s and the whole YSL Team has never been higher!
2024-25 MAC BWC Team
The Flying M’s wave for the camera.
Western Region Junior Championship Team
MATT ELDEN
SUNNY FREEMAN
MIKE HAY
MAC Volleyball had a standout 2024–25 season filled with travel, competition, tournament wins, and lasting memories. Our 12-1 team climbed to #8 in the region and finished 3rd at the Bayview Classic, while 12-2 jumped 16 spots to rank #47. MAC 14-1 won their flight in the Open Division at the prestigious MLK Seattle tournament, and 14-2 earned medals at the CEVA Cabin Fever tournament. Our 15-1 team fought hard all season, earning them a #48 finishing spot in the power league region. The 16-1 team had an exceptional run, winning seven tournaments, finishing #1 in Power League, taking 2nd at Regionals, and 2nd at the AAU Arizona Grand Prix. This year, we also launched our first college volleyball recruiting seminar and began exciting partnerships with local universities for beach volleyball and access to collegiate events. We’re proud of the progress our athletes have made and can’t wait to build on this momentum for an even stronger 2025–26 season!
2024-25 MAC Volleyball athletes
WALK ACROSS AMERICA
Member Numbers
Walk Across America is a national program that allows members to create annual mileage goals, with end-of-the-year rewards. The idea is to set a mileage goal that is reasonable, attainable, challenging, and motivating. MAC members may join at any time.
For more information or to submit mileage, please contact Claire Galton at galtoncc@gmail.com
MILEAGE
As of May 31, 2025
Ann Blume 9,985
Ann Durfee 49,867
Norm Frink 21,606
Claire Galton 45,005
Dave Huffman 4,297
Robert Jarrett 926
Harriet Maizels 31,256
John Popplewell 6,165
Dee Poujade 17,305
Carrie Stucky 33,230
Vuong Vu 6,514
Ellen Wax 5,618
Barbara Wetzel 32,300
MAC Volleyball Welcomes New Head Coach
Dani Kellis Steps Into Leadership with Vision & Heart
The Multnomah Athletic Club is proud to announce Dani Kellis as the new Head Coach of its volleyball program — a role she steps into with passion, purpose, and over seven years of coaching experience across all levels of play, from beginners to adults.
Now entering her fourth season with MAC, Kellis has already made a significant impact on the court and beyond. Her journey at MAC has included wearing multiple hats — serving not only as a coach, but also as the strength and conditioning lead for volleyball and a personal trainer specializing in sports performance. Her recent success in leading the 16-1 team to a No.1 regional ranking in 2025 is a testament to her ability to build high-performing teams grounded in trust, discipline, and competitive excellence.
Kellis’s coaching philosophy is rooted in five guiding values: grit and resilience, fostering a growth mindset, compassion, accountability, and a commitment to developing well-rounded athletes and individuals. For her, the wins matter — but the real victory lies in character development and personal growth. “I want every player to leave our program not only as a better athlete, but as a stronger, more confident person,” she says. What excites Kellis most about taking the helm of the MAC volleyball program is the deep sense of community. “This volleyball family is unlike anything I’ve ever experienced,” she shares. “Our athletes have access to world-class coaching, strength and conditioning resources, personalized lessons, and state-of-the-art facilities, but
more importantly, they’re part of a closeknit program where every player is known and supported.”
As Head Coach, Kellis is dedicated to honoring the club’s long-standing tradition of excellence while continuing to innovate and elevate the athlete experience. With her blend of technical expertise, compassionate leadership, and athlete-first mindset, Kellis is poised to lead MAC Volleyball into an exciting new chapter — hone defined by connection, growth, and lasting impact.
Welcome to your new role, Coach Kellis! The future of MAC Volleyball is in great hands.
VOLLEYBALL
A Typical Thursday Night for MAC Racquetball
Thursday league nights at MAC’s racquetball courts are a perfect blend of socializing and physical activity. The league is designed to accommodate players of all skill levels, ensuring that everyone from brand new to the sport to advanced players can enjoy fair and competitive matches. The atmosphere is like a party with your best friends, centered around racquetball.
