DINING & SOCIAL

Ccc Through The Years

An Interview with Vanessa Sweat Dining Room Supervisor

Vanessa just celebrated her 43rd Anniversary at Charlotte Country Club in February. Many of you know Vanessa by seeing her in the Grill Room or now The Porch. She is an important part of the culture of Charlotte Country Club and sat down with Quinn Moe to share some of her journey at CCC through the years.

Q: Vanessa, you have such an amazing history here at Charlotte Country Club, when did you officially start?

VS: Yes, it is amazing how time flies…my first day was February 5th, 1980.

Q: That’s incredible, talk about some of the different roles you have had at CCC.

VS: I started as a receptionist answering the phone at the Front Desk; we didn’t get quite as many calls back then! I transitioned from the Front Desk to the service team where I assisted filling water, pouring coffee, and clearing tables. I then became a waitress, and graduated to bartending. I used to tend bar in the old Men’s Locker Room, this was when it was referred to as the “card room”. Ladies were able to bartend there in the past…I remember serving lots of beverages as well as cleaning up a lot of popcorn! Similar to today, what happens in the locker room, stays in the locker room (with a smile). I eventually got promoted to the role I am currently in as Dining Room Supervisor in 2002.

Q: What a journey! As you were progressing at the Club, was there someone that you looked up to as a mentor?

VS: The teammate I always looked up to was Shirley Drakeford. Many of our members know Shirley (Lynn Grainger’s mom) by seeing her in the Grill for years. Shirley was amazing with our members, great with kids, and was a special part of our culture. She encouraged me to grow into the person and professional I am today. I wouldn’t be where I am now if it wasn’t for Shirley.

Q: Describe what it has been like to see the club change so much over the last few years.

VS: Everything is so much bigger now. It’s amazing to see the Oak Bar, The Porch, the Golf House, the new pool complex…it is hard to believe the transformation. I remember back to the renovations to the Clubhouse in 2007, to see where we are today is amazing. The thing that hasn’t changed is the culture…the members care deeply for the team, the team still feels like family, and I couldn’t have asked for a better place work for my entire professional career.

Q: How have you seen the membership change in your 43 years?

VS: The membership has gotten a lot younger, a lot of little ones running around now which is nice.

Q: Is there one memory that sticks out from your time at the Club?

VS: When I first started there was a young lady named May Francis who worked in the Ladies' Locker Room and she introduced me to a lot of the members, and she was a big influence on me. There was a big "to-do" when she retired and that is something I definitely remember.

Q: Is there anything else you want to share as we reflect on your time?

VS: I've been here 43 years because of the membership and people that I work with. We have some of the nicest members. Many of them have told me, "Vanessa, when we see your smile we know it's a welcoming smile." A lot of them feel like family, they treat me like family and I do the same.

From knowing (just about) every member by name, to being a constant source of joy on our team and to our membership, we are so thankful for Vanessa and the influence she has had at CCC for the past four decades!