Your first year as a country club GM can feel like you’re flying the plane while rebuilding the runway. I’m joined by Jordan Mezzerole, General Manager of Doylestown Country Club, for a candid year-in-review that starts with an unconventional career path and ends with the kind of real-world leadership moments you never forget.Jordan didn’t come up through a traditional hospitality track. He moves from journalism and TV into marketing communications, then lands in private club management as a membership and marketing director. We talk about the choices that turned that “side quest” into a serious GM runway.  Finding mentors, getting involved with the board, learning club governance, and saying yes to the hard work that builds trust over time.We also dig into the tactical stuff that helps clubs thrive. Jordan shares how an $11 million renovation becomes a leadership accelerator, why clear member communication matters during construction, and how his weekly Hard Hat Minute videos improve transparency and member engagement. From there, we get into operations, including stepping up to run pool season to sharpen food and beverage management skills.Then it gets real: emergency calls, AED readiness, safety training, and three pipe bursts in six weeks. Jordan breaks down what surprised him most about the GM role, how coaching becomes a daily requirement, and why prioritising a few critical systems beats trying to prove everything in the first six months. If you care about private club leadership, member experience, and what the GM job actually demands, this one’s for you. Subscribe, share with a club leader, and leave a review with the biggest lesson you’re taking from Jordan’s story.Follow us on the socials Private Club Radio InstagramPrivate Club Radio Linkedin Denny Corby Instagram Denny Corby Linkedin