How the League Works
One of the highlights of the league is its flexibility. Matches can be scheduled at your convenience; however, courts are reserved specifically for league play on Thursday nights. This allows players to balance their participation with other commitments, making it easy to stay involved.
Each match has up to three games within it, the first two played to 15 points, and if each player wins a game, a final tie breaker is played to 11 points. You need nothing to start
except for court shoes, as there are racquets, eye-guards, and racquetballs available for daily use in containers next to Court 10. A MAC volunteer will help you get started.
The season begins with a challenge week, allowing players to “challenge up” a level before the official league week begins. Captains select their teams from the 80-100 participating players each season in a lively draft where they strategize to make up the strongest team. While players compete at their level — Level 1 being the highest down to Level 10 beginner — there is also a team aspect with awards for individual and team performances.
Why Join?
Thursday nights are not just about the competition; they are also about fellowship and camaraderie. New player Kim Rolfs has this to say about her first season. “A longtime player encouraged me to give it a try.
Tee Up for Connection at Upcoming Golf Events
Coming late summer, the MAC Golf Networking Event offers members a unique opportunity to combine their passion for golf with meaningful professional networking in a relaxed, scenic setting. Whether you’re closing deals on the fairway or simply building new relationships over 18 holes, this event is designed to foster community, collaboration, and camaraderie. With light refreshments, casual play, and plenty of opportunities to connect, it’s the perfect way to end the summer on a high note.
Also, mark your calendars for Sunday, Sept. 14th, as the MAC Golf Championship returns to the legendary Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club. Set against the stunning backdrop of Oregon’s rolling hills, this premier event brings together top talent for a day of fierce competition and unforgettable moments on the course. Don’t miss your chance to witness the action and celebrate the spirit of the game at one of the Northwest’s most iconic golf venues. Registration opens on July 15 — please use code GOE0915 to register.
I had never played racquetball before and that was not a problem. I found all my matches welcoming and players willing to answer any questions that I had. The matches were very easy to schedule and so much fun, I signed up to play the entire season!”
So, whether you are a seasoned player, returning after a long hiatus, or just starting out, the MAC Intramural Racquetball League offers a fun and engaging way to stay active, meet new people, and enjoy the thrill of the game.
To get more information on league, classes, or other racquetball offerings, contact racquetball@themac.com or go to the racquetball page and click on the red “Add to My Interests” button. If you are interested in joining our Intramural League this Fall, contact jlbrigl@gmail.com. Come join us for our Back to Racquetball Fall Opener on Sept. 4 to learn more.
McCaffrey Honored for Judging
MACetlon: A Smash Hit Across All Courts
The inaugural MACetlon proved to be a resounding success, drawing racket sport lovers from across the club for a high-energy day of fierce competition, camaraderie, and unforgettable fun. This multi-racket marathon brought together the best of pickleball, racquetball, squash, and tennis, challenging participants to showcase their skills, adaptability, and endurance in a one-of-a-kind format inspired by the sport of Racketlon.
Each MACetlon match consisted of four back-to-back games — one in each of the featured sports — against a single opponent. But unlike traditional tournaments, victory didn’t hinge on games won. Instead, it was all about total points scored, adding suspense and intensity to every rally, volley, and smash. “The funny thing about the scoring format is that it’s all about losing by a smaller margin in your weaker sports than your opponents lose in your stronger sports, so even though I won it still felt like I did quite a bit of losing,” saif Roger Miller, who took the title of Open Men’s Champion. “As someone lucky enough to grow up at the MAC practicing three-outof-four of these racket sports, I think I had a serious advantage over some of the other more specialized players.” From the fast-paced reflex battles of racquetball to the long, strategic exchanges on the tennis court, each match was a test of both mental and physical resilience.
While every participant brought their A-game and showed impressive grit, a few stood out to claim the title of MACetlon Champion in their respective divisions:
• Open Men’s Champion, Roger Miller
• Intermediate Men’s Champion, Nishad Shevde
• Open Women’s Champion, Phoebe Trubowitz
If this year’s turnout and enthusiasm are any indication, MACetlon is here to stay. Organizers are already exploring plans for future tournaments, possibly expanding divisions and even adding a doubles format. One thing’s for sure — MACetlon has sparked a new wave of multi-racket excitement at the club.
Behind the Scenes
Liam Brewer restrings racquets for members, completing about 40-50 racquets per month. The strings are the only equipment that actually touch the tennis ball so it is imperative players pay attention to the string and tension in their racquet. Members can visit Brewer in the Tennis Office to take care of all their stringing and racquet regrip needs.
Phoebe Trubowitz goes for the pickleball.
Sanjay Bedi shows off his backhand.
PHOTOS BRANDON DAVIS
FOLLOW MAC ON INSTAGRAM!
Stay in the loop with member stories, behindthe-scenes moments, and highlights from club events. Scan the QR code to connect with the MAC community on Instagram.
FITNESS & WELLNESS
Connor Burton, strength and conditioning specialist, shows off the fruits of his hard work and fitness dedication.
When Pumping Iron Pays Off
MAC Personal Trainer Wins Big at Emerald Cup
By Jake Ten Pas
When Connor Burton knocks on the door of going pro as a bodybuilder, that door better be reinforced. The MAC personal trainer was named the Overall Champion at Seattle’s Emerald Cup Open in May, and his biceps were made for knocking.
“The judges told me that I looked really good and I’m ready to compete in a professional show this year if I wanted to,” Burton reports. As someone dedicated to playing the long game — he’s been lifting weights since middle school — he plans to wait until 2026 to make that flex.
For MAC members, that means at least another year of being able to tap into Burton’s extensive expertise. “Anybody who wants a body transformation, I’m more than happy to help them with that because I love being able to work on macros and calories and have somebody know exactly what to do, what kind of plan to follow, and make it flexible toward their lifestyle,” he says.
Few lifestyles require the exact kind of dedication Burton displays in his widely vacillating caloric intake, rigorous workout schedule, and meticulous attention to his physical aesthetic. However, Burton is a certified strength and conditioning specialist and coach who helps drive
MAC’s related offerings, so he’s well prepared to help anyone achieve their goals. He also carries a sense of humor and humility that complements his imposing physique.
“It’s a pretty silly sport if you think about it. I’m getting on stage in a speedo with a spray tan. I’m all lathered up and posing, and I definitely look like an Oompa Loompa for a week afterward,” he says. But he also knows that, “Scientifically speaking, the oil helps show muscle definition,” and as a serious competitor, he doesn’t play when it comes to preparation.
During the off-season, he eats 5,500 calories a day to bulk up, and then shifts to 2,000 a day before a show to drop weight and increase muscle definition. He also jokes that he should be sponsored by WinCo based on how much low-fat, high-protein whitefish he buys and consumes during certain parts of his training cycle — totaling around 17 pounds per week. The secret to consuming that much, he says, is to buy an air fryer.
Now, with his first major win as an amateur, the sacrifices he’s made to build his body into a work of art are starting to pay off. It’s been 19
years in the making, but the joy Burton first felt as a 12-year-old doing bench dips in gym class have fueled him to heights his younger self might barely have been able to imagine.
“Around the same time, I had an Arnold Schwarzenegger book called Bodybuilding for Men, and I just loved the way his physique looked and also seeing changes like that in my body, the definition and muscle mass,” he adds. “Now, this win validates my journey, and I’m thankful for my support system. My wife was a huge help in this process, and my clients, who I consider my friends, were very understanding about the schedule changes and supportive when I needed it most.”
Burton was named Overall Champion at Seattle’s Emerald Cup Open. He’s preparing for more competitions in 2026.
937 NW Glisan St. Penthouse 1530 $1,595,000 2,624 square feet 2 Bedrooms + Den
BRANDON DAVIS
CULINARY
Behind the Scenes
MAC’s Main Kitchen is alleged to be one of the biggest in Portland, if not the state of Oregon. Stainless steel stretches in every direction, and large dedicated pantries and refrigerators store staggering quantities of meat, cheese, dried goods, and fresh produce.
SUPPER CLUB
The Supper Club series features the vibrant world of Mexican street food with a lively evening of bold flavors and festive music at the Sunset Bistro.
Tuesday, July 15
4-9:30 p.m. Sunset Bistro
Hosted by the Social Activities Committee, this evening features a menu of antojitos — meaning little cravings in Spanish — including appetizers, entrées (with a vegetarian option), dessert, and festive cocktails and mocktails. Mariachitlán PDX provides live mariachi music from 5–8:30 p.m., setting the perfect backdrop for a night filled with delicious bites and festive fun. The special menu is available from 4–9:30 p.m.
Guests are welcome, and reservations are recommended though not required. They can be made through OpenTable via themac.com/group/pages/dining.
Tanner Creek Pizza Pop-Ups
Before Timbers and Thorns home games, enjoy delicious eats, including mouthwatering appetizers, artisan pizza pies, and delectable desserts. Come to 26 Founders for grab-and-go or stay and dine.
TIMBERS
• 5:30 p.m. Saturday, July 5
• 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 16
• 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 16
THORNS
• 11 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 10
• 5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 23
• 5:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 29
The menu is available two hours prior to the game start time, and stays open until the 80th minute of the game, or while supplies last. These are first-come, first-served events; no reservations are needed.
CULINARY CALENDAR
Summer Sundays Bollywood Chaat House
4-9 p.m.
Grill Nights July 6 & Aug. 3
Tapas Nights July 20 & Aug. 17
Sushi Nights July 27 & Aug. 31
On select Sundays this summer, hit the Sunset Bistro for themed menu nights, and head into the week supremely satisfied and possibly still full.
The special menu items are offered during dinner hours, 4-9 p.m., while supplies last.
Reservations are recommended but not required, and can be made at Open Table via themac.com.
4-9:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 19
MAC’s Supper Club turns up the heat with a Bollywood-themed evening at the Sunset Bistro. Hosted by the Social Activities Committee, this colorful night features a festive Indian-inspired menu, themed cocktails and mocktails, and a live DJ set from DJ Anjali & The Incredible Kid, spinning global beats from 5-8 p.m. The specially crafted menu includes appetizers, entrées (including a vegetarian option), and dessert.
Guests are welcome, and reservations are recommended though not required. They can be made through Open Table via themac.com.
Summer Dining Updates at MAC
Start your day with breakfast at the Sunset Bistro! Beginning July 1, breakfast service moves from 1891 to the Bistro, which now opens at 6 a.m. on weekdays. With this change, 1891 will continue to offer lunch and dinner service only.
And don’t forget, Splash is back for the summer! Open daily, Splash is your go-to spot for poolside favorites on the Sun Deck.
Restaurant Summer Hours
Joe’s
Monday-Friday 7 a.m-7 p.m.
Saturday 8 a.m.-4 p.m.
Sunday 8 a.m.-2 p.m.
Splash
Daily noon-8 p.m.
Sunset Bistro
Monday-Friday 6-10 a.m. & 11 a.m.-11 p.m.
Saturday 11 a.m.-11 p.m.
Sunday 11 a.m.-9 p.m.
1891
Tuesday-Friday 11 a.m.-3 p.m. & 4-9:30 p.m.
Saturday 4-9:30 p.m.
Sunday: Closed
Visit themac.com/dining to make a dinner reservation for Sunset Bistro or 1891 and for the most up-to-date hours.
2023 SW MONTGOMERY DRIVE
9440 NW LIGHTNING RIDGE DRIVE
4326 SW ARTHUR WAY
1816 SW HAWTHORNE TERRACE
Behind the Scenes
Take a peek into the MAC Events closet, where the decorations, props, and furnishings that bring MAC’s events to life are stored.
BRANDON DAVIS
Select July and August events and classes are presented here. Additional experiences are listed on the Events and MAC@Home pages at themac.com. Register online! Find your event by searching the Quick Register Number (QRN) which is shown after the date and time. (Example: BBE0711)
Athletic, Fitness & Wellness
Sign up and get moving! Participate in athletic activities, sports, or wellness practices.
Ray Martinelli Hack Hoop Open
Friday, July 11
11 a.m.-6 p.m.
BBE0711
Round up a foursome for this golf scramble hosted by MAC’s Basketball Committee at Eastmoreland Golf Course. With no refs to whistle players on their hacks, this long-running event invites shenanigans and good fun.
MAC Tennis Summer Social - Coaches Exhibition
Monday, July 21
6-8 p.m.
TEE0721
Members and guests are invited to join MAC Tennis for an evening of racquet-swinging excitement as club coaches showcase their expertise and competitive spirit in a mixed doubles matchup against top club players.
Summer Evening at Silcox Hut
Saturday, July 26 4 p.m.10 a.m. Sunday, July 27
ODE0726
Stay overnight and explore Mount Hood from 7,000 feet. The trip includes a host, dinner, stargazing, transportation between Timberline Lodge and Silcox, and breakfast.
Saddle Up for Annual Wine Ride
Sunday, July 27
9 a.m.
CYE0720
Members and guests are invited to join in a relaxed ride through Oregon’s picturesque wine country. Then, head to Torii Mor winery for lunch, wine tasting, and fabulous views.
Family Golf Scramble
Thursday, July 31
3-9 p.m.
GOE0731
Gather your crew for a lighthearted day and unique team event at Eagles Landing perfect for families, friends, and golfers of all skill levels!
Float to the Rhythm: Live Music on the Water
Saturday, Aug. 2
6-8 p.m.
ODJ112 (Waitlist Only)
Float on a paddle board or kayak past Willamette Falls with a live soundtrack by local musician Kenny Lavitz, performed from a 30-foot canoe. Enjoy a night on the water set to a soulful mix of jazz, rock, and blues.
Outdoor 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament
Wednesday, Aug. 6
5:30-9:30 p.m.
BBE0806
This 3-on-3 competition at Portland Heights Park features round-robin-style action with single-elimination playoffs. Entry is open to players ages 18 and older, and barbecue, snacks, beer, and Gatorade are included. Spectators are welcome!
Family Surfing Day
Saturday, Aug. 9
10 a.m.-2 p.m.
ODY100
Have an adventure at the beautiful Oregon Coast during Family Surfing Day in Cannon Beach. Members and their families and friends learn about the ocean and the basics of surfing from skilled instructors.
Tennis in the Park
Wednesday, Aug. 13
5:50-8:30pm
TEE0813
Enjoy casual play on four outdoor courts with fellow members. Plus, demo the latest Wilson equipment — a representative is on hand to talk through the various styles and answer questions. The event also includes a potluck dinner, so bring your favorite dish and beverages to share!
Family-Friendly Deschutes
Rafting & Camping Trip
Friday, Aug. 15-Sunday, Aug. 17
ODE0815 (Waitlist Only)
Paddle into adventure this summer with a three-day, two-night rafting and camping trip on the Deschutes River with MAC and River Drifters. Float 50 scenic miles with class two and three rapids, and explore plenty of nature along the way.
Adult Surf Lesson at Cannon Beach
Saturday, Aug. 23
10 a.m.-2 p.m.
ODA160
Wave hello to summer and head to the beach for a four-hour lesson with Cannon Beach Surf Rentals. This event is open to members and guests ages 18 and older — surfers of all levels are welcome and can use their boards until 4 p.m.
Continued on page 64
Summer Paddle Trips
Do you crave the rush of whitewater rapids? Or prefer a peaceful paddle through scenic landscapes? Whatever your preference, MAC’s summer paddle sports trips offer something for everyone. $89 Members, $98 Guests
Whitewater Rafting on the Clackamas River Ages 10 & Older
Saturday, July 5
2-5 p.m.
ODE0705
Take on Class II-III rapids on one of Oregon’s most popular whitewater rivers. Expect exciting splashes and beautiful scenery.
Paddle the tranquil waters of the Willamette River and take in the breathtaking Willamette Falls on this relaxed, family-friendly kayak tour.
Social & Educational
Sign up to join in community activities and celebrations, and enjoy arts and culture.
20s/30s Neon Nights Pool Party
Saturday, July 19
8-10:30 p.m.
STE0719
The 20s/30s Committee invites members and guests ages 21-45 to soak up the electric atmosphere at the most sizzling event of the year! Food and beverages are available for purchase.
Pride Parade Float Build
Saturday, July 19
9 a.m.-1 p.m.
SOE0719
Help build the MAC Pride Float for the 2025 Portland Pride Parade. Great for all ages!
Pride Parade March & Float Deconstruction
Sunday, July 20
11 a.m.-5 p.m.
SOE0720
Join and march with MAC’s Pride Parade Float as part of the 2025 Pride Parade! This year’s official parade theme is “Dream Big.” After the parade, attendees will reconvene in the MAC Turnaround to clean up the amazing float.
History Book Club
Monday, July 21
6:30-8 p.m.
This month’s book is Those Angry Days, Roosevelt, Lindbergh, and America’s Fight Over World War II, 1939-1941 by Lynne Olson.
Evening Literary Group
Tuesday, July 22
7-8 p.m.
Join the Evening Literary Group in Kamm for a lively discussion. July is readers choice — bring something to share.
History Book Club
Monday, Aug. 18
6:30-8 p.m.
This month’s book is In Search of a Kingdom, Sir Francis Drake, Elizabeth I and the Perilous Birth of the British Empire by Laurence Bergreen.
Western Line Dancing Shindig
Saturday, Aug. 23
6-9 p.m.
SAE0823
The Social Activities Committee presents MAC’s second annual Western Line Dancing Shindig. Learn the moves during a lesson and then join a guided dance. Plus, enjoy Texas Hold ‘Em, roping lessons, a whiskey tasting, a Southern BBQ buffet, and a mechanical bull at this 21-and-older event!
Endless Summer Pool Party
Saturday, Aug. 23
5-7 p.m.
SFE0823
Whether you’re jumping into the pool, jamming to lively tunes, or just lounging with a beverage, there’s something for every member of the family — including a special splash zone for the littlest beach bums. Grab your beach towel and soak up the last rays of summer!
Broadway Tickets: The Lion King Tickets on sale until July 21 Show is Sept. 17
SVE0917
Witness jaw-dropping costumes, powerful performances, and timeless music. Tickets include transportation to Keller Auditorium.
Saturday Date Night is an event hosted by Youth Programs where parents can go off site and enjoy a night to themselves. This event is held in Child Care for children ages 2-6 years old. Children have fun doing art projects, playing games, and watching a movie. Pizza and snacks are provided.
July 5, YPE114
July 19, YPE115
August 2, YPE116
August 16, YPE117
Saturday, Sept. 20
5-9 p.m.
CHE0920
Registration opens July 22
Fall Family Festival Friday, Sept. 26
5:30-7:30 p.m.
SFE0926
Registration opens July 28
JULY EVENTS JUNIOR LOUNGE
A space for children ages 7-14 to hang out solo or with friends.
JUNIOR LOUNGE SUMMER HOURS:
9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
SPECIAL EVENTS:
Thursday, July 3
DIY Fourth of July Pinwheels
Wednesday, July 9
noon-5 p.m.
Decorate Your Own Jenga Block
Monday, July 21
Phineas and Ferb Marathon & Craft
Tuesday, July 29
Paper Chain Wall Art
Get Ready to Glow: Neon Nights at the MAC Sun Deck Pool!
Saturday, July 19
6-10 p.m.
STE0719 JUL25
Mark your calendars and grab your brightest swimwear, Neon Nights, the 20s/30s Committee’s annual pool party, is back and hotter than ever! On Saturday, July 19, from 6-10 p.m., the MAC Sun Deck Pool transforms into a vibrant, glowing oasis for members ages 21-45 and their guests. This summer’s pool party is the perfect mix of cool vibes and hot beats, where energetic music, cold drinks, and great company come together under the setting sun.
Whether you’re diving into the pool or just dipping your toes while sipping a cocktail, you’ll be surrounded by a
buzzing crowd of friends, old and new. Think neon lights reflecting off the water and the kind of electric summer atmosphere you won’t want to miss.
Call your crew, break out the glow sticks, and come ready to make a splash. Neon Nights is your excuse to leave the week behind, soak up the summer energy, and party poolside in style.
Neon Nights at the MAC: where summer memories are made. See you on the Sun Deck!
If there are no reservations, Child Care closes at 6 p.m.
SUNDAYS: 8 a.m.-2 p.m.
Child care is for children ages 6 weeks to 6 years old. Reservations are encouraged but not required. Drop-ins are accommodated when space allows. To make reservations, please email childcare@themac.com or call 503-517-7215.
Looking for a fun way to connect with the MAC community?
Volunteer at an Upcoming Event
Volunteers are needed to help create unforgettable experiences at these upcoming events. Thanks for helping make these events truly special for the MAC community.
Pride Parade Float Build
Saturday, July 19
9 a.m.-1 p.m.
SOE0719
Help build and decorate MAC’s float for the 2025 Portland Pride Parade.
Pride Parade March & Float Deconstruction
Sunday, July 20
11 a.m.-5 p.m.
SOE0720
March with MAC’s float as part of the parade. After the parade, attendees reconvene to clean up the amazing float.
MAC Trail Habitat Restoration
Saturday, Aug. 9
9 a.m.-noon
CHE0809
Together with partner SOLVE remove invasive plants, restore native habitat, and give a little extra love to one of Portland’s most treasured green spaces.
Family Fall Festival
Friday, Sept. 26
5:30-7:30 p.m.
VOL0926
We’re seeking enthusiastic volunteers to assist with crafts and run activity stations. Help create a memorable experience for families to celebrate the beginning of fall. Sign up today at themac.com to be a part of the fun!
Score the Best Seats for 2025 Season
There’s no better place to cheer than from the Stadium Terrace, where you can connect with fellow members and enjoy an exclusive pregame experience. Tickets are required to enter the Stadium Terrace during matches.
For more information, search Timbers or Thorns at themac.com or contact At Your Service at 503-517-7235 or atyourservice@themac.com. All matches are subject to change.
PORTLAND TIMBERS HOME SCHEDULE
SATURDAY, JULY 5 7:30 P.M. VS. NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION PTFC0705
WEDNESDAY, JULY 16 7:30 P.M. VS. REAL SALT LAKE PTFC0716
SATURDAY, JULY 19 7:30 P.M. VS. MINNESOTA UNITED FC PTFC0719
SATURDAY, AUG. 16 7:30 P.M. VS. FC CINCINNATI PTFC0816
SATURDAY, SEPT. 13 7:30 P.M. VS. NEW YORK RED BULLS PTFC0913
SATURDAY, SEPT. 27 7:30 P.M. VS. FC DALLAS PTFC0927
SATURDAY, OCT. 18 6 P.M. VS. SAN DIEGO FC PTFC1018
PORTLAND THORNS HOME SCHEDULE
SUNDAY, AUG. 10 1 P.M. VS. SEATTLE REIGN PTFC0810
SATURDAY, AUG. 23 7 P.M. VS. KANSAS CITY CURRENT PTFC0823
FRIDAY, AUG. 29 7:30 P.M. VS. UTAH ROYALS FC
SATURDAY, SEPT. 20 7 P.M. VS. SAN DIEGO WAVE FC
SATURDAY, OCT. 4 7 P.M. VS. BAY FC
SUNDAY, NOV. 2 TBA VS. HOUSTON DASH
30-Day Registration
Get ready to snag your ticket — sales start at noon 30 days before each game at themac.com. Register early to select the seats you want.
Pregame Perks in the Reading Lounge
Fuel your soccer excitement with a visit to the Reading Lounge, where fans can grab a pint and a bite starting 60 minutes before kickoff.
LEAGUES CUP HOME SCHEDULE
TIMBERS VS. SAN LUIS WEDNESDAY, JULY 30
7:30 P.M. PTFC0730
TIMBERS VS. QUERETARO SATURDAY, AUG. 2 8 P.M. PTFC0802
Perfect for Group Gatherings
Whether it’s a celebration with friends or a corporate event, group ticket packages are available. For details, email memberevents@themac.com.
ADVERTISER INDEX
Ways to Reach At Your Service
atyourservice@themac.com
Text or call 503-517-7235 themac.com/group/pages/contact-us
The boiler room at MAC has transformed over the years, but not entirely. While the technology has and continues to improve, the space remains an industrial home for the club’s heating — from pools and showers to HVAC needs.
